Southwest winds up to 20 knots will get today's Quarter Ton Cup off to a swift start at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour.

Four UK visitors are led by the 2021 winner and last week's Dun Laoghaire Regatta 'Volvo Boat of the Week winner', Protis, skippered by Ian Southworth of Hamble River Sailing Club.

The eight-race, three-day Cork competition will be the first time the Cup has been sailed in the modern era outside Cowes. Admittedly, only 11 are competing, but it's still a quality fleet with some top sailors seeking victory.

Southworth made swift work of Dun Laoghaire's IRC Three class last Sunday on the east coast, winning seven races on the trot, so he can be considered warmed up and ready to go.

Irish entries, including Conor Phelan's Anchor Challenge, who won Class Three at June's Sovereign's Cup in style, is racing with Ireland's four-time Olympic keelboat helmsman Mark Mansfield aboard.

Kieran Dorgan's Illegal (second last week in Dun Laoghaire Regatta's Class Three) and Martin Mahon's Snoopy (third) will likely be the main Irish threats to Protis.

Conor Phelan's Anchor Challenge from Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Another interesting addition to the local foray, however, will be Panic, with both 2004 Olympian Killian Collins and Ireland's top 505 ace Alex Barry aboard.

The event comes to the Irish south coast from the Solent for the first time since the Cup was resurrected 18 years ago.

Martin Mahon's Snoopy from Courtown Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman

The Quarter Ton Cup is awarded to the World Quarter Ton class championships winners between 1968 and 1997 and for the Quarter Ton Classic Revival from 2005 to the present. The fleet’s main centre is on the Solent.

Kieran Dorgan's Illegal competing at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Cork Harbour's Class Three continues to strengthen with the arrival of several Quarter Tonners in the last two seasons.

Overall, the fleet includes some authentic classic designs, including an Albin Express, various Quarter Tonners, a Bolero, vintage J24s, an HB31 and a Trapper 250. 

Quarter Tonner Panic arrived from Northern Ireland, Illegal came from Cowes, as Afloat reported previously, and Anchor Challenge, a championship-winning boat (that has had three previous Cork owners) returned to the harbour in 2022.