The Beaufort Cup - The heart of Volvo Cork Week
by Louay Habib 29 Mar 2022 20:52 AEDT
11-15 July 2022
Volvo Cork Week is going to be a spectacular regatta this July, with teams from all over the world racing with the Royal Cork Yacht Club in celebration of their 300th birthday.
The Beaufort Cup is at the heart of Volvo Cork Week with €10,000 going to the chosen charity of the winning team. The Beaufort Cup pitches teams that have at least half the crew from Service or Voluntary Organisations.
While military teams will be taking part, the Beaufort Cup is suitable for all manner of service organisations including medical professionals, charity organisations, emergency services plus local and national Government Authorities. The early entry list already boasts over ten teams from Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The racing schedule for the Beaufort Cup starts with a 24-hour race around the famous Fastnet Lighthouse, which starts and finishes in Cork Harbour. The inshore race series, set on stunning coastal courses, will be held from 13th to 15th July in conjunction with Volvo Cork Week. Beaufort Cup teams will race under the IRC time correction rule, providing a level playing field to boats of different sizes and speeds. The Beaufort Cup is open to all yachts with a TCC between 0.990 and 1.060.
The overall winner will be presented with the Beaufort Cup at the Grand Prize Giving and will also be in contention to be named Volvo Cork Week 2020 'Boat Of The Week'. Entry for the Beaufort Cup is from €540, which includes event berthage and eight crew tickets for the Beaufort Cup Gala Dinner.
"The format is the same as the two previous editions, you get the chance to race around the Fastnet Rock, enjoy a great dinner, and then race in and around Cork Harbour for the last two days," confirmed James Fegan who besides being the Volvo Cork Week Committee member for The Beaufort Cup, will be racing with the Crosshaven Lifeboat team.
"All of the teams must have half the crew from a services or voluntary background, but the Beaufort Cup is not just for Defence Services, you could have doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers as half of your crew. The entry criteria is very broad but we will not allow professional racers, and the coastal courses mean that the inshore racing will not be windward leeward style. We would love to hear from boat owners who are looking for crew for Volvo Cork Week. The Beaufort Cup has a history of owners finding new crew for their boats, not just for this regatta, but for years to come."
After the offshore race, all of the Beaufort Cup teams are invited to a formal dress code Gala Dinner at Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour. The main naval base and headquarters for the Irish Naval Service and the birth place of the Royal Cork Yacht Club in 1720.
Commander Brian Mathews is the Officer in charge for Defence Forces Sailing and will be racing with the Irish Defence Forces Team. "The Beaufort Cup is about having good clean fun on the water and building relationships off the water. The Beaufort Cup Gala dinner is a formal occasion for entrants only, and there is more informal fun for the rest of the week at the Royal Cork. The Beaufort Cup is all about meeting people, having fun, and all with prize money going to a worthy cause."
For more details and information about the Beaufort Cup visit www.corkweek.ie