One of our favorite pastimes in any waterfront town is to walk the local docks. On a sunny afternoon in Stavanger, Norway, we were checking out the moored boats and came across one flying both a US and an OCC flag. We of course stopped by to introduce ourselves, were invited onboard, and quickly made friends with Evans and Becky.
While talking about sailing plans, we mentioned that we were planning to spend some time in Ireland during the winter. As fate would have it, Evans and Becky spent one winter in Cork, Ireland, and the most cost-effective way for them to do it was to join the Royal Cork Yacht Club. With Evans’ introduction, we were able to secure a temporary spot at the guest dock.
The Royal Cork is reportedly the oldest yacht club in the world. Founded back in 1720 by a few enthusiasts of the new sport of recreational sailing, the club is based on Cork Harbour in the village of Crosshaven. With a proud racing heritage (past members include Sir Thomas Lipton, who has the dubious honor of losing five consecutive challenges for the America’s Cup), the club is still a hubbub of activity on weekends even in the winter – sailors of all ages take to the water in a variety of sailing vessels, large and small, and make their way around courses in the harbor.
While we were waiting for good weather for the overnight sail to the UK, our time in Crosshaven was fantastic on its own. We enjoyed walking the trails along the water and the hills behind town, we enjoyed pints of Murphy’s by the fire in the club’s bar (and in the other pubs in town), and we especially enjoyed being tied up to a dock in a place with such a rich nautical history.
