Artemis Offshore Academy sailors line up for Rolex Fastnet classic

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the UK's most iconic offshore event, the Rolex Fastnet Race. A 603nm marathon from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland, the Fastnet draws the best and the brave to its start line.

A record 390 international crews and double-handed teams will line up this year, with giant multihulls, yachts racing under handicap, and one-design classes all gathering on the start line off Cowes on Sunday 16th August.

The latest IMOCA 60's, the super-competitive Class 40s and the Artemis Offshore Academy's one-design Figaro Bénéteau IIs will set off at 1210pm as part of an impressive flotilla of offshore machinery, rarely seen in the Solent.

Among sailors from all over the world will be a Chinese newcomer to the race, Kit Chen, who recently competed in the Volvo Ocean Race as part of the crew on Dongfeng Race Team that finished third overall. Chen is one of the first Chinese sailors ever to take on the Fastnet and will be racing an Artemis-sponsored Figaro one-design yacht together with English sailor Aaron Cooper.

"Aaron has good previous short-handed experience, so I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him," said Chen. "I really enjoying sailing the Figaro and I'm looking forward to my first competitive race. Sailing the Figaro is a lot different to the Volvo boat (VOR65), there is a lot more to do.

"This really is the very beginning for me, but I'm planning and I hope to compete on the Figaro circuit next year. I'm really looking forward to the Fastnet."

Competing in his fourth Fastnet Race, Artemis Offshore Academy alumni sailor, Sam Matson, described what it's like on the start line: "Pre-start it's really exciting, there are hundreds of boats getting ready from the biggest 131ft trimaran (Spindrift) to the smallest 30ft keel boat (Santana). The Fastnet is a relatively short offshore race, but it involves so many people racing at all different levels. It's arguably the UKs most famous race. Talk to anyone about sailing, and they will know the Rolex Fastnet Race – it's instant common ground."

Matson will race one of six Figaro one-designs taking part in this year's race, co-skippering with the Volvo Ocean Race meteorologist and America's Cup sailor, Gonzalo Infante. Redshift skipper Nick Cherry is teaming up with Ed Fishwick, while Alan Roberts will race his Figaro Magma Structures.

Fastnet debutantes Andrew Baker and Will Harris will race with co-skippers Mary Rook and Conrad Manning. Baker competed in this year's Solitaire du Figaro – the famously tough French proving ground for the Vendée Globe solo round the world race – while Harris is looking forward to a first attempt at that event next summer.

For 22-year-old Harris, the Rolex Fastnet Race offers a chance to line up against a fleet of Figaros in competition for the first time. "I'm looking at it as my Figaro racing debut," he said. "I've been racing the Figaro double-handed for two years while studying, but I've never lined up against another Figaro or against any Solitaire du Figaro competitors. So it'll be interesting to see where I fit in, and I hope to do well."

Also dotted among the Fastnet fleet are Academy alumni Sam Goodchild, Jack Bouttell and 2015 Solitaire du Figaro champion rookie Robin Elsey. Taking a year out from his four-year Figaro campaign in 2015, Sam Goodchild will race aboard the USA MOD70 Phaedo3 – using the Artemis Challenge as a warm-up to the Fastnet.

Arriving in Cowes on the striking lime green trimaran, Sam reported: "Five years ago I turned up here to discover a thing called a 'Figaro' with the newly formed Artemis Offshore Academy. I'm now back on a 70ft trimaran racing machine. Didn't see that one coming."

Following the announcement of his first Transat Jacques Vabre entry this year, rising offshore star Jack Bouttell will race with co-skipper Gildas Mahé aboard the Class 40 Concise 8 – the pair's first competitive outing. Elsey, meanwhile, will trade up his Figaro for the Open 60 'Artemis Ocean Racing II'.

The spread of Artemis Offshore Academy sailors and alumni through the Fastnet fleet is evidence of their progression in offshore ocean racing. Next on the racing calendar is the Generali Solo, a solo Figaro race from Sete to Nice to Barcelona starting on 16th September – Alan Roberts, Nick Cherry and Sam Matson will take part.

Find out more at www.rolexfastnetrace.com or artemisoffshoreacademy.com