Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) has taken part in the RORC Rolex Fastnet Race since 2009, enabling adults and young people from all over the UK to compete in one of sailing’s most prestigious global events.
In 2025 two crews of young people and sponsoring adults competed in the 100th Anniversary Rolex Fastnet Race, united by one goal – to challenge themselves at sea. Over five intense days our crews faced shifting winds, powerful spring tides, long night watches and life-changing moments. Challenger 1 and Challenger 3 rounded the legendary Fastnet Rock together, a rare and unforgettable moment.
Continuing on this achievement, TSYT are entering two of its iconic Challenger Yachts into the 2027 RORC Rolex Fastnet Race, and we are offering a group of young people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity, and sponsoring adults to join as part of our race crew.
This is your chance to take part in this world-famous offshore race while sponsoring a young person who is living with disadvantage, so they can have the same life-changing opportunity!
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 actually is, and if we could bottle that, the TSYT campaign would be full for the next 20 years!”
Young people need chances to thrive and change their lives. Without life chances, they can feel like they are defined only by their circumstances, which can leave them feeling disaffected, socially isolated, with low self-esteem and a lack of aspirations.
There are huge financial and social barriers to sailing, particularly to offshore racing. Our ocean racing pathway aims to break down those barriers for young people, through creating opportunities to race in the ultimate challenging environment, and enabling young people to compete in one of sailing’s most prestigious global events.
We’re not just looking for adults who want to crew the Fastnet Race. We want people to join the team and be part of the journey. We’re offering an opportunity to be a part of the youth development pathway by committing to fundraising alongside a young person to cover the cost of their campaign place. We’re asking you to help us make this a reality for 16 young people from across the UK by committing to fundraise as part of your TSYT Fastnet place.
When the Fastnet training began I was struggling with self-confidence, and the Fastnet campaign helped me to become who I wanted to be, a more confident and self-assured person. The campaign also supported my growth in leadership skills. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to develop not only as a sailor but as a person.
The Rolex Fastnet Race is a legendary biennial offshore yacht race, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), a challenging 600+ nautical mile course that starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight, rounds the Fastnet Rock off Ireland before finishing in Cherbourg, France.
It’s exhilarating, it’s challenging, it’s one of the toughest offshore races in the world, and by participating with Tall Ships Youth Trust it becomes more than just the race of a lifetime – it truly helps changes young lives at sea.
This prestigious race is a bucket list for many sailors, it tests your limits in long distance offshore sailing with night watches, potential heavy weather sailing, and big boat spinnaker use. Seeing the Fastnet Rock up close and personal, taking on the Irish sea and the Atlantic is an epic adventure!
You will compete aboard safe, purpose-built racing yachts designed to withstand the toughest conditions, with a professional crew who have a collective Fastnet experience spanning over a decade. Our 72ft steel Challenger yachts were originally built to sail around the world against the prevailing winds meaning they are extremely safe and robust vessels that excel at racing too.
This is not a passenger experience – as race crew you will work with the young people sharing your life experience to build and develop an effective team. You’ll have an opportunity to be involved with everything from planning the watch system and the food to start line tactics and navigation.
There are almost 100 passionate young people on our ocean racing pathway, many of them are living with disadvantage, and without our support, they simply would not have access to sailing and ocean racing.
We take them through a grueling training and selection process, and ultimately, the chance to compete in one of the most demanding offshore races in the World; the 2027 Rolex Fastnet Race.
For some, this pathway will also opens doors to thrilling career opportunities in the maritime industry and the growing blue economy.
Click the link below to find out more about our Ocean Racing Programme and how you can help kick-start a young person’s racing journey.
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