Black Pearl First to the Rock as the Rolex Admiral’s Cup Teams Power into the Celtic Sea

Leading the Rolex Admiral’s Cup fleet to the Rock was Stefan Jentzsch’s Black Pearl (NYYC). Karl Kwok’s Beau Geste (RHKYC) rounded 30 minutes and 19 seconds later, chased hard by Peter Harrison’s Jolt 3 (YCM), just seven minutes further back.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen the Rock without fog—it was pure magic,” said Jentzsch. “It’s a huge milestone, but as any climber knows, the descent can be just as tough.” With seasoned legend Paul Standbridge aboard and Black Pearl’s shore team waving flags at the Rock, the crew had every reason to smile.

Navigator Marc Lagesse added: “We were first out of the Solent, and now first to the Rock—it feels good. In light airs, we usually lose ground to the TP52s, but above 10 knots we’re solid. They were locked in their own scrap, which let us sail our own race. That freedom helped us stay fast and clean.”

By 0900 BST Monday, seven AC1 boats had rounded. After IRC correction, Beau Geste had a slender 3-minute lead over Jolt 3, with Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen (CYCA) 30 minutes adrift in third.

In AC2, Pierre Casiraghi’s Jolt 6 (YCM) led the pack around 35nm south of the Rock, with Beau Ideal (RHKYC) and Callisto (RNZYS) close behind. IRC rankings showed Jolt 6 leading by around an hour on corrected time from Albator (YCF), with Abracadabra (NYYC) holding third by a whisker.

Casiraghi reported from Jolt 6: “Last night was brutal—big wind, big sea, and zero sleep. It’s been upwind all the way, and it takes a toll. But morale is strong and we’re still holding the lead. The wind’s eased and the sea state’s finally calming—good news for the team and the boat. Rounding the Rock will be a relief, a chance to shift gears and go downwind for the first time. It’s not over yet, but we’re ready.”

The fleet now rounds the Rock and turns for home, with the race entering its next, fast and furious phase.