50th Anniversary of the Fastnet Race

19/07/2023


In order to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Fastnet Race, the Crew of 'Irish Independent' will bestow their trophy to the Club as a perpetual award.

A number of years ago, the then Commodore of the Royal Ocean Yacht Club, Michael Boyd, made a presentation to the skipper and crew of Irish Independent, recognising their overall victory in the 1987 Fastnet Race, where they were first in both the Admirals Cup Division and overall. This was the first occasion an Irish yacht won this most prestigious and challenging race with over three hundred entrants.
 
This lovely trophy can be seen in the Club’s Trophy Cabinet in the hall and depicts a prism taken form the Fastnet Light mounted on a wooden base and a brass plate recording the names of the crew of “Irish Indo” which had three RIYC members as part of the team.
 
The recipients of this lovely trophy have presented it to the Club, to be used as a perpetual trophy for 'a significant achievement in offshore racing over 600nm'.

RIYC Commodore Jerry Dowling replied:
I am delighted at this initiative to honour a Member who has achieved a significant achievement in racing over 600nm.
I would like thank Timothy Goodbody, Red Power and Tom Roche and the rest of the Irish Independent team for bestowing this very special perpetual trophy to the Members of RIYC.