Best way to find a boat for Fastnet 2025
Posted by -Rizhiy-@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 5 comments
Hey, I want to participate in Fastnet 2025 and was wondering what is the best way to find a place on a boat?
I've looked around and various schools offer opportunity to take part for about ~£4-5k, which seems a bit pricey. I understand that it will be popular since it is 100th year anniversary, but typical one week course usually costs ~£700, so 7x markup seems a bit steep.
Are there any forums/channels where I can look for a boat?
For reference, I have ~800M and passed YMC exam last year. Have participated in a few races as a crew, but only day-time.
JuggernautMean4086@reddit
What did William F Buckley write about ocean racing? If I remember correctly, he likened it to “standing in an ice-cold shower while ripping up one hundred dollar bills..”
You gotta make sure you’re a crew member worth ripping up those bills. Sailing rarely begets profiteering, those passage dues are probably enough to simply stem the blood loss a bit.
Practice being cold and wet and awake for long periods of time and doing what you’re told without complaint, even when you’re at wits end, and you’ll be golden.
wevanscfi@reddit
You need to be doing a some overnight and multi day races. It sounds like you are building experience which is good, but if you don’t want to buy your way in you still need to build more experience.
Your best shot at getting a ride is probably to find a boat that does the Fastnet and try to get on as crew with them for more local events.
Beelzabub@reddit
Able bodied crew on a very expensive piece of equipment running hard 24/7? Unless you're a member of the RORC, it's very, very unlikely. What's the rest of the boat supposed to do if you get seasick at the start? Ocean racing is an entirely different animal, like a 5k run versus a five day all out marathon.
-Rizhiy-@reddit (OP)
I mean there is practice beforehand, I'm not implying that I will just rock up for that race only.
Beelzabub@reddit
5 days in cold cramped quarters. Wet and hungry. 'Hot' bunking. Swedish watch rotation? Do a 24 hour race offshore, then multiply by 10 for discomfort.
But, if it was me, I'd contact the race organizers to obtain a list of entrants, then start contacting the owners. They'll tell you whether there's a spot for you.