27th March 2020

A letter from Colin R. Morehead, Chairman, Cork300, Admiral, Royal Cork Yacht Club

Cork 300 Update

(June & July Events Only)

Firstly, we hope that you and your family are all well whilst we collectively face the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Over the last number of weeks, we have been carefully monitoring the developing global situation. We have also taken continued guidance from Government officials, the Health Service Executive, Irish Sailing and other experts as to the impact it will have on our overall Cork300 schedule of events.

To enable us provide clarity to all visitors and participants to our various Tricentenary celebrations and to protect their health and that of the volunteers and community at large, the Club, with the full support of its partners, have made the following difficult decisions regarding Cork300 events scheduled for June and July only.

June

• AIB 29er Irish National Championships – Cancelled

July

• Volvo Cork Week 2020 (in partnership with Johnson & Perrott) – Cancelled
• The Great Gathering - Cancelled
• The Beaufort Cup 2020 – Cancelled
• Classic Boat Festival – Cancelled
• Wild Atlantic Way Cruise in Company – Cancelled
• Royal Cork Yacht Club Fleet Review – Postponed
• International Powerboat Festival – Cancelled

These cancellations have an additional impact on the following events which were due to take place as part of or in addition to Volvo Cork Week.

• The ICRA Nationals 2020
• The 1720 Europeans 2020
• The IRC Europeans 2020
• The Morgan Cup
• The Kingstown to Queenstown

Dates for diary - Cork Week 2022
11th- 15th July2022. We really
hope to see you all there.

The relevant Class Associations or Organising Authorities will communicate separately in this regard. Visitors and competitors who have entered any of these events via the Cork300 / Volvo Cork Week website and paid the required entry fee will be refunded in full. Where entries have been made through the respective organising authority please contact them for refund details. We ask that you liaise directly with your accommodation provider in relation to accommodation cancellations and refunds.
At this moment in time, we continue to plan for all of the Cork300 events scheduled from 1st

August onwards. This announcement of course comes with deep regret and will have an impact on the sailing community and the local economy. However, in the three hundred years since the foundation of the Royal Cork Yacht Club we have faced many adversities and we are confident that working together we will see our clubs, our countries and global sailing community come through these difficult and challenging times. Indeed, we look forward to welcoming as many sailors as possible back to Cork Week in 2022.

I would like to thank our partners for their unwavering support, especially in recent weeks – AIB (premier partner), Volvo Car Ireland (Cork Week title sponsor and Cork300 partner) our Foundation Partners the Port of Cork and Cork County Council and other Cork300 partners, Cork City Council, Heineken, Musto, Dubarry, and Doyle Shipping Group. To the voluntary committee and staff at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, along with supporting organisations and clubs such as ICRA, RORC, Yacht Club de Monaco, Royal Yacht Squadron, Irish Cruising Club, Cruising Club of America and Royal Cruising Club who have worked tirelessly over the past months and years to plan for the July events – I offer my sincere thanks.

In conclusion, a very big thank you to you the sailing community, our family and friends worldwide, for your support as we navigate these uncharted waters together; we truly value your friendship more than ever.

Finally, can I say that words cannot describe how thankful we are for the hard work of everyone who is making significant sacrifices to keep us safe in these unprecedented times.

On behalf of the Flag Officers and Members of the Royal Cork Yacht Club may I wish you and all of your families the best in these unprecedented times and look forward to welcoming you to our Club soon.

Yours sincerely,

Colin R. Morehead
Chairman, Cork300
Admiral, Royal Cork Yacht Club