B&G Backs 2025 Admiral’s Cup and Rolex Fastnet Race as Official Partner
B&G® will be front and centre during the 2025 Admiral’s Cup and Rolex Fastnet Race, offering technical support and sponsorship throughout the prestigious regatta series.
This announcement, made in Cowes by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), comes as the Admiral’s Cup returns after a two-decade hiatus. The 2025 edition coincides with the RORC’s 100-year anniversary and ends with the Rolex Fastnet Race, the largest offshore yacht race in the world.
To support teams, B&G is establishing a dedicated Technical Support Hub at Cowes Yacht Haven. Staffed by authorised Navico Group service professionals, the hub will provide expert diagnostics, troubleshooting, and on-site repairs.
As part of the initiative, B&G will also award two exclusive £1,500 vouchers, redeemable through its technical dealers. These prizes recognise outstanding preparation and teamwork.
“We’re proud to support a regatta that’s part of sailing’s global heritage,” says Gemma Davies, Marketing Director EMEA at Navico Group. “Our aim is to help sailors perform at their best.”
Admiral’s Cup returns, Fastnet headlines
The Admiral’s Cup kicks off on 17 July with registration and measurement. The Channel Race begins 19 July, followed by three days of inshore racing. The series culminates in the Rolex Fastnet Race on 26 July.
The Cup now features two-boat teams, representing either a yacht club or a country. This new format simplifies entry and expands access to a broader range of competitive teams.
Classes are split into:
Admiral’s Cup 1: TCC 1.280–1.464 / LOA 13.41–17.20m
Admiral’s Cup 2: TCC 1.100–1.276 / LOA 11.00–13.40m
Scoring includes a double-points Channel Race and a triple-points Rolex Fastnet Race. Inshore racing may include a discard if four or more races are completed.
Race Director Steve Cole says B&G’s support is key:
“This level of technical backing lifts the quality of the regatta for sailors and organisers alike.”
Fastnet Centenary: The world’s largest offshore race
This year’s Rolex Fastnet Race also marks the RORC’s centenary. The Fastnet is the race that started it all in 1925 and has since grown to become the largest offshore race in the world.
In 2023, the 50th edition drew a record 430 yachts, with entries spanning grand prix racers, one-designs, family cruisers, and sailing school teams. Over a quarter of the IRC fleet sailed two-handed.
The Fastnet also attracts the world’s top professional offshore racers—from Class40s and Ocean Fifty trimarans to IMOCA 60s and giant foiling Ultims.
The course covers 695 nautical miles:
Start: Cowes, Isle of Wight
Rounding: Fastnet Rock, off Ireland
Finish: Cherbourg, France
Competitors must manage strong tides, narrow traffic schemes, and tactical upwind legs through the Solent and beyond Land’s End. The race demands seamanship, resilience, and flawless strategy—especially rounding the Alderney Race before the final sprint into Cherbourg.
Port Chantereyne can berth the entire fleet. Local authorities in Cherbourg and Normandy are preparing a major welcome for finishers.
See www.rolexfastnetrace.com for Notice of Race and full entry details.
Peter Burling joins the Fastnet Challenge
In a high-profile development, New Zealand’s Peter Burling will race the 2025 Fastnet aboard the French foiling trimaran SVR-Lazartigue. Burling joins skipper Tom Laperche and offshore legend Franck Cammas in a major return to long-distance multihull racing.
SVR-Lazartigue, a 32-metre foiling Ultim, recently completed an extensive refit. The boat holds the current Fastnet multihull record and is tipped as a frontrunner in 2025.
“These boats are fast, technical, and relentless,” says Burling. “It’s exactly the kind of challenge I thrive on.”
Laperche says Burling brings elite instincts and a team-first attitude. “He’s a natural fit and already pushing us harder.”
Burling’s entry is part of a broader shift in his sailing career. He recently left Emirates Team New Zealand, joined Luna Rossa for the next America’s Cup, and continues to lead New Zealand’s SailGP team, the Black Foils.
