Royal Cork's popular PY1000 Race takes place on Saturday, 1st April 2023, but this year in a twist to the annual fixture, the big prize money goes to the winner of a new first-passed-the-post format.
Dinghies will start from the slowest to fastest, and the first across the line wins, with placings on the water being the final position.
This move emulates the UK's famous ‘Bloody Mary’ event in London in January of each year.
With racing at high tide, the plan is always to race in the river if conditions allow.
"For the last eight years, we have run an all-in PY race, but to make it more exciting, we want to try the first-passed-the-post approach", RCYC's Alex Barry told Afloat.
Royal Cork Yacht Club's PY1000 Perpetual Trophy
"A huge fleet of Toppers and ILCAs gives the younger sailors a better chance, given they will start before the big boats with clean air. The Bloody Mary fixture is such a great race, and we want to emulate that in Cork", Barry said.
This year, the event is kindly sponsored by Crosshaven House in a new partnership which proprietor Noel Corcoran has kindly agreed to make long-standing.
This year, the €1,000 will be split with €700 for the winner, €200 for the second and €100 for the third. There will also be some great prizes available for the youngest sailor, first female helm, youngest combined crew age and oldest combined crew age.
