On November 11th Saturday last, the Fireball resurgence continued in Cork as a Frostbite league raced on the waters of Monkstown Bay.

With the class continuing to blossom in Cork, Six competing Fireballs arrived for the second day of a four-week series.

Fireballs racing at Monkstown Bay in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Light winds were the order of business for the early hours of Saturday morning. Greeted by a glorious sunrise and brisk November air, the competitors, organisers and spectators arrived in droves. As is always the case with this spectacular class, enthusiasm levels were high.

Niall McAllister and crew Killian of Bantry Bay take first place in race three of day one of the Fireball Frostbites Photo: Bob Bateman

Fireballs of all different colours brightened up the dinghy park as their keen owners tuned rigs and prepared sails for the morning's racing.

Ethel and Olin Bateman currently second overall at the MBSC Fireball Frostbites Photo: Bob Bateman

With a starting gun scheduled for 10:30am they lost no time in launching. In keeping with the vibrant theme, a brightly painted Currach became the Cork class committee boat. This was set in place and manned for the day by Robbie O’Sullivan.

Conor Kelly and son Conor fighting for second place on Day one in the Fireball dinghy frostbites racing at Monkstown Bay

A light North Easterly Breeze filled in which was just enough to get race one underway.

It was a fantastic sight to see the Fireballs battling it out on the start line, and at the gun, all got away cleanly. Although new to the fleet, Ewan Barry and crew Sandy Rimmington of MBSC quickly established dominance, leading at the first mark. Adrian Lee of Youghal and crew/league organiser Chris Bateman tacked out into the tide, scraping around in second just in front of the dark horse team of Conor Kelly, racing with his son Conor (junior) on the wire.

Ewan Barry and Sandy Rimmington lead mark 1  in the Fireball dinghy frostbites racing at Monkstown Bay Photo: Bob Bateman

A strong tide and relatively short course kept the race short and exciting, with many position changes. In the end the race was won by Ewan and Sandy, followed up by Lee and Bateman in second with the Kelly’s taking third.

Race two brought less wind and more tide. The competitors gave no leeway and the fleet remained tight with many position changes. At the first mark, it was Ewan and Sandy around in first place. They ran downwind into a hole of no breeze while the fleet carried down fair wind. They managed to hold on to their lead, and crossed the line two rounds later to take first place. Lee and Bateman followed in second, with the ever-consistent Kelly team in third.

Race three kicked off in a more consistent breeze, and it was the new Fireball team of Brian Jones and Barry O’Connor who rounded the windward mark in first place. They held this until close to the leeward mark, where a strong wind shift favoured Lee and Bateman. A small battle ensued after this major wind shift, allowing Lee and Bateman to take the lead, with Ewan Barry and Sandy Rimmington in second followed by Jones and O’Connor in third.

Race four brought medium winds, allowing the crews to stretch their legs on the trapeze. The Fireballs accelerated into their natural habitat of upwind planing which made for an exciting final race. Ewan and Sandy quickly regained the lead and held it all the way to the finish line, completing their impressive first day in a Fireball. Taking second were Lee and Bateman, followed by the Kelly’s (also new to Fireballs). The fleet chomped at their heels, making their statement before calling it a day.

Rather than go straight home, punctual racing allowed the sailors to go for a sail around the bay in the increasing breeze. Fireballs tore across the water, putting on a show before heading for home.
This will all continue next week for day three of the Fireball series.

With more boats scheduled to arrive, why not join us? The Fireball is one of the fastest, cheapest and stable boats on the market currently, not to mention one of the most accommodating, enthusiastic classes in Europe.

The numbers in Cork alone have risen from 1 last year to 11 boats based in all of Cork right now (9 in Monkstown Bay alone).

If interested in being a part of the Fireball fleet, trying a boat, selling or buying, call Chris on +353 85 7272382.

If you don’t have access to a phone and want to join the Cork Fireball fleet, racing is every Saturday morning, so come down and have a look!

The October dinghy league finished in good weather on Saturday at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour with the 505 of helm Ewen Barry and crew John Coakley/Charles Dwyer, overall winners.

Two Laser sailors filled the next positions in the top three – Brendan Dwyer second and David O’Connell third.

Ruby Duggan and Isabelle McCarthy won Class 2 in an RS Feva XL and two of these dinghies were the others in the top three placings – Jack Horgan and Darragh Killeen were second, Oliver and Ronan Kenneally third.

Ruby Duggan and Isabelle McCarthy also won the overall Class Two trophy for the season.

This Saturday, Monkstown will begin hosting the Cork Fireball Open Frostbites series which will be sailed for the month – on November 11, 18 and 25.

First Gun will be at 10.30 a.m. on a three-minute start sequence, the course to be announced on the day for three scheduled races each day in the Monkstown Bay/Lower Harbour area. There is an entry fee of €20 per boat.

Thirteen Class 1 dinghies sailed the penultimate day of league racing at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour.

Racing for the season will conclude this Saturday, with prizegiving afterwards in the clubhouse.

Dinghies are the club’s only racing boats and, despite the varying weather patterns this season, there has been strong support. For many sailors, dinghies are the introduction to the sport, so are a vital step into sailing and, often, lead to a lifetime in the sport.

With final league racing scheduled for this Saturday, the Class 1fleet is led by the 505 crew of Ewen Barry, Charles Dwyer, John Coakley on 5 points, seven clear of second-placed Laser sailor, Brendan Dwyer on 12. Veteran Laser sailor, Davy O’Connell, who has been a monthly winner during the season, is third on 21 points.

In Class 2 the leader is Olin Bateman, sailing a Laser 4.7 and looking the certain overall winner on 5 points, well clear of second-placed Ethel Bateman in another Laser 4.7 on 25. Third is the RS Feva XL of Isobelle Clarke Waterman and Conor Donald Kelly on 56 points.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour will resume the running of the October League on Saturday with two races for Class 1 and 2 dinghies.

The club says seven races are planned for the October League, with one discard to be applied if four or more races are sailed.

The results of last Saturday’s ‘Dash for Cash’ race, MBSC says, will be counted as the first race of the October series.

The first Gun on Saturday will be at 13:57 with a countdown of 3, 2, 1 guns.

The annual general meeting of the club will be held at the clubhouse on Sunday, November 19, at 4 p.m.

Ewen Barry and Charles Dwyer, racing a 505 dinghy, emerged as the winners of the single race 'Dash for Cash' event at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club on Saturday.

The pursuit race, open to all clubs, produced a super day on the water in Cork Harbour for the 34 competing dinghies. 

The race was sailed using a triangle course; a beat to a windward mark off Raffeen Creek, a run across the river to Cooleen mark off Black Point and then a reach to a mark off Carrigaloe.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's Alan and Luke Fehily and John Moynihan were Race Officers onboard the MBSC Committee Boat.

It was a lovely Autumn day for the "Dash for cash" event and the 34 dinghies had a light flukey SW breeze for racing Photo: Mary Malone

Results were based on the PY (Portsmouth Yardstick) handicap system for dinghies ranging between PY 697 and PY 1387.

The lowest on the Portsmouth Yardstick rule started first, and these consisted of Cork Harbour's own vintage Rankin dinghy fleet.

The front runners emerged in three designs: Tommy Dwyer sailing singlehanded in a Rankin, a 505 and an ultra National 18 dinghy. 

Tommy Dwyer sailing his Rankin singlehanded in the MBSC 'Dash for Cash' Race Photo: Mary Malone

The wind off  Blackpoint was light, and the spinnakerless Rankin lost out to the 505 and the 18.

Close finish to the MBSC 'Dash for Cash' Race- The 505 to leeward just ahead of the National 18 (405) Photo: Mary Malone

It proved to be a nail-biting finish on handicap, with none of the top boats professing to know who had won when they came ashore! 

See the vid clip of the finish at Monkstown Bay below by Mary Malone

Barry and Dwyer took the €300 prize for first place, €100 for second went to the National 18 pair Ronan Kenneally and Robbie O'Sullivan.

There were also additional prizes awarded on the day.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club 'Dash for Cash' Results

 Monkstown Bay Sailing Club 'Dash for Cash' Photo Gallery by Mary Malone

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club will stage a different type of event this Saturday in Cork Harbour – the T Bourke ‘Dash for Cash’.

This is a pursuit race open to all clubs, based on the PY (Portsmouth Yardstick) system, for dinghies ranging between PY 697 and PY 1387.

The pre-race briefing is scheduled for 12.30 p.m. on the Sand Quay at Monkstown. The First Gun will be 1400.

There is a €300 prize for first place, €100 for second and €100 for the first boat helmed by an 18-year-old or under. Additional prizes will be awarded on the day.

Entry fee is €10 per boat. Entry is only through the club’s website: www.mbsc.ie

The RS Feva Southern Championships, scheduled for this weekend at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club, has unfortunately been cancelled due to the bleak forecast throughout the weekend.

Saturday's wind in Cork Harbour is expected to increase throughout the day, and Sunday's conditions are predicted to be even worse.

The event organiser, Ewen Barry, expressed his regret over the cancellation and extended his appreciation to the parents and children who had entered, including six boats that had planned to travel from Dublin.

With 23 entries, the event was shaping up to be a great one. Barry assured that all entry fees will be refunded and the organisers are now looking to reschedule the event as a one-day affair during October.

In what turned out to be an eventful day in Cork Harbour waters, Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's 'At Home' on Sunday saw a near record-breaking 75 boats take part.

The dinghy sailing participants had a great day on the water, enjoying the warm weather and the competition. The event was run on the water by John Crotty as the Race Officer, whom Dave Horgan and Pat Hallissey assisted. 

The event witnessed some close competition, with Brendan Dwyer emerging victorious in Class One and Tim and Philip O'Connor taking home the top prize in Class Two.

Ruby Duggan was crowned the winner of The Feva Club Championships, which ran simultaneously. Meanwhile, Rian O'Neill secured the top spot in the Oppie class.

The deferred Monkstown Bay Sailing Club 'At Home', incorporating the Feva Club Championships, will be sailed on Sunday in Cork Harbour.

This is a 'dinghies-only' event as the Harbour cruisers are racing on Saturday in the annual Cobh-Blackrock Race.

The schedule of racing for the At Home is:

• Oppies & Fevas FG 12:30
• Class 1 & 2 FG 13:55

There will be no club racing on Saturday. The results from the At Home races will count towards the September League.

Prizegiving will take place in the Clubhouse after racing.

It is tight at the top of Class 1 and 2 in the August League at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club as evening racing moves towards seasonal closure in Cork Harbour.

Emmett O’Sullivan in RS Aero 7 leads Class 1 on 15 points, with Judy Moynihan and Therese Loesberg second in a Laser II on 16 and David O’Connell, who has had considerable success in winning two leagues already this season, is third in his Laser 7 on 17.

The tight competition is also at the top of Class 2, led by Ellen Bruen’s RS Fexa XL with 4 points from Tom and Tim O’Connor’s Mirror on 4.5, Isabelle and Myles McCarthy, RS Feva XL are third with 8.