Baltimore RNLI Holds Beaufort Cup Lead Midway to Fastnet (Tracker Here)

6th July 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Early Advantage: Baltimore RNLI's J/109 Storm makes a strong start to the Beaufort Cup offshore race and held the provisional IRC lead during the opening stages of the 122-nautical-mile challenge to the Fastnet Rock and back Credit: Bob Bateman

Baltimore RNLI held the early advantage in the Beaufort Cup's opening offshore race as part of Cork Week Regatta on Monday as the fleet settled into the 122-nautical-mile challenge from Haulbowline Naval Base to the Fastnet Rock and back.

A 30-minute postponement delayed the start while competitors waited for the breeze to settle and for the Naval Service offshore patrol vessel Samuel Beckett to clear the course. Once underway from the Signal Tower at Haulbowline, the fleet headed for Course Marks 20 and 18 to starboard before rounding Daunt Buoy and Fastnet Rock to port, returning via Daunt Buoy to starboard and finishing in Cork Harbour.

Thunder Start: A ceremonial cannon signals the start of the Beaufort Cup offshore race from Haulbowline Naval Base as military, emergency service and RNLI crews set off on the 122-nautical-mile challenge to the Fastnet Rock and back

The five-boat fleet got away under a traditional ceremonial cannon fired from Haulbowline Naval Base, setting course for the Fastnet Rock in initially lgiht winds then 15 to 18 knots of southerly breeze under largely sunny skies with occasional patches of mist.

Royal Challenge: The Royal Navy's Sun Fast 3600 Sovereign is provisionally third as the Beaufort Cup fleet races back from the Fastnet. Photo: Robert Bateman

The live tracker at 1520 BST showed Robert O'Leary's J/109 Storm, representing Baltimore RNLI, leading the provisional IRC corrected-time standings. Simon Coveney's Waterfront was projected second, ahead of the Royal Navy's Sovereign, the defending Irish Defence Forces crew aboard Artful DodJer, and Dún Laoghaire RNLI's ReQuest.

Holding Second: Waterfront remains firmly in contention on the live corrected-time standings. Photo: Robert Bateman

At the latest update, the fleet had sailed between 27 and 29 nautical miles, leaving approximately 94 to 96 miles remaining to the finish.

Good Spirits: The Dún Laoghaire RNLI crew aboard ReQuest acknowledge the camera during the offshore race. Photo: Robert Bateman

The tracker projected finishes early on Tuesday morning, although those estimates and the corrected-time standings remain subject to change as the offshore race develops.

Beaufort Cup 2026 Tracker

Published in Cork Week

Tagged under

Beaufort Cup

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