A ban on a 280-year tradition of sailing in Cork Harbour may follow a Port of Cork warning to yachtsmen who crossed the bow of a container ship during a Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) race to Cobh last month.
The warning follows incidents where small racing craft belonging to harbour clubs have interfered with the manoeuvring of large ships in restricted waters.
The "close quarter" incident was recorded on the port's traffic system.
It showed two yachts crossing the bow of the container ship MVBG Rotterdam on June 12th, allegedly in a race to the harbour's No 13 navigation buoy despite whistle warnings from the ship.
The RCYC, the oldest yacht club in the world, have been reprimanded by the port authority over this and a similar "serious' incident", the second in six months, which club officers now fear will mean a restriction of its traditional racing grounds.
In what is possibly a further souring of relations between the authority and the club, the incidents follow a poorly-attended safety presentation evening in the RCYC club house by the harbour master Capt Pat Farnan. He spoke about the problems experienced by port pilots operating large vessels in restricted waters.
Capt Farnan and his pilots demonstrated the lack of vision from a ship's bridge of the water around the bow of a ship and emphasised the need for yachts to keep clear.
Despite being well publicised, only 15 members attended the talk.
"This is very irresponsible behaviour by members of my own club, and they have to realise that vessels are restricted in how they can manoeuvre. Ships can't stop like a car. They've had enough warnings," said senior club member Mr Donal McClement.
In a strongly-worded letter to the RCYC sailing secretary, Mr Pat Vaughan, the deputy harbour master, Capt Michael McCarthy, says the port had "anticipated a more responsible attitude" from the yacht club members.
The letter, seen by The Irish Times, threatens the imposition of regulations which the club says have been verbally clarified as meaning an end to harbour sailing if another incident occurs.
Harbour clubs, representing a total membership of 3,000 sailors and some 600 boats, organise year-round programmes of harbour racing that incorporate using navigation buoys as race marks.
RCYC officers have been quick to react to those who have flouted club guidelines and have held an investigation.
