Calves Week Regatta West Cork

 Calves Week is the one of the best “fun” regattas in Europe and runs in early August in West Cork.  Our main base for our Beneteau 36.7 “Holy Grounder” is Baltimore with Schull being our secondary base. Courses begin and finish at Baltimore.

Learn the skills of crewing and racing, sail on a comfortable cruiser racer, navigate intricate waters, enjoy wonderful scenery, compete fevereshly and enjoy mighty craic with the skipper who has sailed these waters for over 40 years. Eddie English (Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner) will be the skipper of “Holy Grounder” for the week. Eddie knows every inch of the place from Roaringwater Bay to the Fastnet Rock – he knows the best anchorages, bolt holes, restaurants and pubs and will ensure your learning experience is filled with fun!

The fun begins ahead of Calves Week as SailCork is running a special cruise to West Cork aboard "Holy Grounder". The cruise begins at East Ferry on Sun evening 24th Jul and finishes in Baltimore on Fri 29. The coastline from Cork west to Baltimore is very special with plenty of superb anchorages and ports to visit. Among the possible stops for lunch or overnight anchorages are: Oysterhaven, Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Glandore/Union Hall, Castletownsend, Barlogue, Cape Clear Island! It is a fantastic trip on an amazing coastline. This is a great week to learn – go for your Competent Crew of your Day Skipper and enjoy every minute of it!!

Cork – Baltimore Cruise – 5 days (Sun 24 – Fri 29) €750

SailCork is offering a number of different course options for Calves Week aboard "Holy Grounder" – Day Sailing, Weekends or Week or combination

Bank Holiday Weekend – 4 days (Fri 29 to Mon 1) €450

Calves Week -Weekdays – 5 days (Mon 1 – Fri 5) € 750

Bank Holiday Weekend + Calves Week -Weekdays – 7 days (Fri 29 to Fri 5) €1200 Special! €990

Day Sailing – (Selected Days) – sail with us 09:30 to 17:30 €135

 

CALVES WEEK WITH SAILCORK –  PROGRAMME 2011

Friday 29 July:	Crew joins at Baltimore (evening) Welcome aboard and briefing and enjoy craic ashore!
Saturday 30:	Sail from Baltimore to Cape and Schull Enjoy learning the ropes and navigating and visit the mystical isle of Cape Clear for lunch. Sail amid Carbery’s 100 isles before hitting the big party in Schull!
Sunday July 31:	Schull to Baltimore Race The first race! Navigation and race briefing before the exciting start- sail between Long Island and Castle Island, pass the Carthy Islands and navigate the tricky waters of the Gasconane Sound between Cape and Sherkin Islands before the craic ashore in Baltimore!
Monday August 1:	Baltimore Regatta Embrace the history of the HQ of the O’ Driscoll clan – invaded by Algerian pirates in 1641. The sea is in the veins of this village. Enjoy the cut and thrust of a typical West Cork Regatta with expert tuiton followed by apres sailing in the Square in Baltimore
Tuesday August 2:	Offshore Trophy Race Sail from Baltimore to Schull and race amid Carbery’s 100 Isles learning navigation, sail set and the skills of racing
Wednesday August 3:	Cape Clear Island Fun Regatta Ireland’s best loved fun Regatta on our most southerly island. Fun race from Schull and fun and games in Cape!
Thursday August 4:	Coastal Trophy race Race from Schull and have an island visit. A day of fun learning afloat followed by great creaic ashore!
Friday August 5:	Schull via Fastnet Rock to Baltimore Sail around the world’s most famous lighthouse – Europe’s last outpost- the famous Fastnet Rock. Return to Baltimore for end of cruise.
Have a look at "Holy Grounder" sailing in West Cork

 

 

HISTORY OF CALVES WEEK

From its inception in 1884 Schull regatta was held in the middle of August, the big attraction being the fierce rivalry and epic battles between the local fleet of fishing yawls and the visitors from Baltimore, Sherkin, Cape Clear and Crookhaven.

In 1926 the local paper reported “on unholy war as competing sail fishing boat crews battered each other with stones trying to steal advantage” In 1935 there was only one yacht in Schull, the “Theo” owned by Sam Whitley of Main Street. He was regularly joined on regatta day by a similar craft sailed from Castletownbere by Church of Ireland Rector “The Rev Pearson”.  “The Bat” was sailed from Castletownsend and the “Baroness” came from Baltimore.  These were later joined by Billy Cadogan in the “Thelma”. These five boats were the foundation of the recreational sailing fleet of today, racing the traditional harbour regatta course around the Amelia and Cush buoys. In 1946 when the war was over Tom Crosbie brought his yacht “The Echo” to Schull for the summer months. He was joined in the fifties by the Pope brothers Teddy and Billy in their boats “Susette” and “Penjuda”, with Ernie Evens in the “Monk” and Derek Harte in “Spalpeen” arriving shortly afterwards. The 1955 regatta day results state that the ocean yacht race was won by Tom Crosbie sailing the “IF” with the “Gannet” sailed by Summerville Large, in second place. This was the beginning of the involvement of Cork people in the sailing scene in Schull.

In the 1960’s to facilitate the increasing number of yachts heading west for the summer holidays, the local regatta committee, operating from the snug in Tommy Newman’s bar decided to facilitate a new style of regatta and the date was moved to early August. In 1984 to celebrate the 100-year anniversary, a series of additional races, including the overnight “Skelligs” race were added to the programme. A special race for windsurfers, around the Fastnet Rock and back, was run by Eddie English from SailCork in Cobh.  A fleet of 102 boats raced on that regatta day, and so was born Calves Week. The name comes from the three Calf Islands – and it is coincidental that Cowes Week runs in England at the same time!

Additional racing days, including Crookhaven Regatta and the highly successful Cape Clear fun regatta, have been added over the years, culminating in the current, 10 days of quality fun racing on the water, and a fantastic party atmosphere ashore. It is a very special week – a week not to be missed! Be sure to be there this year with Eddie English and the team from SailCork aboard "Holy Grounder". Places strictly limited! Call Jo on 021 4811237 to book your place now!