There were thrills and spills – particularly in the Spinnaker fleets –  in the final race of CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta in Schull Harbour, West Cork, on Friday.

Race officer Alan Crosbie started all fleets in the harbour in a brisk 20-knot gusty southwest wind.

Thankfully visibility had greatly improved compared to Thursday's Fastnet race, and all the fleets were able to race in the relative shelter of Long Island and Castle Island, with only classes 0 and 1 having to venture out to the Amelia Buoy.

All fleets were safely back in the harbour by 3.30 pm with the overall prize-giving scheduled on the street at 6.30 pm.

The leader since Tuesday's first race, John Treanor's J112e ValenTina won IRC Zero overall with four points from Norbert Reilly's J111 Ghostraider by just one point. Onboard Valentina was seven Under 25 National Yacht Club sailors, including former Laser sailor Nicole Hemeryck. Paul O'Higgins JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI was third on seven. 

The Class Zero and One final race course of Calves Week 2023 Photo: Maurice O'Connell

Similarly, Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet from the Royal Irish Yacht Club kept his early lead to take IRC Two overall victory but Bobby Kerr on the J109 Riders On The Storm lost second overall when Jamie McWilliam in Kiwi took the runner-up position place on the seven-point tie break. 

A perfect scoreline for David and James Dwyer's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble in IRC Two gave them overall victory, with rival Half Tonner Two Farr (Boardman/Kelly/O Leary), who retired in Thursday's Fastnet Race race recovered to take second place on eight points.  Third was Kevin Daly's Schull Harbour J 80 Jamaro on nine.

Likewise, in IRC Three, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star four wins were unbeatable on three points. Colman Garvey & Keirin Kelleher in the Quarter Tonner Diamond stay second on six, with Patrick Collins' Ealu taking third place on eight.

The Radleys' Skipper 70, Pat Mustard (right) from Cove Sailing Club was the IRC Four winner of Cavles Week 2023 in Schull, West Cork Photo: Thomas Newman

A final race win for the Radleys' Skipper 70, Pat Mustard, put them back on top of IRC Four. Rob O'Reilly's BonJourno! Part Deux took second and Richard Hanley's Saoirse was third.

The results for all seven classes are below.

The race around the Fastnet Rock on day three of CD Environmental Calves Week saw new boats perform as the West Cork regatta enters its podium-deciding final round on Friday. 

All seven fleets started in Schull harbour in foggy, damp conditions, and all left the Fastnet Rock to starboard, with the bigger Classes 0 and 1 having an additional mark off Crookhaven harbour.

Visibility at the start was approx half a mile with a 15 knots S/W wind and choppy sea. Conditions gradually got fresher with gusts to 25 knots when the heavy rain arrived in the early afternoon.

For the second time this week, the Calves Week prizegiving on Schull Main Street has been moved indoors to the Harbour Hotel due to the weather.

See the full results below

IRC Zero leader ValenTina flying her distinctive Day-Glo orange genoa staysail on a fetch from Crookhaven to Amelia Buoy off Schull in the Fastnet Rock Race on day three of Calves Week Photo: Maurice O'Connell

Tomorrow's final race will decide the Calves Week IRC title in five-boat IRC Zero as a single point separates overall leader John Treanor's J112e ValenTina from Norbert Reilly's J111 Ghostraider.

Paul O'Higgins in the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI in the lead of IRC Zero in the Calves Week Fastnet Rock race Photo: lensfromaboveireland

A Fastnet Rock race win today by Paul O'Higgins in the JPK 10.80 puts Rockabill VI in third place and only two points off the lead.

Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet from Dublin still leads in IRC One of Calves Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Similarly, it's tight at the top of IRC One, where Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet from the Royal Irish Yacht Club continues to lead on five points from race two winner and clubmate Bobby Kerr on the J109 Riders On The Storm on seven but a Fastnet Rock Race win on Thursday by Jamie McWilliam in Kiwi puts him into third place on nine points.

Jamie McWilliam on the helm of Kiwi has moved into third overall in IRC One at Calves Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

There are no arguments with the perfect scoreline of three wins from three races for David and James Dwyer's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble in IRC Two. 

Kevin Daly's Jamaro has moved the Schull Harbour J80 into second overall in IRC Two of Calves Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Flor O'Riordan's Elan 31 Three Cheers is now third in IRC Two of Calves Week Photo: Bob Bateman

A second in Thursday's Fastnet race for Kevin Daly's Jamaro has moved the Schull Harbour J 80 into second overall. Flor O'Riordan's Elan 31 Three Cheers is third. Rival Half Tonner Two Farr (Boardman/Kelly/O Leary) retired in today's race and dropped off the podium.

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star, the leader in IRC Three division, sporting a Code Zero at Calves Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Likewise, in IRC Three, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star has three wins to her tally. Colman Garvey & Keirin Kelleher in the Quarter Tonner Diamond stay second on seven, with Patrick Collins' Ealu moving into third place on nine.

There is a change of leader in IRC Four where The Radley's Skipper 70, Pat Mustard, encountered some difficulties under spinnaker on the way back from the rock.  A sixth-place score drops them to second overall on eight points as Rob O'Reilly's BonJourno! Part Deux takes the lead on seven. Richard Hanley's Saoirse stays third.

Michael Murphy's Moody 30, Shelly D, on the way back from the Fastnet Rock on day three of Calves Week Regatta in West Cork Photo: lensfromaboveireland

Aidan Heffernan's Dehler 36 Indulgence from Schull leads Kieran O'Brien's MG 335 Magnet in Whitesails IRC One. 

Results below

The race around the Fastnet Rock is confirmed as Thursday's CD Environmental Calves Week fixture as the regatta passes its half stage.  

No wind and dense fog in West Cork greeted the 72-competing boats on Wednesday morning in Schull Harbour as sailors faced a three-hour postponement before race two got underway in a startline set outside the harbour. 

The Class Zero start of Calves Week race two on Wednesday with the fog still a major factor and visibility down to less than 100 metres Photo: John Kelly

The last of the seven fleets started at  3.45 pm and were still racing at 6.30 pm.

The course for classes Zero and One on day two of Calves Week 2023 off Schull Harbour in West Cork Photo: Maurice O'Connell

Despite the tricky conditions, consistency is paying off overall, with the top of divisions IRC Zero, Two, Three and Four all led by double race winners.

See the provisional results below

A race win for John Treanor's J112E ValenTina gives the National Yacht Club crew the overall lead in IRC Zero from Norbert Reilly's J111 Ghost Raider of Howth Yacht Club. After two wins from two races sailed, the Dun Laoghaire yacht is now two points clear at the top of the Calves Week table. Third is Paul O'Higgin's JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

(Below) Mainsheet trimmer Adam Winkelmann, driver Nicole Hemeryck and Trimmer Evan O'Connor aboard the IRC Zero leader ValenTina (above) from the National Yacht Club Photos: Bob Bateman and Maurice O'Connell

Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet from the Royal Irish Yacht Club continues to lead IRC One from race two winner and clubmate Bobby Kerr on the J109 Riders On The Storm.  Local Tony O'Brien in the J109 Tighey Boy lies third.

Calves Week IRC One leader - Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet from the Royal Irish Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Two wins from two races maintain David and James Dwyer's top form this season in IRC Two in Swuzzlebubble.

Calves Week IRC Two leader - David and James Dwyer's Half tonner Swuzzlebubble Photo: Bob Bateman

The Royal Cork Half Tonner leads from fellow Half Tonner, Two Farr (Boardman/Kelly/O Leary), who shares the same six points as the Sunfast 32, Bad Company (Desmond/Ivers/Keane) from Royal Cork.

Half Tonner Two Farr (Boardman/Kelly/O Leary) Photo: Bob Bateman

Calves Week 2023 IRC Three leader - Royal Cork's Fiona Young in the Albin Express, North Star Photo: Bob Bateman

In IRC Three, it's a similar scenario at the top of the scoreboard, with Royal Cork's Fiona Young counting two from two in the Albin Express, North Star. Club mates Colman Garvey and Keirin Kelleher are second in the Quarter Tonner, Diamond on four points. Third is Dave Doyle's, Muskateer on seven.

The Radley's Skipper 70 Pat Mustard stays top of IRC Four from Rob O'Reilly's BonJourno! Part Deux with Richard Hanley's Saoirse lying third.

Rob O'Reilly's BonJourno! Part Deux is lying second in Calves Week IRC Four Photo: Bob Bateman

Calves Week Regatta 2023 kicked off with a misty start and a light breeze in Schull, West Cork, after heavy overnight rain, but Race Officer Alan Crosbie managed to get class zero off on time for the CD Environmental-sponsored event on Tuesday morning.

The IRC Zero and One course in Schull Harbour Sailing Club's first Calves Week Regatta 2023 race in West Cork. Photo: Maurice O'Connell

All 72 boats in seven fleets rounded a weather mark in Long Island Sound and dispersed on various courses off the Islands in the bay before finishing in the harbour in a slightly improved eight knots, touching ten occasionally.

See results below

The Class Zero fleet start in Schull Harbour Sailing Club's first Calves Week Regatta 2023 race in West Cork. Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class Zero, a five-boat fleet that included the canting keel Elliot 57, Opal (in the vid above), it was a clean sweep in both handicap divisions for John Treanor’s Valen Tina, who held off Norbert Reilly's Ghost Raider in a three-and-a-half-hour race.

Norbert Reilly's J111 from Howth Yacht Club (left) on opposite tacks with John Treanor's J 112E ValenTina from the National Yacht Club on the eastern Schull Harbour shore in the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. The approximately three-and-a-half-hour IRC Zero race was won by Valentina from Ghost Raider  Photo: Bob Bateman

Royal Irish regular Leslie Parnell’s Black Velvet won IRC 1 from local boat Tighey Boy with the results reversed in ECHO.

Royal Hong Kong's Jamie McWilliam on the helm of Kiwi in  the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. Photo: Bob Bateman

In IRC 2, the Dwyer crew on the Half tonner Swuzzlebubble continued their winning ways, taking both divisions from fellow RCYC club boat Bad Company.

Royal Cork Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble leads IRC Two from Bad Company (below) after the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. Photo: Bob Bateman

Newly acquired Half Tonner Two Farr debuting in the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. Photo: Bob Bateman

Class 3 produced another Crosshaven-based winner with Fiona Young sailing North Star home ahead of the Garvey Kelleher combination in Diamond.

The Skipper 70, Pat Mustard, sailed by George Radley Senior and Junior of Cove Sailing Club, leads Class Four after the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork Photo: Bob Bateman

In a strong class Four fleet, George Radley senior and junior sailed Pat Mustard to victory ahead of Rob O Reilly's Bon Journo in IRC, while Kinsale YC visitor Paul Cotter took the echo prize in Swift.

Kinsale YC's Paul Cotter took the echo prize in Swift  in the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. Photo: Bob Bateman

In the large White Sail 1 IRC fleet, Aiden Heffernan’s Indulgence had a narrow victory over Kieran O Brien’s Magnet and also held off Frank Caul's Prince of Tides in Echo.

The all-female crew of Genevieve and local skipper Lou Munday were White Sail 2 Echo division winners in the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. Photo: Bob Bateman

White Sail 2 Echo saw a very popular win for the all-female crew of Genevieve and local skipper Lou Munday.

Ronan Twomey's Rosmarina (6765) leads the White Sails One fleet in the first race of Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork. Photo: Thomas Newman

Calves Week Regatta 2023 Day One Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Calves Week 2023 'for the craic' will, as promised, deliver an eclectic maximum 70-boat fleet for its first race of the annual regatta next Tuesday in West Cork.

The weather looks like it may play its part, too, and as WM Nixon predicted on Saturday in Afloat, the event which may most benefit from the more benign pattern will be Calves Week from Tuesday onwards for four days.

Westerly winds gusting up to 20mph will bring all types of keelboat designs to Schull's Copper Point line, everything from a brand new keelboat from Racing Sailboats (RS) to an oceangoing fifty-foot canting keeler for the Round the Islands first race.

Calves Week Regatta has courses in and around the islands, around the Skeams and Calves, and laid courses too Photo: Bob Bateman

As previewed by Afloat earlier in the week, the competition is split into seven fleets, and the top end of the entries looks particularly competitive this year for the Schull Harbour Sailing Club event.

Regular visitor Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI from Dun Laoghaire will race in five boat Class Zero of Calves Week 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

This year Calves Week Regatta has a new addition  – at the suggestion of the bigger Class Zero boats – which is a laid windward mark at the entrance to Crookhaven Harbour. From the starting line off Schull Harbour, the fleet will have a first upwind leg of six nautical miles, tacking up Long Island channel before a turn downwind, which should make an excellent sight for shore spectators at Goleen.

The highlight of the West Cork sailing season is drawing entries from 'Bantry Bay, Kerry, Foynes, Lough Derg and the major Dublin sailing centres for Calves Week 2023 in Schull Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Download the latest class breaks (and the initial ECHO Handicap) released by the organisers below. 

The biggest entries are in the White Sails divisions, with 15 boats in White Sails One and thirteen in White Sails Two, but the slightly smaller spinnaker divisions are packed with top boats from the Irish scene and some top crews, including some key Irish sailmakers.

It's not always plain sailing at Calves Week Regatta....Photo: Bob Bateman

Among the marques debuting at Calves Week 2023 is the new family adventure keelboat, the RS Venture Connect, as Richard Burrows launches 'Lace' in White Sails Two. This division also includes the vintage Cork Harbour One Design Jap entered by America's Cup promoter Stewart Hosford and Simon O'Keeffe's award-winning historic Lady Min will race on her home waters.

Calves Week 2023 will happily exceed its entry cap of 70 boats ahead of its return to a full format of West Cork craic and fun sailing Photo: Bob Bateman 

There are nine entries in Class One where local Tony O'Brien's J109 Tighey Boy will see competition from the new Dublin Bay sistership, Riders On The Storm, skippered by Bobby Kerr with UK Sails Barry Hayes onboard the Dublin yacht for Wednesday's race and on the Schull boat for Thursday.

Royal Irish's Leslie Parnell is competing in Class One of the 2023 Calves Week Regatta in the First 34.7, Black Velvet Photo: Bob Bateman

Baltimore's multiple 1720 sportsboat champion Rob O'Leary is onboard the Boardman/Kelly/O Leary new Half-Tonner "Two Farr" that will compete in Class Two. It's not the only Half-Tonner either, with the all-beating Swuzzlebubble that was the overall winner of Kinsale's Sovereign's Cup in June and a class winner of Volvo Dun Laoghaire in July also lining up. North Sails Ireland's Nigel Young is racing on his family's Albin Express "North Star" in ten-boat Class Two. 

The Calves Week Regatta includes a race around the Fastnet Rock Photo: Bob Bateman

Onboard John Treanor's brand new J112e Valentina from Dun Laoghaire in a five-boat Class Zero will be Prof O'Connell of North Sails Ireland. This division includes Frank Whelan's biggest boat of the event, the canting-keel Elliott 52, which will have Kinsale doublehanded-ace Sam Hunt on board and North Sails Kilcoole's Shane Hughes. Royal Cork's Mel Collins will helm the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI", standing in for regular helmsman Kieran Tarbett of Dun Laoghaire.

John Treanor's brand new J112e Valentina from Dun Laoghaire will compete in Class Zero of Calves Week Photo: Michael Chester

Quantum Sails Ireland's Mark Mansfield, who was tactician on board John Smart's J109, Jukebox in last week's IRC 3 winner at Cowes Week, is back on the water again, racing with Nobby Reilly on the new J111 Ghost Raider in Class Zero. Local Schull sailor David Harte is also onboard the Howth boat. 

Nobby Reilly's new J111 Ghost Raider - Calves Week is the Howth boat's  second trip to the south coast this season. She also sailed in June's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race Photo: Afloat

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 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

CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta race committee at Schull in West Cork will include a race mark in the vicinity of Crookhaven Harbour on this year’s course list.

Schull Harbour Club Commodore Mark Murphy has announced that, subject to weather, the new mark can provide longer courses for the bigger competitors.

The proposed mark off Crookhaven Lighthouse follows feedback – particularly from east coast competitors – and is expected to be used by the larger boats in classes zero, one and two.

CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta has 60 entries so far for the August event Photo: Bob Bateman

With boats ranging in size from Frank Whelan’s 57-foot Opal down to Niall Mc Philips's Etchells 22, it is proposed to split the entries into five spinnaker and two white sail fleets.

New rubber fendering on Schull Pier

Current engineering work involving the replacement of rubber fendering on Schull Pier is expected to be complete before the opening reception of Calves Week on Monday, the 7th of August, followed by four days of racing, with the final on-street presentation on Friday 11th.

Sailing along the West Cork coast is one of the attractions of CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

60 boat fleet

With entries now approaching 60 boats, Murphy has issued a reminder that the discounted entry fee finishes on the 30th of June.

It is proposed to split the CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta entries into five spinnakers and two white sail fleets for the 2023 event Photo: Bob Bateman

CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta 2023 at Schull in West Cork has welcomed the latest entry of the 1898-built Cork Harbour one design “Jap”, scheduled to compete in the August event.

Having spent over twenty years on the European classic boat circuit, the fully restored Jap will again lock horns with the slightly younger, 1902-built recently crowned classic boat of the year “Lady Min”.

Joining them in the White Sail class will be Niall McPhilips Etchells 22 special “Guapa”, which was also a Classic Boat winner in 2018.

With a substantial list of entries, particularly from south coast yacht clubs, the White Sail 2 class is expected to be the largest fleet in the event.

As entries continue to grow, the fleet is expected to be split into seven classes, ranging from Zero to White Sail 2, when they come to Race Officer Alan Crosbie’s starting line on Tuesday, August 8th.

With over 40 confirmed entries already, Calves Week Regatta in Schull Harbour, West Cork, from August 8th-11th, is expected to reach its 70-boat cut-off by early summer.

The top end of the entries looks particularly competitive, with seven J Boat models already registered.

Racing under spinnaker at Calves Week in West Cork Photo: Bob Bateman

The Jones family in their J122 Jelly Baby will be anxious to retain last season’s crown while fending off stiff competition from the two Royal Irish visitors, Paul O'Higgin’s JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI and Patrick Burke's First 40.7 Prima Forte, while Norbert O Reilly's Howth J111, Ghost Raider, on its first visit to West Cork, could well spring a surprise.

There are over 40 confirmed entries already for Calves Week Regatta 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

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 led by local club member Tony O'Brien will be hoping to spoil the party.

Leslie Parnell’s First 34.7 Black Velvet Photo: Bob Bateman

Tony O'Brien's J109, Tighey Boy Photo: Bob Bateman

The Collins family from Baltimore Sailing Club are planning to retain their class 3 trophy in their Dehler 34 but will face renewed competition from the two RCYC quarter tonners; the Garvey/Kelleher sailed Diamond and the first visit of Fiona and Nigel Young's Albin Express, North Star.

The Dehler 34, Ealu 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 KYC and a resurgent local Sadler 32 Raffles, with the Kirby/Norris crew hoping to put last year’s disappointment behind them.

In a very competitive White Sail Class 1 fleet, Kieran O'Brien’s MG 335 Magnet from the Royal Cork Yacht Club will hope that the winter sails upgrade will pay dividends, while in White Sail Division 2, Simon O'Keefe’s 1902 vintage Lady Min, fresh from her recent win at the International Classic Boats award in London, will once again hope to put manners on her younger sisters, in what may be the largest of the six fleets in the event.

A sponsors reception opens Calves Week on August Monday, followed by four days of racing, with the nightly presentation of prizes and live musical entertainment on Schull Main Street.

2023 Calves Week at Schull Schull Harbour Sailing Club may limit entries to 70 boats for the West Cork regatta this August.

The four-day series of races commences on Tuesday, 8th August, and at least six classes are expected to compete, with a possible extra Class Zero and Class One split if required.

Commodore Mark Murphy told Afloat that following last year's jump in entries to near pre-Covid numbers, the club is considering a "cut-off point" of seventy boats "to ensure a safe environment in a harbour without marina facilities". 

Yachts racing at 2022 Calves Week Regatta in West Cork Photo: Bob Bateman

The famous opening reception will return to the Fastnet Marine Centre, and the evening presentation of prizes returns to Schull Main Street with live musical entertainment.