Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

Podium finish for Bomby & Diamond in 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race

by Mark Angell 15 Aug 2019 12:03 BST 3-8 August 2019
Bomby and Diamond - Sun Fast 3300 from Jeanneau © Carlo Borlenghi

With the completion of the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race and podium positions decided, the mixed double handed crew of Henry Bomby and Hannah Diamond received the confirmation of their IRC 3A win along with first mixed doublehanded crew and taking second place in the IRC Doublehanded division rounding off a successful race for the pair.

Having only joined forces earlier in the year following the introduction of a double handed, mixed offshore worlds, and an offshore event on the roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bomby and Diamond campaigned the new Sun Fast 3300 from Jeanneau.

Bomby and Diamond began their training in France onboard SAPRISTI, Sun Fast 3300 Hull #1 and in early July the first UK Sun Fast 3300 'Fastrak XII' arrived into the UK. After a short intense period of commissioning, fit out and optimisation by the Sea Ventures UK and Fourth Cape teams, Bomby and Diamond had time to complete their Fastnet qualification mileage and put Fastrak through her paces.

"Our preparation going into the Fastnet Race was short and intense" commented Hannah; "With very little time from the boat arriving in the UK to the start of the race, we were grateful for the shore help we had to get her race ready".

Commenting on the Fastnet race Bomby said: "We had a great race, a pretty clean exit out of the Solent and managed to hit some of the tidal gates which really helped keep us in the mix, the boat performed very well and hit some high speeds, especially for her size - I saw us hit 23kts of boat speed under our full main and the mast head zero. At times we were still trying to work out modes for some of the sails we have onboard but ultimately had a pretty clean race and we're very pleased with the end result."

With the Fastnet Race complete the campaign focus looks forward to the recently announced EUROSAF Mixed Offshore European Championship event taking place in Italy in October. Hoping to qualify and represent Great Britain, Bomby and Diamond will have to await the decision of the RYA, who have opened applications to select a team to attend the event. Suiting the duo's knowledge and combined experience, the event consists of a short in-port race followed by a 48hr offshore battle from Venice to Trieste and is to be competed in 30ft identical L30 class yachts (The recent choice of equipment for World Sailing's Offshore World Championship which begins next year.)

Commenting on their Fastnet performance, and future events Fourth Cape's Managing Director Charles Darbyshire: "We set out in January with the ambitious goal of a podium place in the Rolex Fastnet double handed division, in a boat that was still pretty much on the drawing board, and in the knowledge that our boat, #3, would only be delivered a matter of weeks before the start of the race. We decided to put together a mixed team to further our goals of supporting sailors looking towards Paris 2024. Through some careful pre-planning, and a period of decent weather as the boat arrived, we were able to layer on the performance enhancements that are required at this level. 2nd place is a great result. Hannah and Henry worked well together not only during the race, but in the build up to it - they are a very capable team. We look forward to seeing if they are selected to represent GBR in the EUROSAF Mixed Offshore event in Italy, which would be their first introduction to the L30 Class, as the supplied equipment is without the ability to tweak the boat to their needs, they will have to adapt quickly to what they are provided. "

A determined and talented pair, both Diamond and Bomby have their eyes continually set on developing their knowledge and skills.

Related Articles

4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition. Posted today at 6:45 pm
IMOCAs in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Ocean racing's state of the art One of the most historic and eternally ground-breaking oceanic racing yacht classes is the IMOCA. These 60 footers are the world's most advanced offshore racing monohulls, the class used in the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989/90. Posted on 16 Jul
A century of human endeavour
The Fastnet Race is regarded as one of offshore sailing's most complete proving grounds For 100 years, the Rolex Fastnet Race has been regarded as one of offshore sailing's most complete proving grounds. It is a place where ambitions and dreams meet harsh reality, where skill, endurance and fortitude are severely tested. Posted on 15 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Four preview
The pinnacle of grass roots sailing has 97 entries The very largest yachts, including the 100ft Ultim foiling trimarans and 60ft IMOCAs are an essential part of the spectacle of the Fastnet Race, however a critical element in the race's enduring appeal is that this is predominately a grass roots event. Posted on 14 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Three preview
This has produced the overall winner of two of the last six editions IRC Three may consist of smaller, slower and in some cases older boats than those that will garner headlines in the first couple of days of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries. Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again? Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race at 100 – the making of a giant
At present 469 yachts have entered this special edition - a far cry from its humble origins in 1925 One month remains until the 26 July start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, this year celebrating both its centenary as well as that of the club it spawned: the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Posted on 27 Jun
Can a maxi achieve the Rolex Fastnet Race triple?
The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize is lining up to be a tough one The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize in the centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race is lining up to be a tough one between the world's fastest 100ft maxi yachts. Posted on 25 Jun