2010 Cork Week

[MLovett]

April 2010

It only happens every other year and that is probably a good thing, because it takes Crosshaven that long to recover! With less than three months to go, Cork Week 2010, is taking shape with a huge variety of boats and competitors making plans for the regatta.


The big boat fleet is growing on a daily basis, Cowes based Gray, Laidlaw and Heyward’s Farr 52, Bob is the latest entry over fifty feet. A sound Super Zero Class is expected. The scratch boat at present is Irvine Laidlaw’s Wally 82, Highland Fling, back in Europe after racing in the Caribbean. But several modified TP52s will also be in the running, including Johnny Vincent’s Pace, who took a memorable scalp at the RORC Easter Challenge, beating America’s Cup TEAMORIGIN in one race. Also TP52 Interlodge, owned by Austin Fragomen of New York is making the trip across the Atlantic.


So far there are no fewer than nineteen J Boats entered for Cork Week. The majority are J 109s competing for their European Championships but when it comes to long deliveries. Neal Martin’s J 133, Jammy Dodger, takes the biscuit.

Neal Martin normally keeps the boat in the Solent but Jammy Dodger is heading for the Norwegian fjords, before heading south to Cork Week. As Neal Martin explains;


“It is about 2,500 miles of sailing through Kiel, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and onto Norway. On the way back we will race to Shetland from Bergen with about 40 Norwegian boats. After that we will visit the west coast of Scotland before coming to Crosshaven. The crew will alter during the voyage but both myself and my Norwegian girlfriend, Randi. will be in Crosshaven. This will be my sixth Cork Week and we are all really looking forward to it.”


With nearly three months to go, fifteen Beneteau’s are already entered. Tony McBride’s First 50, Novus Arca is making the trip from Scotland and RCYC members, Paul & Deirdre Tingle, will be back to defend their First 31.7 title from 2008.


The number of SB3s entered for Cork Week is down on 2008, not surprising as the SB3 Worlds in Italy is attracting the majority of the fleet. However, SB3s and other sports boats are very welcome at Cork Week. A convenient ferry service, Fastnet Line runs daily crossings from Swansea to Cork. Kiwi Ben Duncan will be racing SB3 Sharkbait at Cork Week, alongside Irish match racer Ric Morris. Many Irish entries and some from overseas are expected.


Paul Kirwan’s Sigma 38, Errislannan is entered. In 2008 they won the Sigma 38 Europeans at Cork Week and they are back to defend their title. From bow to stern, Errislannan is very much a family boat and they are up against some top opposition from the UK.


Ten Corby Yachts are entered and more are expected including Robert Davies, brand new Corby 36, Roxy 6 which will be representing Ireland in the forthcoming Rolex Commodores’ Cup. Over a dozen boats are expected to be racing at Cork Week, tuning up for the country versus country, pro-am event in August.


However, Cork Week has a huge variety of boats and whilst the Gentleman’s Class may not have the high tech gear and elite sailors competing. The seamanship in the class is very apparent. National Yacht Club member, Philip Dilworth, will be racing Grand Soleil 42, Orna. A previous class winner of the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race and 2008 Cork Week winner, Orna is obviously well sailed.


Entries are going well and we are pleased with the level of support, however there is room for plenty more and we hope that more yachts and crew will be racing at Cork Week in July and enjoying the hospitality of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and the community at Crosshaven.” Commented Cork Week Chairman, Peter Deasy.


For more information go to the Cork Week web site:


www.corkweek.ie









Cork Week alongside Dun Laoghaire Week is Ireland’s biggest sailing event. It's inception in 1978 was the beginning of over three decades of great sailing and fun ashore in the wonderful waters of Cork Harbour and its surrounds. The successful format includes amazing competitive racing, which is held on 6 different courses and an incredible social scene to cater for all tastes. The Race Courses include the Harbour Race which is sailed around Cork Harbour and this is certainly a highlight of the week, all other courses are sailed outside the mouth of Cork Harbour and the scenery is spectacular. The Windward/Leeward Course has its own race area, as does the One-Design Course, Olympic, Slalom & Trapezoid Courses. Ashore at night there is a party like atmosphere in the tented village with numerous live bands playing Rock, Irish & Disco Sounds.


The Organizing Authority is the Royal Cork Yacht Club which is the oldest yacht club in the world founded in 1720. The club is in it's current situation in Crosshaven since 1966 and is in the forefront of all branches of sailing activity. It's members have competed in most of the world's leading competitions including America's Cup, Whitbread & Volvo Round the World Yacht Race, Solo Circumnavigation, Admiral's Cup, Commodores Cup and Olympic Games.


There is a unique variety of racing available for each fleet. Every day presents a different course for the fleets with the exception of the One Design Sportsboat Classes who have a separate One Design course designated to them. The Race Courses include the Harbour Race which is sailed around Cork Harbour for some this is the highlight of the week, all other courses are sailed outside the mouth of Cork Harbour and the scenery is spectacular, the Windward/Leeward Course has its own race area, as does the One-Design Course, Olympic, Slalom & Trapezoid Courses. All above will be illustrated in the Sailing Instructions available closer to the event.

[MLovett]

Runners and Riders!

Cork Week has always attracted the big boats and this year is no exception. The Super Zero Class is expected to be a competition between seven magnificent hi-tech flyers. The turboed TP52, Pace was at Cork Week 2008 and since Johnny Vincent took charge, the British based crew has been in cracking form; impressing at the RORC Easter Challenge and the Vice Admiral’s Cup. From the East Coast of the USA, Austin Fragomen has brought over Interlodge, the ultra-modern TP52 designed by Judel Vrojlik has been optimized for IRC and should match Pace, for pace. Several other TP52s are racing including Silver Surfer, debuting and Cork Week with an international line-up.

Richard Matthews Humphreys 42, Oystercatcher XXVI scooped up the class trophy for IRC Zero in 2008 and was a contender for boat of the week. Matthews has shipped the boat over from the Caribbean after a very competitive season. Amongst the well drilled crew is Crosshaven’s own, Eddie English. Anthony O’Leary’s Ker 39, Antix is in great form, winning class at the ICRA Nationals in May. However, IRC Zero is brimming with talent. Piet Vroon’s Ker 46Tonnerre de Breskens is Crosshaven bound. Dave Dwyer’s Mills 39, Marinerscove.ie is a proven winning race boat and Bernard Gouy’s Ker 39, Inis Mor is over from France along with Jac Pelletier’s Landmark 43, Qualiconsult. To be honest, this is probably the most competitive class at Cork Week and the bookies would have this one going to the wire.

Cork Week plays host to the J/109 Europeans and 17 one designs are entered with many from the UK. Racing is bound to be tight and expect some raised voices with crews hiking hard, jostling for position, especially at mark roundings. In a no discard series, consistency is at an optimum and it is almost impossible to pick out the favourites but of the UK boats, Robin Taunt’s Jibe has a wealth of experience and Brian Morton’s Juke Box was well placed in 2008. Of the Irish entries, Ian Nagle and Paul O'Malley’s Jelly Baby had an excellent ICRA Nationals in Dublin and John Maybury’s Joker II was the top Irish J/109 at Cork Week 2008.

Paul Kirwan’s Sigma 38, Errislannan was one of the early entries. In 2008 they won the Sigma 38 Europeans at Cork Week and they are back to defend their title. From bow to stern, Errislannan is very much a family boat and they are up against some top opposition from the UK. The Sigma 38 Europeans is once again staged at Cork Week 2010.

A host of Corby Yachts are entered prompting Cowes designer, John Corby to put up some champagne prizes. Corby designed yachts competing include; Robert Davies, brand new Corby 36, Roxy 6 which will be representing Ireland in the forthcoming Rolex Commodores’ Cup. In all over a dozen boats are expected to be racing at Cork Week, tuning up for the country versus country, pro-am event in August.

Cork Week attracts a huge variety of boats from all over the world and whilst the Gentleman’s Class may not have the high tech gear and elite sailors competing. The seamanship in the class is very apparent. National Yacht Club member, Philip Dilworth, will be racing Grand Soleil 42, Orna. A previous class winner of the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race, 2008 Cork Week winner and class winner at the recent ICRA Nationals, Orna is obviously well sailed.

Of course sailors go to Cork Week to compete but also they come from far and wide to have fun and enjoy the occasion. Like a great party, taking a spin on the dance floor is an excellent way to end the evening!

Crosshaven throws on quite a pageant and the local community really gets involved which gives the regatta a great atmosphere, the ‘tented village’ is buzzing with life. Many other regattas do not have the evening activities all in one place, Cork Week does and the ‘session’ to be had is more memorable by the fact that everybody is there; you keep bumping into people and having just one more.

There are a variety of tents to suit but one of the great concepts for Cork Week is the abundance of music, something that visitors really enjoy. Screaming your head off to Bon Jovi or sing along to a ballad with your mates or loved one, are truly memorable moments.