Displaying items by tag: Cork Week
Military Crews Muster for Cork Week's Beaufort Cup
The inaugural International Inter Services Sailing Competition ‘The Beaufort Cup’, hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and supported by the Irish Defence Forces starts on Monday, 11th of July, off Haulbowline Island, the home of the Irish Naval Service. The Beaufort Cup invited sailing teams from their associated national services; 50% of each team must be active in the service they represent. Racing will take place over five days in a mix of challenging offshore, and tactical inshore, racing. Teams will get the chance to enjoy the renowned social experience of Volvo Cork Week and the winning team will also have €10,000 donated to a nominated charity of their choice while the winner will also be eligible for the ‘Boat of the Week’ prize at Volvo Cork Week 2016.
Boats have been borrowed and chartered for the event by a number of the competing teams. Current Irish Class 1 national champion yacht Joker 2, a Dun Laoghaire J109, is sailing with a 100% military crew. Minister Simon Coveney will compete too and he has chartered the Greystones Sailing club based A35 Another Adventure for the event.
South coast sailors Martin Darrer and Coleman Garvey have loaned their Projection 35 and the crew of nine includes six of the Baltimore lifeboat crew led by Youen Jacob with Cathal Cottrell, Pat Collins, Jim Baker, Aidan Bushe, Brendan Cottrell, along with Nicholas O’ Leary, Sandy Remington and Coleman Garvey.
The Irish Coast Guard service will have a team competing on a Beneteau 36-footer drawing crew from around the country for a competitive entry coordinated by Crosshaven Coast Guard station. The Sea Fisheries Protection service has also entered a team on one of the largest boats at the event. The racing format promises a full range of tests, starting off with three inshore races on Monday, quickly followed by a 24-hour race to the Fastnet Rock and back.
The beginning of the race will be a fantastic spectacle and members of the public are invited to view all of the action from Cobh Pier. A military display will take to the skies at 9.30am sharp with four PC9 Flypast aircrafts, an AW139 Helicopter, and a CASA aircraft. In addition there will be two Mogwag 18.5 tonne armoured vehicles plus crew, along with naval vessels HMS Dragon (UK), Fort Rosalie (UK) and the FS Thetis from France present at Cobh Pier.
The initial 24 hour Offshore Race will be started by the RCYC Race Officer, Peter Crowley, at 9.55am with thirteen participating teams. The teams include; The Royal Engineers, The Royal Logistics Corps, the PSNI, four teams from the Irish Defence Forces, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Marine Institute, the Port of Galway, Baltimore Lifeboat, Crosshaven Lifeboat and the Coastguard
Next week Royal Cork Yacht Club will fling open its doors to over a thousand visitors, for a tremendous warm welcome, to the oldest yacht club in the world at Volvo Cork Week writes Louay Habib. Competitors from The Netherlands, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and France, will savour the atmosphere ashore and relish the opportunity to race in one of the world's largest harbours and the stunning coast line of the Atlantic Approaches.
Cork Week has never been afraid to take the initiative with innovative changes to the format of Ireland's longest running regatta. This year has particular significance as Cork Week will stage the first ever IRC European Championship. Also more than a dozen teams from the UK and Ireland will contest the inaugural Beaufort Cup in which at least 50% of a team's crew must be active members of uniformed services such as: Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Emergency Rescue Services. Cork Week has also put feeder races in place from Falmouth in the UK hosted by the Mylor Yacht Club and from Dun Laoghaire to Cobh, hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club. The latter re-enacts the Kingstown to Queenstown Race first run in 1860. For competitors that are new to sailing, or prefer to sail shorthanded, the non-spinnaker and Coastal Classes are ideal and for one-design adrenalin junkies the sportsboats provide the perfect thrill.
Countries collide in the big boat clash with Tony Langley's all-pro British TP52 Gladiator topping the bill, having won the 2016 J.P.Morgan Round the Island Race in a fleet of over 1500 boats. Antix and Jump Juice will be flying the burgee of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Skippered by Anthony O'Leary, Antix will have double Olympian, Peter O'Leary, providing the strategy. Conor Phelan's Ker 37, Jump Juice, is the current ICRA National Champion. Eric De Turckiem Teasing Machine is a proven offshore weapon. This year the French guided missile won class in the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the RORC Caribbean 600. A veteran of Volvo Cork Week, Richard Matthews, will be racing his brand new Humphries 39, Oystercatcher XXXI, with skills from local expert Eddie English and Tony Ackland will be hoping for Welsh fire from his Dubois 37 Dark Angel.
There is a hot prospect of intense competition, with three JPK 10.80s enjoying a close battle. RORC Commodore Michael Boyd, racing Audrey, will be taking on Mordret & Delamare's Dream Pearls. The French team have been in scintillating form in the RORC offshore series, winning class in three out of four races. From the Royal Irish YC, Paul O'Higgins team racing Rockabill VI is a former class winner at Volvo Cork Week. Other proven winners include Charlie Frize Mills 36 Prime Suspect, Simon Henning's Mumm 36, Alice and Jay Colville's First 40 Forty Licks. What promises to be one of the battles of the regatta will be in the J/109s. Royal Irish skipper Richard Goodbody, sailing White Mischief with his Irish Olympic son Tim, will come up against Ian Nagle's Royal Cork team racing Jelly Baby, winner of the 2015 J/109 UK Open Championship.
“The Royal Cork Yacht Club welcomes all our competitors and visitors to Crosshaven for Volvo Cork Week 2016” commented. Kieran O’Connell, Chairman Volvo Cork Week 2016. “We are looking forward to the great quality and variety of racing on the water with which Volvo Cork Week has become internationally synonymous. Shoreside, we have once again put together an unrivaled mix of entertainment and specially look forward to Friday night’s performance by The Frank and Walters, followed by a fantastic firework display. My sincere thanks go to our major sponsor Volvo who have taken the lead in sailing event sponsorship throughout Ireland, we are delighted to be part of this undertaking. Words of thanks must also go to our other sponsors, as without them, this event would be difficult to run and last, but by no means least a big THANK YOU to all our volunteers who donate an immeasurable amount of time and effort. I wish you all a safe and fun filled week both ashore and on the water.”
RNLI Lifeboat Set Sail At Cork Week's Beaufort Cup
RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew are used to working together in challenging conditions out on the water but a major event during Volvo Cork week will see them pitted against each other and their colleagues in the emergency services to take home the prize in the Beaufort Cup Regatta 2016.
The Beaufort Cup invites sailing teams representing their national services to race over five days in a mix of challenging offshore and inshore races, including round the Fastnet, to be crowned the Beaufort Cup holder and receive a €10,000 charity donation. The event is being run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and is supported by the Irish Defence Forces.
The RNLI is proud to have two teams participating in the cup with Baltimore RNLI lining out with RNLI South-Coast, made up of lifeboat crew from Fenit, Union Hall, Crosshaven and Tramore RNLI lifeboat stations. The rules state that the team must be made of at least fifty percent from the emergency services.
The RNLI South-Coast team will be racing on ‘Endgame’ owned by Frank Doyle with RNLI lifeboat crew from the South coast crewing her. The crew will be made up of Ruth Concannon from Fenit RNLI, Johnny McKenna from Union Hall RNLI, Aidan O’Connor and James Fegan from Crosshaven RNLI and Fergal McGrath from Tramore RNLI. Frank’s existing crew Harry Donegan, John Lapthorne, Will Barry and Tadhg Concannon will also be on hand during the week.
The Baltimore RNLI team will be racing on a projection 35 boat ‘True Penance’ given to them for the event by Martin Darer and Colman Garvey. The crew will be made of Skipper Youen Jacob, Baltimore RNLI all-weather lifeboat crew and inshore helm, Nicholas O’Leary, Tactician and second Skipper, Cathal Cottrell, Baltimore RNLI all-weather lifeboat mechanic and crewmember, Pat Collins, Baltimore RNLI all-weather lifeboat assistant mechanic and assistant Coxswain, Sandy Remington, Jim Baker All-weather and inshore lifeboat crew, Colman Garvey, co-owner of True Penance and Aiden Bushe All-weather lifeboat assistant Coxswain. Aidan will race offshore and be replaced by Brendan Cottrell all-weather lifeboat assistant Coxswain who will replace Aidan later in the week to keep the lifeboat station fully operational with a crew on-call and available at all times.
The two crews have received sponsorship and support from the Cape Clear Ferry Company for Baltimore RNLI and Helly Hanson and Solas Marine for RNLI South-Coast.
Commenting on the Beaufort Cup, Crosshaven RNLI and RNLI South-coast crewmember James Fegan said, ‘This is going to be a fantastic event and we are very grateful to the Defence Forces for supporting it and making it happen. We work side by side with our colleagues from other lifeboat stations and agencies so this is very different for us. I feel it could get quite competitive out there in the sea but may the best team win.’
Also speaking on the event Baltimore RNLI station mechanic and ‘True Pennace’ crewmember Cathal Cottrell added, ‘Everyone knows we take our sailing very seriously down here and we will be looking to bring home the Cup. It is going to be a tough few days of racing. With so many lifeboat crew onboard I don’t think we will need to call out the lifeboat. I want to wish all of the crew from across the emergency services the Best of luck, we will see them at the finish line.’
The offshore race will start on Monday 11 July off Haulbowline Island, the home of the Irish Naval Service.
Ninety Boats & Counting Entered For Cork Week
With nearly 90 yachts already confirmed for the 2016 edition of Volvo Cork Week, an increase in entries from 2014 is highly likely for Ireland's most famous regatta writes Louay Habib. Hosted by the world's oldest yacht club, the Royal Cork YC, the regatta offers phenomenal racing conditions; boasting one of the world's largest natural harbours, a stunning cliff-lined coast and the Atlantic. Volvo Cork Week has the natural resources to provide some of the best racing anywhere and combined with the legendary 'craic' of Irish hospitality, and a concerted effort to drive down costs, Volvo Cork Week is a regatta not to miss.
2016 Volvo Cork Week will also host the first ever, IRC European Championship, the Irish Quarter Tonner National Championship and the inaugural Beaufort Cup.
Tony Langley's TP52 Gladiator is currently the fastest yacht competing at Cork Week.However, British entrepreneur Tony Langley will not be at the helm of Gladiator for Volvo Cork Week, as Team Gladiator Project Manager, Tom Wilson explains:
“Tony would love to be there but has other commitments. His son Bernard has taken up the challenge to lead the team. Much the same as our last regatta, which was Antigua Sailing Week, we will have a young team of talented sailors on board from Britain and also several local Irish sailors. The team is just being finalised but the youngsters will be joined by some very well known yachtsmen.”
Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary has enjoyed tremendous success with his Ker 40, Antix, racing with his three sons, Peter, Nicholas and Robert and an all Irish crew. Anthony was the Irish Captain for both of Ireland's Commodores' Cup wins and his former boat, also called Antix, was the overall RORC IRC National Champion in 2014.
“The move to host the first IRC European Championship at Volvo Cork Week was an inspirational move by the sailing committee, the Royal Cork YC and the Royal Ocean Racing Club.” Commented Anthony O'Leary. “ To have the championship in Cork is fantastic and I am sure it is the perfect venue for what IRC is all about. There is a massive variety of courses; plenty of windward leeward but also reaching and running legs, and you never know what the Harbour Course has in store. If you sat down with a blank piece of paper to design the best courses for an IRC regatta, Volvo Cork Week has been providing it for years.”
“From the point of view of Antix, we are especially looking forward to racing against Teasing Machine. In the 2010 Commodores' Cup, in her former life as Catapult, the Ker 40 had a great battle with Teasing Machine and we look forward to that. There are similar battles right through all the classes and to have twice as many boats already entered compared to the same time in 2014, we are hoping for a large number of quality boats enjoying an outstanding regatta.
Laurent Pages has competed in the last two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, winning the round the world race with Groupama in 2014 and will be tactician for Eric De Turkheim's French A13, Teasing Machine for Volvo Cork Week.
“With the intention to race around Ireland in June, Volvo Cork Week was really an option for us. The fact that IRC European Champion title will decided at Volvo Cork Week was also a key point.” commented Laurent. “Teasing Machine will come with a lot of ambition but we know the competition will be really fantastic ! It's a great challenge ! And always a great pleasure to come to Ireland !
To have a variety of racing conditions is absolutely great: mixing pure inshore races and coastal races gives so much interest and it all makes sense to contend an IRC European Title in that way. Irish sailors will be really hard to beat in their home waters and we also know that top British teams will be highly competitive, as always but we will defend the french chances with determination and passion!”
Oystercatcher XXXI is the third boat to be designed for Sir Richard Matthews by Tom Humphreys and should be launched 8th June, after fitting out at Fox’s Marina Ipswich. Oystercatcher XXXI will be making its debut at Volvo Cork Week, although Sir Richard has been coming for years.
“A return to a genuine dual purpose cruiser racer, a proper cockpit, berth for every crew, H&C water including a shower and a proper galley with an oven - all in less than 39 feet and 86 feet shorter than my ‘other’ boat!” laughed Richard. “Cork Week has always been friendly and it is even better now that it's more of a regatta and less of a pop concert and I prefer Murphy's.
The race courses are varied and interesting and I especially enjoy the Harbour Course. Oystercatcher's crew will be mostly our East Coast (UK) regulars (some of whom are still young enough to walk unaided!) and Eddie English our dear friend from Cobh, who has done the last 8 or 10 Cork Weeks with us. All of the crew are keen golfers and The Old Head of Kinsale is one of the best courses in the world and is a fine start or finish to the week.”
“I live just up the road, I have to come every regatta! I enjoy the competition, the professional race management, variety of courses on offer, the onshore entertainment and the camaraderie. This year I think that it is great that the IRC European Championship is part of it. Jump intend doing the Irish, UK and Welsh IRC nationals so it's a great fit to our programme.
It is really tough to win your class at Volvo Cork Week, because all the good boats and best sailors are there. Competition, varied conditions and courses and a lively social scene all mitigate against predictability. Not until the skipper and crew look each other up and down each morning can one make any presumptions. A lot depends on the night before! Having gone through the rock concert type event some years ago the event is firmly fun for sailors mostly on site. Expect great craic, late nights and sore heads.”
Simon Henning's British Mumm 36, Alice is returning to Volvo Cork Week after a long absence, as Simon explains: “We did Cork Week in 2006 and 2008 in Farr 45, Alice 2 but the Mumm 36, Alice was last at Cork Week in 2004, she has had a major refit and is much more competitive, the first IRC European Championship is the big attraction to come back this year and we are looking forward to a very competitive week. Also Cork is a great place to sail with a variety of conditions and it is rare you get a windless day. For me personally, the older you get, the more you need to grab the opportunities that come along.”
The IRC European Championship is attracting new teams from overseas of a very high standard and the Beaufort Cup is bringing new faces to Volvo Cork Week. The Beaufort Cup invites sailing teams from their associated national services, 50% of each team must be active in the service they represent. Racing will take place over five days in a mix of offshore and inshore courses. The winning team will also have €10,000 donated to a nominated charity.
The inaugural ISA 'Try Sailing' Invitational will take place this July, hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC), Crosshaven, Co. Cork, as part of Volvo Cork Week from July 10th to 15th. It represents one of a number of initiatives under the ISA’s Try Sailing banner aimed at introducing as many people as possible to the joys of sailing.
“It is with huge excitement that we announce the inaugural ISA Try Sailing Invitational which will be part of Volvo Cork Week 2016. This event will attract teams from clubs across the country and will add a unique and exciting element to the already fun packed Volvo Cork Week 2016.” – Kieran O’Connell, Chairman of Volvo Cork Week.
The ISA Try Sailing Invitational invites sailing clubs from around the country to put together a team comprised of participants in their Try Sailing programmes. Each club can nominate one experienced sailor to either skipper their entry or be part of the crew. Racing will take place in 1720 sports boats, over five days, with challenging and enjoyable inshore racing. Teams will get the chance to enjoy the renowned social experience of Volvo Cork Week and the winning team will win the ISA Try Sailing Invitational Trophy.
This event will develop valuable bonds between Try Sailing participants and the clubs they represent and will give them an appreciation for what a large regatta is all about – play, sail & enjoy. The ISA Try Sailing Invitational represents a fantastic opportunity to further enhance participation in the sport of sailing through racing in the natural maritime amphitheatre that is Cork Harbour – the largest natural harbour in the northern hemisphere.
The Irish Quarter Ton Cup will also be held at Volvo Cork Week 2016. In the 1980's and 90's the then J Class raced every week in the RCYC and was made up of many different quarter tonners so many people got their first experience of sailing in a quarter tonner. The Irish Quarter Ton Cup in 2016 will not only crown a national champion but the winner will also be eligible for a class European Medal and will be in with a chance to win best overall boat of the European Championship. Volvo Cork Week 2016 is looking forward to welcoming quarter tonners from all over Ireland and the UK to compete this year.
Next month's ICRA Nationals at Howth Yacht Club will feature what looks like the 'hottest cruiser fleet of the year' when class one boats resume battle after last year's epic clash at Kinsale.
Paul O'Higgins new JPK 10.80 will be up against some good J109's (including John Maybury's Joker which won ICRAs in 2015, Jelly Baby from Cork, Storm from Howth and J/109 newcomer Tim Goodbody). Also in the class one mix will be the A35 Fools Gold which was second to Joker at Kinsale and also won the Scottish series 2015 overall. Former champion, the XP33 Bon Exemple, skippered by Philip Byrne of the Royal Irish, is also a contender.
The cruiser racer body says its decision to apply 'equal status and trophies to IRC and Progressive Echo has attracted support' and overall entries for the championships is now in the sixties. The event is timed to lead into the Round Ireland, WIORA and Cork Week and Calves Week in a summer of racing highlights.
Although an early discount deadline has now passed, organisers have made the decision to extend it, presumably because they see there is still lots of potential entries to still emerge in each division.
Class two should be very competitive as well with four Half Tonners vying against the home club's X332 Equinox (Ross McDonald) plus a few others. Half tonners won't have their pro sailors however as ICRA rules only allow pros in classes 0 and 1.
Dux from HYC will compete in class three
Class three will see Fusion the Corby 25 of Colwell, Cobbe and Ronan pushed by likes of Anthony Gore Grimes in Dux, the Sigma 33 s and the ICRA Commodore's family boat from Foynes Yacht Club, the McGibney's Dis a Ray.
The event is under the experienced Chairmanship of Chris Howard who has twice before run championships with ICRA at this County Dublin venue.
The programme will provide seven races over three day from Friday 10th to Sun 12th June with a mix of windward/leeward courses and interesting round the cans courses.
ICRA will be presenting overall matching perpetual trophies for IRC and ECHO in each Division in addition to ISA Gold, Silver and Bronze medals smartly mounted which are unique to the National championships.
ICRA's Corinthian Cups are also competed for in both Progressive Echo and IRC will provide equally interesting courses, specifically designed for the non spinnaker divisions with overall trophies and glass mountings as prizes.
Entries Heat Up for ICRA Nationals At Howth Yacht Club
The ICRA Nationals returns to Howth Yacht Club in early June, timed to lead into the Round Ireland, WIORA and Cork Week and Calves Week to round off a summer of racing.
The combination of IRC and Progressive Echo divisions in all Classes with equal Trophies and ISA National Championship Gold, Silver and Bronze medals ensures strong interest through the fleets. The event is under the experienced Chairmanship of Chris Howard who has twice before run championships with ICRA at this County Dublin venue.
An early entry list is admittedly still building but it already features top boats with the likes of Conor Phelan's Jump Juice returning from his success in March's RORC's Easter Challenge.
Early indications are that the hottest fleet could be in class one where, like ICRAs in 2015, some of the most competitive sailing took place. Paul O'Higgins new JPK 10.80 will be up against some good J109's (including John Maybury's Joker which won ICRAs in 2015, Jelly Baby from Cork, Storm from Howth and J/109 newcomer Tim Goodbody). Also in the class one mix will be the A35 Fools Gold which was second to Joker at Kinsale and also won the Scottish series 2015 overall. Former champion, the XP33 Bon Exemple, skippered by Philip Byrne, is also a contender.
Class two should be competitive as well with four Half Tonners vying against the home club's X332 Equinox (Ross McDonald) plus a few others. Half tonners won't have their pro sailors however as ICRA rules only allow pros in classes 0 and 1.
Class three will see Fusion the Corby 25 of Colwell, Cobbe and Ronan pushed by likes of Anthony Gore Grimes in Dux, the Sigma 33 s and of course, the ICRA Commodore's family boat from Foynes Yacht Club, the McGibney's Dis a Ray.
Class four will see current National Champions Kilcullen the local Howth Yacht Club youth J24 team take on the J24 fleet including the ICRA Commodore Simon MC Gibney the well sailed quarter Tonners and likes of Impalas who can all feature on their day
The Corinthian Cups are well established for the non spinnaker boats and are expected to attract a large fleet.
The early Discount deadline for the ICRA Nationals is 6 th May so get your entry in and enjoy great racing and a fun social scene ashore.
Cork Week Early Entry Discount Deadline Looms
With the early entry discount for Volvo Cork Week running out on May 1st Royal Cork Yacht Club organisers have been keen to point out innovations for the 2016 edition such as the first ever IRC European Championship and the Beaufort Cup as part of this summer's line–up.
'RCYC has always listened to competitors comments about Cork Week and has never been afraid to make improvements whenever possible', the club say in its latest mail out to competitors
Kieran O'Connell, Chairman of Volvo Cork Week, spoke candidly about the changes to this year's event, brought about by talking to competitors, the real cost of coming to Cork Week is being reduced by pro-active measures.
“When talking to people in Ireland and the UK." commented Kieran O'Connell. "We have been making a big effort to keep the cost down for visiting teams, we have been setting guide prices for local accommodation in Crosshaven and local home owners have been listening and reducing their expectations. For example a 3 bedroom house that sleeps 6 - 8 crew for the week is averaging at €1250 - €1500 or B&B for €50 per night. In 2016 there will also be camping options with toilet and shower facilities.
The committee have undertaken to keep food and beverage costs at normal club rates. Helly Hansen, the Official Clothing Partner to the event will have a retail shop in the regatta village, alongside other notable retailers such as CH Marine and Union Chandlery.
The entertainment line-up is fantastic this year with the event open to the public on Thursday and Friday nights with big name bands performing. The management team is putting a big effort into the apres-sail slot from 4.30 to 7pm, with live music creating the right sort of atmosphere, as the sailors come off the water.
The IRC European Championship is attracting new teams from overseas of a very high standard and the Beaufort Cup is bringing new faces to Volvo Cork Week. The Beaufort Cup invites sailing teams from their associated national services, 50% of each team must be active in the service they represent. Racing will take place over five days in a mix of offshore and inshore courses. The winning team of the Beaufort Cup will also have €10,000 donated to a nominated charity.
For yachts entering before the end of April, there is a prize draw for sailing gear and a weekend 40ft bareboat charter.
Including the one design 1720 and Viper Sportsboats, a wide variety of yachts have already entered Volvo Cork Week, with a significantly higher number of early entries compared to this time in 2014. For yachts entering before the 1st May 2016, there are two prize draws. Volvo Cork Week will be giving away, sailing gear and a weekend 40ft bareboat charter, kindly sponsored by Sovereign Sailing Kinsale.”
The early entry discount for Volvo Cork Week runs out on May 1st.
Volvo Cork Week Amends Notice of Race
There have been a few notable amendments to the Notice of Race for this year’s Volvo Cork Week, taking place in Crosshaven, Co. Cork from July 10th to 15th:
All boats under IRC are now permitted to have the IRC crew number, plus one.
The Coastal fleet does not need to have an endorsed IRC cert.
The white sail fleet is no longer restricted to one head sail as long as their IRC cert permits multiple head sails or they are only sailing under ECHO.
The decision to the divide of White Sail and Non Spinnaker has been greatly welcomed. The logic behind the amendment is that it will be fairer on all participants to separate the results of the cruiser racers sailing with no spinnaker and the traditional cruising boats sailing under white sail, as per “Appendix A” of the Volvo Cork Week Notice of Race. As a result of this change, event organisers are expecting to see more White Sail boats entering.
This year at Volvo Cork Week there’s a particular effort being put into building the Coastal Fleet, this will be for boats who wish to partake in the event but do not want to be in the mix with all the high performance racing boats, or have to get a full crew of experienced sailors in order of have a chance of winning their class. The coastal fleet will be longer races with a lot more variety to the types of boats, aimed at providing good fun racing for those competing in that fleet.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is promoting its inaugural European IRC Championship as part of Cork Week. The London club says the event will 'bring countries together'.
The International IRC Rating Rule, jointly owned by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and l’Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL) will be attracting boats from all over the world to the port of Crosshaven in Ireland this year. From 10th to 15th July 2016 the Inaugural European IRC Championship will be take place during the already well-established and popular Volvo Cork Week hosted by the Royal Cork YC, the world’s oldest yacht club.
This exciting addition to the global IRC racing calendar promises to bring boats together from all corners of Europe, where over 4300 boats are IRC rated annually, but is open to all 6000 boats IRC rated worldwide. The Championship invites entries from boats with a valid 2016 IRC rating between 0.850 and 1.320 and the RCYC is expecting entries from 'around the globe'. Early entries include boats from Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, France, the USA and Australia, with interest from South Africa, making it a truly international event.
Back in 1990 Cork Week was the first regatta in the world to use the now ubiquitous windward/leeward race format, but even then the regatta included an innovative and varied mix of racing and 2016 is no exception: courses at the European IRC Championship will include Olympic, trapezoid, slalom and windward/leeward buoy courses plus an 8 hour coastal race, so every boat has a chance to shine on their preferred course type. Results will be calculated using the simple time-on-time IRC time corrector, so competitors can easily see how they are performing around the course.
Another addition to the Week this year is the inaugural International Inter Services Sailing Competition, the Beaufort Cup. Volvo Cork Week 2016 is shaping up to be another unforgettable regatta, and if you have a 2016 IRC rating you can be part of it!