Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Quokka set sail on the 2011 Rolex Fasnet, with a podium position firmly in their sights. After having won St Malo overall, 1st in class in DeGuingand and secured a 3rd place in the Channel Race these weren't unrealistic expectations and the team led by Philippe Falle, secured line honours in class IRC 2.
The team worked tirelessly throughout the race, and the entire crew stayed on the rail for the final evening, even throwing their cutlery overboard to keep the boat light (oh - no, apparently that was accidental).
Philippe's personal blog records the atmosphere on board; "Throughout the night a dedicated, loyal and determined group of individuals showed that they had the qualities to win. The singing, laughing and enthusiastic chatter was testimony to the commitment of the team onboard Quokka. Winning the Fastnet Race with only 14 hours to go was a dream that was quietly slipping away as the distance we needed to pull out on the chase group was becoming an almost impossible challenge. That night Quokka was alive and we felt at one with her. The trimming was relentless and the energy on board was astonishing, giving us the drive to keep pushing all the way to the finish."
A fantastic result for Team Quokka, who also took home the Rolex Fastnet Race Schoolboat Trohy. Pictured here are the team after collecting their trophy at the end of race prize-giving. The team also collected a RORC Medallion for their corrected finishing position of 3rd in division 2A (5th in Class 2, 10th overall).
Well done to Team Quokka as well as the crews of the six other Sailing Logic yachts, many of whom had very little offshore racing experience when they signed up, and have dedicated so much time and energy to the entire campaign. If you fancy being part of something amazing, which represents both a mental and physical challenge, join us for the next Fastnet Race in 2013!
And if you can't wait that long, the Round Ireland Campaign in 2012 could be perfect for you!
