The much-awaited CD Environmental-sponsored Calves Week Regatta 2023 is just around the corner, and with over 70 confirmed entries, the four-day series promises to be a thrilling event for sailing fans starting next Tuesday, August 8th.
The competition is split into seven fleets, and the top end of the entries is looking particularly competitive this year for the Schull Harbour Sailing Club event.
Sailing has suffered a bit of a weather battering over the past few weeks, with cancellations because of extreme conditions forced in many locations around the coast. So the Calves Week organisers will be hoping for different conditions when racing at the annual West Cork Regatta festival gets underway.
An Amendment to the Notice of Race has been issued by SHSC, which says: "The White Sail Class 1 will be scored under ECHO and IRC (for boats that hold a valid IRC Certificate), White Sail Class 2 will be scored under ECHO only."
The 2023 Calves Week 70-boat fleet will consist of seven classes: - Class 0, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, White Sail 1 & White Sail 2 Photo: Bob Bateman
Registration will take place the previous afternoon at the Fastnet Marine and Outdoor Education Centre, which will also be the location for the Skippers’ Briefing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning prior to the start of racing.
Frank Whelan’s canting-keel Elliott, 52 Opal from Greystones Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman
Johnny Treanor’s J112e Valentina from Dun Laoghaire Photo: Bob Bateman
Among the new visitors to West Cork are Norbert Reilly's J111 Ghost Raider from Howth, Johnny Treanor’s J112e Valentina from Dun Laoghaire, and Frank Whelan’s canting-keel Elliott, 52 Opal from Greystones Harbour.
Norbert Reilly's J111 Ghost Raider from Howth Photo: Bob Bateman
Jelly Baby, a J 122, helmed by the Jones family, will be looking to take on the newcomers and fend off stiff competition from the two Royal Irish Yacht Club visitors, the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI and the First 40 Prima Forte skippered by Patrick Burke.
Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI from Dun Laoghaire's Royal Irish Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
In the class 1 fleet, Leslie Parnell’s First 34.7 Black Velvet will hope to continue their successful outing in this event over the past seasons, but a fully crewed up J109 Tighey Boy with the help of some Australian crew will be hoping to spoil the party.
Schull Harbour J109 Tighey Boy Photo: Bob Bateman
The Collins family from Baltimore Sailing Club will be looking to retain their Class 3 trophy in their Dehler 34, but will face renewed competition in the ten-boat fleet, particularly from the Garvey/Kelleher sailed Quarter Tonner, Diamond and Fiona and Nigel Young's Albin Express, North Star.
Patrick Collins's Dehler 34, Ealu from Baltimore Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman
In class 4, Rob O'Reilly of the host club, sailing his Dynamo 25 Bonjourno, will once again face serious competition from Richard Hanley’s GK 24 from Kinsale Yacht Club and a resurgent local Sadler 32 Raffles with the Kirby/Norris crew hoping to put last year’s disappointment behind them.
Schull Harbour's Rob O'Reilly will be sailing his Dynamo 25 Bonjourno Photo: Bob Bateman
In a very competitive 13-boat White Sail class1 fleet, Kieran O'Brien’s MG 335 Magnet from the Royal Cork Yacht Club, will once again be locked in battle with fellow club member Prince of Tides, while in White Sail 2 Simon O'Keefe’s 1902 vintage Lady Min, could well be the dark horse in the twelve-boat fleet.
Kieran O'Brien’s MG 335 Magnet from the Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman
The CD Environmental sponsors reception will open Calves Week on August Monday, followed by four days of racing. Each night, participants can look forward to a presentation of prizes and live musical entertainment on Schull's Main Street.
The Calves Week 2023 schedule of races
