A hundred-foot yacht competition in the centennial Fastnet Race: BlackJack clinches match race for single-hulled title winners
BlackJack 100 Wins Monohull Line Honours in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race
In a thrilling display of sailing prowess, the BlackJack 100 emerged victorious in the monohull line honours of the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race. The 30.5 meter supermaxi yacht completed the 695 nautical mile course in a time of 2 days, 12 hours, 31 minutes, and 21 seconds[1][2][4].
The race, which marked its 100th anniversary, was a challenging one, featuring complex tides and varied winds. The BlackJack 100's victory is a testament to the skill and tenacity of its crew[1][4].
The competition was fierce, with the BlackJack 100 and SHK Scallywag, skippered by David Witt, often engaged in a duel throughout the race. The boats were constantly involved in tacking duels and sail changes[4].
The race began with SHK-Scallywag taking the early lead out of the Solent. However, as the race progressed, BlackJack 100 started to gain ground. The boats split at Alderney, with BlackJack 100 heading south and SHK-Scallywag taking a straight line north[3].
As the BlackJack 100 approached the Channel Isles, it extended its advantage to 20 miles. The yacht also gained a slight advantage on the reach east towards the Scillies TSS. Tristan Le Brun, skipper of BlackJack, explained that the boats were using each other's dirty air to try and stall their opponent[4].
In the final miles, BlackJack 100 added maneuvers to pick up favourable tide, which affected the handling of the yacht. Despite SHK-Scallywag closing the gap to around 7 miles, it was not able to catch BlackJack 100[3].
The BlackJack 100's victory follows a course record at the Gotland Runt earlier in 2025, after an extensive winter refit[4]. A full interview with skipper Le Brun will be available tomorrow.
[1] Rolex Fastnet Race 2025: BlackJack 100 Wins Monohull Line Honours
[2] BlackJack 100 Crosses Finish Line to Win Monohull Line Honours in Rolex Fastnet Race
[3] BlackJack 100 Wins Monohull Line Honours in Rolex Fastnet Race
[4] BlackJack 100 Wins Rolex Fastnet Race
The BlackJack 100's dominance in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race extends beyond the monohull line honors, as it has showcased impressive sports-performance throughout the race, particularly in its sailing tactics and maneuvers. The crew's extensive training and strategy in sports-analysis were crucial to their victory against the fierce competition.
