The third edition of the Beaufort Cup attracted teams from Ireland, UK and the United States for the Service Sailing Regatta with the winning crew taking home the Beaufort Cup.
The schedule kicked off with a 120nm race around the Fastnet Rock, followed by three exhilarating days of inshore racing. The top three teams all received thousands of euros in prize money for their chosen charities. The winning team, Crosshaven RNLI, together with funds raised on the Ladies’ Day Lunch at Volvo Cork Week, made over 20,000 euros for RNLI Ireland.
The Crosshaven RNLI won the 2022 Beaufort Cup on Annemarie Fegan and Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo. Despite taking line honours in the Fastnet Race, Nieulargo corrected out to fourth after IRC tie correction. However, inshore four wins gave the team victory for the series. Second is the British Royal Navy team racing J/109 Jolly Jack Tar, skippered by David Warwick. In third for the series is the US Marines Team skippered by Peter Quinn on First 40.7 Escapado. Tom Roche’s Defence Force Ireland team on Salona 45 Meridian is fourth. A special mention to the British Army team that won the Fastnet Race in Trojan with a Royal Engineers team skippered by Rob Duke.
“It is wonderful to have the teams from Ireland, America and Great Britain all racing together at the Beaufort Cup,” smiled Dennis Murphy. “We can actually see the RNLI Lifeboat from the Royal Cork Yacht Club and we are delighted to have won this, it is a fantastic event.”
Irish Defence Minister, Simon Coveney was racing again this year with the Irish Defence Forces team on Meridian. “We started the Beaufort Cup eight years ago; the idea was to bring people in uniform together. Bringing teams together and building friendships through sailing and competition. It has been a great success and we want to keep building it internationally.”