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#PORTS & SHIPPING REVIEW - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the Shipping scene where the Port of Cork Company posted an operating profit before exceptional costs of €1.3 million – down by €700,000 from 2010 – on a turnover of €21.4 million.

Dublin Port welcomed a new cruise operator, MSC Cruises when the 59,000 tonnes MSC Lirica made her maiden 'Irish' port of call, which was followed by visit to Cobh in mid-August. On the same day of MSC Lirica's call to the capital, P&O Cruises Adonia became the second caller so far this season to Foynes on the Shannon Estuary.

The luxury liner returned to Dublin yesterday, coinciding with The Tall Ships Race Festival and where today the fleet set off with the highlight of the 'Parade of Sail' which passed off Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Howth Peninsula. The Ecuadorian Navy's barque Guayas lead the parade, as they sailed past the anchored guardship L.E. Emer offshore of the harbour mouth.

For the first time the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire, broke tradition by opening its doors to the public on Mondays, and this will remain so to the end of the summer.

The heavylift cargo-ship HHL Valparasio (2010/17,634grt), believed to be the largest vessel ever to dock in Fenit, Co. Kerry, loaded two ship-to-shore container cranes built by the Liebherr factory outside Killarney, which were bound for the Elizabeth Port, New Jersey in the US.

Also in the same county, the luxury 5-star cruiseship Hebridean Princess was on a 7-night cruise tour of the south-west coast based out of Cobh, where passengers had flown in from the UK. The cruise was unusual in that the ports were all concentrated in that region.

Also based out of Cork is the headquarters of Ardmore Shipping Ltd, whose first of four product tankers was marked by a keel-laying ceremony at a South Korean shipyard.

Single-route operator Celtic Link Ferries chartered ro-pax Celtic Horizon, is running her first peak-season sailings since introduced on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route in October last year.

During this week the Naval Service detained an Irish registered trawler in relation to alleged breaches of technical fishing regulations offshore of Ballycotton. The OPV L.É. Niamh (P52) escorted the vessel to Cork. This followed another detainment off Ballycotton and again an Irish trawler, for the same reasons, when the CPV L.É. Ciara (P42) escorted the vessel also to Cobh.

Published in Ports & Shipping

RORC Fastnet Race

This race is both a blue riband international yachting fixture and a biennial offshore pilgrimage that attracts crews from all walks of life:- from aspiring sailors to professional crews; all ages and all professions. Some are racing for charity, others for a personal challenge.

For the world's top professional sailors, it is a 'must-do' race. For some, it will be their first-ever race, and for others, something they have competed in for over 50 years! The race attracts the most diverse fleet of yachts, from beautiful classic yachts to some of the fastest racing machines on the planet – and everything in between.

The testing course passes eight famous landmarks along the route: The Needles, Portland Bill, Start Point, the Lizard, Land’s End, the Fastnet Rock, Bishop’s Rock off the Scillies and Plymouth breakwater (now Cherbourg for 2021 and 2023). After the start in Cowes, the fleet heads westward down The Solent, before exiting into the English Channel at Hurst Castle. The finish for 2021 is in Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland.

  • The leg across the Celtic Sea to (and from) the Fastnet Rock is known to be unpredictable and challenging. The competitors are exposed to fast-moving Atlantic weather systems and the fleet often encounter tough conditions
  • Flawless decision-making, determination and total commitment are the essential requirements. Crews have to manage and anticipate the changing tidal and meteorological conditions imposed by the complex course
  • The symbol of the race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast of Ireland. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland, the Rock marks an evocative turning point in the challenging race
  • Once sailors reach the Fastnet Rock, they are well over halfway to the finish in Cherbourg.

Fastnet Race - FAQs

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, UK on Sunday 8th August 2021.

The next two editions of the race in 2021 and 2023 will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the head of the Normandy peninsula, France

Over 300. A record fleet is once again anticipated for the world's largest offshore yacht race.

The international fleet attracts both enthusiastic amateur, the seasoned offshore racer, as well as out-and-out professionals from all corners of the world.

Boats of all shapes, sizes and age take part in this historic race, from 9m-34m (30-110ft) – and everything in between.

The Fastnet Race multihull course record is: 1 day 4 hours 2 minutes and 26 seconds (2019, Ultim Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier)

The Fastnet Race monohull course record is: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing).

David and Peter Askew's American VO70 Wizard won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race, claiming the Fastnet Challenge Cup for 1st in IRC Overall.

Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001.

The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

The winner of the first Fastnet Race was the former pilot cutter Jolie Brise, a boat that is still sailing today.

Cork sailor Henry P F Donegan (1870-1940), who gave his total support for the Fastnet Race from its inception in 1925 and competed in the inaugural race in his 43ft cutter Gull from Cork.

Ireland has won the Fastnet Race twice. In 1987 the Dubois 40 Irish Independent won the Fastnet Race overall for the first time and then in 2007 – all of twenty years after Irish Independent’s win – Ireland secured the overall win again this time thanks to Ger O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 Chieftain from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in Kilrush.

©Afloat 2020

Fastnet Race 2023 Date

The 2023 50th Rolex Fastnet Race will start on Saturday, 22nd July 2023

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At A Glance – Fastnet Race

  • The world's largest offshore yacht race
  • The biennial race is 695 nautical miles - Cowes, Fastnet Rock, Cherbourg
  • A fleet of over 400 yachts regularly will take part
  • The international fleet is made up of over 26 countries
  • Multihull course record: 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes (2011, Banque Populaire V)
  • Monohull course record: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi)
  • Largest IRC Rated boat is the 100ft (30.48m) Scallywag 100 (HKG)
  • Some of the Smallest boats in the fleet are 30 footers
  • Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001
  • The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

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