There was frustration yesterday until late in the afternoon for the biggest ever National 18 fleet that is gathered in Cork Harbour for Cock o'the North trophy honours. The morning race was postponed waiting for wind. After 40 minutes or so an attempt was made to get going in a six–knot north westerlies, racing eventually started under the black flag rule. Isle of Man skipper Anthony Ellis, pictured below, topped the 53 boat fleet.

MORE OF BOB BATEMAN'S PHOTOS BELOW.

Every four years the National 18 Championship or as it is known, the Cock O'the North, comes to Crosshaven and this year Class Captain Peter O'Donovan had the brainwave to stage a reunion for the Class writes Claire Bateman. Much endeavour by Peter and his willing band of helpers has gone into the 2011 event. Indeed, many boats that were lying discarded only a month ago have been dug out and revamped to arrive at Crosshaven looking like new. The fulfillment of this dream was the largest ever start line of 18s in the capable hands of Race Officers David O'Brien and Peter Crowley for the practice races today (Sun) and it included very welcome visitors from IOMYC, RFYC, Tamesis, Blackwater SC, Lymington Town SC, Cologne from Bofham SC, Gloucester SC, Baltimore SC and our near neighbour Monkstown Bay.

It was decided to give the fleets a long start line to cater for the differing speeds of the categories of 18s involved. A south west breeze of some 12 knots made for nice sailing and there was plenty of close competition as the boats rounded the weather and spreader marks.

For the racing proper starting tomorrow the fleets will be split with the Classics FG at 11am and will sail round the cans courses with plans to have the morning races finished in time to visit the local hospitality centres. The Ultimate fleet will start racing at FG 11.30am and it is expected that, weather permitting, they will sail outside the harbour.

At Royal Cork Yacht Club there is a great air of activity and a palpable excitement in the air writes Claire Bateman. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS BY BOB BATEMAN.

Hacksaws were sawing at a great rate, fittings were being screwed into place, 18s were on their sides, bows were being taped over and new sails were being unfurled before being rolled up again. Their enthusiasm was certainly infectious with some sailors going out testing boats they had borrowed or restored and rigs were being given final adjustments and their was a tremendous spirit of camaraderie throughout the club. However, no doubt this will disappear during the hours of racing during the coming week only to be rediscovered during the Aprés Sailing activities as only the 18 sailors know how!!

All this because somebody had the clever idea of having a class reunion to mark the 2011 Cock O The North. A practice race will be held today (Sun) when all 53 entrants including five Classics and Penultimate and Ultimate boats take to the water. Tomorrow's practice race day race may even be the most interesting day of the week with the entire fleet taking part together before splitting into their respective classes on Monday for the commencement of the Championship proper.

The Port of Cork will be a busy place this Tuesday as three cruiseships are scheduled to dock in the morning and depart this evening, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Next in terms of tonnage is Holland America Line's near 60,000 tonnes Rotterdam, for more about the 1997 built click this LINK. The final member of the trio belongs to Saga Cruises subsidiary Spirit of Adventure cruises, the 10,000 tonnes Spirit of Adventure. For a visual virtual tour of the vessels interior facilities click HERE.

Spirit of Adventure was scheduled in late April on a 14-day 'Relics of Rome' cruise which was to include ports of call to Libya, Tunisia and Egypt but this was cancelled due to the political situation throughout North Africa.

The combined cruise calls to Cork Harbour has a potential capacity of 5,200 passengers and the mid-July arrival confirms the ports popularity which is to welcome this year a total of 54 cruiseships and over 100,000 passengers. Azura and Spirit of Adventure are to share the berth at Ringaskiddy while the Rotterdam is to berth at the dedicated cruise terminal in Cobh.

On Thursday night sailors were saying "It's a great night to be on the water". A big change from the previous Thursday writes our Cork Harbour Correspondent. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS BY BOB BATEMAN BELOW.

The breeze was coming from the South West at about 10 knots. Full mains and a light No.1 for the seond race of the Timberland league. The start was an hour and a half after high water. So the spring tide made tactics more interesting.  The Race Officers, once again set an excellent course. It was a clean start for everyone with a short beat from Corkbeg to the Cage which we left to port. We then reached out to No.3 and then another beat out to W2. It was then a bear away set for a Spinnaker up the harbour leaving No.6 to port on the way to No.5 otherwise known as Dognose. Short beat once again to the Cage with another bear away set to No.9 After that we had another beat back to Dognose and a short beat then to the finish. It was a proper summer evening race thanks to the Race Officers and the Weather Gods!

Ernie Dillon's "Silk Breeze" in White Sail got the number 1 slot in IRC and 2nd in Echo. In Class 3 it went to Jimmy Nyhan & Maritta Buwalda's 1/4 tonner "Outrigger" in both IRC & Echo, in Class 2 it was Kieran & Liz O'Briens MG335 "Magnet" that came 1st in IRC & 2nd in Echo and in Class 1 the honours went to the Corby "Gloves Off" Kieran Twomey.

Operators of the Cork-Swansea port route, Fastnet Line celebrated their 100,000th passenger late last month, after opening the service in March 2010, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In addition passengers travelling on the Julia can visit the newly installed tourist office where an advanced booking system will be available for all accommodation, leisure, and hospitality facilities located on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Irish and Welsh members of the West Cork Tourism Co–Operative, which established the ferry operation will staff the tourist office full-time during the summer months. The facility is unique to Irish-UK ferry services and was officially opened by the new Cork County Mayor Tim Lombard. For further information from the co-operative click www.westcork.ie and more about the other on board facilities click HERE.

With competition from summer sells on offer from rival operators on the Irish Sea, in particular on St. Georges Channel services, Fastnet Line are combating with deals to encourage higher occupancy sailings during the peak season.

The company are also preparing to accommodate Irish soccer fans in the autumn, following the success of Swansea City F.C. in gaining promotion to the Premiership.

There was fun on the river at Crosshaven for the Second Saturday of Royal Cork's Optimist July League for all four fleets Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper. Three races were sailed starting out very light and ending up with about 8 knots in Cork Harbour. Plus we have one or two shots from an eight boat 420 Munsters. SCROLL DOWN FOR PICS by Bob Bateman.

Following Monday's report on the Irish championship winning yacht Tiger (Neil Kenefick) sailing in the Quarter Ton Cup in Cowes next week a second Royal Cork Yacht, Eamonn Rohan's Quarter tonner 'Anchor Challenge' is also heading to the Solent. Her crew is made up of Eamonn, Nigel Young, Sam Hunt, Ian Travers and Mick Liddy. This boat won the event in 2009 so she has form. Watch this space!

Anchor Challenge is heading for Cowes. Photo: Bob Bateman. Scroll down for more.

 

Ruigrock, Murphy, Guilfoyle and Flannigan Sailed to Laser Glory on Dublin Bay in the best conditions of the Summer so far. Across the bay in Howth Harlequin took the Puppeteer Nationals title. In a build up to Thursday's Dun Laoghaire regatta Tiamat Returned to Cruisers Zero with a Win. Pat O'Neill Sailed to E Boat National Championship victory and across the Irish sea an Irish yacht won the Three Peaks Yacht Race.

In Cork Harbour 'Mid-Summer Madness' regatta attracted 40 Boats. We have the photos. There was a Fun Time for Cruisers at Cove Sailing Club's 'At Home' Regatta.

Galway's Martin Breen is June's Sailor of the Month and the Waterford Tall Ships Parade of Sail Photos are here.

Reasons to be cheerful? You bet. Click here to read how Dublin Bay sailors celebrate these wins.

Cove Sailing Club's 'At Home' Regatta was held today in Cork Harbour. The start was off the Cobh Promenade with a prizegiving afterwards in The Marlogue Inn. Afloat's Bob Bateman captured the action afloat. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS!