This July, Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) and a crew of 19 young people competed in the 100^th Anniversary year of the RORC Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the most prestigious offshore races in the World.

Having taken part since 2009, this year TSYT entered two of its iconic 72ft Challenger yachts, with a bold vision to break down barriers in sailing and help young people access ocean racing.

Crewed by a combination of ambitious young people, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to take part, and sponsoring adults who pledged to fundraise for a young person’s place. The teams bonded over months of intense training, in preparation for what is known as sailing’s most demanding offshore races.

Meanwhile, First Class Sailing chartered TSYT’s Challenger 4 to give individual sailors the chance to achieve a true ‘bucket list’ ambition of taking on this demanding offshore race. Many of these sailors went a step further, supporting the young people they were competing against by fundraising or making generous donations towards the TSYT Fastnet campaign.

The mission was more than a race for everyone; it was a transformational journey.

How It All Began: The Journey to Fastnet 2025

The road to the TSYT Fastnet race crew began in October 2024, with a gruelling selection process, where 40 ambitious young people, who had already completed its three-voyage programme of Exploration, Empowerment and Leadership, competed for their place. By February, after months of training, 19 exceptional young sailors proved themselves and earnt their place in the crew.

TSYT Youth Crews Launch into Fastnet with Confidence

Setting off on Saturday 26 July under light winds, both crews made strong early progress, over 130 nautical miles in the first 24 hours. After navigating the busy Solent and rounding the Needles, they pushed through the night along the south coast.

Despite early setbacks and tight tacking, spirits stayed high. By Day Two, both boats were racing toward the halfway point: the iconic Fastnet Rock — focused, determined, and ready for the final stretch to Cherbourg.

After 695 nautical miles, all TSYT race crews completed the 100th Rolex Fastnet Race –  an unforgettable test of skill, grit, and teamwork.

From Cowes to Cherbourg, they faced tactical challenges, breathtaking sunsets, and moments of pure magic — including both boats rounding Fastnet Rock together.

Battling fatigue and 2-metre swells, Challenger 1 crossed the finish just after sunrise — met by cameras and a cold (but welcome) shower.

Alastair Floyd, CEO of Tall Ships Youth Trust, added:

“We’re incredibly proud of our two youth crews — 24 racers who successfully completed Fastnet 2025. Their journey began with our Voyage of Exploration and progressed through Empowerment and Leadership voyages, building the skills, resilience, and mindset needed to take on the world’s toughest blue ocean race. Through our Ocean Racing Pathway, they’ve developed teamwork, racing ability, and the confidence to thrive in adulthood and maritime careers.”

Final Placements for TSYT Youth Crews

After an extraordinary offshore effort by both crews, the results in the IRC1 class were as follows:

Challenger 1
– Finished: 07:27 AM, 31 July
– Placement: 61st place in IRC1

Challenger 3
– Finished: 10:16 AM, 31 July
– Placement: 64th place in IRC1

The young people and sponsoring adults worked hard to fundraise to cover the cost of their involvement in Fastnet and support young people on our Ocean Racing Pathway.

We’re thrilled to share that to date an amazing £134,000 has been raised towards the 2025 TSYT Fastnet Campaign!

Sean, TSYT 2025 Fastnet crew member told us…

“There’s something magical about a Fastnet campaign with the Tall Ships Youth Trust. It’s not just the training, the sea survival courses or the qualifying races, it’s the journey you go on personally and as a group; it’s about watching amazing young people develop skills they never knew they had, push themselves and keep smiling. Bizarrely, it’s only on the sail home from the finish in Cherbourg that you realise just how special the opportunity to experience the race with young adults is, and if we could bottle that, the TSYT campaign would be full for the next 20 years!” 

This incredible total is a testament to the power of teamwork, generosity, and determination. We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this possible – from our incredible donors and sponsoring adults to the young people themselves, who put in huge effort to fundraise for their own place on this unforgettable adventure.

Discover What’s Next for TSYT

Building on this success, Tall Ships Youth Trust’s Ocean Racing Pathway forms the next step in a young person’s journey. This pathway aligns with our three-voyage programme of Exploration, Empowerment and Leadership, and is designed to give young people the chance to build resilience, develop leadership, and experience the challenges of offshore racing.

The young people on this pathway, have the opportunity to build on their ocean racing skills and compete to be part of the TSYT Fastnet 2027 race crew.

This is all part of our mission to break down barriers in sailing and give the next generation life-changing experiences at sea.

Click HERE to sign up for the 2027 campaign

For more information, media enquiries, or to get involved, please contact:
Hannah Langley, Fundraising Manager hannah.langley@tallships.org 02392 832055