180km/h powerboats test waters in Cork Harbour as race build-up begins

Sleek powerboats thundered around Cork Harbour yesterday during high-speed course tests ahead of what’s set to one of the most spectacular sporting events staged in Ireland this year.

The vessels reached speeds of nearly 180km/h as they prepared for the first leg of the Venture Cup in June — an international powerboat event which will attract up to 25 teams from around the world to compete in an arduous week-long race up the Wild Atlantic Way.

The start flag drops in Cork Harbour on June 11 with in-harbour racing, before the boats take in Dingle, Galway, Killybegs, and Belfast before finishing in Dublin on June 19.