Displaying items by tag: Royal Cork Yacht Club
Baltimore Sailing Club Wins Royal Cork's Inaugural Inter Club Cup
#The inaugural RCYC Inter Club Cup was sailed in Cork last Saturday. Event organiser Nicholas O'Leary and his team with Race Officer Bryan Hassett set up two parallel race courses with an exclusion zone between the race areas. Racing took place in an eight to twelve knot north easterly breeze off the Curlane Bank near the entrance to Cork Harbour. Match racing in 1720's with adult crews took place on the northern course and team racing in Fireflys with youth crews took place on the southern course.
After a series of round robins two semi finals and a final were sailed on both match and team racing courses. Racing was very close with the finals going to the last race in the "best of three" finals format. After some very tense racing Baltimore Sailing Club came out on top in both team and match racing finals.
Firefly: Darragh McCormack, Rosa Lyden, Eoin Lyden, Florence Lyden.
1720: Peter O'Leary, Youen, Jacob, Maria Coleman, Tom Hegarty.
Sutton Dinghy Club Juniors Travel To Royal Cork for 'Book' Competition
#royalcork – Today was a great day when the Sutton Book Junior Team arrived at the Royal Cork Yacht Club to compete for the Sutton Junior Book and received a warm welcome after their trip from Sutton Dinghy Club writes Claire Bateman.
The morning had started out misty but the fog cleared steadily to make way for a beautiful sunny day but with only about 3 knots of light breeze from the east. Having tossed a coin to select the boats both teams headed out to the Curlane Bank where they awaited breeze to start racing. The breeze failed to materialize so they moved further towards Spike where a course was laid. Race one commenced and the Royal Cork team were a little more sure of themselves being on home waters and following a penalty on one of the Sutton boats resulting in a penalty turn that race was won by the home team. Race two was a different kettle of fish. The Sutton team were growing stronger and there was a lot more panache about them and they went on to win that race.
Next on the race programme was the changing of the boats between the teams and with the sides level everybody was on tenterhooks.
And so it came all came down to the final race as all good events should do and despite the best efforts of Race Officer, Stephen O'Shaughnessy, several attempts to start resulted in general recalls. Finally, with the wind filling from the south west, two of the Royal Cork boats got away cleanly and led first and second with the third boat left to fend off the Sutton team and doing a pretty good job at this with the result Royal Cork were able to take the event.
The event today was a follow on to the sailing of the Senior Sutton Book in Sutton in August. Speaking after racing Rear Admiral Dinghies, RCYC, Celine McGrath, expressed her thanks to Sutton Dinghy Club for reviving this wonderful tradition in this the club's 75th anniversary year and to Andy Johnson, Sutton Commodore, whose perseverance led to the Senior leg taking place in August which was won by Sutton, and the Junior leg today that the Royal Cork won. She also expressed her thanks to Stephen O'Shaughnessy, Race Officer, Jim McGinley for mark laying, Tom Crosbie, Umpire, and to Wendy and Martin for helping and ferrying the Sutton team to Cork.
Winners –L to R Rear Admiral Dinghies Celine Mc Grath,Grattan Roberts, Jamie Tingle, Thomas Mc Grath, Admiral Pat Lyons, Suzi Fitzpatrick, Jill Mc Ginley, Rebecca O'Shaughnessy
RS 400, 200 & Feva Dinghy Finale Hits A High Note at Royal Cork Yacht Club
#rssailing – The Royal Cork Yacht Club was buzzing at the weekend, with what was a great precursor to next year's dinghy week. The RS fleets were in town for their final event of what has been a bumper Irish calendar full of well attended competitive and fun events by David Rose (RS-Association Ireland).
Tents were being welcomed and pitched on the lawn, and dinghies were arriving in great numbers on the Friday night and Sat morning. The weather was playing ball and giving us wind and the impression that it was still summer. The red carpet was rolled out by a club that draws on its people and facilities to run top class events in a really friendly way. Small details make these occasions and there was little left undone, with shore helpers and soup waiting at the top of the slip for competitors, and a few free pints to help ease the aching bones on the Saturday night. Celine McGrath not only ran the event ashore but also helped on board the OOD boat during the racing. Results were hitting the website as the boats were finishing, just another detail that makes a noticeable difference.
Barry Rose was our race officer and employed the great help of a top notch team, including Ciaran Mc Sweeney who had ran an excellent RS sprint event earlier in the year out of MBSC, and RCYC's Eddie Rice who along with the rest of the team provided exceptional racing, with no delays of any kind all weekend. The course was changed so fast when needed that the competitors hardly noticed, and everything from course length to the quality of the line was impeccable.
First order of business for Barry and his team was to decide which of the many race area's available in Cork would best suit the forecast on Saturday, and after going out on a rib before the briefing, he established that the conditions outside Roches Point, with a small swell and a nice breeze would provide the best racing.
The 40 teams in their double handed dinghies made a fantastic sight snaking out the Owenabue River and around Camden and then Roches to do battle on Sat Morning. When they arrived they found a course ready to go and once the last competitors had arrived, racing got under way in brilliant conditions that allowed for surfing downwind and good tactical upwind racing.
RS400 Race Report: 21 Teams, 6 Races, One discard
Race one saw RCYC's David Rose and Ian Hef lead the way for two rounds on home turf, until being reeled in and passed by John Downey and Sandy Rimmington (MBSC) and the ever present Sean Cleary and Steven Tyner on the final beat.
Race two saw National Champions Alex Barry and Richie Leonard record a bullet followed by Dave Cheyne and Stephen Kane (NDLL) who would remain consistent for the remainder of the regatta and gain a podium position of 3rd place overall.
Race three was all about Sean Cleary and Steven Tyner (GSC) who have had a fantastic season, including winning the Eastern's and recording a very credible 10th at the UK Nationals. For most of the race, they were challenged hard by John Downey and Sandy Rimmington, but there challenge was to end abruptly in a post weather mark incident that resembled losing a front wing in a formula one car. When the dust settled John's bowsprit was broken and they had to limp home in luckily for them the final race of the opening day.
Overnight Andrew Alego and P. Nolan (RSGYC) were well placed as was Andy Verso and Oisn Baugh (GSC). The racing had been close and there was a lot to play for on day two.
On day two Barry Rose decided that with a bigger swell and more breeze forecast it was prudent to race the fleet in harbour. Cuskinny is a great place to race with a strong easterly, and despite a more tidal race course, it was a great call, allowing the fleets to get in 3 more exhilarating races in great breeze, watched by a flotilla of motor boats and yachts that came out to see these exciting fleets in action.
Alex Barry and Richie Leonard had a fantastic battle with Sean Cleary and Steve Tyner in race four, and this would prove to the be order of business for the day.
David Rose and Ian Hef were back in the mix recording a two and a three in race five and six to finish fourth overall. Dave Cheyne and Stephen Kane were excellent in the conditions and a third and two sixths would earning them a well-deserved third overall.
For the top honours there was little between Alex and Richie and Sean and Steve, both teams battled hard all day, overtaking each other many times. This was a tight affair with no shortage of drama, including a swim in Race five for Alex and Richie, which they recovered from admirably.
Sean and Steve on "Yachtsman Euromarine" were in poll position going into the last race, but the margin was slim and Alex and Richie knew if they could overhaul their competitors in the final race they would win on count back, and that is ultimately what happened.
Alex Barry and Richie Leonard are 2014 Southern Champions.
Alex Barry's post event observation:
"It is very exciting to see RS dinghy sailing hitting great heights at the moment in Ireland. I hope to see the fleets in Cork again next year for Dinghy week. Thanks for great organisation and race management and to the RCYC for a great weekend."
RS200 Race Report: 12 Teams, 6 Races, One discard
A good turnout for the final event of the season for the 200 fleet, made for some very competitive racing, and we may see a cork fleet develop next season in this exciting class. Ronan O'Driscoll and Shane Dunlea are sailing out of MBSC and many heads were turned in the RCYC at the weekend, by a boat that combines high performance and well worked out systems that are easy to use.
Day one was all about Marty O'Leary and Rachel Williamson (RSGYC), who mastered the conditions and dominated the fleet with a clean sweep of three race wins from three on day one. Marty had made the move from competing well in the 400 with Brian Fenlon recording an 8th at the Nationals in Galway this year.
Blair Stanaway and Heather King (RSGYC/Westport) were hanging in there with two seconds and a third to open, as were Stephen Craig and Conor Foley (RSGYC) with two thirds and a second.
It was to be more of the same from Marty and Rachel on day two, recording an impressive fourth race win from four, before allowing Blair and Heather to win the fifth race. Marty and Rachel however had now won the RS200 Southern title with a race to spare in a superb first outing.
Second was Blair and Heather two points back and third was Stephen Craig and Conor Foley a further five points adrift.
The 200 is a newer boat than the 400 and has a lower weight band being similar but slightly less powerful. The fleet in the UK is very large and strong, allowing easy access to affordable and fast second hand boats. There are also demo boats available in Ireland so please enquire if you are interested in getting involved. We are expecting growth next year country wide in this exciting class.
RSFeva Race Report: 9 Teams, 6 Races, One discard
The Feva class was full of RCYC competitors, making up over fifty percent of entries.
One of the bigger challenges of Day one was getting out to the race course through the tidal rush and sea one often gets in the entry to Cork harbour.
Once out there, the Feva's started an exciting series that saw Lorcan Tighe and Cian Murphy of NYC winning race one, with Dara Donnelly and Rosemar Tyrell (NYC/RIYC) second.
Donnelly and Tyrell were to finish second in the other two races of the day and were level on points with Sarah Cudmore and Kelly Williams (RCYC) after day one. Sarah and Kelly won race two and three and established themselves as favourites.
Day two, and to the in-harbour course and more wind. It was business as usual for Sarah Cudmore and Kelly Williams winning a further two races and taking the championship in fine style with a race to spare. Lorcan Tighe and Cian Murphey who sailed really well to three seconds on the Sunday were second overall, three points clear of Dara Donnelly and Rosemar Tyrell in Third. Suzi Fitzpatrick and Aine Riche (RCYC) won the final race to sit fourth.
Other honours went to first lady crew in the 400, Laura Holohan, she finished sixth overall with helm Paul McMahon. Sheela Lewis took first lady Helm and 14th overall in the 400 (John Lewis crewing). In the 200 Sarah Byrne took top lady Helm (crewed by Tom Gillan) and champion Rachel Williamson also took home top lady crew in the 200 (Marty O'Leary at the helm).
See here for full results
Royal Cork Yacht Club Third in Italian 2K Team Race Event
#2kteamracing – Teams from Howth Yacht Club and the Royal Cork Yacht Club travelled to Porto Ercole, Tuscany for the Italian- Cala Galera leg of the 2014 2K team Racing Circuit, from the 5th to 7th of September. Both teams enjoyed high intensity racing, some very tight matches, exceptional racing conditions, and beautiful scenery.
The Royal Cork team, led by skippers Fred Cudmore and George Kinsgton won 6 of the 9 races in the round robin, over the first and second day of the event. They went into day 3 of the event in second place, and faced the highly experienced 2K racers, Yacht Club Costa Smerelda in the first to two wins semi final. Racing went down to the wire, but unfortunately YCCS won 2-1. The Rebel army won their petit final, against the British Team Magnum, finishing the regatta in 3rd place. YCCS stormed on to beat the Rome Racing Team in the final.
Howth Yacht Club, competing at their first 2K event, had a slow start getting in only two races of their round robin on Friday. With more breeze on day 2, skippers Simon Rattigan and Geoff Tait were more in the groove of the 2 v 2 racing and they went on to win 4 from 7 of their races. On day 3, the team had the best seats in the house to watch the gold fleet finals, from their luxurious changeover yacht. They then took part in the "king of the castle" silver fleet final, and finished the event in 9th place.
The Royal Cork were represented by: Fred Cudmore, Emma Geary, Philip O'Leary, Sarah O'Leary, George Kingston, Ian Mc Namee, Philip Mc Glade, and Eimear O'Leary.
Howth were represented by Simon Rattigan, Aoife English, Ross Mc Donald, Rachel O'Brien, Geoff Tait, Lisa Tait, Rob Kerley and Jess Armstrong.
Full event report and results are available here
Royal Cork Yacht Club Prepares for Cork Harbour Autumn League
#rnli –The Autumn Series at Royal Cork Yacht Club is rapidly approaching writes Claire Bateman. Once again the Cork Harbour club is extremely fortunate to have CH Marine sponsoring the series, one of the premier highlights of the sailing season at the club that always attracts large numbers of sailors from a wide variety of clubs from around Ireland. CH Marine have sponsored this event for a number of years and have enabled the club to stage the magnificent and popular event that it is.
This year the Autumn Series will commence on Saturday, September 27th with the first two races and will follow with two races each day on October 5th, October 12th, October 19th and finishing on October 25th. Racing will commence each day at 11.55hrs. and will be followed each day by food, live music and daily prize giving. Notice of Race and Entry forms downloadable from www.royalcork.com.
On the the final day of racing the Autumn Series dinner and overall prize giving will be held at the club commencing at 19.30hrs. As always, this event sells out very quickly so early booking is advisable.
Subject to availability, complimentary berthing on swinging moorings or marina berths will be provided to yachts visiting Crosshaven from Friday, September 19th to Monday, October 27th 2014. For berthing arrangements please contact Mark Ring at Royal Cork office 353(0)214831023.
Earlier this year, a long standing and very highly regarded member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and Commodore of SCORA, Vincent O'Shea, passed away. Vinny as he was fondly known to alL, is greatly missed by all who had the great pleasure of knowing him and also those who sailed with him. Now the Royal Cork Yacht Club is delighted to advise that Vinny's family and the crew of his beloved Yanks and Ffrancs have come together to present the club with the Vinny O'Shea Perpetual Trophy to be awarded for the Boat of the Month over the Autumn Series. This magnificent trophy will be awarded this year and each following year to the best overall performing yacht in the Royal Cork Autumn Series. The club wishes to take this opportunity to thank Vinny's family and crew for presenting this wonderful trophy that will continue to honour the memory of a great man, friend and sailor for many years to come.
#rcyc – At yesterday's RCYC 'At Home' Regatta, Admiral Pat Lyons took the opportunity to highlight numerous Royal Cork YC championship winners from the Club in 2014 writes Claire Bateman. To underline this point, almost as Pat Lyons was speaking, a further winner was announced when top Cork Harbour youth Johnny Durcan lifted the 4.7 class title at the Irish Laser Nationals on Belfast Lough.
Racing started in a south westerly breeze for day two of MSL sponsored Regatta With the sun shining in the morning, it produced sparkling sailing conditions for the National 18s who were having their South Coast Championships as part of at the At Home weekend.
Not so lucky were the dinghy fleets sailing on the Curlane Bank as the forecast cloud arrived overhead providing what photographers call slack light. The sun was there but behind the clouds. However, the stable breeze made for great racing on the day.
By the time the sailors had returned from racing the patchy mist and light rain had begun to make its presence felt but this did not deter them and the general attendance from enjoying the superb afternoon tea of sandwiches and scrumptious cakes aplenty and then on to enjoy the various activities. The children took the crab fishing competition very seriously and stood over the measurer, Stuart Daly while he carried out the onerous task of measuring the crabs while minding his fingers. There was face painting, a tug o war for the young sailors with the girls team showing their prowess to beat the boys. There was the serious business of the Boules match for former Admirals and the current Admiral, cheered on by the large attendance and then on to the prize giving.
Admiral Pat Lyons thanked the Sponsors, MSL Motor Group and he highlighted in his speech the number of championship winners from the club and pointed out that even today we had two further winners when Johnny Durcan won the 4.7 class at the Irish Laser Nationals. Rebecca O'Shaughnessy took First Lady in the 4.7 class and Cian Byrne took second place in the Radial Class.
The Admiral then presented all the many prizes and trophies with assistance from Rear Admiral Keelboats, Kieran O'Connell, and Rear Admiral Dinghies, Celine McGrath. Then at the conclusion of the prize giving as the rain and wind had become more pronounced and all the events had successfully taken place, the good humoured attendance started to make their way home having had a thoroughly enjoyable At Home at the club.
#rcyc – Once again Royal Cork Yacht Club is very proud to welcome back the prestigious sponsorship of the MSL Motor Group for the annual At Home Regatta weekend writes Claire Bateman. The club is looking particularly resplendent with the latest Mercedes models on display and with the Mercedes flags and colourful bunting throughout the grounds there is a particularly festive atmosphere around. The At Home weekend is one of the highlights of the year at the Royal Cork Yacht Club when members and their families gather to renew old acquaintances, meet new friends and simply to enjoy a great weekend.
All ten of the National 18s were sailing for the South Coast Championship and as usual they were going hell for leather with no quarter sought nor given. Over twenty cruisers including 1,2,3 and whitesail got in a great day of racing. While in the dinghy fleets there were four Fevas, five Toppers, five Lasers and more Optimists than one could count.
Prior to racing proper some of the younger sailors were brought out for practice in the river and given the wind strength they sailed with reefed sails, not a thing one would see very often. However, the highlight was to see the two Topaz dinghies named 'Christine' and 'Spellbound', so generously donated to the Club by Dr. Raymond Fielding, standing out in their performance ahead of the dinghy fleet.
Racing will continue tomorrow (Sun) and no doubt there will be a scramble ashore after racing to partake of the programme of festivity and to enjoy the usual scrumptious afternoon tea kindly organized by the Admiral's Lady Ann, and her band of willing helpers.
#1720 – National 1720 sportsboat Champion Anthony O'Leary on Antix retained his title after three superb days of sailing in a 14–boat fleet at Baltimore Sailing Club, West Cork last weekend. Full results sheet downloadable below.
Racing commenced on Friday in glorious sunshine after a short postponement on shore, with the full 3 scheduled races being sailed in light winds west of Sherkin Island. Race 1 was won by Robert O'Leary's, Jacobs Bar and Races 2 & 3 by Anthony O'Leary's, Antix.
Day 2 again brought light winds but race officer Richard Leonard and his team did a great job, getting all 3 races finished despite a massive wind shift in race 3 with the final run turning into a beat mid way down the leg. Griffiths/Cook's Smile N'Wave won race 1, with Antix again wining the final 2 races of the day.
Sunday, the final day of racing saw a significant change in weather conditions with the crews waking up to rain and clouds that hadn't been seen in West Cork for some time. The race officer was up early to check the conditions with word coming ashore to the crews that sailing was going ahead outside the harbour.
Race 1 started after a general recall in 15 – 18 knots with line honours going to Denis Murphy's Aquatack (helmed by Mark Mansfield). The 8th and final race of the day and championships was sailed in winds gusting 25 knots giving spectacular plaining conditions with plenty of broaches and kites being shredded with Durcan/O'Shea's T-Bone taking line honours and second overall to Anthony O'Leary's Antix, with Robert O'Leary's Jacobs bar taking 3rd overall.
The next port of call for the class is Royal Cork's October league.
Royal Cork's McCann & Walsh Win 420 Nationals Trophy at RStGYC
#420sailing – After nine great races on Dublin Bay, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Peter McCann and Arran Walsh claimed the 420 Nationals trophy last weekend writes Clodagh Lyttle. The teenagers sailed to victory in style, winning four races over the three day event hosted by the Royal St. George Yacht Club. 15 boats competed and seven of these were girls pairings. The fleet, aged between 14 and 18 enjoyed the courses set by PRO Richard Kissane. Full results downloadable below as a jpg file.
This result means that there are two homes in Crosshaven who have two National Champions in the family. Last week James McCann, Peter's brother won the Optimist Trophy and earlier this year Nick Walsh, Arran's dad won the Laser Masters Trophy.
McCann and Walsh managed to defeat the ISAF pair Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove who were 20th in the World Championships in Germany. Similarly Cliodhna Ni Shuillebhain and Jill McGinley won the Ladies Title overcoming Lizzie McDowell and Cara McDowell who came 16th in the ISAFs. The standard of sailing in the Irish 420 fleet is extremely high, as another pair Harry Whitaker and Grattan Roberts also had a great result when they came 20th at the Junior Europeans .
After the prizegiving, 420 coach Ross Killian, Arran Walsh and Bill Staunton took the ice bucket challenge, much to everyone's enjoyment. The 420 sailors prepared two huge wheelbarrows of iced water and poured it on their coach.
The next 420 event is the Leinsters in Wexford Harbour on 13th and 14th September.
Royal Cork's McCann Wins Irish Optimist Title, Kinsale's Ó Suilleabhán is Junior Champion
#optimist – Royal Cork's James McCann built on his fine European Optimist performance in Dun Laoghaire a month ago by winning the Irish Optimist dinghy class title on his home waters of Cork Harbour yesterday writes Claire Bateman.
Scroll down for photo gallery of the event below by Bob Bateman.
The wind gods left the best wine for last and it certainly tasted good on the last day of racing at the CH Marine Irish Optimist National and Open Championships wirtes Claire Bateman. The wind was up to about 15 knots most of the time and the sun was shining most of the time. What more could anyone ask! PRO David O'Brien again set the course for the Senior and Junior Fleets on the Eastern Bank and to cater for the north west wind set the committee boat close to the Aghada shore. Two races were sailed for both Senior and Junior fleets and it was all over by 14.30hrs to allow competitors make their way home. However a number of protests were received and the Protest Committee was convened for hearings.
Meanwhile , PRO Eddie Rice's Regatta Fleet again sailed on the Curlane Bank. Not all of the 52 competitors in this fleet sailed today as the conditions were a bit trying for the inexperienced.
The scene after racing had finished was a veritable hive of activity as the competitors, their families and helpers rushed to get away after the prize giving. However, it soon became apparent this was not to be as a protest was going ahead and meant a delay was unavoidable. As many people had ferries to catch and long journeys this meant they could not wait for the prize giving and among these was the new Open Senior Champion Vita Heathcote RIYMYC.
The array of prizes handed out was huge and as the prizes for today were also sponsored by CH Marine Nicholas Bendon MD of the company was there to do the honours in presenting these prizes.
In the Regatta Fleet the overall champion is Moss Simmington RStGYC .
1st Junior Silver Rory O'Sullivan RCYC. 2nd Junior Silver Conor Gorman NYC. 3rd Junior Silver James Hassett RCYC. Best Local Sailor Silver Fleet Sophia McKeown RCYC. Junior Silver First Girl Kate Fahy LDYC/RStGYC.
1stJunior Gold, National and Open Champion.Michael ÓShuilleabháin KYC. Best under 11 and Best Local Sailor Junior Gold Fleet Robert Keal RCYC. Best under 10 Eve McMahon. Best under 9 Trevor Bolger.\
Iriah Senior National Champion James McCann receiving his award from Admiral Pat Lyons
It was then the turn of the Senior Fleet to receive their prizes:
1st Senior Silver Jack Fahy LDYC/RStGYC. 2nd Silver James Spillane RCYC. 3rd Senior Silver Emily Whitaker RCYC.
Vita Heathcote First Senior Gold and Open Champion. Pic Robert Bateman
1st Senior Gold and Open Senior Champion Vita Heathcote RIYMYC. 2nd Senior Gold Emilia BoyleRIYC, 3rd Senior Gold, Irish Senior National Champion and Best Irish sailor at Optimist European Championships James McCann. Senior Gold First Girl and best under 13 Irish Clare Gorman NYC.
Rear Admiral Dinghies Celine McGrath, making a presentation to Adam D'Arcy in recognition of his Silver Medal win at the International Topper Class World Championships, Pic Robert Bateman
The 2015 Irish Optimist National and Open Championships will take place at Skerries Sailing Club
See Irish Optimist Sailing Gallery by Bob Bateman below. Full Results HERE