What boat for the Fastnet Race?

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BlueSkyNick

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A purely hypothetical question which came up while day dreaming.

If one was to buy a boat with the intention of entering the Fastnet next year, with a view to getting a reasonable result in a class, what would it be? Qualifying races will also need to be completed.

Something light and quick, with basic accommodation? Or heavy, more sea kindly, and comfortable for staying aboard? What other criteria should be taken into account?

Assume a budget of £100k for purchase and race preparation, so some compromises required.
 
it depends on why you want to do the race, and how you want to do it.

As an out and top-speed performance, getting back home to hot showers and a bbq as soon as possible, or sailing a solid, seaworthy, caring, boat in the company of a crew intent on enjoying the race and doing their best whatever the met circumstances.

Asa rough guess, half your budget on the boat, and half on the upgrading of sails and kit, qualifying races, certification, measuring, food, travel, etc.


£50k would buy me a Beneteau Oceanis, or something like that. Big enough to be fast, large enough to be comfortable, and with the same value at the end of the race as when you started.
 
BlueSkyNick said:
A purely hypothetical question which came up while day dreaming.

If one was to buy a boat with the intention of entering the Fastnet next year, with a view to getting a reasonable result in a class, what would it be? Qualifying races will also need to be completed.

Something light and quick, with basic accommodation? Or heavy, more sea kindly, and comfortable for staying aboard? What other criteria should be taken into account?

Assume a budget of £100k for purchase and race preparation, so some compromises required.
Click to expand...

Interesting question, particularly the bit about fast vs. comfortable. I remember in the 2011 race crossing Mounts Bay on the outward journey, with a lively forecast ahead, seeing Banque Populaire on her way home! However you will want a "bandit" if you are looking for a good result and I've no idea which boat meets that criterion. Sigmas are always popular and you'd get a good one for £55 000, but a First 40.7 has the cockpit space for a big crew in comfort and there are some listed around £65 000. Both of those classes are hotly contested though. These are just a couple of obvious options that I have experience of. An Anderson 22 is too small for RORC, otherwise it would have been the obvious choice.
 
The quick/comfortable compromise depends on your willingness to put up with a certain amount of discomfort and for how long (and how long you want to spend doing the race). A couple of slightly leftfield thoughts

IIRC correctly HOD 35s tend to do quite well in their class, and aren't too stripped out. If there are any for sale, they're pretty good value leaving plenty of cash for some fancy sails and a meticulous race prep.

If you wanted to spend even less money on the boat and are prepared to sink even more into race prep, a Nicholson 33 might be just the ticket for a good result. Google Iromiguy Jean-Yves Chateau if you're wondering what I'm on about.
 
BlueSkyNick said:
A purely hypothetical question which came up while day dreaming.

If one was to buy a boat with the intention of entering the Fastnet next year, with a view to getting a reasonable result in a class, what would it be? Qualifying races will also need to be completed.

Something light and quick, with basic accommodation? Or heavy, more sea kindly, and comfortable for staying aboard? What other criteria should be taken into account?

Assume a budget of £100k for purchase and race preparation, so some compromises required.
Click to expand...

Fast for rating matters.

You could pick up a Sunfast 3200 & do it double handed. Pray for wind. Budget doesn't cover a 3600/JPK 1010.

Archambault a35 for £60,000?
 
AndrewfromFal said:
If you wanted to spend even less money on the boat and are prepared to sink even more into race prep, a Nicholson 33 might be just the ticket for a good result. Google Iromiguy Jean-Yves Chateau if you're wondering what I'm on about.
Click to expand...

You have to pray for the weather, though. Slowest rating boat in the fleet, and be the only people still out there when the wind finally arrives.

Not to say he's not a good sailor who knows his boat intimately.
 
Much depends on the conditions of course - you may get a predominantly heavy windward slog or a sled ride downhill or light stuff from all over the place.

I've done 2 Fastnets, the first way back on a Sigma 36 which was very well sailed with a good crew (even I couldn't screw that up) and we came c5th in class. They are probably all pretty tired by now and most ended up with charter companies I think.

The second was on a Prima 38 again very well sailed with a good crew of 8 and again 5th in class - could be a good contender as fast on all points (17 knots Morgan Cup peak boatspeed reading, bit white knuckle but the boat handled beautifully) plus you should get in budget with enough left for some upgrading as required. Stephen Jones design too like your Starlight - maybe race prep on that could be useful and I imagine the rating would be sensible? Incidentally the Prima won her class 2 year later but without me!

Personally I'm quite happy not to do another Fastnet. Key to success I think is you need to be already doing well in RORC or JOG and have a sound crew, enough helms and good nav.
 
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