Volvo Cork Week Recap: July 15-19, 2024
Volvo Cork Week, held from July 15-19, saw fantastic performances from UK Sailmakers Ireland customers. This year’s event was a resounding success, featuring over 120 boats. The Royal Cork Yacht Club, welcomed teams from Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, and the United States to Crosshaven, Ireland for a full five-day programme of racing around Cork Harbour. The sailing conditions were favorable, with a steady 10-20kt breeze each day. Here are some highlights:
1720 European Championships
Ross McDonald’s ROPE DOCK ATARA from Howth Yacht Club delivered an outstanding performance. After a challenging start, McDonald dominated the 1720 class, retaining his European Championship title with a 20-point lead in a thrilling 12-race series. McDonald expressed his delight in an interview with Sailing World, saying, “The quality of the fleet is very high, so there is always someone there to knock you off your stride. We are delighted to have won at Volvo Cork Week.”
The ROPE DOCK ATARA team also won the 1720 Irish National Championships earlier this year, making the 2024 season their second “double”, after achieving the same in 2022.
Beaufort Cup
The Irish Defence Forces team sailing the J/109, ARTFUL DODGER, skippered by Brian Mathews, had a dominant performance, winning the Fastnet Rock offshore race and all inshore races to claim the Beaufort Cup. Remarkably, the team had only been training together for one week prior to the event. Simon Coveney TD, who was at the helm, noted the team’s improvement and emphasized the importance of teamwork.
The Beaufort Cup, an International Inter Service Sailing Regatta, commenced in 2016 and runs in conjunction with Cork Week. Open to the Navy, Coast Guard, Army, Airforce, Police, and other Rescue Services, the event includes an Offshore Race from Haulbowline Island to the Fastnet Rock and back to Cork Harbour, followed by three days of inshore racing. The winning crew takes home a specially commissioned trophy in honor of Sir Francis Beaufort, creator of the Beaufort Scale, and a charitable fund to be donated to a charity of their choice.
Carroll Cup
Special race trophies in honor of notable historic Irish maritime figures were also awarded to the Beaufort Cup competitors. The Carroll Challenge Cup was awarded to the US Patriot Team racing the IOR legend, Holland 39, IMP.
