Representatives of the Defence Forces, the Fire Service, An Garda Siochana and the RNLI joined the Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Annamarie Fegan, and Volvo Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy for the launch of Beaufort Cup 2024 this week in Crosshaven in Cork Harbour.

This international Inter-Service regatta, hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and supported by the Irish Defence Forces, will be raced in Cork Harbour and all along the south coast of Ireland as part of Volvo Cork Week 2024 from the 15th to 19th of July 2024. A perpetual trophy in honour of Sir Francis Beaufort, creator of the Beaufort Scale, will be presented to the winning team and a substantial donation to the winner’s chosen charity. A highlight of this regatta is the offshore Fastnet Race, starting at the historic Haulbowline Naval Base, racing to the legendary Fastnet Rock, and finishing at Roches Point – this challenging race offers its own trophy as well as contributing double points towards the overall regatta standings.

This regatta combines competitive racing on the water with fantastic entertainment and social events ashore – a recipe for building lasting friendships amongst all competitors.

The Beaufort Cup is open to all suitably prepared yachts with an Endorsed IRC certificate having a TCC between 0.990 and 1.075 and where at least 50% of the crew are active members of the Service being represented. The regatta is open to all international uniformed and relevant frontline services. If you have a team but are seeking to pair with a yacht (or vice versa), we can help make the connection and support your entry!

Peter Quinn, Director of US Patriots Sailing and a seasoned campaigner for the Beaufort Cup, perhaps best describes the event: “Campaigning for the Beaufort Cup is an experience in world-class Corinthian offshore sailing, international camaraderie & diplomacy, and the brilliant warmth of the Irish welcome! The Irish Defence Forces and the Royal Cork Yacht Club have created a premier charity sporting event deserving of international recognition and participation. In 2022, it was a big organisational step for US Patriot Sailing to compete in this regatta – our experience in Cork was so great that we committed on the spot to return in 2024 with 3 crews! We have a keen eye on winning the Cup, yet equally focused on reconnecting with friends made during the last Beaufort Cup campaign and on establishing new friendships across each of the international crews. When you come to Cork, bring your best – both on and off the water- the event will be a highlight in your life of memories!”

Further information on the Beaufort Cup is available online at www.corkweek.ie or by clicking the Beaufort Cup Notice of Race link

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 Nieulargo crew at the Beaufort Cup prizegiving Photo: Rick Tomlinson

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.

The Crosshaven RNLI won the 2022 Beaufort Cup on Annemarie Fegan and Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo Photo: Rick Tomlinson

“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.”

Meridian with Minister for Defence Simon Coveney onboard Photo Rick Tomlinson

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.”

Racing for the Beaufort Cup at Cork Week will conclude on Friday with the winning services team awarded the trophy and €10,000 for their chosen charity.

After three days of light and complex racing, a sea breeze kicked in on Day Four to spice up the action on the penultimate day.

Tonight, The Beaufort Cup teams are invited to a formal dress code Gala Dinner at Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour.

With just one more day of racing, leading the Beaufort Cup is Crosshaven RNLI, racing Denis Murphy & Annamarie Fegan’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo.

The Royal Navy team racing J/109 Jolly Jack Tar is two points behind Crosshaven RNLI. The US Marines racing First 40.7 Escapado is in third place.

The Royal Navy team racing J/109 Jolly Jack Tar Photo: Mary Malone

“We wanted to be here in 2020 but that didn’t happen, so we have been waiting for this and the regatta has not disappointed us one bit,” commented US Marine’s Skipper Peter Quinn. “We have had such a fantastic welcome by everybody at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and we have been given great accommodation at hospitality at the Navy Barracks. A great moment came today when we were racing past Cobh. It was a beautiful setting, but it required team work and concentration to get around the short course. We only came together as a team on arrival in Cork, but we really came together there and sailed really well. Being part of a team is as central to sailing as it is when you are in service, racing here has brought that back.”

British Army Royal Engineers on the J109 Trojan have won the Fastnet race of the Beaufort Cup returning to Cork Harbour after a 30-hour race.

Six boats competed in the first race of the Cup for International Inter-Service Sailing Regatta, being hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and supported by the Irish Defence Forces and run as part of Cork Week.

The Cup has seven entries from the British army (x2), Irish defence forces (x2), a Royal Navy team, an RNLI crew and a team of US Marines. The Beaufort Cup pitches teams that have at least half the crew from Service or Voluntary Organisations.

Although official results are awaited, the live YB race tracker gives the Fastnet Rock race win to Trojan on IRC and ECHO

The Beaufort Cup is at the heart of the week with €10,000 going to the chosen charity of the winning team for the series. 

The 2022 Beaufort Cup fleet start the race on Monday morning Photo: Bob Bateman

According to the live tracker, the line honours winner and second on IRC rating was Crosshaven RNLI on Nieulargo, a Grand Soleil 40, owned by Royal Cork's Denis and Annamarie Murphy.

Royal Cork's Annamarie Murphy Photo: Rick Tomlinson

“It is one big Crosshaven family racing in the Beaufort Cup on Nieulargo,” commented Ian Heffernan. “Four years ago, we did this, and it was a new experience for this team. We now know so much about the boat and each other, that despite going the wrong way for maybe three hours, we hung in there and took line honours. It is a testament to the crew and the boat to be an amazing combination, and all of that is based on the Beaufort Cup.”

Third was Royal Navy entry Jolly Jack Tar, another J109 design. 

A Dehler 36 Indulgence crewed by the Irish Defence Forces retired from the race.

Cork Week's Beaufort Cup fleet set off from Haulbowline Island for the 120nm Fastnet Race.

As Afloat reported previously, the six-boat fleet was escorted out of Cork Harbour by Irish Navy Ship, LE Roisin.

Nine hours after the race start the fleet was off Baltimore, 15 miles from the Fastnet Lighthouse.

The Royal Navy team racing Jolly Jack Tar was a mile ahead of the Defence Forces Ireland team racing Meridian. The Crosshaven RNLI team racing Nieulargo was third.

The Beaufort Cup race is being tracked by YB. The Race is available in the YB app.

The first race of Cork Week 2022 got underway this morning (Monday, July 11) in light airs and slack water from the Naval base at Haulbowline in Cork Harbour.

Royal Cork Race Officer Clem McElligott positioned at the base's Signal Turret briefed Beaufort Cup competitors by VHF radio on their course to the Fastnet Rock and back in some decidedly light air conditions. 

The Beaufort Cup fleet prepare to start the Fastnet Rock Race Photo: Bob Bateman

The US Marines team on the First 40.7 Escapado get the media treatment Photo: Bob Bateman

The Beaufort Cup is the International Inter-Service Sailing Regatta, being hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and supported by the Irish Defence Forces.

Ross Deasy and Clem McElligott get the Beaufort Cup fleet started Photo: Bob Bateman

A specially commissioned Perpetual Trophy in honour of Sir Francis Beaufort, creator of the Beaufort Scale, will be presented to the overall winner at the end of this week's series of races.

(Above and below) Beaufort Cup Starting flags are hoisted Photos: Bob Bateman

The fleet crossed a start line between Haulbowline and the Whitepoint shoreline at Cobh. 

The competition has seven entries from the British army (x2), Irish defence forces (x2), a Royal Navy team, an RNLI crew and a team of US Marines.

• Indulgence, Dehler 36, Aidan Heffernan, IRL 2805, Defence Forces Ireland
• Bayonet, Beneteau First 36.7, Darren Szymanski, GBR 1975L, British Army
• Trojan, J109, Helen Stamp, GBR 7005R, British Army
• Jolly Jak Tar, J109, David Warwick, GBR 8541R, Royal Navy
• Nieulargo, Grand Soleil 40 B+C, Denis & Annamarie Murphy, IRL 2129, Crosshaven RNLI
• Escapado, First 40.7, Germaine Williams, GBR 1321L, US Marines
• Meridian, Salona 45, Tom Roche, IRL 4076, Defence Forces Ireland

Denis & Annamarie Murphy's Nieulargo, a Grand Soleil 40 B+C is racing with a Crosshaven RNLI crew Photo: Bob Bateman

Tom Roche's Meridian a Salona 45 is sailing with a Defence Forces Ireland crew Photo: Afloat

The fleet will leave the rock to port and return to Cork Harbour via Daunt Rock. 

Lt Commander Grace Fanning , Captain of LE Roisin escorted the six-boat fleet to the Cork harbour mouth at Roches Point.

Above and below: The Navy vessel LE Roisin escorted the Beaufort Cup fleet out of Cork Harbour on the race to the Fastnet Rock and back Photo: Bob Bateman

Cork Week's Ross Deasy with Beaufort Cup Race Officer Wendy McElligott, Captain Ken Minehane and Race Officer Clem McElligott at the Naval Base's signal turret for the first race of the Beaufort Cup to the Fastnet Rock Photo: Bob Bateman

The international Inter-Service Regatta, the Beaufort Cup, will be held during Volvo Cork Week, including an overnight race around the Fastnet Rock.

The third edition of the Cup organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club will include a 'wealth of international teams' racing for charity.

The Cup is open to national and international teams from the RNLI, Navy, Coast Guard, Army, Airforce, Police and Emergency Rescue Services.

Inshore racing will be held on different style courses every day for the prestigious Beaufort Cup in honour of Sir Francis Beaufort along with €10,000 to be presented to a charity of the winners choice.

The Harbour Race will take place on Wednesday 13th July with spectacular racing in Cork Harbour for the fleet.

In previous years, both local Crosshaven and Baltimore RNLI lifeboat crews have taken part in the race.

The RNLI have in the past been the recipient of the charity donation from the winners.

A Notice of Race for the Beaufort Cup will issue shortly.

The RNLI has received a €5,000 donation from the Irish Defence Forces team that won the Beaufort Cup during Cork Week Regatta. The competition invites sailing teams from the military and emergency services to take part in a series of races in an event that has become a firm favourite in the racing calendar. Last July Baltimore RNLI, on their boat Joker 2, gave the Defence Forces boat Juggerknot a close run in the competition but were ultimately pipped at the post.

The winning team receives a prize fund of €10,000 to be given to a nominated charity but the Defence Forces opted to split their donation, giving €5,000 to Crumlin Children’s Hospital and €5,000 to the RNLI. At a presentation which took place in the Crumlin Children’s hospital in Dublin, the Defence Forces were represented by their Chief of Staff, Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett, the Skipper of the winning boat, Cmdt. Barry Byrne, Colonel Ray O’Lehan and Captain Deirdre Fahy. Present to receive the donation for the RNLI were Baltimore Chairperson of Fundraising, Declan Tiernan and RNLI Media Manager Niamh Stephenson.

Speaking following the presentation Baltimore RNLI Fundraising Chairperson Declan Tiernan said, ‘It was a lovely surprise when we heard that the Defence Forces were donating half of their prize to the RNLI and we were incredibly honoured to share it with Crumlin Children’s Hospital. The Beaufort Cup provided a fantastic week’s racing and it came down to a close finish between the Defence Forces and Baltimore RNLI at the end.’

‘We’d also like to acknowledge Crosshaven RNLI who had a boat in the race and performed exceptionally well. All of this has just whetted our appetite to come back bigger and better next time and Comdt Byrne should expect another nail bitter to the finish. We are tremendously proud of our team and are so grateful for the generosity of the winners from the Defence Forces.’

Declan went on to thank those who had allowed the station enter the competition by providing or sponsoring support. Andrew Algeo, who donated his boat Juggerknot free of charge for the crew to race and PPL Ltd., James and Joanne McKenna, Peter O’Flynn Cushman from Wakefield, Peter and Anthony O’Leary from O’Leary Insurance and Bushes Bar all provided generous sponsorship.

Juggerknot Crew :Youen Jacob (Skipper & Baltimore Lifeboat Crew), Peter O’Leary (Tactician) Pat Collins, Cathal Cottrell, Jim Baker, Aiden Bushe, Kieran Cotter, Jim Griffiths (Crew and Baltimore Lifeboat Crew. Garry Haughton, Sandy Remington Bowman and Fionn Lyden (Crew)

'Incredible'. That was the one-word reaction from Commandant Barry Byrne when he crossed the finish line off Roches Point in Cork Harbour this lunchtime, snatching line honours victory in the first race of the Beaufort Cup, the Cork Week series for Services personnel. Read Afloat.ie's earlier report here.

"I never dreamt that I could repeat 2016's success. It's an incredible feeling",  the Irish Defence Forces skipper said having taken first blood with his talented crew against some very stiff competition.

"I never dreamt that I could repeat 2016's success"

In the podcast below, with Afloat.ie's Louay Habib, Byrne (who finished second in the Round Ireland Race earlier this month on the same boat), talks about how he knew he could win, if he could just hold on to the top pack in the 15–boat fleet. 

Even with the early win in the bag that counts for double points, Byrne remains extremely cautious, however, given there are three days of inshore racing still to come.

Barry Byrne's J109 Joker II defended its Beaufort Cup title in style this morning with an on–the–water win of the first 150-mile coastal race of the Cup series.

Byrne's team came from behind to win the double points scoring Fastnet Race for the Beaufort Cup. 

See video of the finish below and interview with Barry Byrne as they cross the line.

But it was a win by the narrowest of margins – even by Cork Week's exacting standards – with only a reported '150 metres' separating Byrne's Defence Forces crew from Baltimore Lifeboat crew sailing another J109 design Joggerknot – with Olympian Peter O'Leary onboard – after nearly  24 hours and 130 nautical miles of racing.

During the race, four teams swapped the lead in an intense battle around the Fastnet Lighthouse. 

Very competitive #Fastnet race as part of @defenceforces Beaufort cup @corkweektweet. Bravo Zulu to all #Service competitors including #ÓglaighnahÉireann teams with Comdt Barry Byrne taking line honours on ‘Joker 2’. @DF_COS pleased to crew for Tom Roche (Lt Navy Rtd) on Meridian pic.twitter.com/jwqOeledrv

— DF Chief of Staff (@DF_COS) July 17, 2018

Byrne, who placed second overall in this month's Round Ireland race, will chalk this round Fastnet Rock race win up as an important victory in a week of competition still to come.

Finish of the 2018 Fastnet Race for the #BeaufortCup after 25 hours sailing #Cork #irishsailing #pureCork @royalcork@JPMahonpoint@VolvoIreland@HellyHansen @AfloatMagazine pic.twitter.com/lvIvdaxWGn

— Volvo Cork Week (@corkweektweet) July 17, 2018

Results for the 15–boat fleet here. Podcast with Barry Byrne here.