I see the site is up, like the videos....
http://www.corkweek.ie/

nice to see that sportsboat entry fees are now down to euro 380 with launching and lifting just euro 30. last time it was quite a bit dearer for boats like the 1720.

Mark
It is nice to see RCYC making a gesture to reduce entrance fees but to be honest they are still ridiculously high. The discounted total fee of Euro410 for sports boats is still Euro230 more expensive than Dun Laoghaire Regatta, that’s a whopping premium for an extra day’s racing!
If someone wanted to white-sail 50 footer it would cost Euro1,100, Euro785 more than the DLR discounted fee of €315, that’s 2.5 times greater!! How can that be justified?
The differential gets worse as you look at bigger boats!!
Cork Week is very expensive, accommodation, food; drink and parking are nightmarishly priced. The logistics for launching and retrieving sports boats are immensely inconvenient.
Crosshaven enjoys probably the best sailing waters for racing in Ireland allied to outstanding race management and on the water logistics. However I find it hard to understand why RCYC feels the need to charge the level of fees it does when Dublin Bay Sailing Club manages to provide 6 months of racing, 4 days a week for over 300 boats, for less than the entrance fee budget for 5 days sailing in Cork.
I fear that one of the best regattas in the world is going to suffer hugely in 2010 because RCYC have not reacted sufficiently to the current environment. A bit like the Irish Government’s present situation, the problem was brewing for some time but other circumstances have highlighted the hidden issues.
Sailors generally have pretty basic requirements and can live without all the expensive razzmatazz provided they are getting good sailing and reasonably priced drink, food and accommodation.
Charging for parking, Boat launching etc compounds the negative issues.
Get back to basics and concentrate on the sailing and be businesslike but stop trying to run a business.
As you have gathered, along with many people who have been regular participants over the years with whom I have spoken about this in recent days, it is very unlikely I will be making the trek south next year.

And with exchange rates as they are our island neighbours will not be changing their funny money to make the trip over.

Perhaps, for the more curmudgeonly amongst us, those who like their beer in a glass not a plastic beaker, there could be an entry fee just for the sailing and not for all the shenanigans on land.

Gordon

Done Cork week once and unfortunately won't be able to make next year either but I have to say the year I did it it was fantastic. Good racing and good craic ashore.

But having entry fees like these won't help developing the sport nor encouraging skippers from abroad and it's even worse in the economic climate we're in.

Because it's not just the entry fee but the overall cost of racing at the event : trip up and down, accomodation, entry fee, food and drinks, etc... it all adds up...

But that's only my view

HI Guys, I know it is not cheap but it is less expensive than previous years and as I understand it they are making efforts that other costs such as accomodation are controlled as much as they can.
It is not exactly comparing like with like to Compare Cork week to DL regatta . 80% of the boats at DL Regatta are from the Dublin area whereas 80% of those comepting at Cork are from outside cork. As a result there are more people in the evenings around and additional facilities are required. There are also bigger boats at Cork week than DL regatta.
The main issue with Cork is that a Regatta village has to be built to cope with the numbers and that is expensive. In Dun laoghaire they have the 4 clubs but that then splits everyone up. If Cork Week had half the boats they could likely do the event at a fraction of the additional cost as their existing facilities would go a long way towards their needs. Put up a few big tents and off you go. I dont think that is what most people want though and that is why it is such a popular event for those travelling from the Uk and elsewhere.
Just a few thoughts. I am not on the Cork week committee or anything .