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Volvo Cork Week 2018 awarded Gold Certification by International Clean Regattas Programme

By on September 19, 2018 in Latest
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“No water, no life. No blue, no green.”

– Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer, Mission Blue Foundation

Volvo Cork Week 2018 has been awarded Gold Certification by the International ‘Sailors for the Sea’ Clean Regatta programme with the event sustainability partners MaREI Centre for Marine & Renewable Energy and An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme.

The Clean Regattas programme is the world’s only sustainability certification for water-based events. The initiative helps people run more environmentally friendly events to protect local waters and beyond, raising  the  bar  for ocean  health  around  the  world.  “We are thrilled to support the Volvo Cork Week in their  efforts  to  educate  participants  on  environmental  protection  by  serving  as  a  model  for  responsible  sailing.”– Robyn Albritton, Sustainability Director, Sailors …

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Fn’Gr8 the overall winner at Volvo Cork Week

By on July 21, 2018 in Latest
Crosshaven, Co. Cork, 18 July 2018: Racing past Weaver's Point, Crosshaven in the 16 nautical-mile Harbour Race that included a massed start and sailpast the historic town of Cobh at Volvo Cork Week 2018 organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Photograph: David Branigan/Oceansport Free for editorial use with picture credit

With the best score of any of the 120 boats over the past week, Rory Fekkes’ Fn’Gr8 (Carrickfergus Sailing Club) has been confirmed as the overall winner of Volvo Cork Week following an intense three-race final day. The Antrim boat was a convincing overall winner to the week despite several other strong performances in other classes but Fekkes had accumulated an impressive 19-point lead in his eleven-boat fleet.

“Best week ever! It’s the closest racing we’ve ever had,” Fekkes said even before learning of his overall event win. “We were hoping to get the overall win so we kept going to the end even though we only had sixth place to discard.” As for the 300th anniversary of the Royal …

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Sparkling Cork

By on July 20, 2018 in Latest
Photograph: Tim Wright

The full armada of 120 yachts was out for the fourth day of Volvo Cork week. After a delayed start, a warm sea breeze blew into Volvo Cork Week to give over a thousand sailors champagne conditions in the Celtic Sea outside Cork Harbour. Leaders in all classes are emerging but many of them will be going to the wire. A pride of 13 Dragons and 10 powerful Cork 1720s started their Southern Championships today, taking part in two races with a building sea breeze off Power Head on a windward leeward course.

The Dragons were flying by the second race, with 15 knots of wind over tide powering the fleet up to full tilt. The racing was exceptional close, …

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Spinnaker Festival in Cork Harbour

By on July 19, 2018 in Latest, Uncategorized
Crosshaven, Co. Cork, 18 July 2018: Youen Jacob's Juggerknot in the 16 nautical-mile Harbour Race that included a massed start and sailpast the historic town of Cobh at Volvo Cork Week 2018 organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Photograph: David Branigan/Oceansport Free for editorial use with picture credit

85 yachts formed an impressive single starting line for Volvo Cork Week’s signature race in the beautiful surroundings of Cork Harbour. After a General Recall the fleet readied themselves for a Black Flag restart, which was far from conservative, many of the massive starting line up hitting the line on the B of the Bang! A kaleidoscope of spinnakers made for an amazing sight as the fleet entered Cork Harbour for close quarters racing past Spike Island and Cobh. Race Officers Jack Roy and Rob Lamb were roundly applauded at the daily prize giving for their teams efforts in producing a great day of racing.

The Beaufort Cup switched to inshore mode for the Harbour Race. Barry Byrne’s Irish Defence …

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Breeze Arrives at Volvo Cork Week for Incredible Fastnet Race

By on July 17, 2018 in Latest
Ronan & John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash (Royal Cork YC). Photograph: David Branigan/Oceansport

The wind gods smiled on the second day of Volvo Cork Week with a 15 knot southwesterly piping up, giving the international fleet a day to remember in the Celtic Sea. Barry Byrne’s Irish Defence Forces team came from behind to win the double points scoring Fastnet Race for the Beaufort Cup. During the 130 mile race, four teams swapped the lead in an intense battle around the Fastnet Lighthouse. Meanwhile 100 teams were competing inshore for the second day of Volvo Cork Week. A long coastal race, in good breeze along the wild South Coast of Ireland produced fantastic racing.

The Irish Defence Force team, racing J/109 Joker 2, skippered by Barry Byrne, opened their defence of the Beaufort …

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