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Displaying items by tag: March League

The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club was won overall on IRC on Sunday, March 24th, by Michael Carroll's Elan 40 Chancer.

The Carroll brothers entry won on four points from Stephen Lysaght's Elan 333, Reavra Too on seven. Cian McCarthy's Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl was third. The results were repeated on ECHO handicap.

The league concluded in miserable conditions, with low visibility and wind up to 25 knots in the doubleheader day with courses set around Sanycove and the Bulman by KYC Race Officer Michele Kennelly.  

Although raced under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division attracted the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO in the six-boat fleet, according to KYC's provisional results below.

Alan Mulcahy (left), skipper of Apache, was the winner of the IRC and ECHO White Sail division, scoring three wins. He is pictured with and Frank Godsell, Sponsor (right) and KInsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell Photo: Bob BatemanAlan Mulcahy (left), skipper of Apache, was the winner of the IRC and ECHO White Sail division, scoring three wins. He is pictured with and Frank Godsell, Sponsor (right) and KInsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell Photo: Bob Bateman

In both, White Sails IRC and ECHO, Tony O'Brien's J109 Tighey Boy from Schull Harbour Sailing Club was second, with Patrick Beckett's Tofinou 8, Miss Charlie in third.

As Afloat reported previously, this was the 42nd annual Frank Godsell League, representing the sponsor's long-time commitment. 

Frank Godsell Kinsale Yacht Club March League Prizegiving Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Published in Kinsale
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The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club got off to an exciting start on Sunday. The fleet decided to round alternative turning marks after discovering that some of the prescribed buoys on the course were missing.

Although raced under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO, according to KYC's provisional results below.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, a competing crew member suggested the fleet sail onto Hake as Sandy Cove was missing. It was a suggestion that met with unanimous approval. The fleet then discovered that the Centre Point mark was missing, and the J109 Tighey Boy used two Black fishing pots, which were roughly in position. Again, the fleet all agreed to go around them, which meant the race continued without the need to discard it.

As Afloat reported previously, this is the 42nd annual Frank Godsell League, representing a long-time commitment of the sponsor. The league will run for three weeks, with two more races to follow Sunday's opening.

 

Published in Kinsale
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Marine Wildlife Around Ireland One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with marine wildlife.  It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. As boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat.  Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!