The Royal Cork Yacht Club, which is based in Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland, is the world’s oldest yacht club, it was founded in 1720.

Next year will see the club celebrate its 300th anniversary.

The celebrations will include a plethora of sailing events and it has also been announced by Colin Morehead, Vice Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) and Chairman of Cork300 that they will be hosting the UIM Offshore Marathon World Championship and a UIM Long Distance World Record, Cork – Fastnet – Cork.

Morehead, recently exchanged burgees with Dr Raffaele Chiulli, President of the UIM and spoke of his delight at the return of powerboat racing to Cork Harbour:

It will be 117 years to the day that the first International Power Boat Race was held in Cork Harbour when the Marathon Class entries parade past the picturesque town of Cobh as they make their way to the start line.

The entries next year will be considerably faster than those which raced in the first race all those years ago but the atmosphere and excitement within the harbour will be no less incredible than it was back in 1903.

The event is set for 11-12 July 2020, UIM Council Member and proud Irishman Denis Dillon told me:

The UIM Offshore Marathon World Championship race will be of a similar distance to that of the Cowes Torquay Cowes and will run along the south coast near the Fastnet Rock.

Costs will be kept to a minimum for competitors, with ferry transport and accommodation discounted.

There will be special events for the teams and we expect to have some celebrities at the prize giving to add to the occasion.