Our associate, Dom Bulfin, will be taking part in the 2019 Fastnet Race which sees competitors sail from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, around Fastnet Rock, off the south west coast of Ireland, and across the finish line in Plymouth.

The Fastnet Race is considered the jewel in the British offshore racing calendar marking the final race of the offshore season for many of the British boats entering.

In order to take part in this 600 mile race, entrants must complete a number of qualification races and training courses all designed to minimise the chance of a repeat of the 1979 Fastnet Race in which, of 303 vessels entered, only 85 finished and 194 retired. Among the retirees were 24 abandoned vessels of which 5 were never recovered, presumed sunk. 15 sailors lost their lives in what must be considered the biggest disaster in British yachting history and one which has changed the way we consider safety in yacht design and crew preparation.

This week Dom attended an Ocean Safety and Survival at Sea course at the Hamble School of Yachting, led by Roger Seymour and Steve Nottingham, both knowledgeable yachtsmen with decades of experience in ocean sailing.

See the first photos and videos of Dom’s weekend by following the below link: 

https://twitter.com/BulfinDominic?lang=en

If you want to keep up to date with Dom’s exploits on the water then please do follow him on Twitter at @BulfinDominic, or you can find him on LinkedIn. We will also be posting more detailed blog items throughout the year as Dom shares his experiences on the road to Fastnet 2019.