The Dutch Lutra 52 Tonnerre de Breskens owned by Piet Vroon has been a regular feature of the Solent’s bigger regattas for many years. The long-time RORC member can finally celebrate winning one of them.

“I have been a member of the RORC for a long time and done countless races including 20 Fastnets. We have raced a lot in the UK before and been class champion for a number of years, but if we win this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, it will be for the first time.

“The weather has suited us this year as this is a good upwind boat. We have a multinational crew with Peter Bowker from the US navigating as well as crew from Australia, Belgium, Holland and UK. It will be really nice to win as it is unlikely it will ever happen again. We have been second in class before and third but we’ve never won.”

Vroon’s victory was confirmed last night at 1600. He will collect one of the two Rolex chronometers up for grabs at tonight’s prizegiving in Plymouth Guildhall.