The Admiral's Cup fleet spent their second night at sea during the Rolex Fastnet Race, pushing through the full force of the Atlantic in the Celtic Sea. Even in relatively light conditions, the Celtic Sea delivers a persistent heavy swell and unceasing wind. The long beat to the Fastnet Rock is one of offshore sailing's most celebrated and demanding passages. For those who race offshore, rounding the Fastnet Lighthouse is far more than a navigational waypoint — it is a rite of passage, a moment weighted with history. The lighthouse rises 54 metres above the sea, built from close to 5,000 tonnes of Cornish granite, a structure that speaks to seamanship and human endurance. The legend, the legacy, and the accumulated weight of a century of offshore racing give this moment its true meaning. In this centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, passing the Rock is not simply a milestone to be logged. It is something closer to magic.
Admiral's Cup 1 Update 0700 BST
At 06:54:11 BST on Monday 28 July 2025, Stefan Jentzsch's Botin 56 Black Pearl (NYYC) became the first Admiral's Cup boat to round the Fastnet Rock. Karl Kwok's TP52 Beau Geste (RHKYC) followed 30 minutes and 19 seconds later. Third around the Rock was Peter Harrison's TP52 Jolt 3 (YCM), seven minutes and 51 seconds after Beau Geste.
“It was the first time I’ve seen the lighthouse without fog or rain—it was truly special, a real moment,” commented Stefan Jentzsch. “The boat is in great shape and the crew morale is great too! Rounding the Fastnet Rock is often described as climbing Everest, but as a mountain climber myself, I know that the descent can be just as dangerous. We are looking forward to downwind racing.”
Black Pearl navigator Marc Lagesse commented:
“We’re really happy to have been the first Admiral’s Cup boat around the Rock, especially considering how quick those TP52s are in light airs—it’s been a pretty soft race so far. We were first out of the Solent and first to the Rock, so that feels good. I think the key was sticking to our game plan and not letting the 52s get too much leverage. They were having their own battles, which probably helped us sail a bit freer. When it’s under 10 knots we tend to lose time to them, but above 10 we hold our own. Hopefully we can find a gear to start gaining time back. The approach to the Rock was settled—more of a one-way track, so we didn’t see any need to gamble. Still, being the lead boat always means being the first to make a move, and that’s never easy. A really special moment was passing the Rock with Rory Harrap’s family out there waving a big Black Pearl flag. Add to that having Paul Standbridge onboard—rounding the Fastnet with a legend like him is something we’ll all remember.”
By 0900 BST on that same Monday, seven of the AC1 boats had cleared the Fastnet Lighthouse. With IRC time correction applied, Beau Geste held the class lead by just 3 minutes and 14 seconds over Jolt 3. Gordon Ketelbey's TP52 Zen (CYCA) sat 29 minutes and 59 seconds adrift of Beau Geste in the corrected standings.
Admiral's Cup 2 Update 0900 BST
Pierre Casiraghi's Carkeek 42 Jolt 6 (YCM) was leading a pack of boats approximately 35 nautical miles south of the Fastnet Lighthouse. Karl Kwok's Botin 40 Beau Ideal was a mile astern of Jolt 6, with James Murray's B&C 42 Callisto a further two miles back. Chris Frost's Carkeek 40+ AMP-lifi (RORC White) was also running within that same pack. Once IRC time correction was applied, Jolt 6 held a lead of approximately one hour over Philippe Frantz's NM43 Albator (YCF). Donald Thinschmidt's Ker 43 Abracadabra (NYYC) ranked third, sitting just minutes clear of both Callisto and Beau Ideal.
Pierre Casiraghi, sailing aboard Jolt 6, commented:
“We’ve just come through a pretty brutal night—strong wind, big waves, and very little rest. It’s been tough on the crew and everyone’s feeling the fatigue. This race has its reputation for a reason. "We’re now in the Celtic Sea and expect to round the Fastnet Rock around noon. It’s been mostly upwind sailing since the start which takes a real toll on both the boat and the team, but that’s exactly why we’re here. You’re constantly reminded this is one of the great offshore tests. "Despite the grind spirits are high on Jolt 6. We’re still in the lead and although our competitors are close and pushing hard we’re matching that intensity. Everyone’s committed to holding our position. "The good news is the wind has eased slightly and the sea state has calmed which is giving us a chance to recover a bit. We’re excited to finally turn the corner and head downwind—it’ll be a welcome change of pace after days of relentless upwind work. With around two more days to go we’re focused, managing the boat carefully and pushing hard to the finish.”
