( CNN ) -- A pair of giant trimarans are battling for line honors in the Rolex Fastnet Race , one of yachting 's classic offshore races . Loick Peyron 's Maxi Banque Populaire was leading fellow French entry , the Seb Josse-skippered Gitana 11 , by eight nautical miles as they rounded Fastnet Rock off south-west Ireland and headed for the finish in Plymouth in south-west England . Maxi Banque Populaire is considered the world 's fastest offshore boat with massive 140-foot long hulls , much bigger than the 77-feet of Gitana 11 , so the relatively small gap between the two was a surprise . At Fastnet rock , which was reached early on Monday morning , there is approximately 250 miles to the finish . The two leaders were being tracked by trimarans Veolia Environnement of France and Switzerland 's Race for Water , which has round the world yachtswoman Dee Caffari as a key crew member . A record fleet of 314 starters set sail from Cowes on the Isle of Wight Sunday , battling it out for overall and handicap honors in their various classes . Rolex Fastnet Race official website . Peyron and his team reached The Needles within an hour , sailing at speeds of over 20 knots . It is the largest fleet since the 303 in the ill-fated 1979 race when the competitors were caught up in a vicious storm and 15 died . Restrictions on the size of the fleet were introduced in the wake of that tragedy . The Fastnet Race is the Royal Ocean Racing Club 's flagship event and held every two years . The 608-mile course goes along the south coast of England , across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock before returning around the Scilly Isles to the finish in Plymouth . The race record of 44 hours 18 minutes is held by Mike Slade 's Icap Leopard 3 , set in 2007 .
Leading trimarans round Fastnet Rock in yachting 's classic Fastnet Race . Loick Peyron 's Maxi Banque Populaire was leading battle for line honors . Record 314 starters for the 608-nautical mile offshore classic . 15 competitors died in 1979 race as fleet hit by vicious storm .