Volvo Cork Week at the Royal Cork Yacht Club - 300 years in the making
by Louay Habib 14 Feb 2022 19:39 AEDT
11-15 July 2022
Entry is open for 2022 Volvo Cork Week, celebrating the tricentenary of the world's oldest yacht club, the Royal Cork YC. Since 1978, Cork Week has been the venue for many epic battles on the water and legendary craic ashore. The 300th birthday celebrations for the Royal Cork adds a unique dimension.
Cork300, a collection of events marking the tricentenary, was due to take place in 2020. Due to the pandemic, the Tricentenary celebrations have been extended and organisers look forward to welcoming visitors from all around the world to celebrate the founding of the oldest yacht club in the world.
"In 2020 we were on course for 300 boats to mark the tricentenary of the Royal Cork but unfortunately it had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic. We are full-steam ahead in our planning for this July," commented Royal Cork Admiral, Kieran O'Connell. "For over forty years, Cork Week has always been blessed with enthusiastic volunteers from the Royal Cork. While this is a very special edition, the regatta will still be run by sailors for sailors. The organising team's greatest wish is that all of the competitors have a memorable Volvo Cork Week. The Royal Cork Yacht Club is set in a beautiful location, with great sailing waters, and the regatta will stay true to its values of delivering varied racing, excellent race management, as well as great fun ashore."
Volvo Cork Week features up to five days of world class racing. Over 60 boats have already signed up and the Royal Cork Yacht Club is preparing for over a thousand sailors from around the world to take part. All boats already entered, and who enter before Easter Sunday, will be in with a chance of winning a maximum of eight branded crew jackets from Musto.
Enter your team here: www.corkweek.ie/cork-week-2022-entry-form
Volvo Cork Week has a huge diversity of competing boats, including inshore racing for keelboats for the ICRA Nationals, and One-design racing for the 1720 Europeans, the SB20 Grand Slam, Cape 31s, and the Dragon South Coasts. Volvo Cork Week will feature a variety of courses both inside and outside Cork Harbour.
The international Inter Service Regatta, the Beaufort Cup, will be held during Volvo Cork Week, including an overnight race around the Fastnet Rock. Inshore racing for Volvo Cork Week will be held on different style courses every day. Plus, specially designed courses for non-spinnaker, coastal and classic classes. The Harbour Race will take place on Wednesday 13th July with spectacular racing in Cork Harbour for the fleet.
ICRA Nationals
Racing under the IRC and Echo rating rules, the 2022 ICRA Nationals will be the biggest keelboat meeting in Ireland for 2022. Teams racing high performance keelboats will come from all over Ireland as well as international entries from the UK, Europe and overseas. Key goals of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association are to increase yacht racing in Ireland and to make events accessible for all. Volvo Cork Week includes, Classic, Coastal and Non-Spinnaker classes with courses designed to suit.
1720 Europeans
Nineteen 1720s are among the early entries with over 40 teams expected. The 1720 Class was born at Cork Week in 1996 and is synonymous with the three-hundred-year history of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. This year's regatta is the talk of the 1720 Class with a big reunion, on and off the water!
Cape31 Class Racing
New to Volvo Cork Week will be the pocket-rocket Cape31 Class with potentially ten teams expected from overseas as well as new boats from Cork and Dublin. Designed by Ireland's Mark Mills, the 31-foot high-performance keelboats will revel in the conditions.
Beaufort Cup
The third edition of the Beaufort Cup will be held over Volvo Cork Week. The international Inter Service Regatta will include a wealth of international teams racing for charity. Race documents will be issued shortly including an overnight race around the Fastnet Rock. Open to international teams from the Navy, Coast Guard, Army, Airforce, Police and Emergency Rescue Services, other services are encouraged to contact the RCYC.
Logistics
The Royal Cork Yacht Club is making a huge effort to offer local accommodation in and around Crosshaven for visiting teams. Ranging from luxury villas with stunning views to campervan & camping at Crosshaven Rugby Club. There are opportunities available to suit any budget: (www.corkweek.ie/accommodation)
Getting your team or boat to Volvo Cork Week has been supported by Irish Ferries for many years. Discount codes are published for travel to Ireland from the UK and France. www.corkweek.ie/irish-ferries-ferry-discounts-now-live
Celebrating the first tricentenary by any yacht club, Volvo Cork Week is set to be a monumental event. To rejoice this grand occasion Volvo Cork Week is providing superb racing for a huge variety of sailors, and fun ashore that will be talked about for the next 300 years!
For more information visit www.corkweek.ie.