Next week's 2024 Volvo Cork Week Regatta has released its 'initial' class bands for a 60-boat spinnaker fleet racing across four IRC divisions: Zero, One, Two and Three.
Each division is published below (and downloadable as an excel file) with entry details supplied by the regatta organisers at Royal Cork Yacht Club.
Cape 31s Maybe The Big Surprise in IRC Zero
A 12-boat Class Zero from 1.075 upwards will see a gathering of some potent designs. The canting keel Elliott 57 Sport, Opal from Greystones Sailing Club in County Wicklow, is the top-rated boat and is competing against a trio of Cape 31s (rated 1.130 to 1.131), including reigning Irish champion Anthony O'Leary's red-hulled Antix from the host club.
The canting keel Elliott 57 Sport, Opal from Greystones Sailing Club will be skippered by Frank Whelan at Volvo Cork Week Photo; Afloat
Anthony O'Leary's Cape 31 Antix will race in IRC Zero of Volvo Cork Week Photo: Bob Bateman
As regular Afloat readers know, Cork Week was the venue for the inaugural Cape 31 Nationals in 2022, but this edition sees three of these one designs racing on IRC. The Capes (rated at 1.131) will be powerful; planing in the strong breezes and fast in light airs too. Likely, Antix is the strongest of these with home waters knowledge of Cork Harbour too.
Mojito is one of four J122s racing in IRC Zero at Volvo Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox's J/122 competed at Cork Week 2022 as the Scottish yacht 'El Gran Senor' and returns two years later as the new Welsh Mojito, an upgrade on their championship-winning J109.
As Afloat reported earlier, Mojito is part of a quality 20-boat fleet heading for Cork Harbour on Friday in the 160-mile 'K2Q' Race from Dun Laoghaire.
Jezebel (Cris Miles) is one of two J111s racing in IRC Zero at Volvo Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
So far this season, the new Mojito has only been in Irish waters for ISORA Cross Channel racing but will be more than ready for the Cork Week competition, having raced into Cork Harbour as part of the 160-mile K2Q as bronze medal winners at May's IRC Welsh Championships.
Ben MIller's Corby 37, Impetuous is the 2024 IRC Welsh Champion and competes in IRC Zero at 2024 Volvo Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
Mojito is one of four J122s in Zero, and this design is always a potent all-rounder on IRC. Look for Jelly Baby and Mojito to have a great battle all week long.
Two J111s, Jezebel and Frequent Flyer, are also racing in IRC Zero.
Also in the fleet well worth keeping an eye on are the Mills King 40, Blitz, and Ben Miller's regular visitor to Irish waters, the Corby 37, Impetuous. In mixed conditions, these two will be hard to beat. Impetuous, in particular, arrives in Crosshaven as the reigning IRC 1 Welsh National champion. Miller also finished as IRC Zero runner-up at Wave Regatta in Howth in May.
IRC Class 0 (1.075 - n/a) Cork Week entries
Cork Week 2024 IRC Class 0 (1.075 - n/a)
J112 Valentina or J109s To Lead 19-Boat IRC One Class at Cork Week
A 19-boat IRC One class (from 1.000 - 1.074) is Cork Week's biggest IRC class, and joining this fleet is the on form J112e Valentina skippered by Johnny Treanor of Dun Laoghaire that scooped the IRC Zero prizes in both the hotly contested Royal Irish and Royal St. George Regattas on Dublin Bay this month and last.
Barry Cunnigham's J109 Chimaera will compete in IRC One division at Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
IRC 1 sees five J/109s compete as some of the smallest boats in this class and up against rivals as big as Xaviera and Onyx II, both X4.3s from the X-Yachts stable as well as Keeneth Cunnane's Swan 46. The J/109s have always been potent performers, so it would not be unusual to see one of them come out on top. However, at least one of the five has a question mark over its participation, with Schull Harbour's Tighey Boy under repair.
Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 X-Yacht Alpaca from the host club Photo: Bob Bateman
The list of J109s includes returning Cork Week champion John Maybury's multiple championship-winning Joker II from the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Maybury's clubmate Barry Cunnigham will also compete in the sistership Chimaera.
Johnny Treanor's on form J112e Valentina competes in IRC One at Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
Denis Hewitt also travels from the RIYC in the Mills 30, Raptor. From the south coast, the custom Mills 36 Prime Suspect comes straight from June's Round Ireland race duty.
If the J/109s don’t get too clogged up, starting with the higher-rated boats, one of these will be tipped to take the class, but if they can’t get away clean, expect Valentina to take it.
IRC Class 1 (1.000 - 1.074) Cork Week entries
Cork Week 2024 IRC Class 1 (1.000 - 1.074)
Exciting Cork Week Battle Expected Between Half Tonners in IRC Class Two
The two firm favourites in this 12-boat IRC Class 2 (0.925 - 0.999) will be the Half Tonners, 2 Farr (Boardman, Kelly and O'Leary) and the Dwyer family’s Swuzzlebubble.
The Half Tonner 2 Farr of Boardman, Kelly and O'Leary competes in Class Two IRC of Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
These near sisterships had a great battle at Wave Regatta in May when the orange-hulled 2 Farr was fresh from her winter revamp. Swuzzlebubble got the chocolates in Howth Sound, but only on countback.
The Dwyer family Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble competes in Class Two IRC of Cork Week Regatta Photo: Afloat
It is widely expected that this Class Two battle will go down to the wire, especially with some extra weeks available to make improvements for Cork Week. Will 2 Farr shade it this time?
IRC Class 2 (0.925 - 0.999) Cork Week entries
Cork Week 2024 IRC Class 2 (0.925 - 0.999)
Quarter Tonners To The Fore in Cork Week IRC Class 3
Twelve-boat IRC 3 (0.850 - 0.924) is a very mixed fleet. The two form boats would be Conor Phelan's Farr quarter tonner, Anchor Challenge and Conor Twomey's heavily modified First Class 8, ALLIG8R from the Royal St. George Yacht Club on Dublin Bay.
Conor Twomey's heavily modified First Class 8, ALLIG8R from Royal St. George Yacht Club competes in IRC Class Three at Volvo Cork Week Regatta Photo: Michael Chester
Both of these boats have been regular winners. Other boats that may challenge in th week will be the Quarter Tonner Diamond (Colman Garvey/Kieran Kelliher) and Royal Cork's own Albin Express, North Star, skippered by Fiona Young.
Tom McCarthy's Quarter Tonner, Panic Conor competes in IRC Class Three at Volvo Cork Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
Sean Hanley's HB31 Luas from Royal Cork Yacht Club competes in IRC Class Three at Volvo Cork Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
IRC Class 3 (0.850 - 0.924) Cork Week entries
Cork Week 2024 IRC Class 3 (0.850 - 0.924)
Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star competes in IRC Three at Cork Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
The IRC spinnaker classes represent the heart of the racing fleets at Cork Week. Organisers say this year’s event will feature over 120 boats in total and attract 8,000 sailors and spectators to the harbour town for a week of thrilling races and maritime festivities.
The Harbour Race on Wednesday, July 17, promises to be a spectacular viewing event. A number of Championship races will also take place from Monday to Friday (starting at 10:55 am) both inside and outside the harbour. Highlights include the 1720 European Championships with over 20 1720s, designed in Cork, and the renowned Beaufort Cup, which will be the biggest yet featuring international entries from c untries including the USA and Ecuador. This race for international uniformed service personnel encompasses a race around the Fastnet Rock and back to Cork Harbour.
