DAY 3
The Harbour Race has always been an iconic, special occasion for Volvo Cork Week. On the third day of the regatta, well over one hundred boats, stretching half a mile along a single start line, raced in the world’s second largest natural harbour.
Cork Harbour has been a working port and defensive hub for centuries with stunning views of Cobh, Spike Island and Haulbowline Island. The ten knot southerly gradient wind prevailed all day, but inside Cork Harbour, the magnificent fleet contended with wind shadows and complex currents. The Harbour Race is a tactical challenge in a multifaceted racing area.
Full Provisional Results
Barry Cunningham’s J/109 Chimaera (RCYC/RIYC) is putting in a phenomenal performance in IRC One with five race bullets. Chimaera not only won class today but was the overall winner under IRC for the Harbour Race. Barry has been coming to Cork Week since he was 15 years old.
“We are having an absolutely amazing week,” commented Barry Cunningham. “We have spent a long time getting this crew together and getting the procedures right. The less mistakes you make, the more you gain. We are over half way through the week and we love it, because it’s good competition, the best of the best are here.”
In the 1720 European Championship, Aodhan Fitzgerald’s Galway Bay team, racing After Midnight, won today’s Harbour Race. Howth YC’s The McBearla's racing Rope Dock Atara still leads the 1720 European Championship.
Half Tonner 2 Farr (RSC & BSC) was the class winner of The Harbour Race and leads IRC Two by just one point from Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble (RCYC). Royal Cork’s Fiona Young with Albin Express North Star leads in IRC Three with a perfect four straight bullets.
In the Coastal Fleet racing under ECHO, National Yacht Club’s Johnny Treanor racing J/112 ValenTina scored another two race wins today to extend their lead in the class to three points. In Non-Spinnaker One under ECHO Royal Cork boats hold the podium. Frank Caul racing Grand Soleil 37 Prince of Tides still leads the class, but by just one point from Dan Murphy’s X-99 Anteex. Ian Hickey’s Granada 38 Cavatina is in third and won today’s Harbour Race, much to the delight of his Royal Cork YC crew.
The RS 21 fleet is being dominated by Liam & Keith Willis from the Royal Lymington YC in the UK having won six of the seven races sailed. Kenny Rumball’s RS Ireland is second, just two points ahead of Nick Redding from Goring SC
DAY 2
The second day of Volvo Cork Week 2024 was blessed with beautiful weather. The wind at Roches Point for the first start was in the high teens with the Volvo Cork Week fleet bathed in sunshine. The international fleet enjoyed spectacular racing in and around Cork Harbour.
Full Provisional Results
The Offshore race for the Beaufort Cup came to a magnificent finish off Roches Point. The 150NM race around the Fastnet Rock was won by the Irish Defence Forces racing J/109 Artful Dodjer, claiming Line Honours as well as the race win after IRC time correction.
“The lead in the race changed many times,” commented Simon Coveney TD who was at the helm of Artful Dodjer as the team sailed through the finish line.
“It is a complex race and coastline and the breeze was moving around a lot. The team were delighted to be the first to round the Fastnet during the night. It is always a memorable moment, no matter how many times you have done it. This was a team effort but special thanks should go to Brian Mathews, who put the whole team together." Continued Coveney. “What is really special this year about the Beaufort Cup is that we have three teams from the US, as well as a team from the UK, racing against two teams from the Irish Defence Forces and two teams from the RNLI. The whole idea was that The Beaufort Cup would be an international event for people working in uniform in different parts of the world that would get together and make friendships. All of the sailors have come to Cork and really enjoy themselves, the atmosphere at the Royal Cork YC is fantastic.”
The 1720 European Championship has a new leader, Howth YC’s The McBearla's racing Rope Dock Atara won all three of today’s races. Nick Burns & Andy Pidden’s Royal Hong Kong Team racing King 40 Blitz retained the lead in IRC Zero. Barry Cunningham’s J/109 Chimaera (RCYC/RIYC) leads in IRC One. Royal Cork’s Fiona Young with Albin Express North Star leads in IRC Three with two straight bullets.
DAY 1
Racing action at Volvo Cork Week 2024 kicked off today, Monday 15th July with an international fleet of 114 boats gathered for five days of racing and parties organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Teams have come from all over Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as teams from Hong Kong and the United States of America.
The wind at Roches Point for the first start was 12 gusting to 18 knots from the north of east, combined with a lumpy sea state. Mother Nature generously provided a lavish wash-down for the fleet. The weather may have been a load of tripe but the racing was phenomenally close; many races were decided by seconds.