Royal Cork Yacht Club’s Admiral Colin Morehead presented the club with a new trophy at the annual Flag Officers’ Dinner. 

The Perpetual Trophy, named "The Tricentennial Trophy," marks the 300-year anniversary and history of the club which occurred last year, As Admiral, Colin Morehead had to defer largescale Tricentenary commemorative plans due to the Covid pandemic.

A Tricentenary Maritime Parade was eventually possible this August and had a fleet of over a hundred yachts to the Naval Base on Haulbowline Island, the original founding location of the club, where the Admiral took the salute. He has been widely complimented for the manner in which he has led the club through the difficult pandemic period when many celebratory anniversary events had to be cancelled.

The “Tricentennial Trophy” will be awarded annually to the person who, in the view of the Club’s Admiral at the time, demonstrates a dedication and commitment to the club and through their hard work ensures that others benefit.

The first recipient of the is Club Archivist  Dr.T. Paul McCarthy.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club has decided to curtail large scale indoor activities at the club premises in Crosshaven due to the current Covid situation.

The ongoing winter sailing/racing programme for cruisers and dinghies is not affected.

Club Admiral Colin Morehead has emailed all members with the decision: “I appreciate that this announcement will disappoint many of you, but assure you that we will keep our decision under constant review as the current situation unfolds. Covid hasn't gone away and indeed in recent weeks has shown a serious increase in infections nationwide.”

He says that the club’s Executive Committee “has been guided by our priority of protecting our members and staff and in this regard have no choice but to curtail large scale indoor activities at the Club. Therefore, I regret to advise that the Admirals Choice dinner scheduled for this Friday is cancelled; the Junior Laying-Up Supper is postponed to the New Year and all other organised social events currently in the calendar until year end are put on hold. The Club Office, Bar & Restaurant will remain open as per scheduled opening hours.”

The annual Members’ Open Forum will take place next Tuesday on Zoom at 7.30 p.m.

This has also been put online because of the Covid situation. The Forum will review all club activities during 2021 and plans for next year will be discussed. Members can raise issues for consideration.

Racing continued on Sunday in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Laser (ILCA) and Topper Frostbite leagues with races 10,11 and 12 in bright but cold 16 knot winds under race officer Barry Rose.

In the ILCA 4 division, all three races were won by Oisín MacSweeney. In the Toppers, Liam Duggan won race 10 and Rowan MacSweeney won races 11 and 12.

The overall leader in ILCA 4 is Isabel Mc Carthy with Mauro G Regueral Noguerol in second and Max Tolan in third.

Overall, the Topper gold fleet is led by Rowan MacSweeney with Liam Duggan second and Julie O'Neill third. Andrew O'Neill is leading the silver fleet with Sean Holmes second and Ellen Mc Donagh third.

The league started this year with a six-race sprint event on Sunday the seventh which served as both a stand-alone event and the first 6 races in the Frostbite League.

A number of the Laser and Topper sailors were sailing in the team racing nationals held in the club on Saturday and Sunday but will be back for next week when the league will conclude on Saturday the 27th of November with 3 more races and prizegiving on the club lawn afterwards.

Last week's three-way points tie in the Royal Cork O’Leary Insurance Winter League as reported by Afloat here was broken in yesterday's third race by league debutantes Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher sailing their new Quarter Tonner Diamond.

Garvey and Kelleher lead on IRC by five points from Dave Lane’s J/24 ‘Ya Gotta Wanna’, (the overall winner of the club’s Autumn Series), who stays second after more breeze for the third race in Cork Harbour.

Four points further back is Richard Leonard's Bolero, Bandit. Scroll down for a photo gallery by Afloat's Bob Bateman

The league is being held ‘all-in’ and under ‘White Sails’ only for the first time.

Yesterday marked the launch of Nick Walsh's new 1720 sportsboat, Breaking Bad, videoed going downwind (below) in her first race racing alongside Anthony O'Leary's custom 1720 Antix Beag.

On the water, the Tingle Family's new X-4 Alpaca led the harbour race that featured Corkbeg buoy and a finish at Cage.

In White Sails ECHO division, Mike Rider's Freya won the race with Cavatina second Photo: Bob Bateman

© Afloat.ie

Results are here

O'Leary Insurance RCYC Winter League Race Three Photo Gallery

Last week's club talk by Royal Cork Yacht Club helmsman Harold Cudmore on the exploits of the Cork Harbour One Design classic yacht Jap at St. Tropez in October gave details of the 1897-built yacht's recent performances on the continent but also revealed details of 2022 plans to bring a classic boat division to Cork Week Regatta next year.

As regular Afloat readers will recall, the restored Jap skippered by Cudmore and with a crew that counted club Admiral Colin Morehead among its number won Le Voile Saint Tropez Classic Regatta in the South of France.

In a great result for Cork Harbour classic boat enthusiasts, Royal Cork member Terry Birles and his yacht Erin took fifth in their class in St. Tropez too.

Royal Cork member Terry Birles (left) with a half model of his yacht Erin and RCYC Admiral Colin Morehead Photo: Bob Bateman

During the club talk, Birles presented a half model of the classic yacht Erin for display at the Crosshaven clubhouse.

Details of Cork Week's Classic Division are to be announced at the Paris Boat Show on 4th December.

Jap, built in Carrigaloe in 1897 and fully restored and sailing again (pictured here in Cork Harbour) as part of RCYC's 300th celebrations, took an unassailable lead in her class at the important classic regatta in October. Olympic helmsman Cudmore was on the tiller of the oldest and the smallest yacht at the classic yacht Centenary Trophy fleet in St. Tropez. Photo: Mary Malone

A three-way points tie in the Royal Cork O'Leary Insurance Winter League sees debutantes Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher sailing their new Quarter Tonner Diamond continue to lead overall after two races under the tie break rule.

As Afloat reported previously the league is being held 'all-in' and under 'White Sails' only for the first time.

Dave Lane's J/24 Ya Gotta Wanna, the overall winner of the club's October League, stayed on form and lies second overall after another light airs test in Cork Harbour.

Third, in the 23-boat fleet (up five from last week's 18) is Richard Leonard's Bandit, Bolero.

Anthony O'Leary and Sally O'Leary sailing their modified 1720 Antix Photo: Bob Bateman

Race Officers Clem and Wendy McElligott set course 70 from the RCYC course card; Start at Cage, Run to Corkbeg beat back to Cage and then around harbour buoys to the finish.

Results are here

Royal Cork O'Leary Insurance Winter League Photo Gallery Day Two

O'Leary Insurance Winter League debutantes Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher sailing their new Quarter Tonner Diamond were the winners of Sunday's first IRC race of the Royal Cork League that is being sailed this year exclusively under White Sails.

Dave Lane's J/24 Ya Gotta Wanna, the overall winner of the October League, stayed on form and finished second in today's light airs in Cork Harbour. Third, in the 18-boat fleet was the O'Connell Family sailing the club J/24 Jambalaya.

Although it was the subject of some misgivings, today's opening race under white sails only worked out well, even if the light harbour westerly spoiled the proceedings a little. 

Race Officers Clem and Wendy Mc Elligott gave the fleet a running start across the harbour to Corkbeg, somewhat affected by the ebb tide. 

Mel and Kieran Collins' Coracle (pictured left) got a good light air start in the first race of the O'Leary Winter League. Coracle (below) was sailing with just two crew.  Photo: Bob Bateman

From there, it was course 101, leaving buoys  No 1, No 8, No 10, No.7 and Corkbeg to starboard and then back to Cage to starboard and a sausage to Corkbeg, back to cage, leaving No eight and No 5 to starboard before the finish.

(Above and below) Paul and Deirdre Tingle's new Alpaca, an X Yacht X-4 'Pocket Luxury Yacht' model

Royal Cork dinghies

On a busy day for Royal Cork, the Laser (ILCA 4 and 6) and Topper dinghy Frostbite league were also on the water. There was coaching for top Optimist sailors too. 

Results here

O'Leary Insurance Royal Cork Winter League Photo Gallery

The cut short Investwise Irish Youth Sailing National Championships on Cork Harbour had produced some clear winners in five classes regardless of today's Yellow Alert weather warning at Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Five titles were divided between Dublin and Cork sailors with the host club taking two crowns, the biggest haul of any single club with the 29er and Topper titles won by local sailors.

Both Laser titles go to Dublin, with Howth Yacht Club taking the ILCA 6 and the National Yacht Club winning in the ILCA 4.

The 420 title is shared by a combined Malahide and Wexford duo.

McMahon wins ILCA 6 but Crosbie's Reinstatement Makes it Close

ILCA 6 Champion - Eve McMahon of Howth

As Afloat reported earlier, the final results from Saturday’s long day afloat weren’t initially confirmed as two titles were eventually settled ashore in the protest room this morning.

On Saturday evening, a protest by ILCA6 (Laser Radial) overall leader Eve McMahon saw the Howth Yacht Club sailor extend her lead over Michael Crosbie of the Royal Cork YC when he was disqualified from Race 10 due to a port and starboard incident.

However, the Crosshaven sailor returned to the protest room on Sunday morning to have his result reinstated as McMahon had not informed the race committee of her protest on Saturday.

McMahon still emerged as ILCA6 Youth National Champion after the tie-break with Crosbie.

O'Shaughnessy & Dwyer Lift 29er Skiff Title 

29er Champions - Ben O’Shaughnessy and James Dwyer (Royal Cork YC) Photo: Bob Bateman

Ben O’Shaughnessy and James Dwyer (Royal Cork YC) won the 29er skiff national title by a single point as Afloat reported here after a close contest with Tim Norwood and Nathan Van Steenberge from the Royal Irish YC and National YC respectively in their eleven strong demonstration class that immediately followed a European Championships campaign on Lake Garda last week.

The runners-up were also in the protest room on Sunday morning seeking redress for equipment failure in their second race of the series on Friday but their submission was ruled out of time.

Collins top Toppers, Newcomer Ledoux Wins 4.7s

Topper Champion - Rian Collins of Royal Cork Photo: Bob Bateman

As Afloat reported earlier, Crosshaven’s Rian Collins won the 38-boat Topper class with a 12-point lead over his clubmate Dan O’Leary taking the runner-up place in their seven-race series. Bobby Driscoll's third overall kept the Belfast Lough Topper flag flying.

ILCA 4 Champion - Sam Ledoux of the National YC Photo: Bob Bateman

The Topper fleet shared the same course as the ILCA4 (Laser 4.7) class, the second largest of the event with 31 boats where a newcomer to the class, Sam Ledoux of the National YC, emerged youth national champion. 

Five wins Give McDowell & Thompson the 420 Title

420 champions - Jack McDowell and Henry Thompson Photo: Bob Bateman

The Malahide and Wexford Harbour pairing of Jack McDowell and Henry Thompson continued their three-day lead of the 420 class to win comfortably as Afloat reports here over Eoghan Duffy with Conor Paul of Lough Ree YC in a disappointingly small nine boat class.

Malahide and Wexford Harbour duo of Jack McDowell and Henry Thompson continued their overall lead of the 420 class at the Investwise Youth Sailing National Championships at Cork Harbour.

Counting four race wins on the opening day of the championships, the pair ended the ten races five points clear of Eoghan Duffy and Conor Paul of Lough Ree. Lying third is Malahide's Imogen Hauer and Hugo Micka.

420: Sailed: 10, Discards: 1, To count: 9, Entries: 9

Racing is scheduled for Sunday, but a forecast for strong winds looks set to cut the championships short.

Update Sunday 09.24: Due to current wind conditions and forecast, the race committee has decided to cancel sailing for the day. Prizegiving at 10 am in the marquee

420 Day Three Youth Nationals Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman 

James Dwyer and Ben O'Shaughnessy of the RCYC continue to lead the 29er skiff class Investwise youth sailing nationals but only by a single point from Royal Irish rivals Tim Norwood and Nathan van Steenberge. 

After nine races sailed at Crosshaven, the three Irish boats that raced in the gold fleet at last week's Europeans in Lake Garda now occupy the top three slots at the Cork Harbour based championships.

Norwood and van Steenberge (who posted the top Irish result of 11th in Italy) have climbed back up the leaderboard from fourth place after four races to be in reach of the title after winning races eight and nine on Saturday afternoon. 

Third is the well sailed girls National YC/Royal St. George YC combination of Clementine van Steenberge and Chiara Carra. 

Racing is scheduled for Sunday, but a strong wind forecast may yet curtail racing. 

Update Sunday 09.24: Due to current wind conditions and forecast, the race committee has decided to cancel sailing for the day. Prizegiving at 10 am in the marquee

29er: Sailed: 9, Discards: 1, To count: 8, Entries: 11