After 30 hours of sailing in the Volvo Round Ireland Race, the prospect of a small boat claiming overall victory is starting to become real as virtually all the 56-strong fleet had passed the Fastnet Rock off the West Cork coast last night.

The Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) are refusing to row back on plans to replace historic lights at the country’s most southwesterly lighthouse, reducing the power of their beams from 27 to 18 nautical miles.

Offshore racing in Ireland is witnessing a significant increase both of participants but also as a course area if 2018 is used as a measure.

Winds reached extraordinary strengths during Storm Ophelia, with one gust recorded at the Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork, reaching a 191km/h.

UCC historian Dr John Borgonovo recalls the response to the sinking of the Lusitania in his native US, which took another two years to enter the Great War

Had a Happy Isthmus? West Cork’s Cape Clear island is in two solid masses, linked by a narrowed section of land known as an isthmus between its north and south harbours - and that’s where this Cummer home now up for sale is set.

Barely one day into the Round Ireland race and Ian Hickey’s Cavatina from the Royal Cork Yacht Club was on form and aiming for a third title in this 704-mile race.

A new oil and gas exploration company, AzEire Petroleum Ltd has been launched seeking hydrocarbon resources in the North Celtic Sea and Fastnet basins.

AS the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet breathed a collective sigh of relief that a tragedy was averted in the Rambler 100 capsize incident, progress continued unabated in the 608-mile race that started on Sunday.

A TRAGEDY on the scale of the 1979 Fastnet Race disaster was narrowly avoided last night after a yacht taking part in the famous race capsized 20km off Baltimore, Co Cork. (Click here to see a clip of the survivors talking about the rescue.)

GARDAÍ have been given High Court approval to break into the lavish home of Howard Holdings king-pin Greg Coughlan, if necessary, to arrest him over unpaid loans of more than €28 million.

THE Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has made two safety recommendations after concluding its report into a fatal trawler accident.

A French father and son sailing team were rescued today after a freak wave knocked them overboard as they raced to the notorious Fastnet rock.

THIS is no country for old men — or women.

SKELLIGS has its selling points in abundance it's a solid and sound house, with a sought-after, salubrious suburban address.

THERE'S an amount of charm and character to Scobaun, a quirky restored and extended West Cork home.