A P McCoy takes a tumble

Here at Fastnet Line we like our sport, which is why March is one of our favourite times of the year. Not only do we get to go to Cardiff for our biannual meeting with our Celtic cousins on the rugby pitch in the Six Nations championship (Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium Cardiff, Saturday 12th March 2011 at 17.00) but we also get to look forward to the Cheltenham Racing Festival (Prestbury Park Cheltenham, 15th to 18th March 2011).

And if that isn’t enough, the West Cork Rally is being held on the weekend of the 18th to 20th March based in CLonakilty West Cork. Fastnet Line expects to bring competitiors from Wales and farther afield in the UK to one of the best tarmac rallies in Ireland.

Now not everyone in Ireland is a racing fan but in our experience most people will know a little about a horse or a jockey or perhaps a local trainer and everyone will have heard of Cheltenham. It is the Olympics and World Cup final of National Hunt racing in one extraordinary festival of racing. If you have not experienced it, we can only say GO! The atmosphere is electric at this incredible sporting occasion and is certainly one of those events that you have to be there to experience.

The easiest way to get to these two great sporting events is with Fastnet Line saiing from Cork to Swansea overnight in comfort and style. We have got special offers for both great events and are running a special sailing on Friday 11th March from Cork to Swansea to bring rugby supporters to Wales for the big match with a return sailing late on Saturday night  to bring them back to Cork after the match. So whichever form of sport takes your fancy in March book now to get the best fares.

Cardiff Bay

The capital of Wales is an exciting place to visit with a compact city centre containing all you need and being a great place to base yourself for an assault on all things Welsh. The advent of a degree of autonomy for Wales within the United Kingdom, with its own government, elected representatives and legislative assembly has given Wales a self-confidence to face the challenges of the new millennium. The Castle remains an iconic feature of the city as it has for over two thousand years alongside the more modern features such as the Millennium Centre, the visitor centre known as “The Tube” and the stylishly classic National Museum. Many people will come for large sporting occasions such as the biennial Six Nations clash between the Celtic cousins Wales and Ireland but Cardiff Bay boasts an impressive array of watersports to participate in as well as nearby walking, horseriding, rock climbing, kayaking and cycling. Golf of course is the vogue sport with the 2010 Ryder cup taking place at Celtic Manor just twenty minutes from Cardiff and is sure to attract thousands of spectators from Europe and the USA. Don’t forget to unwind with shopping, bars, cafes and restaurants or make a beeline for a concert or opera to keep the culture quotient high.