Irish champion Dragon Phantom skippered by Royal St. George's Peter Bowring leads after the first day of racing for Dragons at Volvo Cork Week Regatta.

Dun Laoghaire's Bowring counts a 2,1 in the seven-boat fleet to lead from Kinsale YC's Cameron Good in Little Fella one point behind on four.

The three-man class joined the action on the third day (Wednesday) of Volvo Cork Week and was blessed with sunshine and 8-10 knots of breeze from the north.

The Cape 31 Class and Dragons had windward-leeward races off Roches Point.

Racing at Cork Week continues tomorrow with the penultimate day of racing for the regatta. Five race areas, in and outside Cork Harbour, will be organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Going into the final two races of the 2022 Edinburgh Cup in Falmouth on Thursday it was close at the top. Just one or two points were in it for four of the Dragon and it quite literally was all to play for!

The Royal St. George Yacht Club Jaguar Sailing Team of Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelmann and John Simms led overall by three points and were hopeful of a repeat of their 2011 victory but unfortunately, things did not turn out that way for the Dublin Bay crew.

Wind, waves, and sun was on the menu for the first race but after a general recall the wind started to dip. Instead of the three sitting on the side, teams were adapting to the conditions sailing towards Pendennis Castle.

The conditions further tested the fleet with many choosing to hit a hard corner before turning to the upwind mark. Gains were made downwind for many of the Dragons, but it was the final beat to the finish that determined the outcome.

Provezza TUR 1212 claimed their second race win with Bluebottle GBR 192 in second and, Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 taking third. Burnham-based Dragons Flotation GBR 790 and Still Crazy GBR 827 came in fourth and fifth, respectively.

The final race was an exciting culmination of the week. The Dragons were away on a clean start, and it was a 50/50 split choosing the far left or right of the beat. The first windward mark was a melee of Dragons as several converged from port and starboard resulting in penalty turns and rapid avoidance.

The final beat to the finish saw GBR 192 and TUR 1212 exchange covering tacks and a fast GBR 761 edged ahead. As the Dragons neared the finish and the entrance to Carrick Roads, the wind became unpredictable with pockets across the bay.

In a remarkably close finish, it was Jerboa GBR 761 to cross the line with their first race win. TUR 1212 got in front of GBR 192 to take second place forcing Bluebottle to settle for third.

In another brilliant display of racing expertise, Ron James’ Fei-Lin’s Flirtation GBR 633 came from the back, choosing a hard right on the final beat to take fourth place over the line. Followed quickly by Andy Moss’s Hands Off GBR 760.

The 2022 Edinburgh Cup was won by Provezza Dragon TUR 1212, Andy Beadsworth, Simon Fry and Edward Salter. A first win for helm Andy Beadsworth but not his first Edinburgh Cup win.

Edinburgh Cup Results Overall (Sailed: 6, Discards: 1, To count: 5, Entries: 24) 

1st Provezza Dragon TUR 1212 Andy Beadsworth Bodrum Offshore SC 2.0 1.0 (11.0) 5.0 1.0 2.0 11.0
2nd Bluebottle GBR 192 Graham Bailey Royal Yacht Squadron 1.0 7.0 1.0 (12.0) 2.0 3.0 14.0
3rd Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 Martin Byrne Royal St George YC C 7.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 (10.0) 19.0
4th Jerboa GBR 761 Gavia Wilkinson-Cox Royal Torbay YC L (19.0) 3.0 2.0 2.0 17.0 1.0 25.0
5th Fei-Lin’s Flirtation GBR 633 Ronald James Royal Forth YC 5.0 (9.0) 9.0 1.0 8.0 4.0 27.0

The Royal St. George Yacht Club Jaguar Sailing Team of Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelmann and John Simms lead overall by three points going into the final two races of the Dragon class Edinburgh Cup in Falmouth today.

The only Irish contestants at the British Championships scored a three and a four to take the lead from Andy Beadsworth's Provezza Dragon.

Race three started with a cloudy NNW breeze and a keen TUR 1212 and GBR 764 were called over the line. Dragons were noticeably picking either the left or right of the course for their long tack.
The windward mark made for exciting viewing as the main pack of Dragons all converged, in breeze and current, to make the spreader mark.

The dark blue hull of Bluebottle edged forward to take the race three win ahead of Jerboa GBR 761. Third place in the race went to Richard Davies’ Flotation GBR 790 after a superb display of shift selection and downwind sailing. Hot on the heels were Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 and Pageboy XI GBR 792 in fourth and fifth.

As the Dragons prepared for the start of race four the wind swung more to the North and increased and combined with a disturbed sea saw all sailors on the side heading up the first beat.

Fei-Lin’s Flirtation GBR 633 picked the winning side of the racecourse and after the second downwind leg had opened a considerable lead. It was safe to say everyone was happy to see Ron and his stunning Dragon take the race win.

A consistent race from GBR 761 saw them take another second place and a firm position in the top five. IRL 201 went one better securing third place with GBR 763 and TUR 1212 crossing in fourth and fifth places.

Martin Byrne said after racing “I am optimistic for the next races. We have remained consistent, but it is remarkably close racing. We still have some work to do and will give it all we have till the end.”

Everyone is interested to see how the day pans out and how the scoreboard is shuffled around once the discard is applied. Anyone of four boats has the potential to take the Edinburgh Cup. Could Graham Bailey win his fourth Edinburgh Cup in Bluebottle, or Andy Beadsworth take his first win as a helm, it could go to SW Champions Jaguar Racing Team, or team Jerboa attain their first win and only the second time a lady helm has won the Cup.

Top five Edinburgh Cup overall results after four races sailed and no discard 

1st Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 Martin Byrne Royal St George YC16.0
2nd Provezza Dragon TUR 1212 Andy Beadsworth Bodrum Offshore SC 19.0
3rd Bluebottle GBR 192 Graham Bailey Royal Yacht Squadron 21.0
4th Fei-Lin’s Flirtation GBR 633 Ronald James Royal Forth YC 24.0
5th Jerboa GBR 761 Gavia Wilkinson-Cox Royal Torbay YC  26.0

Royal St. George's Martin Byrne sailing with Adam Winklemann and John Simms are third after the first two races of the Edinburgh Cup, the British Dragon national championship.

It follows victory for the Irish trio at the Dragon Class Southern Area Championships at Royal Cornwall Yacht Club last week as Afloat reported here.

It was a clean start for race one with the fleet split left and right going up the first beat. With the sea breeze fighting the northwest wind, the conditions became patchy and light across the racecourse.

GBR 192 Bluebottle took a commanding lead, securing their first win, followed across the line by Provezza Dragon TUR 1212. Andy Moss’ GBR 760 Hands Off had a great race, chipping away at the fleet on each leg to finish third with GBR 763 Bertie and GBR 633 Fei-Lin’s Flirtation taking fourth and fifth respectively.

Andy Moss commented “We were absolutely delighted with our results today. We had a very frustrating day yesterday, we couldn't read the course, couldn't read the wind at all, but today was completely different. We seemed to get in the right shift patterns, we managed to find the pressure and to overtake boats right away through both races. It was fantastic teamwork; we are really enjoying it in Falmouth.”

As the sequence began for race two the NNW breeze increased with white caps welcoming the Dragons. It was exciting racing from the 24 keelboats up the first beat which resulted in a pile-up at the windward mark.

The increased pressure allowed the Dragons to stretch their legs across Falmouth Bay and it was TUR 1212 who crossed the line first with recently crowned Southwest Dragon Champions IRL 201 Jaguar Racing Team in second. Cowes-based Dragon GBR 761 Jerboa enjoyed a better race taking third place followed by Pageboy XI GBR 791 and Furious GBR 777.

TUR 1212 has a five-point lead over GBR 192 going into the second day and with a similar wind forecast it could make for another set of exciting close racing in Falmouth.

Edinburgh Cup Day One (Top five)

1st Provezza Dragon TUR 1212 Andy Beadsworth Bodrum Offshore SC 2.0 1.0 3.0
2nd Bluebottle GBR 192 Graham Bailey Royal Yacht Squadron 1.0 7.0 8.0
3rd Jaguar Racing Team IRL 201 Martin Byrne Royal St George YC 7.0 2.0 9.0
4th Hands Off GBR 760 Andrew Moss Royal Corinthian YC C 3.0 6.0 9.0
5th Pageboy XI GBR 792 Clive Page Royal Corinthian YC C 6.0 4.0 10.0

24 competing

Royal St. George's Martin Byrne sailing with Adam Winklemann and John Simms has won the International Dragon Class Southern Area Championships at Royal Cornwall Yacht Club.

A warm-up event for Tuesday's prestigious Edinburgh Cup at the same venue in Falmouth saw Ireland's Jaguar Sailing Team six points clear of the Royal Yacht Squadron's Graham Bailey at the helm of the Duke of Edinburgh's classic Bluebottle on 18 points. 

Six races were sailed with one discard in a 22-boat fleet. Simon Barter of Cowes Corinthian YC was third. 

Although Byrne did not win a race, the Irish trio counted five results in the top three in a consistent display that bodes well for the first races of the British National Championship for the Edinburgh Cup today. 

2022 Edinburgh Cup

They will be the only Irish team competing – and a Corinthian team to boot – and up against some stiff UK competition just arrived in Falmouth Harbour, including the pre-regatta favourite, Andy Beadsworth's Provezza. 

As regular Afloat readers will know, victory at the Edinburgh Cup is nothing new for Byrne and Winkelmann; the Dun Laoghaire crew lifted the Cup back more than a decade ago in 2011.

And their pre-event training reveals the depth of their ambitions to hold the Cup for Ireland again.  

Byrne's last event was pre-Covid at Abersoch in 2019, when they finished runners-up to Mike Budd.

"It is almost a decade since we won the Edinburgh Cup in 2011, and we have had a couple of near misses since then".

Over the winter, the Jaguar team competed in a series of events in Portugal; four events in Vilamoura and one practice week in Cascais. Last month they competed in La Baule, France and at June's National Yacht Club regatta on Dublin Bay.

Ireland has won the Edinburgh Cup 13 times in its 73-year history. 

Dragon UK South coast results here

National Dragon Champion Neil Hegarty of the RStGYC took the East Coast title after six races sailed at the Royal Irish Yacht Club hosted event. 

Overnight leader on Saturday, Hegarty sailing with crew Kevin O’Boyle and Charlie Bolger clinched the championship with a final race win on Sunday.

Winds were easterly and shifting between 60 and 90 degrees up to 12 knots with a short chop off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

(Above and below) Overall winner Neil Hegarty (225) takes the pin end in race five of the Dragon East Coast Championships Photo: Afloat

Sailing with four up, Kinsale Yacht Club's Brian Goggin and crew Sean Murphy, Daniel Murphy and John O Connor broke the overnight tie with Ruan O'Tiarnaigh, Stephen Boyle and John Burke in the Sutton Dinghy Club entry 'Phantom Capital' to take second overall on 13 points.

Kinsale Yacht Club's Brian Goggin and crew Sean Murphy, Daniel Murphy and John O'Connor on Whisper Photo: Afloat

The SDC crew took third overall in the 13-boat fleet on 18 points. 

Ruan O'Tiarnaigh, Stephen Boyle and John Burke from Sutton Dinghy Club were third

Kinsale will host the prestigious 2024 Dragon Gold Cup, a high point on the calendar after the disappointing cancellation of the 2020 Cup at that venue due to COVID. 

Results are here

National Dragon Champion Neil Hegarty of the Royal St. George Yacht Club leads this weekend's class East Coast Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. 

After four races sailed in light westerly winds, Hegarty sailing with Kevin O’Boyle and Charlie Bolger leads by two points from Dragon newcomers Ruan O'Tiarnaigh in Phantom Capital sailing with Stephan Boyle and John Burke of Sutton Dinghy Club.

After one discard applied, Kinsale Yacht Club visitors Brian Goggin, Sean Murphy, Daniel Murphy and John O Connor are tied on seven points with O'Tiarnaigh in the 13-boat fleet. 

Two races are left to sail on Sunday. Results are here

There were no final races today at the Dragon European Championships meaning last night's results stand leaving Pedro Rebeo De Andrade, Ireland's Adam Winkelmann and Jorge Pinheiro De Melo in second overall.

The fleet was held ashore for most of the day as the easterly winds were very fickle all morning. They only went afloat at 1.30 as the RO attempted one start before the 3 pm cut off time.

However, as the Dragons arrived at the race course the wind shifted 180 degrees as the strong gale force Mistral winds arrived from the west bringing 3/4 metre waves.

The Race Officer abandoned any attempts to start a race and sent the fleet ashore for the last time.

A win for Adam Winkelmann, of the National and Royal Irish Yacht Clubs, puts him in second overall and two points off the overall lead at the Dragon European Championships in San Remo, Italy after five races sailed.

As Afloat previously reported, Winkelmann is on the crew of the Portuguese entry Petti Portugal with reigning Dragon European and Gold Cup Champion Pedro Andrade at the helm.

Swiss entry Quick1 sailed by Wolf Waschkuhn, Charles Nankin and Ruairidh Scott continue his overall lead by two points after discard and with two races left to sail for The Virginie Heriot Cup.

In Thursday's race five, the Portuguese/Irish entry was second to the top mark with Washkin struggling mid-fleet. Andrade managed to get to first on the second beat and Washkin got back to seventh by the finish.

There is a question mark tonight over the rest of the championship due to the forecasted arrival of a storm on Friday.

The current plan is to go out early for two final races in San Remo, weather permitting.

Download results below

Adam Winkelmann, of the National and Royal Irish Yacht Clubs, is lying third overall at the Dragon European Championships in San Remo, Italy after four races sailed.

As Afloat previously reported, Winkelmann is on the crew of the Portuguese entry Petti Portugal with reigning Dragon European and Gold Cup Champion Pedro Andrade at the helm.

Big winds are forecast for the venue today (Thursday) and Friday so the prospect of further racing is being described as 'marginal'. 

Swiss entry Quick1 sailed by Wolf Waschkuhn, Charles Nankin and Ruairidh Scott leads by two points from Holland's Pieter Heerema, Lars Hendriksen and Herve Cunningham on 20 points. 

The Portuguese entry sits on 30 points.  A single race discard will apply if one more race is held. 

Download results below.