Begging bowl

Sponsor needed for Cork Week 2004

The opportunity to sponsor the Royal Cork Yacht Club’s biennial sailing event, Cork Week, has become available following the decision of Ford Ireland to reconsider its position as title sponsor this week. Ford Ireland has reluctantly taken this step due to a refocusing of marketing activities on the home market, leaving a new sponsor with the wonderful opportunity to drive the prestigious event forward internationally. The Royal Cork Yacht Club has confirmed its intention to begin the process of establishing a new relationship immediately, well ahead of the next event scheduled for July 2004.

Run every even year, next year’s event is scheduled to run from the 11th to the 16th July and, once again, is already set to break records and maintain its undisputed position as the world’s no.1 regatta.

Plans for 2004 are once again well advanced with many classes seeking to hold their European and Class championships at the event and for the first time a fleet of the new Maxi Z 86 Class, led by Roy Disney, are planning to come.

"Since 1990 we have built a strong event that reflects the efforts of both our volunteer organisation and our title sponsor," said David O’Brien, Admiral of the RCYC. "The essence of any such relationship is co-operation, and the success of this partnership is proven by the demand for entries and world-wide recognition of Cork as a destination.

"The thanks of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and sailors far and wide goes to Eddie Murphy and his team at Ford Ireland for their magnificent support of the event since 1990. Our priority now is to follow up on several genuine approaches for the 2004 event."

Since its inception, Cork Week has grown in numbers from just a few hundred boats to close to 700 with almost 70,000 people attending the event over the seven days. Entries are received from sailors around the world and the event has become the corner-stone of Bord Failte’s Marine Tourism strategy.

Media coverage and television exposure in particular to over 400 million households in the UK, Europe, USA, Australia & Asia, along with the large crowds that swelled the Crosshaven venue, provide the principal benefit to the title sponsor while sub-sponsors also take advantage of the event’s profile. The national and local economies receive significant benefits from the event estimated at €10m in 2002 .

James Mc Grath, Chairman, Cork Week 2004, confirmed that a sponsorship team was now in discussions with a number of companies interested in taking over title Sponsorship.

Cork Week 2004 takes place from the 11th of July to the 16th of July 2004.

Enquiries can be directed to: James McGrath, Chairman Cork Week Regatta, at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, Co Cork. Tel: 00 353 21 4831179 or email: april@royalcork.com.