Cork Week gets off to intriguing start

THERE was a little of everything on offer for the 120 crews competing in the opening day of Volvo Cork Week yesterday.

Between the strong tides, light winds, no wind, perfect breeze and then nothing, even local crews were hard-pressed to figure out the conditions.

However, the main fleet completed a four-hour coastal race south of Roche’s Point and will sail a similar race again today.

The Beaufort Cup series for military and rescue service crews was first to start yesterday as 15 crews set off to race to the Fastnet Rock and back in a 130 nauticalmile course.

But the light winds and strong tide also hampered progress and the leaders were not expected to reach the famous lighthouse until around midnight or later tonight.

After starting well, defending title holders from the Defence Forces on Joker 2, led by Commandant Barry Byrne, were soon challenged by the Baltimore RNLI crew on Joggernaut who took over the lead.

However, they were in turn passed out by another Defence Forces team, led by the Tánaiste Simon Coveney on a chartered boat, who have held the race lead since.

While the leaders were expected to pass the rock in the early hours before turning for home, more light winds forecast for today may see this race scored at the Fastnet lighthouse to allow the competitors return in time to join the main Cork Week fleet in time for Wednesday’s famous Harbour Race.

With just one race scored across all classes, no overall favourites for the main Cork Week trophy are apparent yet.

The winner is calculated by a combination of results and individual class size.