2027 ROLEX FASTNET CAMPAIGN
🗓️ Date
April > July 2027
💷 Price
£5750 £5450
📍 Locations of races
Cowes/St Malo/ Guernsey/ Cherbourg
At LSS we run a hands-on Fastnet campaign for people who want to learn, contribute and be part of the team. If you think you’ve got what it takes to take on the 2027 Fastnet, see below for more details on the campaign and please get in touch!
Here we go again, it’s time to get ready for the…
2027 Rolex Fastnet Race!
Challenge yourself for 2027!
Join LSS Ocean Racing for the Rolex Fastnet Race
2025 saw another iconic Fastnet race and it was, as ever very challenging!
We entered 2 LSS boats, our Reflex 38’s Cougar and Panther. After a great campaign both finished the Fastnet race and came in as 1st and 2nd RYA training school boats in IRC!
If you think you’ve got what it takes, get in touch about joining us for 2027
Email: info@londonschoolofsailing.co.uk
Whatsapp: +44 77 46528203
https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/website-files/guide-for-entrants/
The Boats
Cougar and Panther are offshore racing yachts, quick, responsive and great fun to sail, with symmetrical spinnakers and a setup that reward good teamwork.
Cougar
Reflex 38 | IRC 3
9 Crew | Symmetrical Spinnakers
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Details coming soon
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Length: 12.2m/ 40 ft
Weight:
Draught: 2.4m
Sail Area: 100m upwind/ 110m2 Spinnaker downwind
Berths: 10 (2 in bow not used while racing)
Instruments/Navigation
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Panther
Reflex 38 | IRC 3
9 Crew | Symmetrical Spinnakers
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North Carbon 3di Raw Mainsail - 2021
North Carbon 3di Raw Furling No. 2 Genoa - 2021
Hyde Heavy Weather Jib - 2020
North A2 0.75 Spinnaker - 2020
North A5 1.5 Spinnaker - 2021
North A6 1.5 Spinnaker - 2023
North Helix Code Zero - 2023
North Trysail
North Storm Jib
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Length: 11.1m
Weight: 5800kg dry
Draught: 2.2
Sail Area:
Berths:
Instruments/Navigation: Garmin/B&G
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Campaign Schedule
2027 Campaign schedule
The road to the Rock
Two training weekends to build the team, three RORC offshore races to qualify, then the start line at Cowes. Sail every event if you can — the more miles together, the faster the boat.
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01 · Train
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24–25AprilTraining weekend
Crew training weekend
Meet your crew and get to know the boat — boat handling, crew positions and race drills on the Solent.
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8–9MayCoached weekend
Race training with professional coaches
Two days of coached racing to sharpen boat speed, manoeuvres and teamwork before the offshore season begins.
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02 · Qualify — RORC offshore races
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28–31MayPriority qualifier
RORC Myth of Malham
The big one before the big one: out to the Eddystone Lighthouse and back, over the bank holiday weekend.
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18–20JuneAlternate qualifier
RORC Morgan Cup
A shorter overnight race — great extra miles for everyone, and your qualifying route if you can't make St Malo.
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2–5JulyPriority qualifier
RORC Cowes–Dinard–St Malo
A classic cross-Channel night race to Brittany, with a well-earned evening in St Malo before the sail home.
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03 · Race
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24JulyThe main event
Rolex Fastnet Race
Past Land's End, across the Celtic Sea, round the Fastnet Rock and back to a finish in Cherbourg. Join the boat a day or two before in Hamble.
How qualifying works
Sail at least two of the three offshore races
We'd love you on every event. To join the Fastnet crew you need a minimum of two offshore race weekends — ideally the Myth of Malham and St Malo, the two most demanding. Can't make St Malo? The Morgan Cup counts instead.
Race weekends include travel days either side of the start.
Ready to take on the Rock?
Tell us a bit about yourself and we'll be in touch to chat it through. Questions first? Email info@londonschoolofsailing.co.uk.
What experience do i need?
What Experience do I need?
This race is not for the faint-hearted. It is a once-in-a-lifetime challenge and should be respected accordingly. You must be, most of all, a committed, team player. Be passionate about sailing/ yacht racing, adaptable and resilient to tough conditions.
Ideally, you will have past yacht racing experience but this is not absolutely necessary, also, a certain level of strength and fitness is required as this race is always both physically and mentally demanding.
“Doing the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race with London School of Sailing is quite simply one of the best things I have ever done. I whole heartedly recommend a Fastnet campaign with LSS to anyone looking for the experience of a lifetime!”
Shorebased Training (optional extras):
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Dates TBC
(London, Isle of Dogs)
This one-day course is not a formal pre-requisite but we are offering a great discount on the course which is can’t hurt to have.
£50pp extra (subsidised from £130)
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Dates TBC
(London, Isle of Dogs)
A Day of practical training in the Pool
£25pp extra (subsidised from £145)
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Dates TBC
(2 online evenings)
£25pp extra (subsidised from £110)
Workshops
Meet your crew mates off the water, learn about how you will approach each race, learn about race tactics, decide crew positions and bond over a couple of drinks.
Workshops are open to non-Fastnet crew at a cost of £20 per workshop, contact us for more information.
“You will develop your skills and understanding. But most of all you will make friends you would trust with your life. Would I did it again? In a heartbeat. Would I do it with LSS? Absolutely, without question.”
Training Weekends
20th - 21st March
Optional: 17th - 18th April
Join the boat in Hamble for a weekend of familiarisation on the Solent. The March weekend is part of the campaign. The April weekend is our Race Training Weekend, open to everyone racing with us in 2027, and campaign crew get it at 50% off. Plus a coaching weekend with LCSC on 8th - 9th May.
The Qualifying Events
RORC Easter Challenge
26th - 28th March. Over Easter this year, earlier than usual at the end of March, so prepare for a Baltic one!
RORC Myth of Malham
28th - 31st May, race starts Saturday 29th (provisional date pending RORC confirmation)
Cowes - Eddystone Lighthouse - Cowes
RORC St Malo Race
02nd - 05th July (provisional date pending RORC confirmation)
This is a Race from Cowes to Dinard, St Malo.
The Rolex Fastnet Race 2027
The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the most famous offshore yacht races in the world and certainly on the RORC calendar. Starting in Cowes it races to the Fastnet Lighthouse and returns. The first edition of the race was in 1925 with only 7 boats entered. In 2021 over 350 boats took part. The duelling and navigation of the tides and wind shifts is an infectious challenge, bringing sailors back year after year to better their results.
Race Start: 24th July
Prizegiving:
Return to Hamble:
Join the boat a day or two before in Hamble
The Race will last 4-5 days, taking us past Land’s End, across the Celtic Sea, around the Fastnet Lighthouse and back around the Isles of Scilly, back up the Channel, through or around the Alderney race to the finish line at Cherbourg. The after-party is notorious for never-ending while crews welcome and congratulate each other as they come into port. A well-deserved sleep before a gentle sail back across the Channel to Hamble
The Rolex Fastnet Race is not a race for beginners, but with the training and qualifying races included in our package, you will have the experience necessary not only to compete in this classic offshore race but to excel in it.
How much holiday will I need?
We aim to minimise the days of leave you need to take, by maximising the use of bank holidays and weekends. This package will take 6-7 days of midweek holidays, including the Fastnet Race.
Package price £5,750 (early bird £5,450 deposit before 15th Dec)
25% booking deposit to secure space | 40% due in early March | 35% due in early June
Package price £5,750 (early bird £5,450 deposit before 15th Dec)
25% booking deposit to secure space | 40% due in early March | 35% due in early June