SAILORS from Basingstoke and Tadley will be on the startline among 3,500 others from 32 countries, competing in a record-breaking fleet of 490 boats in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s flagship event – the 50th edition Rolex Fastnet Race. 

Stuart Lawrence, from Tadley and Oliver Bowen from Basingstoke, will be part of a massive fleet that will set sail from Cowes, Isle of Wight on Saturday, July 22. 

They will tackle the complex 695 nautical mile course to the finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, via the infamous Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland. 

This special edition will be celebrating the running of the biennial race since 1925.

Basingstoke Gazette: 50th Rolex Fastnet Race docked in Port Chantereyne Cherbourg

Boats range in size from 29ft (9m) to 105ft (32m), with the oldest yacht from 1903. Several new boats have also been built to try to win the prestigious Fastnet Challenge Cup for the overall win.

The majority of those taking part are amateur sailors, but this event gives them the opportunity to be in the same race as their sailing heroes, and many well-known record-breaking professional sailors.

At least 36 competitors from Hampshire are taking part in this year’s race. 

Also competing are Jonathan Bevan and Dan Rigden, both from Winchester, and Miles Woodhouse, from Andover.

All yachts carry a tracker so you can follow their progress via the race via RORC social media and the race website rolexfastnetrace.co