History of Calves Week
From its inception in 1884 Schull regatta was held in the middle of August, the big attraction being the fierce rivalry and epic battles between the local fleet of fishing yawls and the visitors from Baltimore, Sherkin, Cape Clear and Crookhaven.
In 1926 the local paper reported “on unholy war as competing sail fishing boat crews battered each other with stones trying to steal advantage”
In 1935 there was only one yacht in Schull, the “Theo” owned by Sam Whitley of Main Street. He was regularly joined on regatta day by a similar craft sailed from Castletownbere by Church of Ireland Rector “The Rev Pearson”. “The Bat” was sailed from Castletownsend and the “Baroness” came from Baltimore. These were later joined by Billy Cadogan in the “Thelma”.
These five boats were the foundation of the recreational sailing fleet of today, racing the traditional harbour regatta course around the Amelia and Cush buoys.
In 1946 when the war was over Tom Crosbie brought his yacht “The Echo” to Schull for the summer months. He was joined in the fifties by the Pope brothers Teddy and Billy in their boats “Susette” and “Penduda”, with Ernie Evens in the “Monk” and Derek Harte in “Spalpeen” arriving shortly afterwards.
The 1955 regatta day results state that the ocean yacht race was won by Tom Crosbie sailing the “IF” with the “Gannet” sailed by Summerville Large, in second place.
This was the beginning of the involvement of Cork people in the sailing scene in Schull.
In the 1960’s to facilitate the increasing number of yachts heading west for the summer holidays, the local regatta committee, operating from the snug in Tommy Newman’s bar decided to facilitate a new style of regatta and the date was moved to early August.
In 1984 to celebrate the 100-year anniversary, a series of additional races, including the overnight “Skelligs” race were added to the programme. A fleet of 102 boats raced on that regatta day, and so was born Calves Week.
Additional racing days, including moving Crookhaven regatta from its traditional date of the 15th August, and the highly successful Cape Clear fun regatta, have been added over the years, culminating in the current, 10 days of quality racing on the water, and a fantastic party atmosphere ashore.