Japan’s Team Milai joins Rolex Fastnet Race

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French sailor Anne Beaugé and Japan’s Masa Suzuki and Koji Nakagawa

The limited Asian participation in the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race has increased following the entry of Milai in the Class40 division as her three-strong crew prepare to compete in the 2022-23 Globe 40 round-the-world race.

A record fleet of over 450 boats are expected to compete in this year’s Rolex Fastnet, which starts in Cowes on August 8 and will conclude for the first time in France. The new finish in Cherbourg – instead of Plymouth – extends the course from 608nm to 695nm.

Masa Suzuki and Koji Nakagawa will race the Rolex Fastnet for the first time

Early entries with an Asian connection included Japan’s Hiroshi Kitada, who returns to the UK with his Pogo S3 Kiho as he competes in the popular Class40, which featured 41 entries as of mid-June.

US-based Hiroshi Nakajima will skipper Hiro Maru – a Sparkman & Stephens 49 launched in 1971 as Scaramouche – in IRC 3 again after making their Rolex Fastnet debut in 2019, fresh from winning their class in the Transatlantic Race from Newport to Cowes.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-flagged Double Edge, a Corby 38 owned by Chris Schram, will compete in IRC Two-Handed, a hugely popular class with 89 entries by June.

Masa Suzuki completed the Mini Transat in 2019

However, Milai was a relatively late addition to the line-up and will feature Japanese duo Masa Suzuki and Koji Nakagawa with French sailor Anne Beaugé, who manages the 2010-built Pogo S2 from its base in Lorient, France.

Team Milai was formed after Suzuki and Beaugé, both accomplished solo sailors, finished the Mini Transat in 2019. Nakagawa, a businessman based in Japan with a strong sailing background, then approached the pair about creating a team to race around the world in the Globe 40.

“The Rolex Fastnet is legendary, part of the history of sailing,” says Suzuki

Suzuki said: “We’re competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race for the thrill of a great event that features so many boats and classes. We aim to finish safely, have fun on the water and develop our skills on the boat as we aim to qualify for the Globe 40.

“The Rolex Fastnet is legendary, part of the history of sailing. It’s an interesting mix between sailors from the UK and France and elsewhere, and between professionals and amateur sailors. The starting line looks to be a challenge itself along with the strong current in the English Channel.”