29th Cork Dry Gin Calves Week Opening Party

The Fastnet Marine Outdoor Education Center saw an unprecedented turnout on Monday evening for the opening party of the 2013 Cork Dry Gin Calves Week. Commodore of Schull Harbour Sailing Club, Frank Murphy launched the festival of sailing, thanking the entire Community of Schull for their amazing support, "We are really delighted with the turnout this evening and look forward to a great week's sailing."

The first race kicks off on Tuesday at 12.25pm when Schull Harbour will be a spectacular sight not to be missed, filled with 60 yachts at full sail. Racing will continue each day Tuesday to Friday with the Round the Fastnet Race starting on Thursday at 11.55am. Prize giving and live entertainment will take over the town each evening from 6pm until late.

Named with a tongue in cheek reference to the famous Cowes Week, this event is not to be missed for lovers of sailing and for those with a passing interest in boats. The regatta has been an annual event since 1884, the big attraction at the time being the fierce rivalry and epic battles between the local fleet of fishing yawls and the visitors from Baltimore, Sherkin, Cape Clear and Crookhaven.

Schull is in a very beautiful part of West Cork, a charming village popular with visitors at the best of times, but for this week it is thronged and the place is humming. There are cruiser and dinghy racing every day with a race around the Fastnet rock on Thursday the 8th.

With street entertainment and other events throughout the festival, Cork Dry Gin Calves Week is as legendary for its on shore partying as it is for the on the water racing.

Please check out www.shsc.ie for further information on registration and the week's events, or follow us on www.facebook.com/CDGCW.