Remon Vos’ RP100 Black Jack 100, skippered by Tristan Le Brun, has claimed monohull line honors in the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race. The sleek 100-foot racer crossed the finish line off Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in the early hours of Tuesday morning, completing the 695-mile course in 2 days, 12 hours, 31 minutes, and 28 seconds.
While Black Jack maintained the lead to the finish, victory was far from certain. The team faced relentless pressure from SHK Scallywag, which finished just under an hour behind, and Leopard 3, a further five minutes back—capping off a nail-biting three-way contest among some of the fastest monohulls in the world.
The win marks a milestone for Vos and Le Brun, who acquired Black Jack 100 just a year ago. After being narrowly beaten by Scallywag in the 2023 Rolex Middle Sea Race, the team returned with a vengeance, executing a high-stakes, match-race-style tacking duel en route to the Fastnet Rock. Despite Scallywag holding the lead at that stage, Black Jack capitalized on strong downwind performance and smart routing through complex tidal currents in the English Channel.
“We were the outsiders, facing very established teams,” said Le Brun. “To win here is beyond our expectations.”
As the IMOCAs and multihulls also neared the finish, navigational choices in the Alderney Race—a notorious bottleneck with currents exceeding 6 knots—proved decisive. Navigator Max Deckers’ close-to-shore route paid off, and Black Jack held on under pressure.
For Le Brun and Vos, the win is more than just a line honors title—it’s a hard-earned redemption. “This feels like revenge,” said Vos. “We were very sour last time. Winning today, it feels like we have put the church in the middle of the village.”
