The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the world's most important ocean classics... its historic fiftieth edition, which part of Cowes on July 22, will pay tribute to its legacy and its profound impact on the development of the ocean races. Rolex, a leading sponsor since 2001, is proud to be associated with a competition that requires precision, dedication and the highest level of performance, and whose organizer, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, plays a key role in ensuring the future of this sport.

Held for the first time in 1925 and every two years since the 1930s, the Rolex Fastnet Race is, together with the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one of the pillars of Rolex's privileged relationship with this sport... Ambassador Rolex and recognized navigator Paul Cayard identifies what makes the Rolex Fastnet Race one of the most demanding competitions in his class.

The Rolex Fastnet Race is the world's largest race in the world and since 2009 has systematically hosted more than 300 participants. This year, a fleet of almost 500 ships manned by about 3,000 crew members from a total of 30 countries is expected to bear witness to their great prestige among the international nautical community.

The Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 begins on Saturday, July 22, in Cowes, Wight Island, England. As is tradition, the output signal will sound from the Royal Yacht Squadron. The Squadron, as it is universally known, has been supported by Rolex since the 1980s and, like the RORC, is considered one of the most important nautical clubs in the world. The legendary 695 nautical mile tour takes place in front of its headquarters

A review of the list of participants of this historic edition indicates that the largest monocasco in length is the American Lucky, 27 meters, which under the name Rambler 88 was the fastest in the 2017 and 2019 editions. At the other end of the spectrum, the smallest ship is the Australian Maluka, with only nine meters, which at the time of its 91 years is also the second most veteran of the fleet, only behind the Moonbeam Fife, launched in 1903.

Since the beginning of collaboration with Rolex, ships between 10 and 22 meters (33 feet and 72 feet) have been made with the Fastnet Challenge Cup and the Rolex watch that are given to the absolute winner, often amateur crews that are imposed on professional rivals at the highest level. The 2021 champion was the British Sunrise, 11.8 meters long, who returns to try the heroicity of defending his title.