Killing Time and Seventh Sun were part of a 450-strong fleet competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, a 695-nautical-mile course which sees yachts leave Cowes in the Isle of Wight, sail around Fastnet Rock off the southern tip of Ireland, before doubling back and finishing in Cherbourg in France.
Killing Time had a full crew of six, including five Guernsey sailors onboard, while Seventh Sun was manned by husband-and-wife team Carol-Anne and Richard Stapley.
Mr Stapley said he and his wife – competing in the event for the first time on its 100th anniversary – were one of about 80 double-handed teams taking part.
He admitted to finding the race quite difficult.
‘As there are just two of you on the boat you’re constantly having to think about what you’re doing in terms of navigation, other stuff on the boat, and then trying to squeeze in some sleep and eating when you can.
‘We loved the experience, but it was really hard.’
Mrs Stapley said, while other crews had reported back good sailing conditions, she and her husband had not found the weather the most straightforward to come to terms with.
‘Sailing round Fastnet Rock itself there was a force 6-7 wind, and generally after getting round the rock it was quite windy and rough for the second half of the race.
‘It cost us quite a lot of time, we ended up sailing about 840 miles compared to the 695 the race is marketed as.’
The couple eventually made it to Cherbourg at about 10pm last Thursday evening.
‘It was hard but there were some fantastic moments, seeing minke whales off Fastnet was amazing, and the coast of Ireland in general was beautiful,’ Mr Stapley said.
‘I think for our next race we might focus on something a bit shorter though.’
The Killing Time crew was comprised of Alistair Bisson, his son Max, Emile Le Compte, Sam Peek and Du Preez Vermeulen, as well as Dutch sailor Carlo Vroon.
Mr Bisson, who like Mr Peek and Mr Vermeulen had sailed the Fastnet race before, said the crew was ‘happy enough’ with their performance, having arrived in Cherbourg at about 1am on Thursday morning – four and a half days after starting the race.
‘It was very atmospheric going around Fastnet Rock, we basically went right underneath it.
‘Two years ago when I last did it there were three storms, so this time it was always likely to be a bit easier.’
Both crews said the atmosphere arriving into Cherbourg was something they would remember forever.
‘It was like a festival, there were bands playing, just this sense of great achievement at making it back,’ Mrs Stapley said.
Mr Le Compte, a student who was taking part in his first Fastnet race, said he had loved the experience.
‘This is by far the longest race I’ve ever done. Going from doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award earlier this year sailing from Guernsey to the UK to doing something like this is crazy, but definitely something I want to do more of in future.’
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