The final stretch has begun for organisers in Cherbourg-enCotentin - the finish port of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
In three months, the Race Village will open its doors on the Plage Vert from 24th July to 1st August for nine days of festivities. This edition marks the race’s 100th anniversary and the centenary of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
This will be the third time this mythical race has finished in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, and in 2023 the event attracted over 130,000 visitors to the Fastnet Race Village. This year, the Cherbourg Fastnet Arrival Association, which collaborates with the RORC, aims to exceed this figure.
"The event is starting to take root," explains Manuela Mahier, President of the Cherbourg Fastnet Arrival Association. Every two years at the end of July the Cotentin Peninsula becomes the unmissable meeting place for Normans who come to celebrate the sailors of the race.
While the race route remains unchanged (starting from Cowes in England, rounding Fastnet Rock off the coast of Ireland, and finishing in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin), the programme of festivities has been enhanced, and new features have emerged.
WELCOME: The race is due to attract an exceptional fleet of 480+ boats, comprising 4,500 professional and amateur sailors from 40 different nations, ranging in age from 14 to 81. From Ultimes, IMOCAs, Ocean Fifties and Class40s, plus the diversity of IRC boats, it promises to be an unforgettable spectacle. Among the competitors, renowned skippers and sailors who have participated in the Vendée Globe, will be present in the region. A massive influx of boats will arrive in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin starting July 24th, for which a reception plan has been developed with all nautical and port stakeholders. All teams will be mobilised during the pre-start and arrival phases, and the infrastructure will be reinforced by the installation of additional moorings and pontoons.
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CELEBRATE: Once the finish line is crossed, the crews will be celebrated with daily awards ceremonies, Monday through Friday, for each boat class. Each skipper will be invited to share their racing experience with the public. The awards ceremonies at 1800 will be followed by concerts to prolong the celebratory moments.
SHARE: The Cherbourg Fastnet Arrival Association is committed to sharing their passion for sailing, and more broadly for boating, with as many people as possible. To this end, activities at sea will be held to introduce visitors to various water sports; sailing, kayaking, rowing, etc. Masterclasses will also be offered every day at 1500 with opportunities to chat with experts, skippers and renowned figures who will share their experiences. Friendly gatherings, in the form of open-air roundtable discussions or live podcasts, will allow visitors to discuss various topics related to sailing, racing and the marine environment. Finally, the pontoons will be accessible, free of charge and without registration, from 1100 to 2000 to allow the public to visit the boats.
COLLABORATE: The success of such a project is due to the desire of the local authorities - the City of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the Cotentin Urban Community, the Manche Department, and the Normandy Region - to reaffirm the nautical character and dynamism of the area. This is also made possible by the support of their partners and collaborative work with local businesses who are working together to best meet their ambitions and those of the RORC.
CELEBRATE: The Rolex Fastnet Race Village at the finish will continue to offer its distinctive diversity of onshore entertainment. Thus, based on clearly identified themes, local associations and service providers will offer activities every day starting at 1100 for children (creative activities, face painting, inflatable structures, etc.) and even a unique merry-go-round. Families will be able to enjoy pétanque courts, giant darts and friendly games. Every evening at 1900 the village will resound with free salsa, funk, rock and disco concerts. On Friday, August 1st, a special U2 closing concert will set the Plage Verte ablaze.
RAISING AWARENESS: The race is also an opportunity to raise awareness with as many people as possible about ocean racing and the passion for sailing. A variety of fun content will be offered on social media, as well as in the village, where an exhibition will be set up to present the race and the host region. A fun and educational kit will allow young visitors to familiarise themselves with the race, thanks to a specially designed holiday booklet. Finally, ambassadors – Louis Duc (2024 Vendée Globe finisher), Alexis Loison (all-category winner of the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race and multiple winner of RORC races), and Maëlenn Lemaitre (four-time women's match racing world champion) – will take turns throughout the week to share their diverse sailing experiences.
PROMOTE: To showcase the richness of the Normandy region and promote local expertise, the organisers will welcome a wide variety of exhibitors, offering visitors an authentic culinary and artisanal experience. Exhibitors ‘made in Normandy’ will be present throughout these nine days. This will be an opportunity to showcase the strengths of the region internationally and to highlight the local presence of all these talented players. Food trucks will offer a varied culinary offering. There will be something for every taste and desire. To complete this Norman village, the official race bar will be run by a local brewery that won a medal at the 2025 Salon de l'Agriculture: the Amer workers.
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VIBRATE: Finally, the ultimate goal will be to thrill the audience in unison with the sailors and create a memorable spectacle. Some of the fleet will be welcomed in Cherbourg-En-Cotentin before they head to Cowes for the start, with a Skipper Presentation on Thursday, July 24th at 1800. On Friday July 25th, as the boats leave the quayside, they will be greeted by waves of encouragement. Then, the live broadcast of the start from Cowes will be shown on a giant screen in the Race Village in Cherbourg, with a continuously updated race tracker, and the arrivals throughout the week will allow the public to experience every moment of the race.
With three months to go until the opening of the village, the organising team is eager to welcome the public and share this extraordinary human and sporting adventure. The countdown has begun!
