With 300 yachts already registered for the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race, the Royal Ocean Racing Club has taken the unprecedented step of closing the entry list three months ahead of the date set in the Notice of Race.

Eddie Warden Owen, RORC Chief Executive summed up the Club’s feelings: “Naturally, we are delighted at the level of interest shown in race once again. The Rolex Fastnet is one of our flagship events and reaching the entry limit so early is wonderful news for the RORC and for the sport of offshore yacht racing, especially in these testing times”.

The Fastnet is a 608 nautical-mile offshore race. All yachts registered have to undergo a rigorous qualification process to comply with the entry requirements before being allocated a confirmed place in the race. The entry criteria are in place to ensure that crews are suitably prepared for all conditions.

All is not lost for those interested who have missed the cut, since the RORC has started a waiting list. Prospective competitors who have not already entered the Rolex Fastnet Race should register themselves and their boats online at http://remus.rorc.org and then email fastnet@rorc.org.uk confirming their wish to be added to the waiting list; emails should include the boat name and sail number in the subject field of the email.

(Those waiting can take encouragement from Ger O’Rouke and Chieftain – the overall winner of the 2007 Rolex Fastnet. Chieftain was only confirmed as entered during the week leading up to the start.)

For more information, visit fastnet.rorc.org .