Credit : B. Stichelbaut / BPCE
There are appointments that cannot be missed and that any sailor should honor. The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of them. Inaugurated in 1925, this event has become a monument in offshore racing. Particularly marked by the 1979 edition which, out of the 303 crews in the race, saw about nearly three-quarters giving up and the disappearance of seventeen participants, under the blows of a storm of unusual violence, the "Fastnet " fascinates as much as it impresses. Given at Cowes, in the Solent, this sound separating the Isle of Wight and England, under the watchful eye of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the departure has always brought together the most varied types of boats, along the most unremitting racers. Competing for the first time at the helm of the Maxi Banque Populaire V, Loïck Peyron makes no exception to the rule and is happy to come back on this key event: "I have participated in the Fastnet two or three times, I do not know exactly. I even already won it! The first time was about fifteen years ago, on the Fuji multihull. This race is mostly a mythical race whose 1979 edition marked throughout the world. I remember particularly because I was leaving on my first transatlantic a few weeks later. I was 19. "
The quest for the "Rock"
With 608 miles on the agenda, the Rolex Fastnet Race became prominent by the evocative nature of the only course mark to bypass. Fixed on a rock situated in the south of Ireland, the Fastnet Lighthouse is indeed the place of desire for crews. Regularly swept by very strong winds, the zone around the "Rock" is known badly paved. "The Fastnet Rock is mythical, confirms the skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire V. We have gone there twice recently, in conjunction with our training and our British Isles Record. It is really apart, not far from the coast and North enough to often provide harsh conditions. This is one of the most interesting and one of the few around which we can sail. It is a remarkable seamark which served and continues to serve many sailors. I love sailing in England, with one of the best coasts. The Fastnet is a nice trip that does not last very long and especially an additional training for the boat and crew. "
High voltage start
Brought to stretch in length for some competitors, the route should take the appearance of a high speed sprint undertaken by the giant trimaran whose performances continue to overdrive meters. But make no mistake, the party shall not be that easy and the first major difficulties should arise from the beginning: "The departure is taking place in the Sacred Saint Solent, in the Mecca of yachting. There will be a lot of people, which can be quite tricky with a boat as Banque Populaire V. Multihulls should leave first, but it won’t exclude the risk with the number of people at sea. We will have to be extremely vigilant and it may be a bit complicated to get out of the Solent and negotiate the challenges that will soon come to us as sand banks for example. "
On 14 August, starting from Cowes, the Maxi Banque Populaire V will thrust to attack the Fastnet for the first time in her history. For Loïck Peyron and his twelve crew members, the objective is clear, write their name in the history of this prestigious race whose finish will be in Plymouth.
Maxi Banque Populaire V’s crew list
Loick Peyron : Skipper
Yvan Ravussin : Watch Captain
Brian Thompson : Helmsman / Trimmer
Pierre-Yves Moreau : Boat Captain / Trimmer
Fred Le Peutrec : Watch Captain
Emmanuel Le Borgne : Helmsman / Trimmer
Ronan Lucas : Bowman / Trimmer
Kevin Escoffier: Helmsman / Trimmer
Xavier Revil : Helmsman / Trimmer
Florent Chastel : Bowman/ Trimmer
Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant : Helmsman/ Trimmer
Thierry Duprey : Helmsman/ Trimmer
Juan Vila : Navigator
Digby Fox : Media man
From : Banque Populaire Voile
