After a break since the impact of Covid, the Cork Harbour Combined Cruiser League is to be held again.

It will start on Friday, June 5, and be jointly organised by the Royal Cork YC and Cove SC. It is open to both Whitesail and Spinnaker racing and will run for four Fridays in June.

The event is sponsored by Johanna Murphy and Associates.

"It promises to be a fantastic league with the Harbour Clubs working together to deliver great racing for both clubs," says RCYC Rear Admiral Keelboats, Rob Foster.

The overall league prize-giving will be on Friday, June 28, in Cobh.

Sailing Instructions and the Notice of Race are being published on club websites.

David and Richard Marshall headed the Wednesday night dinghy league series at Cove Sailing Club in Cork Harbour in their Rankin R30. Second was Owen O’Connell in Rankin R61, and third was Maurice and Frances Kidney in their R12.

Rankins filled the top six positions, a notable achievement for the revived fleet due to the commitment of supporters of this notably famous Cobh dinghy.

In cruisers, as the season ended for evening sailing, the Friday night IRC winner was Shipman 28, Tonga, Gary Mills. Second, Pat Mustard, George Radley Jnr and third, the Sigma 33, Musketeer, Billy Burke.

The Whitesail ECHO handicap winner was Sigma 38, Kernow, Ian Scandrett, second Barossa, the Shipman 28, Maurice Kidney and Gerry Holland, and Déjà vu, Brian Curtis.

Cove Sailing Club has opened online entry for the annual Cobh-Blackrock Race for cruisers and dinghies on Saturday of next week, September 9.

Rankins continues to lead the Wednesday night dinghies league. David and Richard Marshall are on top with 21 points, second Owen O’Connell on 25 and third Maurice and Frances Kidney on 30.

Friday cruiser racing ‘Kites IRC’ leader is ‘Tonga’ (Gary Mills), on 14 points from George Radley Junior’s ‘Pat Mustard’ on 29 and Billy Burke’s ‘Musketeer’ third on 32.

George Radley Junior’s ‘Pat Mustard' Photo: Bob Bateman

First and third are the same in ECHO, with Nicholas O’Rourke’s ‘Bright Wings’ second.

Ian Scandrett’s ‘Kernow’ leads Whitesail on 11 points, Maurice Kidney and Gerry Holland’s ‘Barossa; is second on 18 and ‘Déjà Vu’ (Brian Curtis) third on 27.

Noted Royal Cork Yacht Club dinghy ace Tommy Dwyer swapped his National 18 for a smaller Rankin dinghy last weekend (August 12th) and, together with grandnephew Harry, won the Rankin Brothers Cup Cove Sailing Club regatta in Cork Harbour.

Nine Rankins took the starting gun for a two-race contest in what was described as a 'very competitive fleet'.

Maurice and Frances Kidney were second in R12, and Daniel and Grace O'Connell were third in R61.

Cove Sailing Club regatta also held racing for mixed PY dinghies, and there was a great turnout of Optimist junior sailors, with RCYC and MBSC sailors joining in.

Bob Batemans's Cove Sailing Club Regatta 2023 Photo Gallery 

The highly anticipated Rankin Brothers Regatta Cup, which was set to take place this Saturday at Cove Sailing Club, has been postponed due to the anticipation of high winds. Instead, the dinghy event will now take place on Sunday afternoon in Cork Harbour.

The annual regatta is known as the "big event of the season" for the Rankin Class and draws in sailors from all over Cork Harbour.

Despite the delay, participants and spectators alike are still eagerly looking forward to the exciting competition and camaraderie that the event always brings.

The Rankin Class “big event of the season” is scheduled to be raced this Saturday at Cove Sailing Club – the Rankin Brothers Regatta Cup. First Gun will be at 2.30 pm.

The revival of the traditional, historic Rankin Class at Cobh, a two-person 12-footer dinghy, is an example of what the Class describes as “ordinary sailors with a love of the sport reviving a traditional, beloved local boat.” The Class members located Rankin dinghies in various places, which were unused, refurbished them and found new owners. They put a huge commitment into the Class for “basic and enjoyable sailing with an emphasis on family involvement.”

At present, Rankins are dominating Wednesday night dinghy league racing at Cove SC. Owen O’Connell is leading in Rankin 61 on 28 points from R30 (David and Richard Marshall) on 29 with Rankin 12 (Maurice and Francis Kidney) 3rd on 32. Three other Rankin comprise the top six in a mixed fleet, including Lasers, RS 400s, Fevas and Topaz.

The Class says it wants to encourage more people, including those new to sailing, to consider joining the Rankins and to look at their web page for more details here

Ian Scandrett’s Sigma 38 won Friday evening’s Whitesail cruiser race at Cove Sailing Club. Second was Brian Curtis in his Sun Odyssey and third was the Dehler 34 (Allen/Leahy).

Owen O’Connell’s R61 Rankin now leads the Wednesday Dinghy League.

Overall the Rankins still hold the top three places. R30 (David and Richard Marshall) are second and R12 (Maurice and Frances Kidney) third.

John Cotter’s Miracle won the eleventh race of Cove Sailing Club’s Wednesday night summer dinghy league. Cathal and Ruadhán Jackson were second in their RS Feva XL. Kate and Tadgh Scannell were third in an RS 400. Overall, on 45 points, Maurice and Frances Kidney in RankinR12 are league leaders, with David and Richard Marshall in RankinR30 second on 49. Rankin61 (Owen O’Connell) is third on 52. Rankins still hold the top three places.

At Cove Sailing Club, Rankin dinghies continue to dominate the fleet, holding the top three positions.

Maurice and Francis Kidney lead on 39 points in R12, one ahead of David and Richard Marshall on 40 in R30.

Owen O’Connell’s R61 is third on 47.

Rankins lead the Wednesday night dinghy league at Cove Sailing Club in Cork Harbour. David and Richard Marshall are on top with 12 points after nine races, of which they have won three. Owen O’Connell is next on 18 points. Maurice and Frances Kidney are third on 22.

Eoin Jones leads the club’s Optimist League, which has had 10 races, on 12 points.Ruadhán Jones is second on 14 and Theo Carney third on 17.

The Cruiser Friday night Spinnakers League ECHO handicap leader is ‘Pat Mustard’ on nine points, helmed by George Radley Jnr. Second is ‘Tonga’ (Gary Mills), one point behind on ten and third ‘Bright Wings’ (Nicholas O’Rourke) on 12.