The organisers of Ford Cork Week were last night battling with a major issue that could seriously jeopardise the reputation of their event. For the third successive day, no overall results standings have been calculated due to a breakdown in the custom-designed computer system. The situation causes more than simple annoyance as leading crews will now be at a disadvantage if they are unable to identify their primary rivals on the race course.
In a press briefing at Crosshaven last night, Clayton Love and Donal McClement, the chief organisers for the Royal Cork Yacht Club bravely admitted failure on this issue. "We do have a problem," stated Love. "We have struggled for two days to deliver a results service; we have failed to do this. It's a hands-up job. This element of the regatta is not working and we're busting our butts to deal with this."
More than 630 boats, the vast majority from overseas involving somewhere between 6,000 to 8,000 crew members, are spread across 19 classes most of which rely on handicap calculations by computer to deliver the final result for each race.
Other adjustments, such as penalties for rule infringements handed down by jury hearings ashore, must also be taken into account making manual calculations by crews highly unreliable.
The specific nature of the problem has been narrowed down to a fundamental error. Although the software is able to produce individual race result sheets, a final column for the overall standing of a competitor after each race was omitted from the programming at code stage. It is also understood that the first occasion the system was tested at a proper racing event was this week.
Reaction from the competitors has been relatively mute though concern is building that the organisers will be unable to retrieve the situation. However, steps are being taken to solve the problem including a determined commitment by McClement that he would personally calculate the overall standings by hand if necessary. However, late last night The Irish Times learned that more direct measures were being taken.
Love confirmed that there will be someone available throughout today to work on the situation. Love also estimated that the RCYC's investment in the results system was in the region of £25,000 though he would not be drawn as to whether any penalty for the failure would be sought.
Resolving the results situation is of major importance to the organisers in spite of the carnival atmosphere ashore where nightly crowds in excess of 10,000 people gather. The success of Ford Cork Week to date has been built on achieving an extremely high standard across every aspect of the event - race management afloat, including varied and innovative courses, quality services ashore - plus a good range of entertainment and social attractions.
The week-long event has been a core element for the development of sports leisure tourism and this regatta produces an estimated £6 million boost to the economy. While the organisers are at pains to point out the success of the event in virtually every other area, the necessity of achieving a consistent and professional operation is essential in maintaining its appeal to the high-profile big boat owners and professional crews.
