All hands on deck as Cork Week shapes up to be the best

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

An army of volunteers is busy with final preparations as Crosshaven gears up for ACCBank Cork Week, which will be officially launched on Sunday.

About 80,000 visitors are expected to attend what has become one of Europe’s premier regattas — worth an estimated €50 million to the local economy.

Over 430 boats crewed by almost 10,000 sailors from around the world will compete in dozens of races every day next week.

Event spokesperson, Jean Kearney, said it is shaping up to be the best event yet and she paid tribute to the people of Crosshaven.

An Excellent Choice catering company will have 15 chefs, 15 managers, 40 waiting staff and 120 bar staff on duty throughout the week. Annamarie Fegan said her firm, which has catered Cork Week since 1992, has been preparing for months. They will operate 11 bars on site and the Irish Grill bar.They will also cater for dozens of company barbecues in a 300-capacity marquee.

Several locals have moved out of their homes to rent to visiting crews, but the slump in the property market hasn’t hit rental prices. Brid Foley of Haven Properties, a Cork Week rental agent for 12 years, said they have about 60 homes on their books. “Prices for the week range from about €2,000 for a two-bed to about €8,000 for a top-of-the range property.”

As well as the racing, featuring multi-million euro ocean-going vessels — some which cost up to €20m a year to run — a tented village has been built in Crosshaven village. It will host a range of free top class shore-side entertainment free every day until 6pm.

Tickets are available for some of the evening gigs featuring Aslan, The Walls, Bagatelle and Paddy Casey.

Phil Coulter, accompanied by the Crosshaven lifeboat crew, will kick the festivities off tonight.

Fiona Buckley, general manager of Fáilte Ireland South West, said Cork Week plays a pivotal role in the region’s tourism.