Displaying items by tag: International Power Boat Festival

4th March 2020

International Festival Brings The Power To Cork Harbour This Summer

Allblack Racing claimed the Cork-Fastnet-Cork speed record in 2018

Cork Harbour will play host to four major, and very different, powerboat events over the weekend of 11 and 12 July.

Previously announced last autumn, the International Power Boat Festival, which is a first for Ireland, is part of the Cork300 events series which celebrates the tricentenary of the oldest yacht club in the world, the Royal Cork.

Four major powerboat events will take place during the festival — three of which will be held in Ireland for the first time while the fourth, the Harmsworth Trophy, last took place in Cork 117 years ago and was the first inter-nation powerboat race in the world.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club is inviting a mix of classic boats from the past along with solar and alternative energy boats of the future, and endurance offshore racing boats.

A modern fleet of endurance offshore racing boats will also compete for the honour of being crowned UIM Offshore Marathon World Champion.

To honour Alfred C Harmsworth and those who established the original set of rules for the 1903 race, a specially commissioned Nations trophy will also be awarded to the competitors whose nation has the overall best performance across all four classes in the UIM World Championship Offshore race.

In addition, there will be an attempt at the UIM Long Distance Cork-Fastnet-Cork World Record — claimed in 2018 by Irish team Allblack Racing — as well as a classic motorboat rally where you can see classic and alternative energy boats.

Colin Morehead, chair of Cork300 and Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club said: “I am delighted to see the return of powerboat racing to Cork Harbour after many years.

“The Cork300 events series was developed to look back at ‘where it all began’ and celebrate the club and Cork Harbour’s 300 years of history. We are proud to again host milestone historic events like the Harmsworth Trophy after so many years.

“It is incredible to think that Cork hosted the first inter-nation powerboat race in the world. The entries this year will be considerably faster than those which raced in 1903 but the atmosphere and excitement across the harbour will be no less incredible.

“Sustainability is very important to the Royal Cork Yacht Club so we aim to honour the past, present and future of powerboating, and promote the use of alternative energy and classic boats.”

Inviting offshore powerboat racers from around the world to participate in the festival, Admiral Morehead added: “We sincerely hope that as in 1903, this event will be the start of a truly historic future for the sport of offshore racing.”

Pictured at the launch of the International Power Boat Festival are Colin Morehead, Royal Cork Admiral and Cork300 chair, with Justin McInerney, president of the Irish Powerboat Association; Richard Salaman, trustee, British International Harmsworth Trophy; and UIM council member Denis Dillon

Here’s the line-up of events for the International Power Boat Festival in Cork Harbour:

UIM Offshore Marathon World Championship (11 July)
This event will see a modern fleet of endurance offshore racing boats taking on the waters off the Cork Coast. Competition for the UIM World Championship Endurance Marathon 2020 will take place over two races. Weather permitting, both races will be held on the same day.

Race 1: From Cobh to Mizen Head, around the iconic Fastnet Lighthouse and back to Cork Harbour (136 nautical miles).
Race 2: From Cork Harbour heading east to Capel Island and back to Cork Harbour (65 nautical miles).

British International Harmsworth Trophy (11 July)
In honour of the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosting the inaugural race for the historic Harmsworth trophy in 1903, the trustees of the trophy will bring it back to its birthplace in Cork. The Royal Cork will once again host a series of races for those competitors determined to get their names inscribed beside some of the legends within offshore international racing.

The event will run alongside the UIM World Championship and will truly be an offshore challenge (total distance 201 nautical miles).

UIM Long Distance Cork-Fastnet-Cork world record (12 July)
The UIM Long Distance World Record for Cork-Fastnet-Cork awaits any team that wishes to take on the challenge. It is presently set at 2 hours, 6 minutes and 47 seconds. In order to set a new record, any team taking on this challenge has to go from Cork Harbour to the Fastnet Rock and back to Cork Harbour, a total distance of 115.2 nautical miles, in a faster time. Those achieving this will not only be honoured with a UIM world record but also get their names inscribed on the All-Black FPT Challenge Trophy.

Classic Motor Boat Rally (12 July)
A classic motor boat rally will take place on Sunday 12 July. In honour of the Royal Cork’s hosting of the inaugural Harmsworth Cup Race in 1903, the course will be similar to the original Harmsworth course from the 1903 Royal Cork Yacht Club building in Cobh (now the Sirius Arts Centre) to Cork city via Blackrock Castle on the River Lee.

Fleet Review
There will be a fleet review for all Royal Cork and visiting yachts/craft with the Admiral and Flag Officers of the yacht club and other dignitaries between two of the former club premises on Haulbowline Island and Cobh. There will be a few surprises on the day and everyone participating in the International Power Boat Festival is encouraged to participate in what will be a fitting spectacle to celebrate where it all began.

Other events taking place this summer for Cork300 include the eye-catching Glandore Classic Regatta; the historic Kingstown/Queenstown race from Dun Laoghaire to Cobh; the world-famous annual Volvo Cork Week regatta, a Wild Atlantic Way sailing ‘cruise in company’ for visiting yacht clubs; and a gathering of naval ships in Cork city.

The prestigious Morgan Cup, awarded by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), will also come to Ireland for the first time as part of Cork300. See Cork300.com for more, and click HERE to register your interest in Cork300 events.

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How old is Galway port?

Galway was founded in the 13th century by the de Burgo family, and became an important seaport with sailing ships bearing wine imports and exports of fish, hides and wool.

How old is Galway bay?

Not as old as previously thought. Galway bay was once a series of lagoons, known as Loch Lurgan, plied by people in log canoes. Ancient tree stumps exposed by storms in 2010 have been dated back about 7,500 years.

What is the tonnage of the port?

It is about 660,000 tonnes as it is a tidal port.

Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

When are the lock gates open?

The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

What's the biggest ship that can 'fit' in the harbour?

The typical ship sizes are in the region of 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes

Is renewable energy generating a lot of business for Galway port?

Turbines for about 14 wind projects have been imported in recent years, but the tonnage of these cargoes is light. A European industry report calculates that each turbine generates €10 million in locally generated revenue during construction and logistics/transport.

Is Galway a European cable location?

Yes, Iceland has selected Galway as European landing location for international telecommunications cables. Farice, a company wholly owned by the Icelandic Government, currently owns and operates two submarine cables linking Iceland to Northern Europe.

What's the update on the Galway port expansion plans?

It is "very much a live project", Harbourmaster Capt Sheridan says, and the Port of Galway board is "awaiting the outcome of a Bord Pleanála determination", he says.

Where does all the scrap go at Galway Port?

90% of the scrap steel is exported to Spain with the balance being shipped to Portugal. Since the pandemic, scrap steel is shipped to the Liverpool where it is either transhipped to larger ships bound for China.

Why is Galway Port exporting silage and the Irish farmers are crying out for it?

It might look like silage, but in fact, its bales domestic and municipal waste, exported to Denmark where the waste is incinerated, and the heat is used in district heating of homes and schools. It is called RDF or Refuse Derived Fuel and has been exported out of Galway since 2013.

When is the new ferry starting service from Galway?

The new ferry is arriving at Galway Bay onboard the cargo ship SVENJA. The vessel is currently on passage to Belem, Brazil before making her way across the Atlantic to Galway.

Is the Volvo Ocean Race coming back to Galway?

Two Volvo round world races have selected Galway for the prestigious yacht race route. Some 10,000 people welcomed the boats in during its first stopover in 2009, when a festival was marked by stunning weather. It was also selected for the race finish in 2012. The Volvo has changed its name and is now known as the "Ocean Race". Capt Sheridan says that once port expansion and the re-urbanisation of the docklands is complete, the port will welcome the "ocean race, Clipper race, Tall Ships race, Small Ships Regatta and maybe the America's Cup right into the city centre...".

When is Seafest coming back to Galway?

The pandemic was the reason why Seafest did not go ahead in Cork in 2020. Galway will welcome Seafest back after it calls to Waterford and Limerick, thus having been to all the Port cities.