On Sunday, there was a cold, crisp finish to the all-in O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club. 

A port tack start with an ebb tide coming down the Owenabue river pushed the cruiser-racer fleet ever closer to the start line, a situation that prompted an individual recall in the 22-boat fleet. 

After four races sailed and one discard applied, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star held a four-point advantage at the top of Royal Cork Yacht Club's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2022 in IRC.

A port tack start with an ebb tide coming down the Owenabue River pushed the fleet ever closer to the line in the final race of the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

The course brought the fleet to Corkbeg, then no.14 out the harbour to Roches Point and back to a finish.

Race Officer Nin O'Leary prepares to get the fleet away in the final race of the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club; the race was started from "Grassy" line with a transit between the shore and the Cage buoy in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

North Star made no mistake; today's win was the fourth of the series, enough to seal the victory by six points on IRC and take the Archie O'Leary memorial trophy.

In his Albin sister ship, Apache, Kinsale visitor Alan Mulcahy stayed second overall, with Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher in the Dubois Quarter Tonner Diamond, helmed by Roy Darrer in third place. 

A prizegiving was held at the RCYC clubhouse in Crosshaven, with Race Officer Nin O'Leary presenting the prizes.

Jack Young, helm of North Star, was first in Echo and IRC at the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club and was presented with his preize by Nin O'Leary (left) and Paul Tingle, RCYC Rear Admiral Keelboats (right)  Photo: Bob BatemanKinsale's Alan Mulcahy from the Albin Express Apache takes the second prize at the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Helmsman Roy Darrer from the Quarter Tonner Diamond picks up third prize (IRC) in O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Seamus Gilroy from the Dufour 34P, Split Point, second on ECHO handicap in the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Sean Hanley skipper of Luas was third on ECHO handicap in the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Denis Murphy's Grand Soleil 44 Nieulargo (below) was judged the best-dressed boat overall for the Christmas-time race of the O'Leary Insurances Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Overall results below

After four races sailed and with one discard applied, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star has a four-point advantage at the top of Royal Cork Yacht Club's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2022 in IRC with one race left to sail.

22 boats are racing in an all-in format under white sails only in the last racing of the Crosshven season.

Kinsale visitor Alan Mulcahy, in his Albin sister ship, Apache, stays in second place overall on seven points, with Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher in the Dubois Quarter Tonner Diamond in third place on nine.

With the Monkstown Bay 1720 ahead on the water, overall leader Fiona Young's smaller Albin Express (right) is well up on the much bigger MG335, Magnet in today's fourth race of Royal Cork Yacht Club's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Today's penultimate race of the Cork Harbour series was sailed in a biting northeast breeze that cancelled racing on the east coast at Dun Laoghaire. One, two and three in race four reflect the position in the overall scoreboard. 

The course sailed set by Race Officer Anthony O'Leary was to Corkbeg in the harbour to no.14, East Ferry 2 and straight back to finish at The Cage Line. The leading boat, Jelly Baby took just over an hour to sail the course. 

There were great celebrations at Crosshaven for the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites prizegiving not only for the winners of the three-race series but also because of confirmation of Royal Cork's staging of the Topper World Championships in 2023.

Class captains Tom Mapplebeck and Eddie Kingston of the Topper and ILCA classes, respectively, presented the prizes in the company of RCYC Rear Admiral dinghies Maurice Collins and a big turnout of Cork Harbour youth sailors.

This is the first year for some years that RCYC has had a full rig in its Frostbite Series as some of the Topper and 4.7 Laser sailors graduate to the bigger rig.

The Topper World Championships will be sailed from Crosshaven from 24th-28th July, the prizegiving heard.

Claire Crosbie is presented with flowers by Rear Admiral Dinghies Maurice Collins for assisting with Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbite Race Officer duties with her husband Tom Photo: Bob Bateman

After three races sailed and no discard, Craig Jnr O Neill won the 25-boat Topper division on four points. Shane Collins was second on five points. Third was Isha Duggan with 10 points.

Fionn Lynch receives the prize on behalf of sister Niamh, third in the silver fleet of the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites from Topper class Captain Tom Mapplebeck and Rear Admiral Dinghies Maurice Collins Photo: Bob Bateman

Michael Egan  - 2nd silver Toppers at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Isla Duggan - 1st Silver and 1st girl Toppers at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Abbie Shorten - 3rd Gold and 1st girl Gold Toppers at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Shane Collins - 2nd Gold Toppers at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Craig O'Neill Jnr - Topper winner with Cian Jones at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman 

ILCA4 win for Duggan

RCYC's Liam Duggan won the 15-boat entry in the ILCA 4 division on four points from Eve McCarthy on seven. Eolann Miles took third on 11.

Ethel Bateman - 4rd ILCA4 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites from ILCA Class Captain Eddie Kingston and Rear Admiral Dinghies Maurice Collins Photo: Bob Bateman

Eve McCarthy - 1st girl and 2nd ILCA4 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Liam Duggan was the ILCA 4 winner at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

MacSweeney wins in ILCA 6

Oisin MacSweeney was the winner of the 13-boat ILCA 6 division with Daniel Mallon second and Joe O'Sullivan in third  at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Max Tolan 3rd ILCA6 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

 Ana Scarlett 1st lady and 2nd ILCA 6 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Oisin Mac Sweeney  - Winner of the ILCA 6 division at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

O'Shaughnessy victory in ILCA 7

Jonathan O'Shaughnessy, on four points, won the eight-boat ILCA 7 contest. Wexford Harbour's James Murphy was second and Chris Bateman third.

Chris Bateman -  3rd ILCA7 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

Jonathan O'Shaughnessy -  Winner ILCA 7 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites 2022 Photo: Bob Bateman

The well-campaigned J/122 Jelly Baby (Brian and Mary Jones) was awarded Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'Yacht of the Year (Spinnaker)' for her performances in 2022 that most recently included an overall win in the club's Autumn League.

On a night of celebrations at Crosshaven, Admiral Kieran O'Connell presented the prizes that brought the curtain down on a successful sailing season that saw RCYC stage Cork Week in July and complete its tricentenary celebrations. 

Some of the crew of J122 Jelly Baby with RCYC's silver salver bonbon dish for the Yacht of the Year Award Photo: Bob Bateman

Chris Bateman was named the keelboat racing sailor of the year for his participation at three world championships in one season in Ireland, plus his role on board the restored Cork Harbour One Design Jap when she won her division at the St. Tropez Classic Yacht Festival in May. 

Chris Bateman was named the keelboat racing sailor of the year and is presented with RCYC's Rectangular glass vase by Admiral Kieran O'Connell (right) Photo: Bob Bateman

Saki Curtin was named club volunteer of the year for his continuous work in RCYC's junior sailing academy and for his input in liking you sailors with keelboats and won the Morehead Tricentenary Trophy. 

Saki Curtin is presented with RCYC's Tricentenary Trophy by Admiral Kieran O'Connell Photo: Bob Bateman

Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca (below) was the winner of both the Offshore Series and the 19-race Superleague in IRC. 

Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca (above) was the winner of both the Offshore Series and the 19-race Superleague in IRC and the couple were presented with the Phelan's Pharmacy Spike and Paddy and Peg Walsh Perpetual Trophy Photo: Bob Bateman

Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca (above) was the winner of both the Offshore Series and the 19-race Superleague in IRC and the couple were presented with the Phelan's Pharmacy Spike and Paddy and Peg Walsh Perpetual Trophy Photo: Bob Bateman

The Superleague ECHO award of the HMS Northampton Salver went to Frank Desmond, Ivers and Keane in the Jeanneau, Bad Company.

Frank Desmond (below), Ivers and Keane in the Jeanneau, Bad Company (above) Photos: Bob Bateman

Frank Desmond (below), Ivers and Keane in the Jeanneau, Bad Company (above) Photos: Bob Bateman

The Superleague Friday night Whitesail series, over 17 races, was won by Tom MacSweeney and his family on the Sigma 33 Scribbler II.

The RCYC Superleague Friday night Whitesail Series, over 17 races, was won by Tom MacSweeney and his family (below) on the Sigma 33 Scribbler II (above) Photos: Bob Bateman

The MG335 Magnet, sailed by Kieran O'Brien and Fiorentina Carroll, won both IRC and ECHO divisions in the White Sails Superleague, thereby lifting the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Club 'Yacht of the Year (White Sails)' for 2022.

The MG335 Magnet (above), sailed by Kieran O'Brien and Fiorentina Carroll and crew, (pictured below) were awarded RCYC White Sail Yacht of the Year Photos: Bob Bateman

The Royal Cork cruising log of the year went to Jim and Kate Corbet, who sailed 1,200 miles from Cork Harbour to Dochas in Spain, France and Italy in their Dufour 36. Jim and Kate's log covers their Meditteranren odyssey over two months. 

Jim and Kate Corbet are presented with the Royal Thames Yacht Club Cup for tier 1,200 mile Cruise by RCYC Rear Admiral Cruising Mike Rider and Admiral Kieran O'Connell Photo: Bob Bateman

Jonathan O'Shaughnessy leads Chris Bateman in Royal Cork's ILCA 7 Frostbite Series in Cork Harbour.

After six races sailed, O'Shaughnessy has built up a four-point winning margin.

Wexford harbour's James Murphy holds third overall.

The Lasers and RCYC Topper fleets sailed on the Curlane Bank on Sunday under Race Officer Tom Crosbie.

Nine ILCA 7s are competing with ILCA 6s also in the mix. 

This is the first year for some years that RCYC has had a full rig in its Frostbite Series as some of the Topper and 4.7 Laser sailors graduate to the bigger rig.

Results below.

Next Sunday will be the last of this series, with a prizegiving at Crosshaven after racing.

RCYC ILCA 7 Photo Gallery

Small boats reign after the third race of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Winter League, sailed in bright and patchy conditions in Cork Harbour.

The appeal of the 25-foot range was clear to see as Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star chalked up a second race win.

Light and bright condition for the all-in fleet in race three of the RCYC O'Leary Insurance Winter League Photo: Bob Bateman

Young continues to top the IRC rankings in the 'all-in' fleet on five points, eight clear of Alan Mulcahy's Albin sister ship, Apache, in second place overall and pictured in Mary Malone's video below.

Lying third, one point back on 15, is the Dubois Quarter Tonner, Diamond co-skippered by Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher.

The well-sailed Dubois Quarter Tonner, Diamond at Number 8 buoy during race three of the RCYC O'Leary Insurance Winter League Photo: Bob Bateman

The 21-boat fleet had the usual start at the Grassy line; the course was over to Corkbeg, a beat back across the harbour to No.8 and then to No.9 and then to no.20 off Cobh back to no.13 out again to Corkbeg and a finish at Grassy.

The wind was mainly westerly, with a lot of gusty conditions as the breeze came off the land in the harbour.

At the start, the wind died away to six or seven knots catching out some of the boats that had timed a run to the start line in advance, and they arrived late at the line.

The best starts were taken by Magnet (Kieran O'Brien's MG335) and the consistently good starter, North Star, along with the Monkstown Bay Sailing Club 1720.

The wind increased to 20 knots as the fleet made its way to Cobh.

Racing continues next Sunday. Results are below.

Race Three RCYC Winter League Photo Gallery Below by Bob Bateman and Mary Malone

After the cancellation of their planned opening day, Laser and Topper dinghy sailors got their Frostbite series underway at the RCYC on Sunday, with three races in the same conditions experienced by the cruiser racers. Sixty dinghy sailors have entered in four classes – three Laser sections and one of Toppers.

In ILCA 7, the largest Laser dinghies, Jonathan O’Shaughnessy, leads overall by four points after winning two of the three races. James Murphy is second on eleven, and Chris Bateman third on twelve. He won the first race but retired in the second. In the third, he placed second.

Oisin MacSweeney won all three races in ILCA 6 and leads the fleet overall with three points from Daniel Mallon on eight and Joe O’Sullivan in third on nine.

ILCA 4 fleet leader is Liam Duggan on four points, having won two of Sunday’s three races. The other race winner, Eve McCarthy, is second on seven. Third is Eolann Miles on eleven points.

The Topper fleet is led by Craig Jnr O’Neill, who won two of the opening day’s three races on four points. Second is Shane Collins on five points, the other race winner. Third is Isha Duggan on ten points.

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star was the winner of the second race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Winter League, sailed in damp conditions in Cork Harbour.

Young now tops the IRC rankings in the 'all-in' fleet on five points, five clear of Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher's Quarter Tonner, Diamond in second place overall. 

Lying third on equal points with the vintage Dubois design is the Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo (Annamarie and Denis Murphy).

The 21-boat fleet waited for one and half hours before racing began with a start at Grassy on a leg out of the Harbour to E2.

As the video below shows, the diminutive Albin Express (grey hull) got a front-row start.

There were plaudits for Race Officer Anthony O'Leary for managing to get a second race completed in the flukey conditions as crewman from Alpaca John McWeeeny relates in this video below.

The fleet returned to the harbour to buoy 14 near Whitegate; the race was then shortened at the number 6 buoy.  

Racing continues next Sunday

The Jones family's J122 JellyBaby, which won Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League overall last weekend, continued her winning streak with a win on Sunday in the opening race of the club's O'Leary Insurance Winter League. 

There were squally conditions of 25 to 30 knots from the southwest on the Cork Harbour course for the first race.

The race started in sunshine, but 30 seconds later, a heavy rain shower engulfed the fleet.

In a day for big boats, Jones's clubmates Annamarie and Denis Murphy in the Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo were second. Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca took third place.

The Jones family's J122 JellyBaby was the winner of the first race of RCYC's O'Leary Insurance White Sails League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

21 boats are competing in the league, which, for a second year running, is being competed for on an 'all-in fleet' basis and sailed under white sails only.

A view of the yacht racing from Weavers Point in Cork Harbour in the first race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's O'Leary Insurance Winter League  Photo: Bob Bateman

The 'all-in' start line was at The Cage mark, and the fleet reached across the channel to Corkbeg (in the vid below) and was followed by a one-tack beat back to number 8 buoy, then a run in the harbour and a hard beat back to the Cage. 

Entry for Royal Cork Yacht Club's ILCA/Laser and Topper dinghy Frostbites Series is building, with over 50 boats entered before the early bird expires at midnight on Wednesday, the 2nd of November.

The series (incorporating the Bill Jones Trophy for the winning RCYC topper) will take place across November, Sunday 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th.

Racing will take place for ILCA4, ILCA6, ILCA7 and Topper 5.3 & 4.2 fleets, with separate starts available if numbers allow.

A one-day entry is also facilitated for those that cannot attend the full series.

The series race officer is Tom Crosbie and his crew.

The First warning signal will be 1125 each racing day.

Entry is open to all, with visiting sailors welcome to leave their boats in the RCYC dinghy yard for the duration of the series.

Racing for ILCA7 is included for the first time in a number of years.

Visit Royal Cork ILCA and Topper Frostbite series 2022 to enter here