Black Jack 100 Claims Monohull Line Honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race

by Bart Salemans 29 Jul 17:25 AEST 29 July 2025

Black Jack 100 Claims Monohull Line Honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

The 100-foot supermaxi Black Jack 100 has claimed line honours in the monohull class of the 51st edition of the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race, held this year in celebration of its 100th anniversary.

Black Jack 100 skippered by Tristan Le Brun crossed the finish line in Cherbourg on Tuesday morning 00:21 BST with a commanding 58 minute lead over fellow 100-footer SHK Scallywag, securing a landmark victory in one of offshore sailing's most iconic and challenging events. Given this year's relatively light winds, her time of 2 days 12 hours 31minutes and 21seconds was well outside the 2 days, 7 hours, 16 minutes and 26 seconds record time MACIF SantéPrévoyance skippered by Charlie Dalin & Pascal Bidegroyy set in 2023' gale force conditions.

Under the leadership of skipper Tristan Le Brun and co-skipper Jelmer van Beek, and with owner Remon Vos himself on board, Black Jack 100 delivered a tactically masterful performance in a race marked by shifting conditions and fierce competition. From the congested start off Cowes - where a record-breaking 444 yachts lined up, the largest fleet in the race's history - to the pivotal rounding of Fastnet Rock, and the final high-speed push into Cherbourg, the crew maintained a relentless pace marked by precision, teamwork, and control.

"This victory is a testament to the talent and determination of all the sailors onboard," said skipper Tristan Le Brun. "We sail with a relatively young and new team. For us It's incredibly special to win the line honours in the centenary edition of such a legendary race."

Black Jack 100 Claims Monohull Line Honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race - photo © Alex Turnbull

The win is even more remarkable given that Black Jack 100 had only one race under her belt this season—the Gotland Runt, which she completed in a new course record of 22 hours and 4 minutes—following an extensive winter refit. The Rolex Fastnet Race marked only her second competitive outing of the year, making this triumph all the more significant.

The race began in Cowes under testing conditions, with a south-westerly wind of 10-12 knots, an ebbing tide, and overcast skies challenging the fleet from the outset. Black Jack 100 managed a strong start and quickly established herself among the frontrunners. By Sunday evening at 23:00:51 BST, she rounded Fastnet Rock in 1 day, 11 hours, 17 minutes, and 8 seconds—just 6 minutes and 17 seconds behind SHK Scallywag and narrowly ahead of Leopard 3, skippered by Joost Schuijff.

Le Brun: "Rounding Fastnet Rock was close to midnight, with strong breeze and sail changes in the dark—it was intense. The boat was on fire, and so was the crew. We didn't make a single mistake. We were fast, precise, and totally focused. That was a big moment for us—we could have been shaken, but we held it together and pushed through."

"And from that moment on, we sailed extremely well," said Jelmer van Beek Black Jack 100's co skipper. "We know she's a powerful boat downwind, and we pushed hard to get the absolute maximum out of her. We sailed her the way she's meant to be sailed—fully dialled in and playing to her strengths."

Black Jack 100 Claims Monohull Line Honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race - photo © Alex Turnbull

By mid-morning Monday, the front of the fleet had turned eastward, navigating between the Scilly Islands and the southern TSS exclusion zone. At that point, Black Jack 100 had surged ahead, extending her lead to 10 nautical miles over SHK Scallywag and 16 miles over Leopard 3—a decisive move that would ultimately secure her line honours victory.

For the international sailing community, this result signals Black Jack 100's return to the top of the offshore racing world. For the team, it marks a defining milestone in their long-term ambitions.

Crew list Black Jack 100 for the Rolex Fastnet Race 2025: