France's Bonafous becomes first woman skipper to win Fastnet in an IMOCA

Elodie Bonafous carved out a slice of offshore racing history on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to win the IMOCA class in the Rolex Fastnet Race after a nail-biting duel that went down to the wire.

The 29-year-old French sailor, skippering the freshly launched Association Petits Princes–Queguiner IMOCA with Vendee Globe veteran Yann Elies aboard, crossed the line in Cherbourg just seven minutes ahead of Jeremie Beyou's Charal after more than two days of racing in a record 444-strong fleet.

Bonafous held her nerve through a tense final night of drifting conditions and tactical gambles that saw the lead change hands in dramatic fashion.

After guiding her crew around Fastnet Rock at the front of the pack, she was briefly overhauled by rivals in the Channel.

But the breakthrough moment came east of Guernsey, where Bonafous fought back to reclaim top spot in what turned into a gripping match race with Charal that came down to the final miles.

“We are very happy to be here,” Bonafous said, beaming upon her arrival. “We are in good shape. It was tight at the end. It was a great victory."

Sailing a boat launched only in February, Bonafous blended smarts, steel and speed to outfox some of the IMOCA fleet's biggest names and her victory marked a defining moment in the race's centenary edition, delivering a masterclass in timing and tenacity that will be remembered as a watershed moment for women in offshore sailing.

Beyou was sanguine at settling for second place. “When the wind is steady, I think we are quicker, but when it's light, we are stuck. But it was a lot of fun and it was never over until the finish," he said.

"This was a very classic Fastnet race, upwind to the Rock and then the wind coming from behind on the way back.

"It was nice to sail with a crew on the IMOCA and to race it at 100% so you could carry out all the strategic tacks and gybes you wanted. It's always intense in an IMOCA race, but a bit more like this.”

The IMOCA class (International Monohull Open Class Association) is a fleet of cutting-edge, 60-foot offshore racing yachts designed for competition in some of the world’s toughest ocean races.

IMOCAs are characterised by their lightweight carbon construction, towering masts and distinctive “Dali” foils that lift the hull partially out of the water to reduce drag.

The biennial Fastnet Race traces a challenging 695-nautical miles course from Cowes on England's Isle of Wight around Ireland's famous Fastnet Rock before finishing in Cherbourg — a test that has challenged sailors' skill and endurance for a century. REUTERS