With Cork TD Simon Coveney at the helm, the Irish Defence Forces team, skippered by Brian Matthews, has secured four straight wins going into Friday's final day of Volvo Cork Week's inter-services Beaufort Cup.
Crosshaven RNLI crew on the Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo pass Roches Point lighthouse during Volvo Cork Week's Beaufort Cup Photo: James Tomlinson
Taking another two victories in a foggy Cork Harbour on Thursday, the Defence Forces J109 Artful Dodjer is now on four points with the Crosshaven RNLI crew on the Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo lying second overall on nine (pictured above).
Principal Race Officer Con Murphy sent the Beaufort fleet, IRC 2s and 3s, on a windward leeward course just east of Roche’s point. The first race was in a 190-degree wind up to 15-20 knots in wet, misty conditions.
Simon Coveney TD on the helm of the Irish Defence Forces J109 Artful Dodjer in Thursday's foggy conditions for Volvo Cork Week Photo: Con Murphy
In race two, the wind dropped to about 12 knots, and visibility dropped to about 300m in fog. Due to poor visibility, no race 3 was held.
Third in the eight-boat fleet are visitors, the US Sailing Patriot team in the Beneteau First 40.7 Fandango on 12 points (pictured below).
The US Sailing Patriot team third on the Beneteau First 40.7 Fandango rounds Navigation Mark No.20 during Volvo Cork Week's Harbour Race Photo: Bob Bateman
Racing concludes on Friday. Results below.
