Sailing-Bonafous makes history as Black Jack hits the jackpot in Fastnet epic

France's Elodie Bonafous made history and Monaco’s Black Jack 100 hit the jackpot on Tuesday, as the centenary Rolex Fastnet Race delivered a double dose of drama.

Bonafous became the first woman to win the IMOCA class after a down-to-the-wire duel, while Black Jack claimed monohull line honours in a gripping contest that saw record fleets, razor-thin margins and rank outsiders pushing the favourites to the edge over 695 nautical miles.

Bonafous helmed newly-launched Association Petits Princes–Queguiner to a narrow win over Jeremie Beyou-skippered Charal, the 29-year-old clinching victory by only seven minutes. “It was tight at the end. It was a great victory,” she said.

Racing a boat launched only in February, she praised her team’s focus and composure in the tense overnight finish.

Beyou, a former Fastnet winner, acknowledged the close battle. “It was a lot of fun and it was never over until the finish,” he said. “This was a very classic Fastnet race ... always intense in an IMOCA, but a bit more like this.”

Monaco’s Black Jack 100 played its hand perfectly to take monohull line honours in the centenary race, rounding off a fiercely contested few days.

Skippered by Tristan Le Brun, Black Jack crossed the finish line in Cherbourg after two days, 12 hours, 31 minutes and 21 seconds of racing, leading home a competitive monohull fleet that showcased the global appeal of offshore sailing's most prestigious contest.

Hong Kong's SHK Scallywag finished second in the monohull division, followed by Monaco's Leopard 3 in third.

“It feels like relief,” Le Brun said smiling as he stepped ashore. “We were the outsiders and challengers because we were facing some very experienced and established teams and we have been growing our team for