Saturday's 2025 Cobh to Blackrock Race saw 15 to 22 knots from the south-east under race officer Niall Hawes of Cove Sailing Club, delivering quick passages and tight finishes across all divisions in the 12 km race.
It turned out to be an exhilarating edition, held under grey skies but with perfect downwind conditions powered by a flood tide. Participants enjoyed a challenging yet enjoyable race, with one competitor in the spinnaker fleet noting that they at times wished for more breeze to push them along.
The 2025 Cobh to Blackrock race had ideal sailing conditions in Cork Harbour. It proved to be an exhilarating event, occurring under grey skies but with perfect downwind conditions driven by a flood tide. Photo: Bob Bateman
The race kicked off from the Old Royal Cork Yacht Club Building. The traditional setting lent itself to the traditional signal cannon race start provided by Cannoneer (and Cork sailmaker) Barry Hayes.
As Afloat reported in 2024, Hayes built his own cannon, which was first used as the starting gun for the inter-Services Beaufort Cup during Cork Week Regatta 2024.
There were two separate starts: the first for the White Sails, and a second for the Spinnaker fleet, which commenced eight minutes later.
The 2025 Cobh to Blackrock race was started from the old Royal Cork Yacht Club clubhouse in Cobh (above), using a traditional cannon supplied and operated by Crosshaven sailmaker Barry Hayes (below right)
Johanna Murphy and the Cove Sailing Club team went all out to ensure the day's success, creating a memorable experience for all involved. However, some potential entrants were deterred by the forecast or a lack of crew, causing them to miss what they described as a 'fantastic' race day.
Cove Sailing Club's Johanna Murphy on board the Cove to Blackrock Race Committee Boat Photo: Bob Bateman
In Kites IRC 0, George Radley’s forty-footer IMP (0:43:43 corr) for CSC/RCYC took first. The Murphy family’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (0:44:46 corr) was second, with Tim McCarthy and Wan Waterman’s J/111 Joyride (0:45:57 corr) third.
Alpaca (left) and Imp neck and neck off the Cobth to Blackrock Race start line Photo: Bob Bateman
Kites IRC 1 went to Pat Tanner’s Castro ¾ Tonner Bateleur88 (0:43:34 corr) of RCYC. Dónal Keane’s J/92S Ejine (0:49:56 corr) was second.
The Kites IRC 1 division in the 2025 Cobh to Blackrock Race went to Pat Tanner’s Castro ¾ Tonner Bateleur88 Photo: Bob Bateman
In Kites IRC 2, Michael McCann’s Etchells 22 Don’t Dilly Dally (0:41:56 corr) claimed the only podium finish recorded.
Kites IRC 3 produced a close contest. Peter O’Leary’s Star keelboat Archie (0:40:08 corr) won ahead of Mark Mansfield’s H-Boat Humdinger (0:40:30 corr). Fiona and Jack Young’s Albin Express North Star (0:42:34 corr) completed the top three.
Kites IRC 3 produced a close contest. Peter O’Leary’s Star keelboat Archie (above) won ahead of Mark Mansfield’s H-Boat Humdinger (below) Both sailors are Olympic helmsmen from the Star class Photo: Bob Bateman
Kites IRC 3 produced a close contest. Peter O’Leary’s Star keelboat Archie (above) won ahead of Mark Mansfield’s H-Boat Humdinger (below) Both sailors are Olympic helmsmen from the Star class Photo: Bob Bateman
On ECHO 0, Radley’s IMP (0:44:41 corr) scored again, with McCarthy and Waterman’s Joyride (0:46:10 corr) second and Nieulargo (0:47:12 corr) third.
ECHO 1 saw Bateleur88 (0:43:53 corr) ahead of Robert O’Reilly’s Buckley 30 Kiwi (0:45:22 corr), with Ejine (0:48:16 corr) in third.
In ECHO 2, McCann’s Don’t Dilly Dally (0:45:51 corr) beat Gary O’Neill’s Sigma 33 Musketeer (0:46:44 corr).
Gary O’Neill’s Sigma 33 Musketeer Photo: Bob Bateman
ECHO 3 went to O’Leary’s Archie (0:40:14 corr), with Mills’ Shipman 28 Tonga (0:43:15 corr) second and Mansfield’s Humdinger (0:43:43 corr) third.
The Mills’ Shipman 28 Tonga
In Whitesail IRC, Eric Lisson’s Hallberg-Rassy 39 Holly Blue (0:45:01 corr) won for RCYC. Ian Hickey’s Granada 38 Cavatina (0:46:08 corr) was second, and Ronan Twomey’s First 40.7 Rosmarina (0:46:35 corr) placed third.
Eric Lisson’s Hallberg-Rassy 39 Holly Blue Photo: Bob Bateman
“Conditions were lively and made for a fast race,” said race officer Niall Hawes. “The fleets were competitive, with tight corrected times across the board.”
After finishing, competitors were invited up to the Marina in Cork city for the prizegiving.
