![]() The Meteorological Office assessed the maximum winds as Force 10 on the Beaufort scale many race competitors believed the winds to have reached Force 11. Land-based weather stations reported gale-force winds, with the strongest winds out to sea over the race area. By the 14th, the low was centred over Wexford. ![]() On 13 August it began to intensify rapidly and turn northeastwards, reaching about 200 nautical miles southwest of Ireland. The leading boat, Kialoa, trailed closely by Condor of Bermuda, was on course to break the Fastnet record set eight years earlier.Ī large depression, known as "low Y", formed over the Atlantic Ocean during the weekend of 11–12 August. Forecasters were predicting winds of Force 8. The BBC Radio Shipping Forecast, broadcast at 13:55 that day predicted "south-westerly winds, force four to five increasing to force six to seven for a time." By 13 August, winds were reported at Force 6, with gusts of Force 7. ![]() This involved some 4,000 people, including the entire Irish Naval Service's fleet, lifeboats, commercial boats, and helicopters. Emergency services, naval forces, and civilian vessels from around the west side of the English Channel were summoned to aid what became the largest ever rescue operation in peace-time. ![]() In 1979, it was the climax of the five-race Admiral's Cup competition, as it had been since 1957.Ī worse-than-expected storm on the third day of the race wreaked havoc on the 303 yachts that started the biennial race, resulting in 19 fatalities (15 yachtsmen and four spectators). ![]() The 1979 Fastnet Race was the 28th Royal Ocean Racing Club's Fastnet Race, a yachting race held generally every two years since 1925 on a 605-mile course from Cowes direct to the Fastnet Rock and then to Plymouth via south of the Isles of Scilly. ![]()
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