Classic class at Volvo Cork Week
Following on from the announcement at the Paris Boat Show last December that a dedicated Classics Class will be run at Volvo Cork Week 2022, the Royal Cork Yacht Club is seeing a steady flow of entries for the regatta, which will be held inside and outside Cork harbour from 11-15 July.
Racing will be conducted using the Jauge Classique Handicap (JCH) system “to allow classic boats with very dierent characteristics to race together as well as other handicapping systems as appropriate”.
In addition, Pascal Stefani, President of the Atlantic Yacht Club (AYC), with the support of the Yacht Club de France, announced that they are arranging ‘Goto Cork 2022’ which will entail up to 20 classic yachts heading to Cork via the Scillies together. A delegation from
AYC has since been to Cork to prepare for their visit in July.
AYC member Yves Lambert will be participating in his yacht Persephone, a 37ft Tina designed by Dick Carter, and said: “In 2020 we had plans to attend and help the Royal Cork Yacht Club celebrate its Tricentenary, enjoy some Irish beers with our Irish friends and everything else Cork has to oer. Sadly, Covid put stop to our plans, but when we were advised of a classic class at Cork Week in 2022, we had to come. A 302-year-old birthday does not happen so often!”
Another confirmed entrant is Jamie Matheson, owner of the Lallows-built S&S 41, Opposition. She will be arriving by road and supported by mother ship Rhum Jungle, a Nelson 75. Jamie said: “We were very sad that after all their hard work and preparation, the Royal Cork had to cancel their 300th celebrations in 2020 – though I applaud their decision to cancel early. We are now delighted to have the chance to come over albeit a little late to help the Royal Cork celebrates its momentous anniversary. It will be great sailing again in the most beautiful part of the world.”
Royal Cork member Terry Birles’ Erin (pictured top left), a 1919 Fred Shepherd design, is also entered. Erin will arrive in Cork from the south of France in May to allow her crew to get accustomed to sailing the boat in Cork Harbour. She will be accompanied by her mother ship, Shamrock, a sea-going luxury commuter yacht built in 1957 in Seattle. Shamrock will also serve as Committee Boat for the classic fleet throughout Volvo Cork Week.
Terry is keen to revive classic sailing in Cork and said: “I wouldn’t have forgiven myself for not entering as it is such a delight to see classic yacht racing returning to Cork Harbour. Those beautiful ladies can again grace Cork waters with their alluring presence, crispy white sails and varnished teak decks.
“I must commend the Royal Cork in having a dedicated Classic Class for the first time in the biennial regatta’s history. It is a relief to be able to sail gloriously into post-Covid times in the company of other classic yachtsmen, especially as the 2020 plans were cancelled despite the tremendous eorts put by former Admiral Colin Morehead and his team as the pandemic unfolded. I am therefore very much looking forward to taking part.”
Elsie, owned by Patrick Dorgan, will also feature on the start line of the classics class in July. A William Fife-designed Cork Harbour One Design, built in 1896 at the Gridiron Works in Carrigaloe in Cork Harbour, she will also be joined by at least one, Jap, if not two more of these Fife classics in July. Jap (top right) was racing in the Med last season, fourth at Cannes Regates Royales and winning her class at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez last September.
Volvo Cork Week has always been regarded as a ‘must-do’ regatta for modern yacht racers, due to its reputation for exhilarating racing in fair waters, as well as its renowned social scene ashore.
Mike Rider, who is Chair for the Classics Fleet at Volvo Cork Week and Rear Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, said: “The worldrenowned biennial regatta, first held in 1978, is expected to attract a bumper fleet of entries and as always, the atmosphere in Crosshaven, home of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, will be second to none both during and ahead of Volvo Cork Week 2022. The addition of a dedicated Classics Class is proving to be very popular and I look forward to welcoming as many as possible to Crosshaven in July.”
Online entry to Volvo Cork Week 2022 is open at corkweek.ie.