2019 FAST40+ Race Circuit: Gloves Off for Round One

After an highly successful training regatta, the gloves are off for Round One of the FAST40+ Race Circuit with eight FAST40+ teams expected in the combat zone for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2019 Vice Admiral's Cup. 2019 FAST40+ Class Race Circuit kicks off Friday 10th - Sunday 12th May. Eight races are scheduled in the Solent on fast and furious windward leeward courses, and round the cans style races.

Niklas Zennstrom's Carkeek designed FAST40+ Rán will be the boat to beat, having joined the class last year and winning the 2018 FAST40+ Race Circuit. Rán's Tim Powell has confirmed the crew squad, which continues to feature young talented amateurs, eager to learn the dark arts from world class sailors. The core of the team have been racing together for many years in the 52 Super Series and on the Maxi72 Circuit; Niklas Zennstrom on helm, Tim Powell on main, Justin Slattery in the Pit, and Steve Hayles on Runners. Double 470 World Champion Nic Asher will be racing as tactician.

2017 FAST40+ Race Circuit Champion skipper Peter Morton will be racing CF40+ Girls on Film with his Cowes based team. The Girls on Film Boat Captain Nick Butt, confirms that Team Ineos' Ben Cornish will be racing, as an early season stand in for World Match Racing Champion Gerry Mitchell. Multiple world champion Will Beavis will be joining the team, sharing roles with round the world sailor Jason Carrington. Chris Dorey joins the team on the sharp end of Girls on Film.

Mike Bartholomew's South African flagged Tokoloshe II has been campaigning his GP42 since 2016, David Bartholomew is the Boat Captain and occasional helm. Scotland's Steve Cowie racing GP42 Zephyr will be taking part in his fourth FAST40+ Race Circuit, as will James Neville's South Coast of England team, racing Ino XXX.

Last year, impressive debutants Olivia & Niall Dowling, will be racing in the 2019 FAST40+ Race Circuit with their Ker40+ renamed as Arabella. Kiwi Jared Henderson will be sailing Arabella, bringing experience from two around-the-world races, four America's cups, and the 52 Super Series.

There is a switch around for FAST40+ Class Chairman Tony Dickin, who purchased the Carkeek Mk3 Rebellion pre-season for a tilt at the 2019 title. Now renamed Jubilee, multiple world champion Kevin Sproul joins the team as tactician. Tony Dickin's previous FAST40+ is now under the charge of Ed Fishwick. Renamed Redshift. Ed Fishwick's team had a glorious baptism of fire this month, winning overall in a fleet of 108 yachts in the 30-knot, 160-mile RORC Cervantes Trophy Race. Redshift's team includes Hannah Diamond and Dave Swete from the Volvo Ocean Race, and will be skippered by Figaro exponent, Nick Cherry.

“This is the fourth full season of racing with a mixture of new faces to the class along with seasoned committed owners wanting another season of great racing in these boats,” commented FAST40+ Class Manager, Stuart Childerley. “There is also interest in a further three new boats being commissioned this summer for the 2020 race circuit. Two existing FAST40+ boats are available for sale or charter – Hitchhiker and 42° South. Some boats have made small changes during the winter break, although the boats all remain very closely banded using IRC rating. FAST40+ Class Rules have been updated, now calculating keel fin weights and rating this under the class rule.”

The RORC Vice Admiral's Cup is Round One of the 2019 FAST40+ Race Circuit. The six regatta 2019 FAST40+ Race Circuit promises thrilling high speed action for the owner-driver class. A total of 50 races are scheduled with six discards available for the total points score for the season.