Always something going on.
I expected Cork to have an active club and was surprised just how active the Royal Cork YC is, with cruisers racing on a Wednesday and dinghies busy every day. There are no less three national champions based at the club. The Irish optimist junior champion, the Irish optimist senior champion and the British Senior champion! They are all swimming in a great pool of talent the club has nurtured. When I visited Kinsale YC and stayed at their excellent marina I was impressed by the hive of activity here too. On the Wednesday evening there were 17 yachts in three classes thrashing around the cans. Lasers were out in force demonstrating their youthful vigour. The Irish are great ones for their sports, such a small population produces great success with rugby, sailing and soccer that it hard to believe that they compete for the attentions of the sporting folks with the national sports of Hurly and Gaelic football.
While at Cork I got into conversation with one of the officers of the club and we discussed the recession and its impact on Cork week. At its zenith there were 700 boats at Cork which is second only to Cowes week for numbers. Alas, the recession has taken its toll and this year he had 300 entries but was still pleased that it was more than other famous regattas such as Antigua at 120. The principal income is from the tented village which is erected in the huge dinghy park. The population of Cork take the opportunity to party whether they sail or not and that tradition will help sustain the event in these poor economic times.
