Cork Week Underway After Crosshaven Welcome
by Louay Habib 6 Jul 11:17 BST
6-10 July 2026
Cork Week 2026 © Rick Tomlinson / RCYC
The Royal Cork Yacht Club welcomed sailors, families and supporters to Cork Week 2026, with the Opening Ceremony setting the tone for a regatta famous for its fantastic atmosphere both ashore and afloat.
Taking place from Monday 6 July to Friday 10 July, Cork Week brings together competitive racing, harbour tradition and the unmistakable Royal Cork YC welcome. First held in 1978, the regatta has become a highlight of the international sailing calendar, combining serious competition on the water with a lively social programme and a unique sense of celebration in Crosshaven.
The Irish Defence Forces Band opened proceedings in Crosshaven, striking a powerful ceremonial note before Royal Cork Yacht Club General Manager Gavin Deane welcomed sailors, families and supporters to Cork Week 2026.
Councillor Bernard Moynihan, Mayor of the County of Cork, gave the strongest civic message, calling Cork Week "a great event for Crosshaven, for Irish tourism" and a regatta that brings people from "across Europe and across the globe" to Cork Harbour. He underlined its economic and community value, describing it as a gathering people return to year after year, often organising their holidays around the event. The Mayor also praised the beauty of Crosshaven and paid tribute to the volunteers and local community whose work helps present the village at its best.
Royal Cork Admiral Denis Byrne described the evening as the opening of a "globally renowned" regatta with an "enduring appeal" that has carried Cork Week through recessions, pandemics and decades of change since its first edition in 1978. He welcomed boats from every province in Ireland and sailors from across the world, including Scotland, Wales, England, France, Hong Kong, California and Australia, promising all visitors the "legendary welcome" for which the Royal Cork Yacht Club is renowned. Setting out the spirit of the week, Admiral Byrne said Cork Week is "not just about racing" but about "creating enduring bonds and friendships", with the ICRA National Championships, Etchells European Championship and Beaufort Cup all adding strength and variety to the 2026 edition.
The presence of Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin added a strong national dimension to the Opening Ceremony, recognising Cork Week as a flagship event for Cork, Irish sailing and international visitors.
The first racing gun is scheduled for today, Monday 6 July, launching five days of action across Cork Harbour, coastal courses and windward-leeward race areas. With good breeze forecast, tactical racing and the spectacular natural amphitheatre of Cork Harbour, competitors can expect a varied and demanding week. Crews ashore can look forward to the camaraderie, hospitality and entertainment that have made Cork Week such a special event.
A strong and diverse fleet has gathered at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest yacht club in the world, founded in 1720. Boats range from high-performance racing machines to Sportsboats, Quarter Tonners, cruiser-racers, non-spinnaker entries and Classics, reflecting the broad appeal that has always made Cork Week extraordinary.
Keelboat racing will be scored under IRC and ECHO, while Cork Week 2026 also incorporates the ICRA National Championships. The International Etchells Class adds another prestigious element to the programme, with the European Championship taking place as part of the regatta.
The Beaufort Cup once again brings a distinctive inter-services dimension to the week, combining offshore and inshore racing for teams representing military and emergency services. For crews looking for a more relaxed introduction to regatta sailing, the Non-Spinnaker and Coastal Fleet options offer an ideal way to enjoy the racing, the harbour and the Cork Week experience.
With the Opening Ceremony now complete, attention turns to the racecourse and to a week that promises as much energy ashore as it does on the water. International crews, Irish hospitality and the Royal Cork Yacht Club are ready to deliver a memorable Cork Week 2026, both afloat and ashore.
More details at www.corkweek.ie