Following weeks of waiting for Covid 19 travel restrictions to be relaxed, extensive research of all options and agonising over the decision, the Royal Cork Yacht Club says it has been left with no option but to cancel its staging of the 2021 Topper World Championships in Cork Harbour.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty of when overseas travel restrictions on non-EU countries in Ireland may be lifted, the club said it 'sadly had no option but to cancel' the July event.
The club came to the decision jointly with the International Topper class.
Up to 200 young sailors from around the world planned to come to the event that was scheduled to dovetail with the UK National Championships, following on two days later at Ballyholme YC in Northern Ireland, from the 2nd to 6th August – providing sailors with a fortnight of top-quality racing.
In a joint statement from ITCA World and Royal Cork Yacht Club said:
"The decision was taken with the safety of sailors and their families, club members and the wider local community at its heart. We also appreciate that sailors and their families need certainty now in order to make their bookings for the event, or to plan alternative activities. Additionally, the lack of clarity on when non-essential overseas travel would be allowed into Ireland and the need to commit significant sums now to prepare for the event that has so much uncertainty around it, has left the organisers with little choice but to cancel the event.
The proposed travel restrictions into Ireland from 19th July will enable EU visitors to travel under the Digital COVID Certificate which will not require self-quarantining based on vaccination or a negative PCR test. However, those travelling from outside of the EU, including from the UK, will have to present a pre-travel PCR test, self-quarantine on arrival and undergo post arrival testing. Considering the strong representation expected from GBR, this has been deemed too restrictive to expect visitors to travel.
ITCA World President Andy Millington said, 'We have exhausted every avenue in an effort to see how it might be possible to run the World Championships with the continued travel restrictions on competitors being able to travel to Cork without quarantining and the added uncertainty over the new variant of Covid 19. In discussions with the RCYC we both agreed that cancelling the 2021 championship in time for families to make alternative holiday or sailing plans was sadly the right thing to do. We would like to thank our partners Ronstan, Rooster and Topper International who had undertaken to generously support the event."
The event was to form part of the continued Tricentenary celebrations of the Royal Cork Yacht Club which mark it's founding in 1720, making it the oldest yacht club in the world. The club is committed to hosting a Topper World championship and have requested to bid for the International Topper 2023 World Championships.
Commenting, Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Colin Morehead said, "It is with considerable regret and sadness that we have to cancel the International Topper Class World Championships. While the vaccine rollout is progressing and restrictions are lifting, the health of our members, our visitors and country continues to be the main priority. I look forward to working with the International Topper Class Association on the possibility of hosting the event in Cork in the near future."
A full refund of entry fees will shortly be processed in line with the Notice of Race.
ITCA World will now focus on its plans for the 2022 International Topper World Championship at Fraglia Della Vela Riva, Garda, where we look forward to welcoming back Topper sailors from across the globe. There are plans to include an inaugural Topper 6.4 championship for those who may by then have outgrown the 5.2 rig and lost the chance to race a world championship but don't want to miss a once in a lifetime opportunity to race on the majestic Lake Garda.
We look forward to seeing you at Riva 2022!"
