Over 100 yachts took to Cork Harbour yesterday in a huge race to mark the final day of one of the country’s top regattas.

A return to what many racing sailors of a certain generation may regard as the glory days of Cork Week is on the cards for the next seven days as the Royal Cork Yacht Club prepares to welcome visitors and friends from near and far.

FOR the third day in a row, the gods smiled on Crosshaven yesterday, confounding the weather watchers’ predictions of atrocious conditions and delivering what was, by consensus, the best day’s sailing so far of Cork Week.

DOMESTIC entries have held strong despite the economic downturn as Cork Week prepares to begin racing off Roche’s Point this morning. Irish boats account for more than half the official entry list in contrast to previous years when overseas boats would account for as much as 80% of the turnout.

CORK WEEK chairman Peter Deasy said he is pleased with the level of support for the bi-annual regatta and is also looking forward to welcoming more yachts and crew in July.

CORK Week, the sailing extravaganza, has sailed in, and swanned back out again, leaving an estimated €40 million boost to the local Crosshaven economy.

IT’S all hands on deck to ensure everything is shipshape for Ireland’s largest sailing regatta next week.

THIS year’s Cork Week Grand Prix regatta, the biggest sailing event in the world run by a single club, will once more attract yachts and sailors from all over the world.

THE people who run the RNLI roadshow in Crosshaven have a problem.