This year's Centenary of the Fastnet Race - and the Royal Ocean Racing Club Centenary with it - has special resonance for Cork sailors. The enthusiastic participation as one of the "original seven", with a third place in 1925 in the first Fastnet Race by leading Cork skipper Harry Donegan with his 16-ton cutter Gull, established a close link which has strengthened over the years.

Harry Donegan of Cork's cutter Gull at the start of the first Fastnet Race in 1925, in which she placed third

Thus it was absolutely full house in the Royal Cork YC's hospitable dining room at Crosshaven on Saturday night (12th April) as 134 offshore racing enthusiasts from near and far enjoyed the second celebratory dinner (the first was in the New York YC last month) in the countdown to this year's Fastnet Race, which has attracted 496 entries in all categories.

Ger O'Rourke of Limerick, overall winner of 2007 Fastnet Race (right) with Kyran O'Grady of Wicklow, Director of Round Ireland Race (left), and Donal Morrissey of Galway, top Irish boat in 1995 Fastnet Race (third from right). Photo: Bob Bateman

IRISH RORC COMMODORES

Royal Cork YC Admiral Annamarie Fegan (herself a Fastnet Race veteran in the family's successful Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo) welcomed a large group of RORC members led by Admiral Janet Grosvenor, including two former RORC Commodores from Ireland, John Bourke of the Royal St George YC, and Michael Boyd of the Royal Irish YC.

Janet Grosvenor, Admiral of RORC (left), with Annamarie Fegan, Admiral Royal Cork YC. Photo: Bob Bateman

It was a very special evening as some "Fastneteer" crews were reunited after many decades, and the warmest applause was for the overall winner of the Fastnet Race in 2007, Ger O'Rourke of Limerick with the Irish members of the crew of his all-conquering Cookson 50 Chieftain.

Ger O'Rourke of Limerick's Cookson 50 Chieftain at the start of the 2007 Fastnet Race, which she won overall

STRAIGHT THROUGH THE BREAKERS

As well, it was recalled that while the 1979 Fastnet Race may be generally remembered for its destructive storm, many boats somehow continued racing. One of the most successful was the UFO 34 Black Arrow, skippered by Crosshaven's own Donal McClement.

He reckoned that instead of lying a-hull to be at the mercy of the turbulent seas, the best solution was to keep sailing to windward under the scrap of a storm jib, such that the boat with her notably sharp bow could be pointed right at the steepest seas, and hope to go straight through them rather than being overpowered.

It made for extremely rugged sailing. But it worked. Black Arrow won Class IV in the 1979 Fastnet Race.