The Fastnet International Schools Regatta is a Regatta

Regatta

A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...

 that takes place each year in the County Cork

County Cork

County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...

 village of Schull

Schull

Schull or Skull is a town in County Cork, Ireland. The name derives from a medieval monastic school of which no trace remains. Located on the southwest coast, in West Cork, the village is situated in a scenic and remote location, dominated by Mount Gabriel . It has a sheltered harbour, used for...

, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

.

The regatta consists of three different fleets which experience and ability separate the Bronze and Silver Fleets from the Gold Fleet. Novice sailors enter in the Bronze, and experienced race sailors in the Gold Fleet. On-the-water coaching is encouraged for the Bronze Fleet competitors.

Each sailor racing represents his or her school (All sailors are under 19 years of age).

The Regatta has been ongoing for 19 years (as of 2006) and is held in Schull harbour. It is hosted by The Fastnet Marine & Outdoor Education Centre. The name Fastnet comes from the most southernly point of Irish territory, Fastnet

Fastnet

Fastnet can refer to:*Fastnet International Schools Regatta, a regatta held in County Cork, Ireland*Fastnet Line, a passenger ferry service operating between Wales and Ireland...

, and previous years has seen the Gold fleet race in the vicinity of the Fastnet Rock

Fastnet Rock

Fastnet Rock is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean and the most southerly point of Ireland. It lies southwest of Cape Clear Island and from County Cork on the Irish mainland...

 (The official land territory end of Ireland).

There are different classes of boats that race each year, each with their own handicap that is calculated by a computer in the Marine OEC (Outdoor Education Centre).

Boat classes

There are several classes of boat in the regatta each with their own handicap according to their ability. The handicap is calculated by a computer on site. During the races (usually 2–3 for Bronze/Silver and 3–5 for Gold - but there is no set amount) the Bronze and Silver fleets race together on the same course, but the Gold fleet will race on its own.

• Topper (dinghy)
  Topper (dinghy)
  The Topper is an 11 foot sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor. The Topper is a one-design boat sailed mostly in the British Isles. It was recognised as an International class by the International Sailing Federation...
  
  
  • Topper Topaz
• Laser (dinghy)
  Laser (dinghy)
  The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
  
  
  • Laser Radial
    Laser Radial
    The Laser Radial is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy, originally built by Laser Performance. It is a singlehanded boat, meaning that it is sailed by one person. The Laser Radial is a variant of the Laser Standard, with shorter mast and reduced sail area, allowing light sailors to...
    
    
  • Laser 4.7
    Laser 4.7
    The Laser 4.7 is a one-design dinghy class in the Laser series and is a one-design class of sailboat. All Lasers are built to the same specifications. The Laser is 4.06 m long, with a waterline length of 3.81 m . The hull weight is 59 kg...
    
    
  • Laser 2 (dinghy)
    Laser 2 (dinghy)
    The Laser 2 is a double-handed version of the popular Laser one-design class of small sailing dinghy. It is a quick, planing dinghy that differs from the laser in that it has a jib, symmetric spinnaker and a...
    
    
• 420 (dinghy)
  420 (dinghy)
  The International 420 Class Dinghy is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting. The name describes the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with internal buoyancy tanks. The 420 is equipped with spinnaker and optional...
  
  
• Optimist (dinghy)
  Optimist (dinghy)
  The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of fiber reinforced plastic, although wooden boats are still built....
  
  
• Mirror (dinghy)
  Mirror (dinghy)
  The Mirror is a very popular sailing dinghy, with more than 70,000 built.The Mirror was named after the Daily Mirror, a UK newspaper with a largely working class distribution. The Mirror was from the start promoted as an affordable boat, and as a design it has done a great deal to make dinghy...