The first Beaufort Cup race around the Fastnet rock for 13–competing boats has until 3pm this afternoon to complete the handicap course.
The yachts departed at 10am from Cork Harbour Naval Base yesterday and last night at around 9pm yachts were closing in on the Fastnet in the 150–mile marathon.
The new military and emergency services regatta – with a first prize of €10,000 – is being run as part of Cork Week and has been enthusiastically embraced by Housing Minister and former Defence Minister Simon Coveney, who promoted the concept of the Beaufort Cup last year.
Coveney joined his brother Patrick on the Greystyones Sailing Club based A35 Another Adventure to enter with a Defence Forces crew.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney gives a media interview on his way to the start of yesterday's first race of the Beaufort Cup. Screenshot: TV3
The Irish Defence Forces D team on Merdian and the PSNI on Freya were leading the race as the yachts closed on the lighthouse off Cape Clear, 12 hours after starting off Haulbowline.
Once back in Cork Harbour today, the 13 boats will have a rest day before resuming competition in Class 2 with the rest of the Cork Week 2016 entries.
