Byrne's Joker II Defence Forces Team Win First Race of Beaufort Cup By Just 150 Metres After 24

Byrne's Joker II Defence Forces Team Win First Race of Beaufort Cup By Just 150 Metres After 24–Hours of Racing

17th July 2018

The Defence Forces crew skippered by Commandant Barry Byrne cross the line to win the first race of the Beaufort Cup Credit: Screenshot via Facebook

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.

Published in Cork Week

Tagged under

Beaufort Cup

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