The Rolex Fastnet Race took place last Saturday 22nd July, and a number of hardy souls fought the stormy weather to watch from Hurst Castle, Milford on Sea beach or the cliff top.
The race however proved to be anything other than smooth sailing.
It is also one of those rare events where weekend sailors can truly take on the professionals.
The race is a 605 mile sail from Cowes, Isle of Wight, to Cherbourg, via the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland and back to Plymouth.
This year's race proved to be a very busy day for the Yarmouth RNLI and HM Coastguard, with multiple call-outs to sailors in distress. At around 5pm, the RNLI crew were called to the shifting sands and shingles of Dolphin Bank, west of The Needles Lighthouse. The weather had force of six / seven winds, waves of three to four metre swells in the rough sea, and poor visibility.
On arriving, the Yarmouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat found the devastating sight of a sunken vessel leaving the two crew in an inflatable life raft awaiting rescue.
The RNLI successfully transferred both casualties back to Yarmouth Harbour where an ambulance awaited their arrival to treat minor injuries sustained whilst evacuating the sinking vessel onto their life raft.
This year the fastest boat completed the Fastnet course in just 28 hours, the slowest took over six days.
The RNLI had to contend with four dismastings, illness on board, and of course the sinking yacht.
To read the full RNLI account of the day, please click here.
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