An International Power Boat Festival will take place in Cork Harbour this summer as part of the Cork300 events to celebrate the Royal Cork Yacht Club’s 300th birthday.

The event will take place from the 11th and 12th July 2020 and will see four major, and very different, powerboat events will take place during the Festival, three of which will be held in Ireland for the first time.
The Festival will also see the world-famous British International Harmsworth Trophy competed for once again in Cork. The trophy was first awarded at an event hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club exactly117 years ago on July 11th 1903. This was the first inter-nation powerboat race held in the world. A modern fleet of endurance offshore racing boats will also compete for the honour of being crowned UIM Offshore Marathon World Champion. To honour Alfred C Harmsworth and those who established the original set of rules for the 1903 race where it was Nation against Nation, a specially commissioned Nations trophy will also be awarded to the competitors whose nation has the overall best performance across all 4 classes in the UIM World Championship Offshore race.
In addition, the UIM Long Distance Cork-Fastnet-Cork World Record attempt will take place, and there will also be a Classic Motorboat Rally, where you can see classic and alternative energy boats.
UIM Offshore Marathon World Championship. (11th July) This event will see a modern fleet of endurance offshore racing boats taking on the waters off the Cork Coast. Competition for the UIM World Championship Endurance Marathon 2020 will take place over two races. Weather permitting, both races will be held on the same day.
Race 1 From Cobh to Mizen Head , around the iconic Fastnet Lighthouse and back to Cork Harbour. (136 Nautical Miles)
Race 2 From Cork Harbour heading east to Capel Island and back to Cork Harbour. (65 Nautical Miles)
British International Harmsworth Trophy (11th July) In honour of the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosting the inaugural Race for the historic Harmsworth trophy over 100 years ago in 1903, The Trustees of the Trophy will bring this Trophy back to its birthplace in Cork.
UIM Long Distance Cork-Fastnet-Cork World record. (12th July) The UIM Long Distance World Record “Cork-Fastnet-Cork” awaits any team that wishes to take on the challenge.

Classic Motor Boat Rally (12th July) A Classic Motor Boat Rally will take place on Sunday 12 July. In honour of the Royal Cork’s hosting of the inaugural Harmsworth Cup Race in 1903, the course will be similar to the original Harmsworth course from the 1903 Royal Cork Yacht Club building (Now the Sirius Arts Centre) in Cobh, Co. Cork to Cork City via Blackrock Castle on the River Lee.
Fleet Review There will be a fleet review for all Royal Cork and visiting yachts/craft with the Admiral and Flag Officers of the yacht club and other dignitaries between two of the former club premises on Haulbowline Island and Cobh.
Cork300’s premium partner is AIB along with official partners Port of Cork, Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Volvo Car Ireland, Heineken, Musto and Dubarry. See www.cork300.com for more.
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