Summer at Schull. Picture Robert Bateman
Schull Harbour sailing Club have announced a major programme change to the 2012 Calves Week festival of sailing.
Responding to representations from competitors for a shorter and less expensive alternative to the traditional event, spanning a two week period, the Schull based sailing programme will consist of a four day Calves Week Championships, running from Tuesday 7th to Friday 10th of August, with the usual mix of courses taking in the Fastnet Rock and many of Carberys Hundred Isles, together with laid courses in Roaringwater bay.
Daily prizegiving will take place on Main Street Schull where a nautical festival theme for the village is being organised by local businesses.
The traditional regattas on August Monday in Baltimore and the following Saturday and Sunday in Crookhaven and Schull will continue as stand alone events with their own courses and prizegivings being organised by the local sailing clubs.
The week will once again commence with the overnight Crosshaven/Schull race starting the activities on Friday August 3rd, while on Saturday morning August 4th the White Sail fleet will have an early start from Kinsale. Both of these races will form part of the new Scora Offshore Championships, together with the midweek Fastnet Race out of Schull.
I think its a good idea to shorten the event ,starting on a Tuesday will also give competitors time to choose a weather window if needed to travel west . Having raced in several Calves weeks in Challenger I can honestly say it is one of the most enjoyable events I have raced in ( other than Cork week of Course) , I hope that the civilized late first gun time continues .
Its hard to beat racing around the Fastnet and every sailor likes to boast (I’ve been round the Fastnet)