The first boat to successfully complete this year's dramatic Fastnet race came into harbour about an hour ago, crossing the finishing line at 8:58 and 53 seconds this morning.
It was the ICAP Leopard 3 who was home and dry ahead of the pack - a canting keel maxi in class super zero, sail number GBR1R. She covered the distance from Fastnet Rock in just under 15 hours after rounding the rock around 6pm last night. The full 600 mile course took only 44 hours and 18 minutes to complete, which knocks a whole 8 hours and 50 minutes off the former record of 2 days 5 hours and 8 minutes, set by RF Yachting in 1999.
The race that continues behind her is now sadly reduced from 300 starters to 107 persevering crews. Appalling conditions, including persistent force 8 winds, have forced the rest of the fleet to withdraw, including MainSail editor Cathy Brown aboard her Grand Soleil 40, Brave.
Crews that have been forced to pull out of the race now face the long frustrating sail home, leaving the Fastnet behind them. Meanwhile, back on the course, the race is by no means over.
The team in the lighthouse in Plymouth, where the Fastnet finishes, reports that Rambler, sail number USA25555, also in class super zero, is expected to be the next finisher.
TheMainSail's Roxanna Maynard is in the lighthouse, bringing us all the latest news as it takes place. More from her later; in the meantime, keep an eye on the RORC Fastnet website for further developments.
