The full fleet of 120 yachts was out for the fourth day of Volvo Cork Week. After a delayed start, a warm sea breeze blew to give over a thousand sailors champagne conditions in outside Cork Harbour. Leaders in all classes are emerging but many of them will be going to the wire.

Dragons were racing at Cork Week for the first time ever and were the second largest fleet (14 entries) after the Beaufort Cup Services fleet. 

14 Dragons and 11 Cork 1720s started their Southern Championships today, taking part in two races with a building sea breeze off Power Head on a windward-leeward course.

Dragons

The Dragons were flying by the second race, with 15 knots of wind over tide powering the fleet up to full tilt. The racing was exceptional close, and by the end of two contests, three teams were tied at the top. Daniel Murphy's Serafina and Cameron Good's Little Fella, both from Kinsale YC, and Denis Bergin's Sir Ossis of the River (Royal Irish YC).

Daniel Murphy's Serafina and Cameron Good's Little Fella were having a pint at the Royal Cork Yacht Club after racing, and both agreed: “In recent years, the Irish Dragons have organised their own events but we decided that we wanted to have a bit of a change from that and take part in bigger regattas. Volvo Cork Week has a much bigger social scene, and we know many of the sailors taking part in the other classes, which makes for great socialising after racing. The Royal Cork has made us feel very welcome, mooring us all together, and the race management and courses today were excellent.” 

1720s

For the first day of the 1720 Southern Championship, Anthony O'Leary's Antix (Royal Cork YC) won both races. A late crew replacement for Tommy Murphy due to illness, led to 11 year-old Harry Moynan from Templebreedy National School Crosshaven, stepping on board Antix for his first taste of Volvo Cork Week. “It was great racing with my dad and such great sailors, I race in the Opi class at the Royal Cork, but I have never raced like that before. I was pumping the main downwind in the first race, and helped get the main in at the bottom mark.” commented Harry Moynan.

"Dragons have not been racing here for some time, and they have received a warm welcome"

“It is great to see the 1720s and Dragons out for Volvo Cork Week.” commented Anthony O'Leary. “The 1720s are naturally part of this event but the Dragons have not been racing here for some time, and they have received a warm welcome by the Royal Cork. The race committee put on a very good course for us today. We were a little under crew weight, which helped in the first race as the wind was light, but for the second race, we paid the price when the wind got up. David Love (Mini-Apple) was pushing us very hard.” 

Beaufort Cup

For the Beaufort Cup, Barry Byrne's Irish Defence Forces team, racing J/109 Joker 2, still lead the series but their lead has been cut down to just three points after two races today. Youen Jacob's Baltimore RNLI team, racing J/109 Juggerknot, moved up to second place, and could have gone into the lead, but for a headsail problem in the first race. Denis & Annamarie Murphy's Crosshaven RNLI team, racing Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo, won both of today's races to move up to third for the series.

“We sat down as a team at last night's Gala Dinner, and talked long and hard about giving it our all for the rest of the regatta, and everything went very well today,” commented Dennis Murphy. “ Nieulargo is heavier than the J/109s so we love a bit of breeze, and we hope that will continue tomorrow.”

IRC One

Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera (Greystones SC) was in top form on today's Olympic Course, winning both races to move up to third. Photo: Tim Wright

Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera (Greystones SC) revelled on today's Olympic Course, winning both races to move up to third. After five races sailed, Jay Colville's First 40 Forty Licks (East Down YC) leads the class by five points from Jonathan Anderson's J/122 El Gran Senor (Clyde Cruising Club).

IRC Two

Ronan Harris' J/109 Jigamaree (Royal Irish YC) was in sparkling form, winning both of today's races to go top of the class after five races. Brian & Mary Jones J/109 Jelly Baby (Royal Cork YC) scored two podium results, but dropped to second, just two points off the lead. Dunlop & Cox's J/109 Mojito (Pwllheli SC) and Jean Francois Nouel's Sunfast 3200 Hakuna Matata (CN Pornic) are tied on points for third.

IRC Three

Ronan & John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash Photo: Tim Wright

After six races sailed the discard rule has come into force for the class. John Swan's Half Tonner Harmony (Howth YC) has maintained their lead, but only by a single point from Kieran Collins Olson 30 Coracle IV (Royal Cork). Both teams scored race wins today. Ronan & John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash (Royal Cork YC) won the last race of the day, staying in touch, just two points off the lead.

IRC Four

Rory Fekkes's Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 (Carrickfergus SC) Photo: Tim Wright

Rory Fekkes's Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 (Carrickfergus SC) was in fine form on today's windward leeward course, smashing out two bullets to take a stranglehold on the series. Denis Byrne's Trapper 25 Cracker (Royal Cork YC) is in second place, but only on countback from Paddy Kyne's X-302 Maximus, which won the first race of the day.

Paddy Kyne's X-302 Maximus, won the first race of the day in IRC Four.  Photo: Tim Wright

Coastal Class

Denis Hewitt's Mills 37 Raptor (Royal Irish YC) looks unstoppable in the Coastal IRC Class, scoring their third win of the series Raptor has ten point lead over Patrick Burke's First 35 Prima Luce (Royal Irish YC). Henry Hogg's Lisador (Garrykennedy Sailing Club) is just a point behind Prima Luce in third.

Non-Spinnaker

In IRC 1 Non-Spinnaker, a two-horse race has developed between the leading yachts. Broadhead, Collins & Stuart's Sigma 38 Persistence (Royal Irish YC), and Aidan Heffernan's Dehler 36 Indulgence (Schull Harbour SC), are locked in a battle royale. The two teams have won every race in the class so far, but Persistence has held onto the lead, after scoring two bullets today. Clodagh O'Donovan's Roaring Forties (Royal Cork YC) is third.

In IRC 2 Non-Spinnaker, the O'Mahony's Hanse 31 Loch Greine (Royal Cork YC) still leads the class, but two other Royal Cork YC teams are applying the pressure. Tom McCarthy's Impala 28 Whistlin' Dixie is just a point off the lead, after winning two of today's races. Pat Vaughan's Sigma 33 Aramis is third.

Tom McCarthy's Impala 28 Whistlin' Dixie Photo: Tim Wright

Racing for the IRC Classes at Volvo Cork Week will conclude tomorrow, Friday 20th July, The 1720 and International Dragon Southern Championships will race through until Saturday 21st July.

Thursday Photo Gallery below by Tim Wright

Full results here

Still with two days of racing to go, Volvo Cork Week staged a spectacular gathering of all the racing yachts today for the iconic Harbour Race that included a massed start and sail past the historic town of Cobh.

Photographer Tim Wright captured the action below. 

Overall leaders have emerged in all classes at Volvo Cork Week today after 85 yachts formed an impressive single starting line for the regatta's signature race in the beautiful surroundings of Cork Harbour for day three of the week long event.

The race is on across all 17–classes to establish overall leads going into the final two days that will feature three intense races per day.

After a General Recall the fleet readied themselves for a Black Flag restart today, which was far from conservative, many of the massive starting line up hitting the line on the 'B' of the Bang!

(Above and below) Getting set for the all–in start, Cork Week's 'signature' race Photo: Bob Bateman

A huge starting-line of a kilometre in length was needed to accommodate the 85 boats and stretched across the mouth of Cork Harbour outside Roche's point. Photo: Bob Bateman

Irish Sailing President Jack Roy Cork Week's Principal Race Officer Photo: Bob Bateman

A kaleidoscope of spinnakers made for an amazing sight as the fleet entered Cork Harbour for close quarters racing past Spike Island and Cobh. Race Officers Jack Roy and Rob Lamb were roundly applauded at the daily prize giving for their teams' efforts in producing a great day of racing.

(Above and below) The spinnaker parade of sail downwind was a great sight ashore Photo: Bob Bateman

The sun split through the broken clouds as a long stream of spinnaker sails snaked from Church Bay northwards towards Cobh as the procession of boats raced past the rising slopes of the famous maritime town Photo: Bob Bateman

The Beaufort Cup switched to inshore mode for the Harbour Race. Barry Byrne's Irish Defence Force team, racing Joker 2, pulled off a Harry Houdini Act to win the race by just seven seconds from Simon Coveney's Irish Defence Forces Team, racing Jedi. Joker 2 was deep down in the class rounding in front of Cobh but came back with some tenacity. The two J/109s were overlapped going through the finish line, Jedi took the gun by one second but Joker 2 was the victor after time correction. Youen Jacob's Baltimore RNLI team, racing J/109 Juggerknot was third. Joker 2 now has a three-point lead in their defence of the Beaufort Cup. Jedi and Juggerknot are tied for second place.

Simon Coveney's Beaufort Cup entry Jedi, with INSS's Kenny Rumball of Dun Laoghaire trimming the kite Photo: Bob Bateman

Close racing for the Beaufort Cup fleet with Baltimore RNLI ( the J109 Juggerknot) closest to camera Photo: Bob Bateman

Thomas Roche's Salona Meredian from Kinsale representing the Irish Naval Services and the Simon Community Photo: Bob Bateman

Mike Shrives' Jolly Jack Tar from the Royal Navy Sailing Association Photo: Bob Bateman

In IRC One, day one leader Jay Colville's Forty Licks with Russell McGovern among the crew from East Down Yacht Club was the winner of the Harbour Race to go back on top overall of the nine boat fleet. Jonathan Anderson's El Gran Senor, a J122E, was third to give the Clyde entry second overall. Swansea's Dark Angel, with Robert O'Leary helming, is now third overall after a second in today's harbour race.

IRC One Leader Jay Colville's Forty Licks from East Down Photo: Bob Bateman

(Above and below) Jonathan Anderson's El Gran Senor, a J122E to weather with Conor Phelan's Jump Ker 37 below Photo: Bob Bateman

Mark Mansfield on the helm of the Farr 42 Wow Photo: Bob Bateman

In IRC Two, Brian & Mary Jones' J/109 Jelly Baby (Royal Cork YC) put in a strong performance to win the Harbour Race and in doing so lead the class for the series after three races but only on countback from Dunlop & Cox's J/109 Mojito (Pwllheli SC).

Jelly Baby (Brian & Mary Jones) and Hakuna Matata (Jean Francois Nouel) on port tack in close to Cobh Photo: Bob Bateman

IRC 3 leader Jonny Swan's Half Tonner Harmony (Howth YC) on starboard tack with IRC 2 entry Hakuna Matata (Jean Francois Nouel) Photo: Bob Bateman

In IRC Three, Jonny Swan's Half Tonner Harmony (Howth YC) took a game-changing win to go top of the class, scoring the fastest corrected time under IRC from all of the 85 starters.

(above and three photos below) An overall winner of the Harbour Race was declared across all classes that saw Jonny Swan on Harmony from Howth Yacht Club emerge top boat overall, defeating even the larger and newer boats of Class One thanks to a very fast time around the 16.5 nautical-mile course Photo: Bob Bateman

“We got a great start and that put us in clear air after the top mark, which really helped us position the boat for good downwind speed.” commented Harmony's Jonny Swan. “In Cork Harbour the boys did a great job on the manoeuvres, so it really came together well.”

In IRC Four, Rory Fekkes' Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 corrected out to win the Harbour Race to go top of the class. Denis Hewitt's Mills 37 Raptor (Royal Irish YC) scored their second win of Volvo Cork Week in the Coastal IRC Class, just ahead of Brian Twomey's 1720 Dark Side (Royal Cork YC), which showed terrific pace.

Rory Fekkes' Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 from Carrickfergus Photo: Bob Bateman

“Great racing today, absolutely perfect conditions and a great course.” commented Raptor's, Denis Hewitt. “I have done this race so many times and always messed it up somewhere but we have some top local knowledge on board from Barry Rose and great sailors like Fintan Cairns. To be honest, I just did what they told me, and we hardly put a foot wrong."Denis Hewitt and Fintan Carin's Raptor Photo: Bob Bateman

Aidan Heffernan's Dehler 36 Indulgence (SHSC) corrected out to win the Harbour Race in Non-Spinnaker IRC One, ahead of Broadhead, Collins & Stuart's Sigma 38 Persistance (Royal Irish YC), which leads the class with the lowest net point score for the regatta. Pat Vaughan's Sigma 33 Aramis (Royal Cork YC) was the winer of Non-Spinnaker IRC Two.

Volvo Cork Week continues tomorrow, Thursday 19th July, with three short sharp races scheduled for most of the IRC Classes, as well as the start of the One Design Southern Championships for the 1720 Class and the International Dragons.

Photo Gallery from today's in–harbour race by Bob Bateman below:

Full results here

100 teams were competing inshore for the second day of Volvo Cork Week today.

A long coastal race, in good breeze along the south coast, produced fantastic racing for classes IRC one, two and three. 

Scroll down for Tim Wright photo gallery below 

The IRC One Class One start. Photo: Tim Wright

In IRC One, in the largest 'big boat' fleet of the season, Scottish and Northern Irish boats hold the top two positions in the nine boat fleet after two races sailed. Jonathan Anderson's J/122 El Gran Senor (Clyde Cruising Club) was today's winner and now leads overall. “I have been coming here for year's because it is always a good regatta,” commented Jonathan. “We were competing with the same team in Bangor a few weeks ago [where they were winners of IRC One – Ed], and we have a great crew. We have managed to beat Conor Phelan's Jump Juice in two races, which is a rarity, and there are plenty of well-sailed boats in the class.”

Second is race one winner, Jay Colville's Forty Licks with Greystones Sailing Club's Eleuthera skippered by Frank Whelan moving up to third overall. 

J109 Jelly Baby competing in Class Two Photo: Tim Wright

In IRC Two, Ronan Harris' J/109 Jigamaree (Royal Irish YC) corrected out to win by under a minute from yesterday's winner, Dunlop & Cox's J/109 Mojito (Pwllheli SC). “I am a Cork Week virgin.” admitted Ronan Harris. “I have a home in Baltimore and love to come and sail in West Cork. We are having a cracking battle with Mojito. We chose to duck them near the end of today's race, and it worked out for us, plus the crew did a good job getting us through the light airs patch near the finish.”

IRC Class Three go downwind Photo: Tim Wright

In IRC Three, Ronan & John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash (Royal Cork YC) won Race 2, crossing the finish line just four seconds ahead of Wright, Cronnelly & DeNeve's Corby 27 Kodachi (Howth YC). “The team did a good job today, especially on the beat where we can suffer against some of the boats in our class.” commented Ronan Downing. “I would say that the wind was up for most of the race, but there was one light patch where we positioned the boat well to get through.” Volvo Cork Week Chairman Kieran O'Connell is one of the crew on Miss Whiplash, Kieran was excused from boat wash down today, only on account of providing a case of Heineken for the team!

Congratulations to all of today's class winners including: Rory Fekkes's Quarter Tonner Fn'Gr8 (Carrickfergus SC), Denis Hewitt and Fintan Cairns on the Mills 36 Raptor (Royal Irish YC), Broadhead, Collins & Stuart's Sigma 38 Persistance (Royal Irish YC), Donal & O'Mahony's Loch Greine (Royal Cork YC), and Patrick Doherty's Tailte (NSYS & RCYC). 

Volvo Cork Week continues tomorrow, Wednesday 18th July, with the scenic and tactically challenging Cork Harbour Race, and the start of the One Design Southern Championships for the 1720 Class and the International Dragons.

Full results are here.

'Incredible'. That was the one-word reaction from Commandant Barry Byrne when he crossed the finish line off Roches Point in Cork Harbour this lunchtime, snatching line honours victory in the first race of the Beaufort Cup, the Cork Week series for Services personnel. Read Afloat.ie's earlier report here.

"I never dreamt that I could repeat 2016's success. It's an incredible feeling",  the Irish Defence Forces skipper said having taken first blood with his talented crew against some very stiff competition.

"I never dreamt that I could repeat 2016's success"

In the podcast below, with Afloat.ie's Louay Habib, Byrne (who finished second in the Round Ireland Race earlier this month on the same boat), talks about how he knew he could win, if he could just hold on to the top pack in the 15–boat fleet. 

Even with the early win in the bag that counts for double points, Byrne remains extremely cautious, however, given there are three days of inshore racing still to come.

Photographer Tim Wright captured the action on the water for the first day of Volvo Cork Week regatta yesterday. As Afloat.ie reported here, racing kicked off with an early start for the 17 teams racing in 'The Beaufort Cup', which set off on a 150-mile offshore race from Cork Harbour, bound for the Fastnet Rock and back to the finish. 

Scroll down for the photos of the 120–boat fleet below. More of Tim Wright's work here.

Local sailing knowledge was a distinct advantage on the opening day of Volvo Cork Week where a fleet of 120 boats is in action until next weekend.

Juggling local tides and the light breeze on home waters, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney took an early lead in the overnight race to the famous Fastnet Rock in the Beaufort Cup for military and rescue crews.

The former Minister for Defence helped initiate the competition that has a €10,000 charity purse at stake. Appropriately enough, Coveney’s boat this week is named Jedi.

While Commandant Barry Byrne of the Irish Defence Forces is leading the title defence from the 2016 regatta on Joker 2, Irish Olympian Peter O’Leary is racing with the Baltimore RNLI team who were the early leaders in the 130 nautical-mile race.

"Irish Olympian Peter O’Leary is racing with the Baltimore RNLI team who were the early leaders in the 130 nautical-mile race"

That was until the fleet ran into light winds at Roche’s Point and Coveney popped into the lead. Close behind him, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett as Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces is on the crew of Merdian and hoping to edge into the lead.

As the Beaufort Cup crews sailed out of Cork Harbour, their route took the 15 teams straight past the start of the bigger event where four classes were beginning their own four-hour coastal race around the scenic Cork coastline.

Forty Licks leads a group of IRC one boats along the shore in the first race of Cork Week Photo: Cork Week/David Branigan
While the light wind made for a tricky start, the clouds soon pulled back and a perfect breeze kicked in as spinnakers were hoisted close to the beach at Fountainstown for a spectacular-run eastwards to Power Head.

However, that race ended as it began with tricky conditions at the finish off Roche’s Point where once again, local knowledge was an advantage.

That played into the hands of Kieran Collins and his family crew on Coracle IV who won the day in Class 3 ahead of Paul and Deirdre Tingle’s Alpaca.

With nine countries and 28 clubs from around Ireland and the Irish Sea region represented in the fleet, visitors are also featuring in the results, notably Jay Colville’s Forty Licks from East Antrim, winner of Class One.

In IRC One, Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera (Greystones Sailing Club) got the best start above to lead the fleet on the beat along the shore. However, on the return to Weaver's Point the breeze started to fade and the lower IRC rated boats made up their time. Jay Colville's First 40 Forty Licks (East Down YC) won the race in IRC One by just 26 seconds on corrected time from Jonathan Anderson's J/122 El Gran Senor (Clyde Cruising Club). Performance Yacht Charter's Grand Soleil 43 Jua Kali (RORC) was third.

Great atmosphere back at the club now after a fantastic day out on the water. Results coming soon! #Cork #sailing #VolvoCorkWeek pic.twitter.com/EGX3UkDbUi

— Volvo Cork Week (@corkweektweet) July 16, 2018

Racing continues on Tuesday with more coastal courses before Wednesday’s mass start of the full fleet that plans to sail past Cobh and its spectacular hillside backdrop that is the perfect grandstand for this regatta.

Full results click here

Volvo Cork Week, taking place in Crosshaven, County Cork, July 16th – 21st, has announced its collaboration with An Tasice's Clean Coasts programme and the MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy at University College Cork as they join the race to restore ocean health with Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas programme.

The ocean is in crisis, every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean from land each year and 40% of the oceans are heavily affected by human activity, including pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing practices, and the loss of coastal habitats.

Clean Regattas is a certification system that enables sailors to protect their local waters with 25 Best Practices that make sustainability approachable and easy. This program is an effort by Sailors for the Sea raising the bar for environmental sustainability and ocean health around the world.

“Our collaboration with Clean Coasts on supporting Volvo Cork Week in their efforts to run a cleaner, greener regatta represents an important opportunity for us to engage the public on the issue of marine litter and tackling single use plastics” commented Aoife Deane, Communications and Public Engagement Manager, MaREI Centre.

Over the 40 years of its history, Volvo Cork Week has cemented its reputation as a world-class sailing experience, flavoured with the key ingredients of friendly competition, varied sailing and excellent entertainment. With over 110 boats from around the world set to compete in this year’s event, Volvo Cork Week is also dedicated to protecting the waters upon which they sail. According to Regatta Chair, Kieran O’Connell, “The Royal Cork Yacht Club is committed to protecting our waters and has implemented a number of Clean Regattas Best Practices to reduce our environmental impact, including the provision of reusable water bottles and hydration stations, compostable food and coffee containers, paper straws, energy conservation, online registration forms, and an information campaign on reducing single use plastics and marine litter.”

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney – who will also skipper a yacht in this week's regatta – has officially launched Volvo Cork Week 2018 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven this afternoon.

The biennial sailing event based around the coast of County Cork and inside Cork Harbour, runs this year from today to next Saturday 21st July.

The festival of sailing has been billed as an 'Aquatic Tourism Highlight for Cork Harbour' and has attracted a fleet of over 100 boats from eight different countries. It follows a change to its format as RCYC's Kieran O'Connell describes to Afloat.ie's Tom MacSweeney here.

RCYC Admiral Pat Farnan welcomes competitors to Crosshaven Photo: Bob Bateman

On the water, the July regatta has attracted one of the largest big boat regattas for Class Zero/One boats of the season with up to ten 40-foot boats competing as mentioned by Afloat.ie here.

Another highlight will be the Beaufort Cup in which the Tanaiste will compete against some of the world's top Defence forces sailing teams including the US Marines and British Army.

120 teams from eight different nations will compete at Volvo Cork Week, enjoying up to six days of racing in the Celtic Sea and Cork Harbour on a variety of courses. This year, the biennial regatta organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club is celebrating 40 years and Volvo Cork Week continues to provide fantastic racing, superb award-winning facilities and great fun ashore.

Irish Sailing President Jack Roy with Cork Week Chairman Kieran O'Connell and David Thomas, MD of Volvo Car Ireland Photo: Bob Bateman

Volvo Cork Week provides racing for yachts racing under IRC, including the highly popular non-spinnaker and coastal classes. Once again Volvo Cork Week will include an offshore element to the Beaufort Cup with a race around the iconic Fastnet Rock. All competitors will take part in the scenic yet tactically challenging Cork Harbour Race. For 2018, Volvo Cork Week will also feature Southern Championships for One Design Classes: 1720 Class, the International Dragon Class, and the SB20 Class.

Cork Week Launch in the marquee Photo: Bob Bateman

“There have been big changes for the format of this year's regatta, splitting up into a number of different series. This was done to ensure that we were catering for everyone's needs.” commented Volvo Cork Week Chairman, Kieran O'Connell. “We have teams from 32 yacht clubs and entries are up 30% on 2016, which shows that the new format is working for people.”

Mayor of Cork County Patrick Gerard Murphy Photo: Bob Bateman

The Beaufort Cup starts with the challenging Fastnet Race on Monday 16th July followed by three days of short course racing to test the all round ability of the teams. Beaufort Cup entries feature 50% of the crew coming from active personnel in the Armed Forces and Emergency Services. 17 teams will be racing from Ireland, Great Britain and the United States of America. The inaugural Beaufort Cup was held as part of the 2016 edition of Volvo Cork Week, Commandant Barry Byrne skippered the Irish Defence Forces to victory, and the team is back to defend their title. The winner will once again nominate a charity to win €10,000.

“The Beaufort Cup is fully part of Volvo Cork Week, and any team competing is eligible for the boat of the week.” commented Barry Byrne. “The Beaufort Cup is challenging, and a test in a real environment of leadership, team work and resilience, which are all values of the services we represent. The inter-services rivalry is very exciting, something special that raises the level of the competition, whilst still keeping the friendly rivalry and banter, which is brilliant. The field has really toughened up this year, everyone competing has done their best to raise their game. It is a great fleet and the fastest growing element of Volvo Cork Week.”

The Royal Navy Sailing Team with the Commodore of the Irish Navy Photo: Bob Bateman

Many of the teams racing at Volvo Cork Week have come from overseas. Tony Ackland's Swansea YC team racing Dark Angel will be defending their IRC One title. In IRC Two, Samantha Hickey's team racing Beneteau 36.7 Altair are from the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. James Angus' will be racing in the 1720 Class with a team from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. For Volvo Cork Week, Performance Yacht Racing's Andy Middleton, will skipper British Grand Soleil 43 Jua Kali, with an international crew from England, Wales, Scotland, Holland and Poland. The team delivered the boat from the Isle of Wight to Crosshaven, and enjoyed a pint at the Royal Cork Yacht Club upon arrival.

“All of the crew bar one have sailed with Performance Yacht Racing in the past at various events but for all of them this is the first time they have been to Volvo Cork Week. “The delivery was very easy and we have a few days to get Jua Khali into race mode for the regatta.” commented Andy Middleton. “This will be my first regatta ever.” smiled Margriet van Lidth, who comes from Amsterdam. “I love sailing and decided that this should be my first regatta experience.”

The event village at the Royal Cork Yacht Club was the centre for fun and laughter for the regatta. On Sunday 15th July with a Family Fun Day with the Royal Cork Yacht Club open to the public to enjoy the superb facilities at the clubhouse in Crosshaven.

There will be a variety of live music every night with a spectacular fireworks display on Friday 20th July with one of Cork's finest Indie Pop Funk Bands; Gerald Ahern & The Midnight Sons.

Read WM Nixon's Cork Week 2018 Preview here. Read all Afloat.ie's Cork Week coverage here.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney addresses the guests and below with one of the highly-prized Cork Week Trophies Photo: Bob Bateman

Royal Cork Yacht Club's ability to attract a sizeable 'big boat' following for Volvo Cork Week is highlighted in today's Irish Times Sailing Column. 

David O'Brien writes that the ten boat turnout assembled in Crosshaven for next week's regatta is nearly double what has been on offer so far this season.

For much more on the great turnout for Class Zero in Cork Harbour next week click here.