Details of this year's CH Marine Glandore Classic Regatta ware announced last Thursday at Heineken Ireland Brewery in Cork. Diarmuid O'Donovan of Glandore Harbour Yacht Club said he was very pleased with the quality of the 26 boats entered so far. He is particularly pleased that the Jolie Brise is coming as part of her centenary celebrations. Jolie Brise was built in 1913 in Le Harve and won the inaugural Fastnet Race in 1925 and again in 1929 and 1930. She still holds the record the most Fastnet Race wins.
Other UK boats attending will be 6 Menai Strait Fifes from Anglesea, Fife Yacht Solway Maid and the superyacht Blue Leopard.
There will be 5 Bantry Longboats giving an exhibition of sailing and rowing and performing tasks over the weekend 19th-20th July. The Bantry Longboat "Integrité" from Wales and the Henley Whaler "Molly" from Henley-on-Thames will also be in Glandore.
Michael Brogan's well known Galway Hooker" Mac Duach" will be sailing from the west coast for the event. Jarlath Cunnane will be sailing from Galway with "Northabout" in which he completed both the North-West and North-East Passages in Arctic waters.
We are also looking forward to a wide selection of West Cork boats including the Caastletownshend Ettes, the Towelsail Yawls – the Lobster Boats – and the Long Island Mackerel Boats as well as a number of new acquisitionas and old friends which will be awaited with interest.
A highlight of the Classic Regatta will be a Fastnet Rock race on Tues 23rd July to commemorate and honour Jolie Brise. The Parade of Sail will take place Sunday July 21st.
Among the shore entertainment will be Jimmy Crowley & Stokers Lodge in concert in Glandore Church on Saturday July 20th, Two Part Polka in a street party outside the Glandore Inn (courtesy of The Glandore Inn) on Sunday July 21st followed by the Fireworks display. A Welsh Male Voice choir from Haverfordwest will perform in Glandore Church on July 26th. Gerald Butler will read from his book "The Lightkeeper: A Memoir" in Hayes' Bar on Wednesday 26th. Gerald was on duty at Fastnet Rock Lighthouse during the Fastnet disaster of 1979.
The Glandore Classic boats committee Cormac O'Carroll, John Dowling,Chairman, Diarmuid O'Donovan, Commodore GHYC, Nicky Bendon, CH Marine Front: Frances Lynch, Lal Thompson
As a Gathering Event this year we are expecting a very busy and enjoyable July in Glandore.
We thank our name sponsor CH Marine as well as Dubarry, Glenmar Shellfish, Cork County Council, the Gathering, ISA, Stena Sealink, McCarthy Insurances and others.
