The Festival, a first for Ireland, will take place over the weekend 11-12 July and will see the Harmsworth Trophy competed for once again in Cork, the trophy was first awarded at an event hosted by the Royal Cork exactly 117 years ago on July 11th 1903.

The race from Cork to the Fastnet Lighthouse and back will be open to UIM Offshore Marathon craft who will also compete for the World Championships and a specially commissioned, ‘Nations Trophy’, this will be awarded to, ‘the boat whose nation has the overall best performance across all 4 classes of the race’.

Colin Morehead, Chair of Cork300 and Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club said:

I am delighted to see the return of powerboat racing to Cork Harbour after many years.

The Cork300 events series was developed to look back at ‘where it all began’ and celebrate the Club and Cork harbour’s 300 years of history.

We are proud to again host milestone historic events like the Harmsworth Trophy after so many years.

It is incredible to think that Cork hosted the first inter-nation powerboat race in the world.

The entries this year will be considerably faster than those which raced in 1903 but the atmosphere and excitement across the harbour will be no less incredible.

Sustainability is very important to the Royal Cork Yacht Club so we aim to honour the past, present and future of powerboating, and promote the use of alternative energy and classic boats.

The Flag Officers of the Royal Cork Yacht Club would like to invite Offshore Powerboat Racers from around the world to participate in our International Powerboat Festival, and help us to celebrate and honour those who came before us.

Without their efforts, we may not have the vibrant sport that we see today.

We sincerely hope that as in 1903, this event will be the start of a truly historic future for the Sport of Offshore Racing.

2020 UIM Offshore Marathon World Championship / Harmsworth Trophy

July 11

Race 1

From Cobh to Mizen Head , around the Fastnet Lighthouse and back to Cork Harbour.

136 NM

Race 2

From Cork Harbour heading east to Capel Island and back to Cork Harbour.

65 NM

(Total Distance 201 Nautical Miles)

July 12

UIM Long Distance Cork-Fastnet-Cork World record / All-Black FPT Challenge Trophy

Current record –  2 Hours 6 Minutes and 47 seconds, (total distance of 115.2 NM).

The Powerboat Festival will be run in association with the Union International Motonautique (UIM), the Powerboat Association of Northern Ireland, the Irish Powerboat Association, and the Trustees of the British International Harmsworth Trophy.

More details >> https://www.powerboatni.org/

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The 2019 record team’s sole survivor Mario Invernizzi, set the record in September 2011 with the FB Design Kerakoll at 22 hours 13 minutes and 17 seconds, in 2016, Buzzi, Invernizzi, Hoorn, Antonio Binda and Stefano Gibelli lowered the time to 22 hours 5 minutes and 42 seconds in a MTU powered FB 60.

On the 17th of September, the team of Buzzi, Nicolini, Hoorn and Invernizzi obliterated that time in the former Gran Argentina boat. The FPT powered hull averaged 61.48 mph and navigated the trip in 18 hours, 33 minutes and 30 seconds.

The UIM has ratified 2 records, the outright Monte Carlo to Venice and over 30′ and up to 50′.

Both Fabio Buzzi and Luca Nicolini were laid to rest in Italy last Saturday.

The post UIM Ratify Buzzi’s Monte Carlo to Venice Records appeared first on Powerboat Racing World.

Invernizzi was on board the FPT powered, FB Design hull with Fabio Buzzi, Luca Nicolini and Eric Hoorn that set a new Monte Carlo to Venice speed record,(18 hours and 32 minutes) before the boat hit a breakwater after crossing the timing line in the Lido di Venezia.

Perillo told Il Giorno Lecco:

He’s out of danger, but he’s extremely distraught for the loss of 3 of his closest friends including Fabio Buzzi who has always been a sort of paternal figure for him.

Invernizzi’s condition is improving and the CT scan that was performed yesterday has ruled out neurological damage, he could be discharged from hospital tomorrow.

Perillo continued:

He feels like a miraculous survivor.

He confirmed to me that 50 miles from Venice he gave the control of the boat to Buzzi and that once he entered the lagoon and crossed the finish line, he took off his belt and left the seat to go into the luggage compartment with the idea of disembarking.

The psychological consequences remain the hardest to face because Invernizzi has survived a tragedy that in a fraction of a second has transformed a moment of joy to immense pain.

That is extremely difficult to cope with.

The post Invernizzi ‘Out of Danger’ appeared first on Powerboat Racing World.

UPDATED ARTICLE

The accident occurred around 21:00 CET outside the harbour in Venice.

The incident, which happened in darkness, occurred in front of the the ‘Lunata’, an artificial dam made of large boulders which are on the seabed.

The families of the deceased have not as yet been informed.

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