Preparations are underway in Kinsale for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of one of the most prestigious international sailing events. From 6 to 13 September 2024, Kinsale will welcome Dragon sailors from across the globe to compete for the Kinsale Yacht Club Dragon Gold Cup, which has been raced annually since 1937 and will be sponsored by Astra Construction Services Ltd.

This will be the third time that Kinsale Yacht Club (KYC) has hosted the Dragon Gold Cup, the first being in 1977 and the second in 2012. The venue is hugely popular with the Dragon sailing community, and many international teams are expected to compete alongside a strong Irish contingent. International Dragon Association Chairman Gérard Blanc is looking forward to returning to Kinsale, saying, "Since the last Gold Cup in Ireland in 2012, I know that many international Dragon sailors are excited to be returning to one of their favourite venues in the southwest of Ireland. Kinsale is a fantastic place to sail, and a legendary social welcome awaits you. I plan to be there and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible”.

Crews from some 20 nations across Australasia, Asia, North America, and Europe are already confirmed. In attendance will be some of the best sailors on the planet, including multiple Olympic medallists, America’s Cup veterans, World, Continental, and National Champions. The regatta will also feature a Corinthian Division for all amateur crews, who will race alongside the professional teams whilst scoring in their own ranking.

The crew of Dragon Whisper off the Old Head of Kinsale Photo: Dave Cullinane

Kinsale’s open ocean race area has minimal currents and excellent sailing winds and is backed by southern Ireland’s spectacular coastline, including the famous Old Head of Kinsale. KYC is renowned for creating international regattas of the highest quality and for its generous Irish hospitality.

The Gold Cup has always been an event aimed at fostering camaraderie amongst the teams and their friends and family. In addition to a superb social programme, which will include opening and closing ceremonies and a special 80th Anniversary gala dinner at Actons Hotel, plus après sailing daily and other social events.

As Afloat reported previously, already, several companies have confirmed their sponsorship of the event, including principal sponsor Astra Construction Services Ltd, a Carrier-based residential construction company, whose managing director Stephen McCarthy will also provide the committee boat for the regatta. TNG Swiss Watches are signed up as the official timekeeper and will be presenting timepieces to the Gold Cup Open and Corinthian Champion helms. Guinness and Cork City Council are also onboard as sponsors, whilst Actons, The Trident and Perryville House hotels will be offering special rates for competitors, which can be booked via the event website.

Heading up the organising committee is Maeve Cotter, an experienced Dragon sailor with international event management experience. “I am really looking forward to welcoming our Dragon sailing friends to our lovely harbour for the Kinsale YC Dragon Gold Cup in 2024 and to celebrating the 80th anniversary of this historic competition.”

Kinsale Yacht Club's commitment to promoting inclusiveness in sailing has been rewarded with a win in Wednesday night's (November 29) Cork's Sports Partnership Active Community Award.

As Afloat reported previously, Sailability Kinsale and KYC promoter Donal Hickey were nominated as finalists in the 'active community' section. 

The win has been applauded by Kinsale Commodore Matthias Hellstern, who broke the news this morning: "I am delighted to report that KYC Sailability Class won the community awards yesterday evening."

Hellstern said it was "an amazing achievement" and congratulated "all the volunteers who contributed so much to the class to make it such a success".

As regular Afloat readers know, in June, the West Cork club welcomed the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte, to launch its new Sailability fleet of access dinghies and a new Whaly Safety boat.

Sailability Ireland is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation that encourages wider participation and has provided the resources to purchase specially adapted boats.

For more on KYC Sailability listen to Tom Macsweeney's 2019 podcast here and see photos from June's Sailability launch at KYC by Bob Bateman here

Kinsale Yacht Club's commitment to promoting inclusiveness in sailing has been recognised with nominations for the annual Cork's Sports Partnership awards.

Sailability Kinsale and KYC promoter Donal Hickey have both been nominated as finalists in the 'active community' section of Wednesday's awards.

Sailability Kinsale and KYC promoter Donal Hickey have both been nominated as finalists in the 'active community' section of Wednesday's awards

As regular Afloat readers know, in June the West Cork club welcomed the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte, to launch its new Sailability fleet of access dinghies and a new Whaly Safety boat.

Sailability Ireland is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation to encourage wider participation and has provided the resources to purchase specially adapted boats.

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte, with Kinsale Yacht Club's Sailability promoter Donal Hickey at the launch of the new fleet in June  Photo: Bob Bateman

Listen to Tom Macsweeney's 2019 podcast here and see photos from June's Sailability launch at KYC by Bob Bateman here

Ten yachts raced in the IRC Fleet 1 on the fifth day of Kinsale Yacht Club’s Victoria Antiques White Sail October-November Series on Sunday.

Gavin Lawlor’s ‘Genesis’ won the race, with Thomas Roche’s ‘Meridian’ second and John Godkin’s ‘Godot’ third. ‘Genesis’ leads the league overall, with David Riome’s ‘Valfreya’ second and ‘Meridian’ third.

Under ECHO, handicap ‘Meridian’ leads with ‘Godot’ second and Gerard & Mathilde Campbell’s ‘Cirrus’ third.

Thomas Roche’s ‘Meridian’ leads Kinsale Yacht Club’s Victoria Antiques White Sail October-November Series under ECHO handicap Photo: Bob Bateman

In Fleet 2 IRC where four boats are racing, Padraig O’Donovan’s ‘Chameleon’ continues to lead, having won again on Sunday. Albert O’Neill’s ‘Sallybelle’ finished second and is second overall. Patrick Sparrow’s ‘An Fanai’ finished third on Sunday. In the overall positions Patrick Beckett’s ‘Miss Charlie’ is in third place.

Under ECHO handicap in Fleet 2 seven boats raced on Sunday and the winner was ‘An Fanai’. Second was ‘Odie’ (Anthony Griffin) and third Raymond Hanley’s ‘Toroloco.’ The leader under this handicap is ‘Odie’ with ‘Toroloco’ second and ‘An Fanai’ third.

Kinsale Yacht Club resumed its October/November White Sails series on Sunday; after two cancellation days, John Stallard’s ‘Siboney’ won both IRC and ECHO handicaps in Fleet 1.

Gerard and Mathilde Campbell’s ‘Cirrus’ was second in IRC, and Michael Carroll’s ‘Chancer’ was third. Under ECHO handicap ‘ Chancer’ was second, and Sam Cohen’s ‘Gunsmoke II’ was third.

After four races, with two to go, David Riome’s ‘Valfreya’ is the IRC leader in the Victoria Antiques-sponsored league, on eight points. This is one ahead of Sunday’s race winner ’Cirrus’, which, in turn, is just one ahead of ‘Siboney’.
In ECHO handicap overall ‘Cirrus’ leads, on 8 points, from Thomas Roche’s ‘Meridian’ on 10 and ‘Gunsmoke’ on 11.

There is close competition in Fleet 1, which has eleven yachts entered.

In Fleet 2 IRC, where four boats are racing, the leader is Padraig O’Donovan’s ‘Chameleon,’ which completed a hat-trick on Sunday, winning a third time in the four races sailed so far, for a total of three points.

‘Miss Charlie’ (Patrick Beckett) is second on five, and ‘Sallybelle’ (Albert O’Neill) is third on seven. Under ECHO, handicap eleven are entered. Two boats are tied on eight points at the top of the fleet – Anthony Griffin’s ‘Odie’ and Raymond Hanley’s ‘Toroloco’. ‘Chameleon’ is next.

Kinsale Yacht Club held their Laying Up Supper for the 2023 season in the clubhouse on Friday night (3 November).

Commodore Matthias Hellstern welcomed Irish Sailing president John Twomey and Julian Renault, Cork County Council senior harbour master, before the awards from the season were announced by Tony Scannell, the club’s Vice Commodore.

Club Person of the Year was awarded to Patrick Beckett, club treasurer and company secretary, for his enormous contribution to Kinsale Yacht Club on a daily basis.

Other prize-winners on the night were James and Harvey Matthew (Squib Class Boat of the Year); Cameron Good, Simon Furney and Henry Kingston (Dragon Class BOTY); Freya Conor Doyle and crew (International BOTY); Apache’s Alan Mulcahy and crew (White Sails) who were also winners in the Royal Cork’s Autumn League; Valfreya David Riome and crew (White Sails); Saoirse Richard Hanley and crew (Cruiser Spinnaker Class); and Swift’s Paul Cotter and crew (Cruiser Spinnaker Class).

Kinsale Yacht Club's Dick Hegarty Trophy race was postponed again on Bank Holiday Monday, having deferred racing from Sunday due to weather. 

The First Gun for the memorial race was scheduled at 13.55, but lack of wind prevented racing.

The Victoria’s Antiques White Sails Autumn/Winter Series incorporates the Hegarty Trophy for White Sails Echo & IRC Class 1 and 2.

Kinsale Yacht Club sails its Dick Hegarty Trophy race on Bank Holiday Monday, having deferred racing from Sunday due to weather. 

The First Gun for the memorial race is 13.55.

The Victoria’s Antiques White Sails Autumn/Winter Series incorporates the Hegarty Trophy for White Sails Echo & IRC Class 1 and 2.

Racing at the top of Kinsale YC’s Whitesail October-November series in IRC One Fleet is close. David Riome’s Sigma 33 won the third race on Sunday and leads the fleet.

Only a point separates the top three from each other. Thomas Roche’s Meridian is second and Gavin Lawlor’s Genesis third. Eight yachts are racing.

Four are racing in IRC Two where Padraig O’Donovan’s Chameleon and Patrick Beckett’s Miss Charlie are both on five points at the top. Albert O’Neill’s Sallybelle is next on eight.

After two races of Kinsale Yacht Club's White Sail October-November Series, Gavin Lawlor’s Genesis leads the IRC 1 Fleet, with Meridian (Thomas Roche) second and John Godkin’s Godot. third.

In ECHO handicap Cirrus (Gerard and Mathilde Campbell) leads with Godot second and Meridian third. IRC 2 Fleet leader is Chameleon (Padraig O’Donovan), with Miss Charlie (Patrick Beckett second and Sallybelle (Albert O’Neill) third. In ECHO Sallybell leads from Chameleon with Corrib 2 (Mark and Sonia Leonard) third.