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Posadka jadrnice Esimit Europa 2, ki tekmuje za Jadralno zvezo Slovenije, je zmagovalka prestižne regate, imenovane Fastnet Race. Za 18-člansko ekipo jadralskih asov – Jochen Schümann (skiper), Andrew Cape (navigator), Jordi Calafat (taktik) in Alberto Bolzan (krmar) –, v kateri je tudi Igor Simčič, je bil cilj doseči še 25. zaporedno zmago.
Start se je za ekipo začel slabo, vetrovne razmere so bile slabe, a vendarle je v nadaljevanju "posijalo sonce", pogoji so se izboljšali, s 611 navtičnih milj dolgo progo pa so opravili prvi in izpolnili zastavljeni cilj. "Nedvomno je bil Rolex Fastnet Race eden največjih izzivov doslej. Velika želja je bila nastopiti na regati, z zmago pa so se mi uresničile sanje. Z ekipo smo opravili izjemno delo, razmere na vodi pa niso bile najboljše,“ je uvodoma po zmagi povedal Simčič.
"Rolex Fastnet Race se je še enkrat izkazal za izjemno zahtevno preizkušnjo. Utrujeni smo, a obenem zelo zadovoljni zaradi rezultata. To je bila preizkušnja, sestavljena z dveh delov. Uvodoma je hitrost vetra znašala med 16 in 20 vozli, nato pa je je stanje slabšalo. Vseskozi smo morali paziti na posadko ICAP Leopard, saj smo se zavedali njihove moči. Voditi večji del regate in prečkati ciljno črto prvi je velika čast," je dodal skiper Schümann.
ROLEX FASTNET RACE - Obvestilo za medije
The world's largest offshore yacht race sets sail this Sunday, 11th August, with a fleet of 347 boats from 20 nations competing in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race. This size of fleet represents a new record entry for the 611-mile biennial race from Cowes to Plymouth via the Fastnet rock off south-west Ireland.
With the economic downturn, other yacht races have been at best static in terms of participation, but in comparison the Rolex Fastnet Race represents a phenomenal success story with the entry list having had to close less than 24 hours after opening due to extreme demand.
"It is a little bit difficult to understand," admits Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, Mike Greville. "We have the professional crews, but the bulk of the fleet are just amateurs, here because they want to do it, because of the adventure, the achievement, it being on their bucket list, etc. For some people it is their Everest. Or there are others, like me, for whom it is like a pilgrimage."
First run in 1925, the Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the best known yacht races in the world, partly due to the 1979 race when the fleet was struck by un-forecast bad weather that ultimately claimed 18 lives. Today weather forecasting is vastly improved, as well as the safety equipment and communications equipment with which the boats are equipped. But the Rolex Fastnet Race remains a story of man battling against the elements. In reasonably severe weather two years ago, the keel fell off the leading monohull, Rambler 100, causing her to capsize. Fortunately, her crew were successfully rescued by the Baltimore lifeboat, but it highlights that this race has lost none of its potential danger.