‘Magnificent’ Monkstown lures the crew of Hugo Boss

The manager of Cork Harbour Marina has insisted the surprise arrival of a high-profile racing vessel shows the local area could become an international yachting hot-bed if just €5m is invested into facilities.

On Friday, officials at the facility received an unexpected call from the Hugo Boss 99 vessel, the Open 60 Ocean Racer, asking if it could come to shore in Monkstown.

The vessel set off from England to New York, where it is due to take part in an international competition in the coming weeks, earlier in the day.