Irish Defence Forces Win Beaufort Cup Race Round the Fastnet Rock With Coveney on the Helm

16th July 2024

Simon Coveney TD on the helm of the Irish Defence Forces J109 Artful Dodjer (IRL1713) as they cross the finish line as winners of the 150-mile first race of the 2024 inter-services Beaufort Cup at Volvo Cork Week Credit: James Tomlinson

The overnight offshore race for the Beaufort Cup came to a finish off Roches Point on Tuesday.

The 150NM race around the Fastnet Rock was won by the Irish Defence Forces racing J/109 Artful Dodjer, claiming Line Honours as well as the race win after IRC time correction.

“The lead in the race changed many times,” commented Simon Coveney TD who was at the helm of Artful Dodjer as the team sailed through the finish line. “It is a complex race and coastline and the breeze was moving around a lot. The team were delighted to be the first to round the Fastnet during the night.

It is always a memorable moment, no matter how many times you have done it. This was a team effort but special thanks should go to Brian Mathews, who put the whole team together." Continued Coveney. “What is really special this year about the Beaufort Cup is that we have three teams from the US, as well as a team from the UK, racing against two teams from the Irish Defence Forces and two teams from the RNLI.

The whole idea was that The Beaufort Cup would be an international event for people working in uniform in different parts of the world that would get together and make friendships. All of the sailors have come to Cork and really enjoy themselves, the atmosphere at the Royal Cork YC is fantastic.”

The J109 Artful Dodjer wins the first race of the 2024 inter-services Beaufort Cup at Volvo Cork Week Photo: James Tomlinson

Published in Cork Week

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Louay Habib

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Louay Habib is a Maritime Journalist & Broadcaster based in Hamble, United Kingdom

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