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  • FDA Approves Pegcetacoplan for Rare Kidney Diseases C3G, Primary IC-MPGN in Patients 12 and Older

    FDA Approves Pegcetacoplan for Rare Kidney Diseases C3G, Primary IC-MPGN in Patients 12 and Older

    Today, the FDA approved pegcetacoplan (Empaveli; Apellis Pharmaceuticals) as the first treatment for patients 12 years and older with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN), 2 rare and severe kidney diseases.1

    Estimated to affect 5000 people in the US and up to 8000 in Europe, C3G and primary IC-MPGN are debilitating kidney diseases that can lead to kidney failure.2 About 50% of people living with these diseases progress to kidney failure within 5 to 10 years of diagnosis, requiring a kidney transplant or lifelong dialysis. Also, approximately 90% of patients who previously received a kidney transplant experience disease recurrence. Excessive C3 complement (C3c) deposits are a key indicator of disease activity, as they can lead to kidney inflammation, damage, and failure.

    Pegcetacoplan is a C3-targeted therapy that is designed to regulate excessive activation of the complement cascade, a part of the body’s immune system that contributes to the onset and progression of many serious diseases. It is already approved by the FDA for treating paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and is under investigation for additional rare diseases across hematology and nephrology.

    “I’m excited to now have a highly effective therapy for a broad range of patients living with C3G and primary IC-MPGN,” Carla Nester, MD, MSA, FASN, lead principal investigator of the VALIANT trial (NCT05067127) and director of pediatric nephrology at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, said in a press release.1 “…Given the urgent need, particularly in children, the approval of EMPAVELI marks a pivotal moment in the treatment of rare kidney diseases.”

    The FDA approved pegcetacoplan (Empaveli; Apellis Pharmaceuticals) as the first treatment for patients 12 years and older with the rare, severe kidney diseases C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN). | Image Credit: Tada Images – stock.adobe.com

    The approval was supported by positive results from the phase 3 VALIANT trial at week 26.3 This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan in 124 patients 12 years or older with C3G or primary IC-MPGN. The primary end point was the log-transformed ratio of urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) at week 26 compared with baseline.

    Patients were randomized to receive either pegcetacoplan or a placebo twice weekly for 26 weeks. Of the study population, 63 received pegcetacoplan and 61 received a placebo. After the blinded phase, all patients had the opportunity to proceed to a 26-week open-label phase, where they all received pegcetacoplan.

    The trial met its primary end point, with patients receiving pegcetacoplan demonstrating a 68% UPCR reduction compared with placebo at week 26 (P < .0001). Patients treated with pegcetacoplan also achieved stabilization of kidney function (nominal P = .03), as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate. Additionally, a substantial number of patients treated with pegcetacoplan achieved a reduction in C3c staining intensity (nominal P < .0001), with 71% showing complete clearance compared with the placebo group.

    The researchers highlighted that the benefits of pegcetacoplan were consistent among patients with C3G and primary IC-MPGN, across adolescents and adults, and in those with either native or posttransplant kidney disease.2 Lastly, they noted that pegcetacoplan’s favorable safety and tolerability profile aligned with previously reported data.

    “EMPAVELI demonstrated clinically meaningful benefits across all 3 key markers of disease – unprecedented proteinuria reductions, stabilization of kidney function, and substantial clearance of C3c staining,” Bradley P. Dixon, MD, FASH, professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and VALIANT coinvestigator, said in a press release.2 “…As a disease-modifying therapy, EMPAVELI has the potential to make a life-changing difference for patients…”

    References

    1. FDA approves Apellis’ EMPAVELI (pegcetacoplan) as the first C3G and primary IC-MPGN treatment for patients 12 and older. News release. Apellis. July 28, 2025. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://investors.apellis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-apellis-empavelir-pegcetacoplan-first-c3g-and
    2. Apellis announces FDA acceptance and priority review of the supplemental new drug application for EMPAVELI (pegcetacoplan) for C3G and primary IC-MPGN. News release. Apellis. April 1, 2025. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://investors.apellis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/apellis-announces-fda-acceptance-and-priority-review
    3. Phase III study assessing the efficacy and safety of pegcetacoplan in patients with C3 glomerulopathy or immune-complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (VALIANT). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated March 13, 2025. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05067127

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  • Law Roach shares new details

    Law Roach shares new details

    Zendaya and Tom Holland are officially engaged, but wedding planning hasn’t begun yet, according to the actress’ longtime stylist, Law Roach.

    In a July 18 interview with E! News, Roach confirmed that despite the excitement surrounding their engagement, the couple is taking their time with the next steps. “The process hasn’t even started yet,” he said. “Zendaya is working on so many movies. She’s now filming the next iteration of Dune, so she’s away doing that.”

    Roach, who’s worked with Zendaya since 2011, emphasized that her career is the current priority. “It’s so many movies, so we have time,” he said. “We have a lot of time.”

    While he didn’t reveal any potential bridal dress details, Roach described the future bride as “a secret bride,” hinting that Zendaya is keeping plans private. However, he did share that he’s genuinely happy for the couple. “I know that they really love each other and they have for a really long time. The fact that the world has been able to share in that love story, I think it’s really beautiful.”

    Zendaya first revealed her engagement ring at the 2025 Golden Globes. A source told Page Six that Holland managed to surprise her with the proposal, despite years of discussing marriage. The actor also asked her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, for permission beforehand, according to Tom’s father, Dominic Holland.

    The pair met in 2017 while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming and confirmed their relationship publicly in 2021 after years of speculation.

     

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  • POETRY IN MOTION…

    POETRY IN MOTION…


    beauty

    Not every plan works out the way you think it will. Esra Khan thought she’d make it big in cricket, she played at the national T20 level in 2023, but things didn’t go as hoped. After facing setbacks, she found herself exploring something completely different: modelling.

    Coming from a traditional Pashtoon background, the shift wasn’t easy, especially with a conservative mother at home. Esra kept her early work quiet, only opening up once she began working with photographer Khawar Riaz. Since then, she’s done shoots for brands like ‘Parniyaan’ by Ayesha, ‘Anzalna’, ‘Safawa’, ‘Croche’, and a few others.

    POETRY IN MOTION…

    This week, she talks beauty favourites with our readers…

    When did you first fall in love with makeup?

    I was very young. I remember watching my mother apply her lipstick in the mirror. I was fascinated by the colours and how confident she looked afterward.

    What’s your must-have product before stepping out into the sun?

    Sunscreen, every single day. I use SPF 50 in the morning, even if I am staying indoors. If I know I will be outside for a while, I also carry sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Sun protection is a habit now.

    Any skincare advice you always follow?

    Hydrate your body and your skin. Drink water, use a good moisturiser, and include a hyaluronic acid serum if your skin feels dry. Lip balm is essential, and I never forget to apply body lotion, even if I am in a rush.

    POETRY IN MOTION…

    What are your top picks when it comes to perfumes and lipsticks?

    Perfumes I reach for often include YSL Libre, Chanel Chance, and Zara Red Temptation. They all have different moods. In lipsticks, I stick with M.A.C, Maybelline, and Huda Beauty Bombshell. These work for both daily use and events.

    Foundation can be hard to match. What works for you?

    I prefer warm beige tones with golden undertones. The goal is always a natural look. I want it to blend into my skin, not sit on top of it or look cakey.

    How do you take off your makeup after a long day?

    I believe in double cleansing. First, I use micellar water or a cleansing balm to break down the makeup. Then I follow up with a gentle foaming cleanser. After that, it is toner, serum, and moisturiser. I do this routine even when I am tired.

    Can you walk us through your daily skincare routine?

    In the morning, I start with a cleanser, toner, vitamin C serum, a good moisturiser, and sunscreen. At night, I double cleanse, then use a treatment serum like retinol or niacinamide. I finish with a night cream and an under-eye product. It is all about consistency.

    POETRY IN MOTION…

    How do you prevent hair damage?

    Weekly oiling helps a lot. I use coconut or argon oil. I avoid using heat without a heat protectant, and I never tie my hair too tight to avoid stress on the roots.

    What’s your regular hair care routine like?

    It is very simple. I go for regular trims, oil my scalp once a week, and use a deep conditioning treatment every weekend. I avoid trying too many new products at once.

    Makeup can be expensive. What’s your advice for someone on a tight budget?

    Stick to the basics. You do not need a long list of products. Focus on learning good technique. Brands like Maybelline, e.l.f., and Essence make affordable products that are also reliable. Quality does not always mean high price.

    Do you follow a specific diet to keep your skin glowing?

    I try to eat a balanced diet. Water comes first. I include fruits like oranges and berries, leafy greens, nuts, and foods rich in omega-3. What you eat shows up on your face over time.

    Is there one product you always carry with you?

    Lip balm. I cannot do without it. A good concealer also makes a big difference, especially under the eyes. These two are my daily essentials.

    Which makeup brands are your favourites?

    Charlotte Tilbury and Rare Beauty are very consistent in terms of texture and finish. Huda Beauty has great shades and formulas. For affordable options, I often reach for Maybelline.

    POETRY IN MOTION…

    What do you always keep in your beauty pouch?

    A mirror, lip balm, nude lipstick, compact powder, hand cream, and a mini perfume. Just enough to freshen up during the day.

    Is there any part of makeup that still intimidates you?

    Winged eyeliner. No matter how much I practice, one side always turns out different. I also tend to overfill my brows sometimes, which ruins the entire look.

    How often do you get facials?

    If possible, I go to the salon once every four to six weeks. But if I cannot, I do a basic facial at home every Sunday. Cleanse, exfoliate, mask, and moisturise. That is enough to give my skin a break.

    Who are some stylists or makeup artists you admire?

    I really like the work of Natasha Khalid and Bina Khan. Aleena Qadeer also has a clean, modern aesthetic that I enjoy.

    What is your take on whitening creams?

    I do not support them. Beauty is not about being fair. It is about taking care of your skin and feeling good in your natural tone. Healthy skin is always better than altered skin.

    What does beauty mean to you?

    Beauty means feeling like yourself. It is about confidence, being kind, and how you carry yourself.

    Photography: Khawar Riaz

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  • ART CONNECTS ALL

    ART CONNECTS ALL


    chatter matter

    In an increasingly divided world, it’s easy to forget the powerful role that art plays in bridging differences. While political narratives often dominate the global stage, it’s the creative forces, the storytellers, painters, musicians, and performers that continue to build the kind of human connection that policies and negotiations often fail to achieve. Art speaks across language, history, and culture. It reminds us of what we share, not just what sets us apart.

    This spirit of connection was at the heart of the UNESCO Olymp’Arts 30th Anniversary Celebration, held at the UNESCO House in Paris. The event brought together cultural leaders and artists from across the globe to mark a movement that draws inspiration from the Eternal Olympics of Ancient Greece, not through athletic competition, but through artistic expression. Among the global delegates were two figures representing Pakistan: Tara Uzra Dawood, President of the Dawood Global Foundation, and renowned artist Jamal Shah. Together, they signed the Olymp’Arts Charter on behalf of the country.

    ART CONNECTS ALL

    Their participation marked an important moment, not just symbolically, but in the broader context of cultural diplomacy. With over 70 countries represented, the signing of the charter signals a collective intention to revive the ancient tradition of the Olymp’Arts and launch the first modern Art Olympiads in 2027.

    Marc Verriere, President of the World Olymp’Arts Council (WOAC), expressed his appreciation, saying, “We are deeply honoured and happy to have Tara represent Pakistan and be with us in Paris for this special occasion.”

    WOAC Communications Director Alexa Parr added, “We’re deeply honoured by our dear friend Tara from Pakistan gracing this historical occasion with her presence and signing the charter, to help us resurrect the antique tradition of the Olymp’Arts by 2027.”

    The Olymp’Arts movement is rooted in Olympic values, peace, mutual respect, and human excellence, but with a focus on creativity. It celebrates art as a universal language that transcends borders, encouraging dialogue, empathy, and understanding between cultures. Whether through music, painting, performance, or digital media, the goal is to create a platform where diverse voices can be heard and celebrated on a global scale.

    For Pakistan, being part of this revival is more than a ceremonial gesture. It positions the country as an active participant in global cultural dialogue, a space often dominated by narratives from the West. Tara’s involvement, alongside Jamal Shah’s, brought visibility to Pakistan’s creative contributions and underscored the potential of art to open new pathways for connection.

    As the world looks ahead to the 2027 Art Olympiads, the signing of the charter in Paris serves as both a milestone and a starting point. In a time where division often makes more noise than unity, events like these offer a firm reminder: creativity still has the power to bring us together.

    – You! desk

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  • One Weekend Habit May Cut Risk of Heart-Related Death by 33%, Study Finds : ScienceAlert

    One Weekend Habit May Cut Risk of Heart-Related Death by 33%, Study Finds : ScienceAlert

    We know that exercise has numerous health benefits, but does it matter how much you spread it out? Even only working out on the weekends may still reduce some people’s risk of early death, according to a new study.

    Researchers were interested in how people might build physical activity into busy schedules and decided to focus on those with diabetes, for whom exercise-related benefits such as reduced insulin resistance are particularly important.

    “Many people struggle to engage in regular physical activity throughout the week due to time constraints,” the team from the US, China, and Australia writes in their published paper.

    “To overcome this, some condense their recommended moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) into 1 or 2 weekly sessions – a pattern known as the ‘weekend warrior’ approach.”

    Related: Ideal Number of Daily Steps Isn’t as Many as We’ve Been Told

    The researchers crunched the numbers on 51,650 adults with diabetes, splitting them into four groups: those who did no MVPA, those who did less than the recommended 150 minutes per week, those who hit 150 minutes a week in 3 or more sessions, and those who managed 150 minutes a week in 1–2 sessions (the weekend warriors).

    Any level of exercise was shown to be beneficial, but primarily for those who managed the MVPA recommendations. People who participated in 3 or more weekly sessions had a 17 percent lower risk of dying during the study period, as well as a 19 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular-related issues.

    The weekend warriors fared even better: this group showed a 21 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 33 percent lower risk of cardiovascular-related mortality. So even if you only have time for a single exercise session or a couple of workouts, you can still get some of the same health benefits.

    The researchers charted exercise against mortality. (Wu et al., Ann. Intern. Med., 2025)

    “Even those who engaged in MPVA for less than 150 minutes per week experienced lower all-cause mortality than those who didn’t,” writes the team.

    “This underscores the importance of any physical activity for people with diabetes.”

    The study doesn’t establish cause and effect and by its use of self-reported data to look at a snapshot in time – and in only covering people with diabetes. However, it’s backed by many previous studies that show any amount of exercise can make a difference.

    Most past research has agreed that the weekend warrior approach works as well as any other: as long as you’re hitting those recommended targets, you get the same benefits in terms of both physical health and mental health.

    That’s encouraging for anyone struggling to fit in gym visits during the Monday-Friday grind, but most studies (including this latest one) define weekend warriors as those who only exercise properly 1–2 times a week, regardless of the days.

    “Previous studies in the general population suggest weekend warriors may obtain comparable mortality benefits to regularly active persons, though estimates vary by population characteristics (for example, non-leisure-time physical activity),” write the researchers.

    The research has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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  • Report Urges Data Shift to Boost AI in Primary Care

    Report Urges Data Shift to Boost AI in Primary Care

    Background and Goal: Large-scale, well organized, and open datasets are necessary for primary care–focused artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) research and development. This article proposes a set of high-level considerations around the data transformation needed to enable the growth of AI/ML applications in primary care.

    Key Insights: The authors propose five key considerations for data transformation in primary care: automation of data collection, organization of fragmented data, identification of primary care–specific use cases, integration of AI/ML into human workflows, and surveillance for unintended consequences. The authors further emphasize three factors that will enable each of these efforts to be effective and work cohesively: increased collaboration of the industry and academia AI/ML communities with primary care, increased funding from the private and public sectors, and upgrades to human and data infrastructures.

    Why It Matters: Data transformation to advance AI/ML research and implementation in primary care requires cross-sectoral collaborations between government, industry, professional organizations, academia, and frontline primary care.

    Data Transformation to Advance AI/ML Research and Implementation in Primary Care

    Timothy Tsai, DO, MMCI, et al

    Stanford Healthcare AI Applied Research Team, Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California

    TEMPORARY LINK

    /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

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  • AI data analyst startup Julius nabs $10M seed round

    AI data analyst startup Julius nabs $10M seed round

    Julius AI, a startup that describes itself as an AI data analyst, announced it has raised a $10 million seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners.

    Horizon VC, 8VC, Y Combinator, the AI Grant accelerator participated in the round along with several high-profile angel investors, including Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch, and Twilio co-founder Jeff Lawson, among others.

    Founder Rahul Sonwalkar launched Julius after graduating from Y Combinator in 2022, and pivoting away from the logistics startup he’d been building during the accelerator program.

    Julius is designed to act like a data scientist by analyzing and visualizing extensive datasets and then performing predictive modeling from natural language prompts. Even with functionality similar to that found in ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Gemini, Julius has carved out its own niche. The company said it has more than two million users and generates more than 10 million visualizations.

    “The easiest way to use Julius is to just talk to it,” Julius AI founder Rahul Sonwalkar told TechCrunch in an earlier interview. “You can talk to the AI like you would talk to an analyst on your team, and the AI, like a human would go, run the code and do the analysis for you.”

    Questions that Julius can answer and present in a chart include: “Can you visualize how revenue and net income correlate for different industries in China versus US?”

    Julius’ specialization in data science even caught the eye of Harvard Business School (HBS) professor Iavor Bojinov last year. Bojinov was so impressed he asked Sonwalkar to modify Julius specifically for HBS’ new required course called Data Science and AI for Leaders.

    Techcrunch event

    San Francisco
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    October 27-29, 2025

    “People told us you’re not going to succeed,” Sonwalkar said about building a product that’s similar to features available from the foundational model companies.  “What we found was that being focused on a use case is really important.”

    While going through YC, Sonwalkar also masterminded a viral prank. The morning after Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X), reporters encountered two men with boxes outside of the company’s headquarters. One of the two men was Sonwalkar, who introduced himself as a recently laid-off Twitter engineer “Rahul Ligma.” 

    Despite some notoriety gained from the stunt, Somwalkar insists that his startup is a lot more attention-worthy.

    “I don’t think many people know me for that anymore,” he told TechCrunch in an earlier interview. “I get recognized for Julius a lot more now.”

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  • Australia's Woodside Energy takes operatorship of Bass Strait assets from ExxonMobil – Reuters

    1. Australia’s Woodside Energy takes operatorship of Bass Strait assets from ExxonMobil  Reuters
    2. Woodside ramps up gas supply with Gippsland deal  The Australian
    3. Buying Woodside shares? Here’s the latest move to achieve US$60 million in synergies  The Motley Fool Australia
    4. Woodside to Operate Bass Strait Gas  Sharecafe
    5. BREAKING: Woodside takes helm in Bass Strait as ExxonMobil pull stumps from Australia  Energy News Bulletin

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  • Message filtering in iOS 26 upsetting politicians

    Message filtering in iOS 26 upsetting politicians

    Apple will be automatically sorting unknown texts into a new category in iOS 26, and that’s causing problems for political groups that rely on donations via unsolicited texts.

    Text message filtering based on carrier spam lists and third-party apps have existed on iPhone for years. Apple is expanding this capability and improving sorting with iOS 26, but that could lead to other issues.

    According to a letter shared by Punchbowl News, first discovered by Daring Fireball, iOS 26 could severely impact political groups’ ability to solicit donations from users. The letter was written by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which says it could see $500 million lost in GOP revenue.

    The letter incorrectly suggests that iOS 26 treats unknown callers as spam, which is a separate filtering category. Instead, it will be treated as “unknown,” which it is if the user has never interacted with the number or if it isn’t in their contacts.

    That said, the system could certainly lead to users missing the texts — especially less technically sophisticated ones. Unknown texts don’t notify users by default, nor do they place a notification badge on the app icon.

    There are several settings available that we’ll get into in a moment, but again, those only apply to those that know to look or care. The letter isn’t wrong in its assertion that Apple’s new feature could lead to missed opportunities to collect political donations.

    The biggest issue I take with the letter is its assertion that it needs to deliver unsolicited text messages to users. These political entities have gone through the trouble of ensuring the laws allow them to text people constantly, and carriers have even allowed the behavior.

    Apple’s steps to ensure users have some sanity and control over their messaging inbox undercut these efforts. The estimated $25 million revenue hit to the NRSC is certainly not negligible.

    However, it isn’t Apple’s problem to solve. Not to mention, investigations show that a lot of political donation campaigns are overly aggressive, use deceptive tactics, and rely on elderly folks with mental health problems to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    Whether or not these political entities are acting legally isn’t up for debate, but their necessity certainly is. Especially when a lot of the texts are mostly attempts to trick people into thinking (insert political name) is texting them directly asking for $20.

    The NRSC is just going to have to suck it up and find a new way to get donations. One way would be to let users opt into text messaging alerts and educate them on how to add key numbers to their Contacts app.

    Even if Apple isn’t categorizing political texts as spam, the behavior of the texts certainly feels like spam. And while these political entities might not like it, I certainly welcome the granularity and control iOS 26 provides.

    iOS 26 Messaging app changes

    There are a lot of tiny changes to the iOS 26 app that’ll make managing messages from SMS, RCS, and iMessage a bit easier. There are more categories than just spam and unknown, plus there are fine-tuned controls in Settings.

    Messages categories are easy to access

    In Messages, the top right shows a standard “filter” icon. Tap that and you’ll see Messages, Unknown Senders, Transactions, Promotions, Spam, and Recently Deleted.

    Transactions has subcategories including Finance, Orders, and Reminders.

    Unlike Mail categories, users don’t have a way to recategorize messages. For example, a message from Twelve South should be under “Promotional,” but it still shows up in “Unknown Senders.”

    There are some controls available in Settings -> Apps -> Messages. The Unknown Senders section has a few toggles and options.

    Screen Unknown Senders is what sends things like political texts to the Unknown Senders category. It’s on by default, but can be toggled off.

    Allow Notifications has four toggles — Time Sensitive, Personal, Transactions, and Promotions. If users would like to get notified and have a badge show up on the Messages app icon for one hour, then toggle any or all categories as desired.

    So, all is not lost for the NRSC and other political campaigns. Simply educate constituents to toggle these settings as needed.

    Otherwise, perhaps it might be a good time to rethink how to get political donations outside of cold calls and spammy unsolicited texts. While it was necessary and worked with previous generations, it likely isn’t going to fly in the notification-overwhelmed masses of today.

    Apple is right to have these filters on by default and it at least provides toggles. Above all, no one should be relying on unsolicited, incessant text messages to fund a political movement.

    It’s 2025, get people to sign up for a newsletter. Don’t waste time going after Apple for a perfectly reasonable feature.

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  • Rolex Fastnet Race – Argo steals Zoulou’s gold while Inter Invest takes the Ocean Fifty honours

    Rolex Fastnet Race – Argo steals Zoulou’s gold while Inter Invest takes the Ocean Fifty honours

    01:00 Tuesday 29 July 2025

    Past experience had shown that one of the most competitive races in this centenary Rolex Fastnet Race would be the dust-up between the former MOD70 trimarans, now no longer one-design but with an especially updated foil package and other…mods.  

    What perhaps no one predicted is that after all the multihulls – including the MODs, the Ultims and Ocean Fifty trimarans, and the rest of the MOCRA catamaran and trimaran fleet – set off from Cowes at the same time, it would be the 70ft MODs that would lead the entire 444 boat Rolex Fastnet Race fleet, including the giant 32m (105ft) long Ultim trimarans out into the Channel.  While Jason Carroll’s Argo had this privilege, the Ultims inevitably powered past, flying upwind. Subsequently Erik Maris’ Zoulou took the lead after diving into Lyme Bay more dramatically than her rivals. 

    Jason Carroll’s Argo may have started alongside the 32m Ultims but the MOD70 was still able to lead the entire multihull fleet out of the Solent © James Tomlinson/RORC 

    As Argo’s project manager Chad Corning explained: “We should have followed them more closely into Lyme Bay. The new wind came in, they got to it first and then just reached out to a 5-6 mile advantage and they were able to kind of escape.”

    While the Ultims subsequently once again performed a ‘horizon job’, Zoulou led Argo across the Irish Sea, making better work of the lighter conditions before closing on the County Cork coastline where they tacked west. “The rich got a little bit richer after they got the hop on us there,” continued Corning. “If there’s wind, the MODs are very comfortable and really a pleasure to sail. The tough part is that in sub-five knots it is really a struggle and it was very shifty in that light patch – maybe 10 hours before we got to Fastnet. So that was tough sledding for sure.” 

    The crew grinding hard on board Argo at the start in Cowes © James Tomlinson/RORC 

    Zoulou rounded the Rock at 19:00 on Sunday 27 July, followed by Argo around 25 minutes later. Rounding first enabled Zoulou to crack sheets first, building speed and thereby further gaining. “Once they got to Fastnet and bore away and started ripping, all of a sudden their seven-mile lead was 17 miles as we rounded. So we definitely had a lot of work to do.”

    Making speeds into the mid-20s, both put in a gybe east to start with, the two ultimately splitting at the TSS south of the Scilly Isles, where Argo took the northerly route and Zoulou the south. 

    Here Argo enjoyed some of the best sailing of the race. “You had to gybe quite a bit to stay in the best pressure, but there was a really good pressure,” said Corning. “So the boat was high 20s, low 30s, a lot of the time in pretty smooth water. So it was quite enjoyable sailing.” 

    After shadowing
    Zoulou for the majority of the race, bad luck and good tactics combined to enable Argo to speed past Zoulou in the last leg to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com/RORC     

    Gybing back towards Start Point the two got ‘out of sync’ and witnessing Zoulou getting stuck due south of Start Point, Argo simply sailed around them to the north. 

    “We saw there was wind to the west of them so we stayed in our band of wind,” explained Corning. In fact that wasn’t quite the only problem on board Zoulou, as French ace Loick Peyron explained: “Argo was quite far behind and we had a little issue – we hit something during the night and we didn’t have any more port rudder; it was fishtailing when it was on the windward side and touched the water. So we lost a bit of a gauge there and then off the south of England there was a part that maybe we should have managed in a better way, but we didn’t. I can’t say that’s easier when you are behind, but sometimes you can spot the fact that the leader is not going to be the leader anymore, because he’s slow and the only thing you don’t want to do is to follow them, so you have to think differently, do things differently…and that’s what they did.”

    Corning added: “We’d all been pretty glum, and it all seemed quite hopeless with 70 or 100 miles to go, but we had a few tricks up our sleeve and the local knowledge was there. But it was definitely a miracle. We have got to tip our hats to Zoulou. They were really sort of flawless and super unlucky, Part of racing is taking advantage of that. They sailed a great race. It feels nice for us, but obviously we feel terrible. It was their race so it’s a bummer, but that’s sport I guess.”

    Zoulou arrives in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, second MOD70 on the water to Argo by just 20 minutes © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com/RORC 

    Unusually the routing showed that the MOD70s should pass close to Start Point and leave the Casquets TSS to starboard, thereby also avoiding the worst of the Alderney Race. “It was just for pressure and shift – every model agreed on that,” stated Corning. 

    From there Argo was able to keep her nose ahead and crossed the line at 16:29:36 with an elapsed time of 2 days 5 hours 9 minutes 36 seconds, with Zoulou following just over 20 minutes later.

    Loick Peyron is a Rolex Fastnet Race legend, having set two race records, in 1999 and 2011 © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com/RORC 

    “That was a very good race with a nice crew, the perfect owner of a nice ship, I should say, the Zoulou,” commented Peyron, who has twice set race records for the Rolex Fastnet Race, once in 1999 on board his ORMA 60 Fujifilm and then on the mighty Banque Populaire V in 2011. “And a quite interesting [race], with flat water mainly, requiring no boots, no spray on the deck, nothing…not enough wind to finish, but an interesting one again.

    “It was very impressive en route back to the Scilly Isles and crossing 90% of the fleet [going the opposite way].”

    The multihull legend concluded: “The Fastnet is the Fastnet, like Mecca is Mecca, like the Vatican is the Vatican, for some obvious reasons. When you round that Rock, when you have the chance to sail around it, that is a privilege. That Rock is particularly symbolic.”

    The Zoulou crew including owner Erik Maris (seated), and pros Loick Peyton (third from left) and Ned Collier Wakefield (fourth from right) © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com/RORC 

    Inter Invest takes the Ocean Fifty honours

    While little known outside of France, the Ocean Fiftys (ex-Multi 50s) are a trimaran class on the assent with nine boats competing in the centennial Rolex Fastnet Race, as part of their annual calendar. Despite being a speedy box rule class they enjoyed some of the closest racing across the fleet. 

    Highly surprising was just how competitive the doublehanded Ocean Fiftys demonstrated themselves to be in the Rolex Fastnet Race, with the leader reaching the Fastnet Rock on the transom of the MOD70 Argo and even the Ultims not fully shaking them off until they had passed Plymouth. 

    Nine Ocean Fiftys started from Cowes, the race forming part of their annual calendar in 2025 © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com/RORC 

    Exiting the Solent Matthieu Perraut and Jean-Baptiste Gellée on the Neyhousser-designed Inter Invest led Erwan le Roux and Audrey Ogereau on the VPLP-penned Koesio out of the Solent alongside  Banque Populaire, the mighty Ultim literally twice their length. That evening they passed Portland Bill, hanging on to the coattails of Actual Ultim 4, with Koesio now out in front heading deep into Lyme Bay. Inter Invest timed their tack back out of Lyme Bay better than the others, overtaking Koesio, but the whole class remained tightly grouped. 

    By Start Point Koesio was back in front, ahead of MOD70 Argo with Lazare second. Lizard-bound, Ultims Banque Populaire and Sodebo slowly rolled past, with Tanguy le Turquais and Erwan Le Draoulec on the VPLP-designed Lazare, Inter Invest and Viabilis racing three abreast. They passed the Lizard on Saturday just after 22:00, the frontrunners still hanging on to Argo. 01:00 Sunday found Koesio still ahead, leading the front four Ocean Fiftys up the west side of the Land’s End TSS.

    The going was slow as the wind turned flukey in the mid-Celtic Sea on Monday morning. Here Inter Invest made a better roll of the dice to nose ahead of Lazare, back up with Argo, onto whom they were somehow able to hang all the way to the Fastnet Rock. Here Inter Invest rounded first at 19:58:17 on Sunday night, 15 minutes ahead of Lazare, with Koesio an additional six minutes later with all nine Ocean Fiftys rounding within four hours. 

    Early into their return journey, Inter Invest put in a hard gybe to port immediately after the Fastnet TSS. Possibly their winning move, this tactic meant that when she tacked south she was in better pressure and making two knots more than the boats in the west like Thibault Vauchel-Camus and Damien Seguin’s Neyhousser-designed Solidaire en Peloton.

    Heading east past the south side of the TSS to the south of the Scilly Isles, Inter Invest was now firmly out in front, and led the Ocean Fiftys tight into the Lizard. Like the MOD70s ahead of them, their routing took them around the north side of the Casquets TSS en route to Cherbourg, although Solidaire en Peloton opted to split south of it. 

    Inter Invest crossed the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin finish line as dusk was settling at 19:58:13 on Monday 28 July, followed by Koesio 31 minutes 16 seconds later and Viabilis Oceans a further 20 minutes 29 seconds back. 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race winner Luke Berry and Antoine Joubert on Ocean Fifty Le Rirce Medecin-La Motte just missed the podium by 2 minutes 43 seconds. The top seven Ocean Fiftys arrived within two hours. 

    For Inter Invest’s crew it was their first victory since Matthieu Perraut teamed up with Sebastien Rogues’ 2024-winning team, using Rogues’ boat at the beginning of the year. It was also the first time her crew had competed in the Rolex Fastnet Race and their first major Ocean Fifty victory. 

    From Cowes to the Fastnet Rock, it was a closely fought contest between the Ocean Fiftys, after which the blue-hulled Inter Invest pulled out the stops to lead all the way to the finish © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com/RORC 

    Perraut paid tribute to their steed. “It was built by a great team. We are lucky to have a boat that is so well prepared. It’s crazy racing these Ocean Fiftys – they are really great boats.” He explained of their attitude on board: “We took care of ourselves. Both of us tried to sleep well and to be well focussed until the end. We left in excellent conditions and sailed quite well. From the outset, we were in a good position.”

    Upwind out to the Fastnet Rock or downwind coming back, Gellée said they had kept a keen eye on the tracker to choose the optimum places to manoeuvre. “After the Scilly Isles we worked a lot on board to choose the best angles and wind.”

    Just missing the podium Luke Berry felt he and Antoine Joubert had done well in the circumstances. “Nine Ocean Fiftys on the Rolex Fastnet Race – and we had quite a good fight with the Ultims because there wasn’t much wind and it was very shifty. They only overtook us at Start Point. Then upwind was a bit difficult for us because we’re not as fast – Inter Invest and Koesio are a bit stiffer and are very, very fast. They are from 2023 and their hulls are a bit thinner. But downwind it’s not as bad, so as soon as we got around the Rock, we accelerated and we managed to catch up with them because it slowed down from the front. Upwind we were making about 18 knots but downwind, we were bombing along, around 27-28 knots. 

    “To miss the podium by a couple of minutes – it could have been worse.”

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