Large J Contingent Sailing(Cork, Ireland)- From 7th to 13th of July, a highly competitive fleet of eleven J/Teams are participating in this year's biennial CORK Week sailed in the large bay off Cork, Ireland. The regatta, which is hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, County Cork, is a Grand Prix sailing event which is renowned, world wide, for exciting and challenging racing. Boats from all over the world participate and come from as far away as South Africa and Hong Kong. This year's fleet is significantly reduced from past years, with just 109 boats sailing, a far cry from the 400+ seen in some past events.
In addition to top-class racing, the fabled on-shore tented village lets all crews interact socially in a fun way, and it has become one of the main ingredients in the success for Cork Week. Bodega-by-the-Sea features some of the country’s best live bands and DJs, combined with the unique atmosphere of Cork’s Club Bodega in a setting like no other.
Cork Week 2012 Event Chair Pat Lyons said, “Cork Week comes along every two years and offers an occasion to celebrate all that is best about how we can enjoy the wonderful facilities that our environment has placed on our doorstep. In Cork Harbour, we have a world class maritime playground and by hosting a sailing event of international quality, the Royal Cork provides an opportunity for both sailors and spectators alike to meet old friends, engage in a top class sailing competition, and enjoy the waterside hospitality and entertainment for which Crosshaven is renowned.”Featured in this year's event will be another strong turn-out of J/109s sailing in what amounts to be the Irish J/109 Championship. Returning from the 2010 J/109 Europeans Championships will be third-place finisher Ian Nagle & Paul O'Malley on their champion JELLY BABY from the host Royal Cork YC. In the IRC classes will be the new Irish J/111 WOW sailed by George Sisk from Royal Irish YC, the J/122 MINT JULEP skippered by David Cule, the J/92 VAGABOND sailed by Simon Fox Davies & Giles Stanely from Dovey YC and two J/24s, Aidan MacSweeney's MAXIMUS and David Lane's An t'Oileanach both from Royal Cork YC. Sailing photo credits- Ingrid Abery.com For more CORK WEEK sailing information
