The ‘Gang of Four’ (John McWilliam, Grattan Roberts, Joxer O’Brien and Donal McClement) came up with the idea that we should run an Event where the ‘Rock Stars’ were not welcome and after several months of deliberation they wrote a Rule that was to become the single most important reason as to why Cork Week became the success that it is today.

“Anyone whose financial well being was directly affected by Race Results and whose presence on a boat significantly improved the performance of that boat was not eligible to race at Cork Week.”

The Volvo Cork Week – The first year that a dedicated Classic Yacht Regatta will be hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, and it will be a fantastic viewing spectacle for shoreline onlookers over the week (Monday-Friday). Recommended viewing points include Camden and the Church Bay in Crosshaven, the new Haulbowline Island Amenity Park, Ringaskddy as well as the promenade in Cobh. Classic French boats will also arrive as part of the Bastille Day celebrations.

Hundreds of boats and thousands of yachtsmen and women from around the globe are expected in Cork to enjoy both the on and off the water events, as they plan to celebrate the tricentenary of the oldest yacht club in the world, after events were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Yves Lambert from the Atlantic Yacht Club in France, who will be participating in his yacht Persephone, a 37 foot Tina designed by Dick Carter, 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 offer. Sadly, Covid put stop to our plans in 2020 and indeed the Royal Cork’s Tricentenary celebrations. When we were advised of a classic class at Volco Cork Week in 2022, we had to come. A 302-year-old birthday does not happen so often I guess, so if we were looking for a good reason to come, it arrived just in time!”