Rolex Fastnet Race: ClubSwan 125 Skorpios takes monohull line honours

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Owner Dmitry Rybolovlev and his daughter Anna participated in their first offshore race; Photos: RORC / Paul Wyeth

Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios took line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race after crossing the finish line in Cherbourg on Tuesday evening, two days 8hrs 35mins 5secs after setting off from Cowes on Sunday morning.

Rybolovlev and his daughter Anna both participated in their first offshore race, as the boat’s professional crew led by Spanish skipper Fernando Echavarri navigated the 695nm course from Cowes, around the Fastnet Rock and back east to Cherbourg.

“We’re very pleased with the boat and we want to thank the whole team for such great efforts,” said Rybolovlev, who also owns and races the ClubSwan 50 Skorpios.

“We were trying to stay conservative, especially in the high wind at the start, but we’re excited to see what the boat can do in future races. Rounding the Fastnet Rock was kind of magical, it felt like a really special moment.”

Skorpios was the fastest monohull in the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race

Skippering the yacht in its first offshore race, Echavarri that admitted he “backed off on speed” while coming out of the Solent at the start, with the recently launched Skorpios eventually coming through a brutal first 12 hours of the race in good shape.

As the breeze softened, Skorpios pulled away from her chief rivals for line honours including George David’s Rambler 88, the 2019 line honours winner, and the strong IMOCA fleet. Echavarri was relieved to have come through the Rolex Fastnet Race with a maiden victory for Skorpios.

Skorpios was competing in its first race since its recent launch

“The boat is very strong. We had an idea of what the boat might be able to do, but we didn’t know for sure, so we learned a lot on this race,” said Echavarri, ISAF Sailor of the Year in 2005 and tactician on Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 50.

“The owner is super happy. He’s a good sailor but new to offshore sailing and he enjoyed the experience a lot. I think there is a very good chance we will be back for the Rolex Fastnet Race.”