Calves Week: Visit idyllic towns or remote islands

7th May 2009

Calves Week takes place in West Cork every year around the first bank holiday in August; the three Calf islands give the regatta its name, and it is a celebration of yachting in a beautiful part of Ireland where everybody is welcome to join in what ever their ability or style of yacht. The competitors view some spectacular scenery along the awe inspiring west coast of Ireland and visit some idyllic towns on remote islands.

The 2009 Calves Week regatta programme is:

Friday 31st July: Crosshaven / Fastnet / Schull (Overnight)

Saturday August 1st: Kinsale to Schull whitesail

Sunday August 2nd: Schull to Baltimore Race

Monday August 3th: Baltimore Regatta

Tuesday August 4th: Offshore Trophy Race

Wednesday August 5th: Cape Clear Island Fun Regatta

Thursday August 6th: Coastal Trophy race

Friday August 7th: Schull / Fastnet Rock / Crookhaven

Saturday August 8th: Crookhaven Regatta

Many towns close off their main street and you can wander from pub to pub soaking up the scenery. Every place you go there is a great welcome, a really relaxed atmosphere and a lot of history; whilst the yachts are out racing in Schull and Baltimore, there are rowing races which go back 100s of years. Calves Week is very much part of the history of West Cork but the event also attracts boats from all over Ireland: many Dublin based boats come down just for the event. Also the area is full of wildlife: seals, dolphins and even whales are often in sight of the boats.

Raced under IRC, the fleets are split into classes of roughly the same speed and size of yacht. There are few foreign boats but they would be most welcome, the competitors and locals welcome visitors from abroad with open arms. Last year there were 70 boats ranging from small, family sailed day boats to Mariner's Cove, a custom Mills 39 and other larger cruisers.

Calves Week is not a high profile regatta but it offers many other attractions; racing under IRC means that virtually any type of keel boat with an IRC certificate can enter, it is a great opportunity for people to get out on the water with family and friends, enjoy sailing and visit some of Ireland's beautiful coastline and islands. Regattas like Calves Week are an excellent opportunity for cruising sailors to try their hand at yacht racing without any pressure. For seasoned yacht racers, events like Calves Week are a reminder of the basic reasons why people chose to go to sea; to have fun and witness some amazing scenery and marine life. -- Louay Habib

For more information visit www.shsc.ie/index.php/calves/

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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