Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios secured monohull line honours at the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race on the third day of racing. Crossing the finish line in Cherbourg at 2015 BST, 140 foot (42.6 metre) Monegasque supermaxi’s elapsed time for the 695 nautical mile course was 2 days, 8 hours, 33 minutes and 55 seconds. The newly launched Skorpios used her powerful form to make easy work of the difficult conditions on the first day. The team, growing in confidence on their debut race performance, then extended their lead over their closest rivals on the leg to the Fastnet Rock, before a fast-paced return to the finish cemented a memorable place in the history of the race. The Rolex Fastnet Race is organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and has been partnered by Rolex since 2001. The race is a legendary sporting contest that demands the very best from crews hoping to complete the 695 nautical mile course.
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.