Catherine Chabaud | The Red Cigar/Formatives Network, IMOCA

To date only one female skipper has won the Rolex Fastnet Race - French solo sailor Catherine Chabaud (with a full crew) on board her IMOCA 60 Whirlpool-Europe 2 in 1999. 20 years later she is back with her family, racing onboard The Red Cigar/Formatives Network. Sailed by Jean-Marie Patier, the Red Cigar was launched in 1991 for Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, taking him to second place in the 1992-3 Vendee Globe, then going on to complete four more round the world races. It has changed hands several times but has come full circle by Jean-Marie Patier. After being dismasted during an attempted circumnavigation in 2003 Jean-Marie Patier decided to offer his services to Jean-Luc Van Den Heede to help his deliver the boat from Hobart to Les Sables d’Olonne. It took 77 days and kick started Jean-Marie’s sailing career. This is his first Fastnet Race. #RolexFastnetRace