Waterfront, Prima Forte, Rockabill VI, Artful Dodjer, Swuzzlebubble, Illegal, Bon Journo Part Deux, Rosmarina and Tuco were among the boats collecting silverware as Quintas Capital Calves Week concluded in Schull on Friday after four days of varied racing across IRC, ECHO and ORC divisions.
With changing wind strengths and a varied programme that included coastal racing and windward-leeward contests, consistency proved the key across the fleet as competitors battled for honours in Ireland's premier southwest sailing regatta.
Described by many regular competitors as "the best Calves Week ever", the 2026 regatta ended on a high in Schull on Friday night as sailors packed the prizegiving after four days of close racing, varied conditions and championship battles that went down to the final day. Whether or not it ranks as the finest in the event's long history, there was little doubt about the atmosphere as competitors celebrated another memorable week on Roaringwater Bay.
Silverware Awaits: An impressive array of perpetual trophies and class prizes awaited presentation at the conclusion of Calves Week 2026 in Schull, where four days of closely fought racing across IRC, ECHO and ORC divisions culminated in Friday night's prizegiving. Photo: Robert Bateman
The evening also marked the end of an era as Race Officer Alan Crosbie stood down after years of overseeing racing. During a special presentation by Jack Allen, the packed ballroom broke into chants of "One more year". In an emotional reply, Crosbie thanked every member of his race management team by name, paying particular tribute to Rosemary Roy and acknowledging the lasting influence of the late Jack Roy, whose race management skills inspired him throughout his own tenure.
End of an Era: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) makes a special presentation to retiring Race Officer Alan Crosbie in recognition of his years of service to Calves Week. Crosbie received a standing ovation from the packed prizegiving as competitors saluted his contribution to one of Ireland's best-known sailing regattas. Photo: Robert Bateman
Friday's light winds reshaped several championship battles. While some boats, including Simon Coveney's Corby 34.7 Waterfront, had already built enough of a cushion to secure overall victory despite quieter final races, other titles changed hands in the gentle conditions, providing a fittingly dramatic conclusion to one of the closest and most competitive Calves Weeks in recent memory.
Class Zero: Three Different Champions Crowned
Class Zero produced three different overall winners across the handicap systems, underlining the quality and closeness of the fleet.
Top Honour: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) presents the IRC Class Zero trophy to Simon Coveney after his Corby 34.7 Waterfront secured the championship following four days of racing at Calves Week 2026. Photo: Robert Bateman
On IRC, Simon Coveney's Corby 34.7 Waterfront (Royal Cork YC) claimed the title ahead of Frank Whelan's Sydney 43 El Syd (Schull Harbour SC) with Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (Royal Irish YC) third.
In ECHO, Patsy Burke, Sean Lemass and Pat Rigley's First 40 Prima Forte (Royal Irish YC) secured overall victory from Joe Kiernan's First 44.7 Out of Office (Foynes YC), while Denis Ellis' Microspan I Zimbra (Cove SC) completed the podium.
Under ORC, Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI took the championship ahead of Waterfront, with El Syd third after four races.
Shared Smile: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) shares a light-hearted moment with Paul O'Higgins, skipper of the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI, during the Calves Week 2026 prizegiving. Rockabill VI claimed the ORC Class Zero title after another highly competitive week in Roaringwater Bay. Photo: Robert Bateman
Class One: Three Handicap Systems, Three Different Stories
While J/109s swept the IRC podium and dominated ECHO, the ORC title was decided by the narrowest of margins.
Class Champions: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) presents the IRC Class One trophy to Finbarr O'Regan and the crew of the J/109 Artful Dodjer after their countback victory secured one of the closest championship wins of Calves Week 2026. Photo: Robert Bateman
In IRC, Finbarr O'Regan's J/109 Artful Dodjer (Kinsale YC) won by a single point from Barry Cunningham's J/109 Chimaera (Royal Irish YC), with Pat Kelly's J/109 Storm (Rush SC) third.
In ECHO, Chris Moore's J/109 Powder Monkey (National YC) emerged victorious ahead of Jay Bourke and Stephen Pile's J/109 Dear Prudence (Royal Irish YC), while G Hogan's Grand Soleil Growler (Schull Harbour SC) completed the top three.
In ORC, Artful Dodjer and Chimaera finished level on four points after four races, but Finbarr O'Regan's J/109 Artful Dodjer secured the championship on countback after winning the final race. Tony O'Brien's J/109 Tighey Boy (Schull Harbour SC) completed an all-J/109 podium in third.
Class Two: Swuzzlebubble, Prince of Tides and Ghost Raider Share Honours
Three different boats headed the three scoring systems in another closely fought class.
Winning Ways: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) presents the IRC Class Two trophy to James Dwyer after the Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble secured the championship following another consistently strong week at Calves Week 2026. Photo: Robert Bateman
On IRC, David and James Dwyer's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble (Royal Cork YC) claimed overall honours from John and Ronan Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash, with Lynn Reilly's J/70 Ghost Raider 2 (Howth YC) third.
Under ECHO, Frank Caul and John Mulloy's Grand Soleil Prince of Tides (Royal Cork YC) won the series ahead of Ghost Raider 2, while Stephen Lysaght's Elan 333 Reavra Too (Kinsale YC) finished third.
The ORC championship went to Ghost Raider 2, with Leslie Parnell's First 34.7 Black Velvet second and Miss Whiplash third.
Class Three: Illegal Wins IRC, Joker Takes ECHO, Tuco Sweeps ORC
No class illustrated the variety of handicap racing better than Class Three, where three different boats topped the three scoring systems.
Hard Earned: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) presents the IRC Class Three trophy to Kieron Kelleher, Colm Garvey and the crew of Illegal after the Ceccarelli-designed yacht claimed the championship in one of the closest contests of Calves Week 2026. Photo: Robert Bateman
In IRC, Kieron Kelliher and Colman Garvey's Ceccarelli Illegal (Royal Cork YC) won from George Radley's Jeanneau Sun Fast Tuco (Cove SC), while Flor O'Riordan's Elan 31 3 Cheers (Schull Harbour SC) finished third.
In ECHO, Alan Dwyer's Elan 31 Joker (Schull Harbour SC) secured first place ahead of Martin Lane's Oceanis 33 Chatterbox, with Illegal third.
Under ORC, George Radley's Tuco produced the most dominant performance of the week, winning all four races to finish ahead of Diarmuid Wrenne's Hunter Impala Excelsior, while John McGowan's First 31.7 Mackey G completed the podium.
Class Four: Bon Journo Part Deux, Toroloco and Toroloco Again
The smallest class still produced different winners across IRC and ECHO.
Perfect Week: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) presents the IRC Class Four trophy to Rob O'Reilly and the crew of the Dynamo 25 Bon Journo Part Deux after an outstanding series that secured the class championship at Calves Week 2026. Photo: Robert Bateman
Rob O'Reilly's Dynamo 25 Bon Journo Part Deux (Schull Harbour SC) won the IRC title from Ray Hanley's Yamaha 25 Toroloco (Kinsale YC), with Mick Murphy's Moody 30 Shelly D third.
In ECHO, however, Toroloco reversed the positions to take overall honours ahead of Oonagh Buckley's Sun Odyssey Tete a Tete, while Simon Nelson's Oyster 26 Witchcraft completed the top three.
Whitesail One: Rosmarina, Indulgence and Elantic Excel
The Whitesail fleet again demonstrated the strength of cruiser-racing participation at Calves Week.
Winning Crew: Aidan Heffernan and the crew of the Dehler 36 Indulgence pose for photographs after receiving the IRC Whitesail One trophy from Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen following their championship-winning performance at Calves Week 2026. Photo: Robert Bateman
On IRC, Aidan Heffernan's Dehler 36 Indulgence (Schull Harbour SC) won from Liam Madden's Elan 40 Elantic (Foynes YC), while Kieran and Fiorentina O'Brien's MG 335 Magnet (Royal Cork YC) finished third.
In ECHO, Liam Madden's Elan 40 Elantic reversed the result to beat Frank O'Hara's Hanse 371 Samphire, with Magnet third.
The ORC championship went to Ronan Twomey's First 40.7 Rosmarina (Royal Cork YC), ahead of Vivid and Magnet.
Whitesail Two: Lady Min Leads IRC, Orca 2 Wins ECHO
The second Whitesail division also produced different winners under IRC and ECHO.
Double Delight: Schull Harbour Sailing Club's Jack Allen (left) presents Simon O'Keeffe with his Calves Week trophies after the One-Off Lady Min secured the IRC Whitesail Two championship and finished third overall in the ECHO standings following four days of racing. Photo: Robert Bateman
On IRC, Simon O'Keeffe's One-Off Lady Min (Schull Harbour SC) took the title ahead of John Molloy's Starlight Mischief, with David Doyle's First 31.7 Cove Pirates third.
In ECHO, Ann Kirwan, Brendan Briscoe and Paul Kirwan's Ruffian 23 Orca 2 (Schull Harbour SC) won after countback from Sarah Abbott's Dufour 30 Full Pelt (Bantry Bay SC), while Lady Min completed the podium.
After four days of racing, Calves Week once again demonstrated the breadth of handicap racing in Irish sailing, with different rating systems rewarding different strengths across a fleet ranging from modern race boats to classic cruiser-racers and dedicated Whitesail entries.
Calves Week 2026 IRC and ECHO results are below and ORC results are here
