Cork Week gets a backer

Irish Government step in to promote yachting on the emerald isle

Fáilte Ireland, a major sponsor of Cork Week since 2000 through the Government’s International Sports Tourism Initiative, will this year invest €120,000 in supporting Cork Week 2004. The regatta plays a central role in Fáilte Ireland’s strategy of internationally promoting Ireland’s distinctive sailing profile. It has contributed greatly to the development of the Ireland’s reputation as of one Europe’s premier and visitor friendly sailing holiday destinations.

Confirming Fáilte Ireland’s continued support for Cork Week in 2004, John O’Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said “Cork Week is the jewel in Ireland’s international sailing calendar perfectly blending sport, entertainment and Irish hospitality into a unique and convivial week of activities. It will once more place Ireland in the world’s shop window in terms of sailing destinations. Cork Week is one of three sailing and wave sailing events that Fáilte Ireland will support in 2004, helping attract overseas visitors to Ireland to enjoy our unique sailing product.”

The Cork Week Event Office team have already processed almost four hundred entries for the biennial event, which takes place this year on 10-16 July. There are many answers to the question of why Cork Week has been so successful since 1986 when it pioneered the idea of Corinthian Sailing and why competitors keep coming back year after year.

The average owner wants to compete against his friends and to sail his own boat, with a reasonable chance of success, unaided by highly paid sailing professionals. The introduction of the Crew Eligibility Rule at Cork was the principal reason for the establishment of one of the most enjoyable and successful regattas in the world. Innovative race management and course design added to the attractions and splitting the entrants into a selection of different Fleets was hugely successful. Competitors were thrilled to have five days of good racing on a variety of courses that were not available elsewhere in the World. With big Class numbers and tight handicap bands the standard of racing was extremely high and the competition fierce.

The Management Team take great pride in the fact that they, court the opinions of the Competitors and really listen to their suggestions and concerns. Additionally activities ashore are further boosted by various competitions i.e.; tug of war, best dressed crew etc. These enable all the crews to interact socially in a fun way which has become a main ingredient in the success for Cork Week.