Smooth organization enhances regatta

THE results operation at Ford Cork Week 2002 is a spectacular example of the strength of commitment to meeting the needs of competing boats and sailors and of the media in this premier sailing regatta.

For most racing days there are at least six fleets on the water, plus the special event for the Salcombe Yawls which is a new and welcome addition to this year’s programme. Most classes race twice each day and the results team must record, correlate and report to the results office on the various class outcomes as quickly as possible.

The two race officers on each course are supported by teams of recorders, four for each fleet, who bring their paperwork to the results recorder sailing on each committee boat. These are then transmitted to the results office on shore. Results are then inputted directly from the offshore transmissions as they are received.

Each boat’s handicap has already been entered into the results programme following registration, so that the next phase of calculation of corrected time placings then commences automatically. The team is backed up by the man who created the results software, Bob McPherson, who has been in Crosshaven since before the event began to supervise the operation.

The weather gods are still being unkind to the event with a lack of good sailing wind; in fact the scenes yesterday provided quite a viewing spectacle for those observing on the water.

Classes IRC 5, IRC 6 and the Hunter 707s sailed the Harbour Course yesterday and had a spinnaker start in very little wind, sailing to Ringabella Bay. A northerly breeze filled in and all three classes came together resulting in quite a lot of close action and many shouting matches between boats who were too close together, and boats pushing through on the inside who had no water rights. Again the breeze died and the fleets were strung out looking for wind. As they came towards the Ford Ka mark they all came together again with the exception of three boats who broke away in their own wind.

The rest of the fleet struggled towards Roches Point where the breeze suddenly filled in again and the boats were a kaleidoscope of colour as they made their way towards the harbour. the Local sailors using their knowledge of the harbour almost brushed the shore in their efforts to miss the strong tide.

They then regrouped as the breeze died once more and they sailed up to Cobh until they reached the Ford Focus Mark. The breeze suddenly filled in again and all the boats accelerated and a melee ensued as they tried to fight their way in the ensuing melee which resulted as they fought their way five to seven deep around the mark with spinnakers dropping, crews dropping and the air filled with plenty of salty dog expletives!