Would The Fastnet Founders Give A Fig?

Many are still reeling from news of the Fastnet finish shifting from Plymouth to Cherbourg, but those behind the original race were a varied bunch and some may even have welcomed the innovation

- Clare Mccomb

Many were shocked at the recent news that the Fastnet will finish in Cherbourg rather than Plymouth in 2021 and 2023. There was a cyber roar of outrage, along with a smattering of “Why not?” Some felt you couldn’t shift the Grand National from Aintree or relocate the Centre Court from Wimbledon to Kingston upon Thames, and claim they were the same sporting events. Should we stick with tradition for the sake of it, or innovate to keep up with necessary change?

There is no doubt that Cherbourg will offer a superb welcome, and that the French love offshore racing, but organiser the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) seemed to be stressing the practical advantages at the expense of conserving history. Commodore Steven Anderson described “significant additional” facilities that would enable more sailors to compete. CEO Eddie Warden Owen said: “The founding fathers who competed in 1925 will be proud that the race has survived all these years and seen unprecedented growth.”

It sounded as if Plymouth were being ditched for Cherbourg for administrative benefits, with tradition coming a very poor second to “improved facilities” and “enhanced competitor experience”. The phrase ‘founding fathers’ is a blanket term; those involved in 1925 were a diverse set of individuals and would have had a wide range of reactions – and there would be a huge difference between those organising the race, with their different sense of ownership, and the crews of Jolie Brise, Saladin, North Star, Jessie L, Banba IV, Fulmar and Gull, who turned up on the day.

The RORC is unusual among yacht clubs in that it has a single founder, who gathered and led a committee, drove the project and was created first commodore by acclamation (rather than appointed, as the RORC official website suggests).