Sailing the Irish Sea in Cork

A vast ye mayteys! Looking for a bit of adventure on your next trip to the Emerald Isle? The Cork Race Week is an annual sailing event that takes place in Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland. The event began in 1976 and is organized by the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) and features a series of races for offshore sailing yachts.

The event typically takes place in early July and attracts sailors from all over Ireland and the UK. The race week includes several races that take sailors on a challenging course along the rugged southern coast of Ireland, with stops in various ports and harbors along the way. The first Cork Week took place off Cork Harbour in 1978 and the sailing vessel “Pyewacket” owned and sailed by Roy Disney made the race in 1994.

The town of Crosshaven itself is quite charming and located on the southern coast of Ireland, approximately 20km southeast of Cork City. It is situated on the Owenabue River, which flows into Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

Crosshaven is a popular destination for sailors and water sports enthusiasts, thanks to its proximity to the water and its excellent facilities for boating and sailing. The town is home to several sailing clubs, including the Royal Cork Yacht Club, which is the oldest yacht club in the world, dating back to 1720. Local sites for tourists include the 16th century Camden Fort Meagher, the town and its surrounding area offer a range of walking trails, including the Crosshaven Loop Walk, which takes in the stunning coastal scenery and offers views of Cork Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Cork ISORA Race Week is known for its competitive racing and lively social scene. In addition to the on-water racing, there are a range of shore-side events and activities, including live music, barbecues, Pirate pub crawl in costumes and prize-giving ceremonies. If you’re in this strikingly beautiful coast of Cork for the June time-from this is a great event to watch from shore.

The sail race will feature a range of competitive racing for different classes of boats, as well as shore-side entertainment and social events. This includes boats of various sizes and designs, from modern racing yachts to classic boats. The event usually takes place in July and is held in Crosshaven, a picturesque town located on the southern coast of Ireland.

The sailors participating in Sail Week will need to register with the event organizers and ensure that their boat meets the eligibility criteria for their chosen class. They will also need to be prepared for challenging racing conditions, as the coastal waters off the southern coast of Ireland can be unpredictable and require a high level of skill and experience. This is why watching the sailboats by the sea side are sometimes the best views. See you at the next Sail Week!