The annual "Midsummer Madness" racing and Barbeque took place on Friday at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.  There was no racing on Thursday night as the last races of Union Chandlery June League and Victoria Cross Cycles Whitesail Summer League both took place on the night instead as did the Motor Cruisers treasure hunt around the harbour writes Claire Bateman. All boat owners that took to the water were entered in the Marine Motors sponsored annual draw for the magnificent prize of a 2.5hp Mariner outboard engine and the evening saw a splendid turn out of 40 yachts.SCROLL DOWN FOR BOB BATEMAN'S PHOTOS.

Adrielle was on station in her refurbished state with the crew still putting finishing touches to the portholes and mighty fine she looked too.   Martin Almond and the Race Team sent the cruisers on course 93, two rounds for Class One and one for the other classes plus a course for the Whitesail fleet that included a beat out to number 6.  As that fleet came around number 6 they were met by the other fleets coming in the harbour and it was nearly as busy as Piccadilly Circus.  Nobody minded as they had a lovely 6 to 8 kts southerly breeze to make for very enjoyable sailing and made the most of the evening.

Aprés sailing there was a rush to get back to the club, for once not to have to get in out of the weather but this time the rush was to grab a seat and enjoy their  barbeque food in the outside Patio dining area.  I hasten to add the club was also jammed to the hilt as the sailors awaited the call to announce results and prize giving.  While waiting the sound of great live music floated over Crosshaven and it was just one tremendous summer evening of sailing and fun.

At last the moment arrived and Vice Admiral Peter Deasy sounded the call to arms and Rear Admiral Ronan Enright warned anyone not present outside for the prize giving would not be considered for the draw for  the Marine Motors engine  which prompted a dash to the patio area. After the Leagues prize giving three tickets were drawn. Tim O'Mahony from the O'Shea/Durcan T Bone, Michael Wallace of Felix and Derry Nash of Catalpa were the tree names.  Two of the three would get bottles of champagne with the last remaining name getting the engine.  Derry Nash turned out to be the lucky punter and was thrilled with his luck on the night.

Next Thursday night a new sponsor, the very well known Timberland, will be on board for the July league. Racing will take place on July 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. The company is offering a 20% discount on their products for RCYC members on production of their membership cards.

A ding dong sailing battle for line honours between an A35 design and an X362 made up for last night's poor turnout at Royal Cork's Short handed Wine Race sponsored by Karwig.

Frank Doyle's Endgame (A35) beat Derry Good's X362 Sport Exhale on IRC Handicap in a tightly raced affair over a Cork Harbour course.

With a blustery westerley and a biting wind for this time of year it was only the hardy took to the water. Those that did had a great night of racing and entertainment. With a start from the committee boat at the grassy competitors got off on a run heading for Corkbeg before rounding to beat back to No. 8.

As usual, this was a choice of going left or right with the flood tide and from Corkbeg a reach to No. 10 where your photographic scribe was waiting in eager anticipation of the colours that were going to spring at him. However, it was not to be and perhaps they made a wise choice.

From No. 9 they reached back to Corkbeg with a fetch to finish at the beautifully refurbished Adrielle with Rory Fitzpatrick doing the honours as Race Officer.

After an exhilirating race the prospect of the warm clubhouse awaiting the competitors was very enticing and paricularly so in view of the generous wine prizes which were presented to every competing boat.

Rear Admiral Ronan Enright presented the prizes and paid due tribute and thanks to the generous sponsorship of locally based Karwig Wine Suppliers.

Results below.

Royal Cork now turns its attention to the 1720 Sportsboat Nationals running this Thursday to Saturday. 15 boats are expected. On Sunday the Examiner newspaper sponsored Round Spike Island race is also being staged.

Action from last night's Shorthanded Wine Race. Photo: Bob Bateman. More photos below.

Shorthanded Wine Race:

Results IRC 1 Endgame 2, Magnet MG335 Kieran and Liz O'Brien 3, Wicket Sunfast 3 Mark Mendell.

Results Echo All In. 1 Silk Breeze Dehler 36 Ernie Dillon, 2 Exhale X362 Sport Derry Good, 3 Thistle Hustler 25.5 Peter Webster.

 

Mary O'Keefes' Tux, an X-332, was the winner of last night's IRC class one fleet in Cork Harbour, a night of perfect sailing conditions reports Hugh Mockler. In class two Kieran and Liz O'Brien's Magnet, an MG335, scored a second race win to lead overall after the second race of the season. Full Results below.

Short legs and plenty of mark roundings and a WNW breeze of 15 to 18 knots with flat water and sunshine made for a great night's sailing at Royal Cork Yacht Club.

There were over 20 boats racing in the McWilliam Sailmakers May league. Class 1 started at 19.00hrs, then Class 2 & 3 at 19.05 and then the White Sail at 19.10.

Race Officer was Edmund Cogan (National 18 sailor) with the help of his team. The combnined fleet started at Corkbeg and the firt leg was a beat to No.8, staying on the Eastern side of the course seemed to pay off.

The tide was ebbing with low water at 20.00hrs but for neap tides, there was still a good flow out of the harbour.

Adding an extra complication to race tactics was a cable laying tug in the middle of the course with yellow marker buoys around it, marking an exclusion zone. 'Do we go North or South?' was the decision skippers had to make.

Far easier was remembering the course; all the marks were to starboard.

After No.8 there was a short reach to No.10. After No.10 the fleet headed for No.7 before a gybe back to Corkbeg.

Spinnakers came down at Corkbeg and a close-hauled reach across the harbour to the Cage Buoy off the Grassy Walk line.

After that there was another reach back the way we came to Corkbeg, with big debates whether to carry a kite or not. .

The fleet rounded Corbeg and then reached close-hauled once again back to the finish line at the Grassy Walk.

Main results below

Series Place	Sail No	Boat	Type of Boat	Owner	Handicap	Series Points	Race 1	Race 2
1	IRL3209	Endgame	A35	Frank Doyle	1.031	5	1	4
2	IRL6021	Ellida	X332	Ria Lyden	0.986	5	3	2
3	IRL8991	Exhale	X362 Sport	Diarmuid & Hilda Good	1.024	7	2	5
4	IRL892	Tux	X332	Mary O'Keeffe	0.981	8	7	1
5	IRL2003	Gloves Off	Corby 38	Kieran Twomey	1.115	10	7	3
6	IRL7290	Felix	X332	Michael Wallace	0.981	11	4	7
7	IRL2805	Indulgence	Dufour 36	Aidan Heffernan	1.023	13	7	6
8	IRL1367	Endeavour	First 36.7	Conor & Denise Phelan	1.009	16	7	9
8	IRL2007	Jump Juice	Ker 37	C & D Phelan	1.105	16	7	9
8	IRL3939	Antix	Ker 39	Anthony O'Leary	1.129	16	7	9
8	IRL4430	Samba	Sunfast 40.3	John Downing	1.030	16	7	9
8	IRL9609	Jelly Baby	J109	Ian Nagle & Paul O'Malley	1.029	16	7	9
8	IRL9834	True Penance	Projection 35 Mod	Colman Garvey & Martin Darrer		16	7	9
8	IRL13500	D-Tox	X35	Donal O'Leary		16	7	9
8	IRL17200	Antix Beag	1720 Mod	Robert O'Leary	1.005	16	7	9

Series Place	Sail No	Boat	Type of Boat	Owner	Handicap	Series Points	Race 1	Race 2
1	GBR9896	Magnet	MG335	Kieran & Liz O'Brien	0.945	2	1	1
2	IRL9732	Wicked	Sunfast 32	Mark Mendell	0.940	5	2	3
3	IRL16859	Bad Company	Sunfast 32	Desmond, Ivers & Deasy	0.939	8	6	2
4	IRL1022	Aramis	Contessa 33	Pat Vaughan	0.929	8	4	4
5	IRL78	No Gnomes	Nicholson 33 mod	Leonard Donnery	0.910	11	3	8
6	IRL1972	No Excuse	X 302 MK2	Ted Crosbie	0.931	11	6	5
7	IRL1193	Catalpa	First 31.7	Derry Nash	0.955	12	5	7
8	IRL6676	Y-Knot	First 32S5	Pat Barrett & Cathal Conlon	0.933	14	8	6
9	GBR7525	Thunderbird	Corby 25	Denis Coleman	0.940	19	8	11
9	IRL2005	Gosling	First 31.7	Gerard O'Sullivan	0.955	19	8	11
9	IRL2525	Yanks $ Ffrancs	Corby 25	Vincent O'Shea	0.938	19	8	11
9	IRL3492	Big Deal	Dehler 34	Derek Dillon	0.925	19	8	11
9	IRL3651	Aisling	Dufour 36	Bryan Heffernan	0.933	19	8	11
9	IRL3861	Cavatina	Granada 38	Ian Hickey	0.928	19	8	11
9	IRL9187	Aurora	Corby 25	Ronan Lydon	0.935	19	8	11
9	IRL9992	Split Point	Dufour 34 Performance	Seamus Gilroy	0.966	19	8	11

Series Place	Sail No	Boat	Type of Boat	Owner	Handicap	Series Points	Race 1	Race 2
1	IRL3691W	Silk Breeze	Dehler 36	Ernie Dillon	0.927	2	1	1
2	IRL3612W	Sweet Dreams	Sun Odyssey 36i	Batt O'Leary	0.982	6	2	4
3	IRL2510W	Lady T	Jeanneau 32i	Michael Lynch	0.940	6	3	3
4	GBR1786YW	Thistle	Hustler 25.5	Peter Webster	0.805	7	5	2
5	IRL3610W	Elegance	Sun Odyssey 36i	Paul O'Shea	0.963	11	4	7
6	IRL1022W	Aramis	Contessa 33	Pat Vaughan	0.920	14	7	7
6	IRL1950W	X-Tension	X-372MH	Conor O'Donovan	0.952	14	7	7
6	IRL2005W	Gosling	Beneteau 31.7	Ger O'Sulllivan	0.945	14	7	7
6	IRL2406W	Expression	Jeaneau 30	Billy Duane	0.868	14	7	7
6	IRL3492W	Big Deal	Dehler 34	Derek Dillon	0.915	14	7	7
6	IRL3651W	Aisling	Dufour 365	Brian Heffernan	0.930	14	7	7
6	IRL3861W	Cavatina	Granada 38	Ian Hickey	0.913	14	7	7
6	IRL9992W	Split Point	Dufour 34	Seamus Gilroy	0.955	14	7	7

On Friday night last Barry Rose Commodore of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association launched the ICRA Corinthian Cup at the Royal Cork Yacht Club when Club Admiral Paddy McGlade was presented with the new trophy writes Claire Bateman. This cup will be the ultimate trophy for the non spinnaker fleet and carrying the same status of 'National Championship' at the ICRA National Championships. These events, to be sailed side by side, will give due recognition to both events and will add an element of fun and family competition to the whole scene.

Royal Cork Admiral Paddy McGlade receives the new trophy from ICRA Commodore Barry Rose. Photo: Bob Bateman

It was felt by ICRA that the idea of a Corinthian Cup event would reflect the spirit of inclusiveness being displayed by the non spinnaker sailors and means there are now two identical Cups offering equal status to both ECHO and IRC champions.

Admiral Paddy Mc Glade has placed the trophy on display in the Club Bar to encourage all the local non spinnaker (whitesail) fleet to enter the event to be hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club from 17th to 19th June.

Douglas Deane will be Race Officer for the non-spinnaker class so an event of the highest calibre is assured.

 

Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary has had a disappointing start to the RORC Easter Sailing Challenge on the Solent today writes James Boyd.

Traditionally the Challenge has been an event for full oilskins and thermals to counter the freezing cold and driving rain For the first day of the RORC's annual European season opener, conditions were more like August, albeit with the wind cooled by the still chilly Solent. With this afternoon's first race held in six knots, followed by a puffy breeze gusting at times to an unforecast 12 knots during race two, combined with a building flood tide, it was a tricky day for the tacticians, but with the unseasonal sunshine there were no complaints.

In a class dominated by Ker designs it was the Mark Mills-designed King 40 Tokoloshe of South African Mike Bartholomew that posted two bullets in IRC One. Rob Gray and Sam Laidlaw's perennial Farr 52 Bob, the biggest boat competing, led the way around the race course with a sufficient enough advantage in both races to finish the day with two seconds.

One of the pre-race favourites following her Rolex Commodores' Cup win last year, Antix, the Ker 39 of Anthony O'Leary, had a disappointing first race. "There would be a lot of beeping," said O'Leary when asked to describe what went wrong. "We had a terrible start. After that there was no place to recover, but the second race was fun and it was a lot more pleasant than the last two Easter freeze-outs. It was bloody cold and wet last year..." Antix, which has had no changes made to her since her Rolex Commodores' Cup victory, is currently lying sixth overall in IRC One.

In IRC Two it is even closer with three boats within a point of one another at the top. Tied in first with Andrew Williams' Prima 38 Max 'Ed Out!, is Andrew McIrvine's First 40 La Réponse. "We got tied up on the first beat in the first race and we tacked into more tide against and more wind, but we made a good recovery," recounted the RORC's Commodore, "but the Prima had the best of it." McIrvine was pleased his newly formed crew is starting to gell. They plan to compete in all the RORC races this year, culminating in the Rolex Fastnet Race. "It was a lovely day sailing. You couldn't ask for better. It is like the middle of summer."

Proving his skill is not solely in racing giant multihulls round the world or singlehanded on IMOCA 60s, Brian Thompson is leading IRC 3 with his crew on the J/109 Toe In The Water. However Thompson's crew, that includes several recuperating servicemen, is just one point ahead of Chris and Hannah Neve's much campaigned Lymington-based First 35 No Chance, their team having three Commodores' Cups behind them.

Chris Neve, sailing with the experienced Phil Lawrence on mainsheet, was particularly pleased with their performance in today's second race when they port tacked the fleet and went on to win, despite putting in a penalty turn at the top mark when they tacked too close to another boat.

Leading the J/80s is Douglas Neville-Jones, a relative newcomer to the class, who co-owns his boat with Erivale III owner Mike Greville. Their reason for having the boat is to teach their sons and daughters. "The young ones usually just get sidelined and don't get to understand what's happening," explained Neville-Jones. "Do this [the J/80] and you get involved and that makes a huge difference, because they actually learn about why you are going this way or looking for shifts. Otherwise if you are on the weather rail of a big boat and the guys at the back are discussing whether they are on a shift or not – you aren't aware of that at all."

Throughout the day the coaching squad, led by Jim Saltonstall, has been out on the water in force, helping crews with their boat's tuning, their sail handling and manoeuvres, etc. With the rule preventing 'outside help' being dropped for this regatta, the coaches can get on board and help. Much video of the racing was taken and this was analysed in the Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre post racing.

"It is incredibly useful," said Mike Moxley of the coaching. His HOD35 Malice is mid-fleet in IRC Three. "Barry Dunning, who has come in to give us a bit of coaching, is always incredibly useful. He is very perceptive. You can see things going on with the sails 50m away that you can't see on board. He has taken trimmers off and put someone on the boat who has coached us directly. So good on RORC – it is very useful. Otherwise you always get good competition - there are some very good helms here and it is always hotly contested."

Racing continues tomorrow with three races scheduled with the first warning signal due at 0955 BST.

Sailing tributes have been paid to legendary boat builder George Bushe, who died last week aged 89.

Born in Baltimore, Co Cork, Bushe got his start in boat building through his father, who make traditional punts. From there he went on to Skinner's Boatyard in Skibbereen and worked with the late Jack O'Driscoll in Ringaskiddy.

In the 1960s and '70s he worked at the Southcoast Boatyard in Rochestown, where be built many famous racing boats for Cork's premier sailing clans - such as the Golden Apple for the late Hugh Coveney, father of Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney.

Bushe went into semi-retirement in the 1970s, working at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, restoring boats in winter and even racing his own until the mid 2000s.

His remains were carried to St Patrick's Cemetary in Crosshaven aboard the Cánóg, the last boat he completed and which he raced competitively as recently as 2006.

George Bushe is survived by his wife Carmel and their children: Bernice, Fergus, sail maker Majella, shipwright Mark, and boat builder and sailor Killian Bushe, who just last month received the Fastnet Award for his own contributions to sailing.
 
The Irish Examiner has more on the story HERE. 

My first experience of racing was in a National 18 wooden dinghy and it was rough. Inexperienced as a crewman during a race in Monkstown Bay, I slit the top of a finger across a chain plate while pulling in the headsail sheet.

Blood started to pour out of the cut. With the dinghy having only a short freeboard I did what seemed best. To avoid getting blood on the sail which is a heinous crime aboard sailing boats, I put my hand in the water to wash away the blood.
A roar from astern heralded the Skipper's response:
"Get your b....hand out of the water, you're causing drag," which meant I was being accused of the crime of slowing the boat down in a race where there was little wind and every bit of forward momentum was important.
I began to explain and made the mistake of asking where I should put my bloodied finger!
The answer is not printable, but taught me that National 18s didn't take competitive sailing lightly.
I grew to love those boats, their beautiful lines, their speed and their demands on the crew with a spinnaker up. Inevitably, with the cost of maintaining wooden boats, the glass fibre boats (GRP), took over, but the National 18 Class kept going, primarily based in Crosshaven.
Then the 1720s arrived, named after the year when the Royal Cork Yacht Club was founded, powerful new boats which were predicted to wipe out the National 18s. They didn't. Despite becoming very popular for a time, their support declined and the National 18s continued, not alone surviving, but strengthening
This week the Class has announced that it intends to host "the largest gathering of National 18s in the history of this legendary boat."
Next year's Class Championships, better known as the Cock O' the North and sailed in alternative years in Ireland and the UK, where the National 18 is also popular, will be held in Crosshaven from July 24 to 29.
"We are calling on everyone interested to get in touch and take part in what is going to be a great occasion, whether you are a former 18 sailor or someone looking for a new challenge," Class Captain Peter O'Donovan told me. "We are putting in a big effort to get former 18 sailors and their boats back on the water."
It is hoped that at least 50 boats will take part "and perhaps even more," said Peter who has been trawling class records to find former owners and boats which will be arranged in three divisions for the event.
"We decided to include a Classics section, which will encourage those who owned the beautiful wooden, clinker boats, to sail again with us. Some of these boats have reappeared in Crosshaven, we know of others in West Cork and further afield," said Peter.
There will be a section for the "Penultimates," the older fibreglass 18s which "have been hiding in garages, just waiting to be taken out again" and the "Ultimates," the modern fibreglass boats at the front of the present fleet.
"We want to make this a special event and so far there has been interest from Schull, Baltimore, Waterford, Wexford, Arklow and Lough Derg. Further afield, we expect to see visitors from Scotland, the Isle of Man, Essex, Tamesis and Chichester Harbour and we have even had a request for information from Germany."
One of the famous boat building family in Arklow, James Tyrrell, is amongst those who have owned and sailed a National 18. Another sailor of the boats was Peter Crowley, present Chairman of the Irish Sailing Association.
He sailed with Tommy Dwyer from Monkstown who is regarded as an icon of the National 18 fleet in Cobblerod. Tommy now sails Das Boot.

Fun in the National 18. Photo: Bob Bateman

"She was recovered from the bottom of Cork Harbour and I refurbished her. said Tommy, "We named her after the U-boat which featured in the film of that name."
Tommy has been sailing National 18s for over 40 years. Every year his name has been amongst the trophy winners.
"For those interested in sailing, we would like to hear from those who would like to crew in the championships," Peter O'Donovan told me. "In addition, we are compiling a list of boats available for charter across the three divisions. For anyone not looking to sail, but just to be part of the event, we will also require assistance with rescue vessels, committee boats and other aspects of the event. It is also hoped to put together a collection of photographs from days gone. We would like to hear from anybody with material. Former 18 sailors who cannot get involved in the event could join us at the Class Dinner and renew acquaintances."
Anyone interested can contact the National 18 class by Emailing Peter O'Donovan at [email protected] or on phone 087 2491720 or Email Kieran O'Connell at [email protected]
The original idea for the building of National 18s was that of Frank Knowling of Whitstable YC in the UK, who later became known as the 'father' of the class. In 1938 he wanted an 18-foot dinghy, suitable for day sailing, yet fast enough to be of interest to racing sailors and at a reasonable cost.

The UK national sailing association and Yachting World magazine organised a design competition won by well-known designer Uffa Fox with a proposal for a clinker-built wooden boat. Another major designer, ¸, had also submitted a proposed boat. The first National 18 was named 'Hurricane,' owned by Stanley Beale and sailed at Whitstable.

It was not until after World War that building of 18s got underway. The Class Association was established in 1947 and by 1950 fleets had appeared at clubs around the coast of Britain and Ireland.

Seventy-two years after the first moves to build National 18s they still survive, a tribute to a great boat.

This article is reprinted by permission of the EVENING ECHO newspaper, Cork, where Tom MacSweeney writes maritime columns twice weekly. Evening Echo website: www.eecho.ie

The re-run of the All Ireland Sailing Championships will take place in Kinsale and not Crosshaven on November 20th according to a press release from the Irish Sailing Association published today.

A minimum of three races must be completed for the competition to conclude and the ISA Helmsman's Trophy awarded.

The final, originally scheduled to take place in Royal Cork Yacht Club on the 26th of September, had to be abandoned due to an absence of wind.

The competition will be sailed in the ISA SailFleet J80's which are currently based in Kinsale Yacht Club. Due to the difficulty in safely sailing the fleet from Kinsale to Crosshaven the venue had to be changed, however the host club remains Royal Cork Yacht Club who are now kindly assisted by Kinsale Yacht Club.

8 teams will be competing for the ISA Helmsmans Trophy. As this competition is recognised as a new event, no previous points shall be carried forward. Each competitor begins with a blank score card.
The finalists are:
Anthony O'Leary
Ewen Barry
Garrett May
James Espey
Neil Kenefick
Niall Henry
Nicholas O'Leary
Nick Walsh

Who'll win? We're starting a readers poll on Monday. Click back to cast your vote!

A dry sailing facility would make the Royal Cork Yacht Club one of the best in the world. It's a pity it may be too expensive, says Patton. It is a pity too about the lack of highly competitive racing in a club full to the brim with seriously talented sailors, he says. Read more HERE

Panz is looking for help identifying a location of a sailing venue. A photo shows a National 18 on the hard at a clubhouse that might be in Derry? Can you help identify this club house? HERE

CH Marine's  first Winter League race kicks off at Royal Cork Yacht Club this Sunday. Racing continues on 14th, 21st, 28th and December 5th.  The First Gun each day will be at 12.25