Fastnet Race Day 2 0900: The strong to gale force south-westerlies headwinds, occasionally hitting 40 knots with dense air and poor visibility, have made the destructive first cold, wet night of the 450-boat Fastnet Race 2023 into an endurance test, and by dawn this morning (Sunday), more than a hundred boats had retired, including such frontline craft as Ran, Oystercatcher XXX5, Winsome and Privateer, with Irish in the departure list, including Checkmate XX from Howth and Big Deal from Foynes.
Some idea of the conditions to be expected in open water can be gauged from this vid of the start and racing while still mainly in the shelter of the Solent:
EXCEPTIONAL VARIETY OF SPEED POTENTIAL
The extraordinary variety and speed potentials of the fleet have been almost cruelly demonstrated, as the two giant Ultime trimarans from France, SVR Lazartique (Francois Gabart) and Banque Populaire (Armel Le Cleac'h), will both have rounded the Fastnet by the time this story appears, yet the leading monohulls are still only getting clear of the Land's End area.
However, the monos have seen a change of emphasis, for although the flying IMOCA 60s were still dominant as night drew on, the powerful challenge of American Bryon Erhart's canting-keel Lucky (formerly Rambler 88) has come battering through, and the only IMOCA still ahead of her for mono-hull honours is Paprek Arkea.
The best-placed Irish are the Murphy family's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo from Cork, Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom from Howth, and Mike O'Donnell's J/121 Darkwood, Solent-based but very determinedly Royal Irish YC. All three are currently south of Start Point on the Devon coast.
The astonishing performance of Australian Sean Langman's 1932-vintage 30ft gaff cutter Maluka, with Gordon Maguire on the strength, is a matter of continuing delight as they slog gallantly on, still with a very long way to go but second overall on IRC 4 and first in IRC 4B.
WINDS EASED, AND DIRECTIONAL CHANGE EXPECTED
The currently lighter southwest-to-west winds will change direction as the dominant low-pressure area over the north of England continues its long-curving progress east and north towards Norway. In its wake, the forecast is for a quite rapid change in wind direction to northerly and even northeast winds, which will do nothing to lessen the impression of remarkably cold weather for July.