The world of sailing in Ireland and internationally is much diminished by the sad passing of Douglas “Dougie” Deane of Crosshaven at the age of 82, after a very fully-lived life in which he contributed much to the sports with which he was involved, both in personal involvement and in several administrative roles, while at the same time being a life-enhancing and active member of the larger Crosshaven community in which he and his wife Liz had an extraordinarily generous family role.

Dougie Deane was the embodiment of all that is best in Cork life. He was excellent company with an infectious enjoyment of the moment, he was an able performer both as an individual and team player, and he quietly did much good work as he progressed through life.

Like many of his friends and family, he was deeply into sailing and rugby. His father Harry was Vice-Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club from 1973 to 1975, and President of the legendary Cork Constitution Rugby Club, so-called because it was founded by staff members of the now long-defunct Cork newspaper of that name. But while Dougie was sufficiently involved with rugby to become a founder and later President of Crosshaven Rugby Club in which all of his five sons played, sailing was his special passion.

Dougie Deane crewed by Donal McClement racing Dusk in Cork Harbour in 1960

He became a junior member of the Royal Munster YC in Crosshaven in 1952, racing the IDRA 14 Maybe with Donal McClement, who was one of his many good friends - in Donal’s case, it was a lifelong camaraderie. They soon realised that while the O’Brien Kennedy-designed IDRA 14s were theoretically one-design, some boats were undoubtedly “more one-design than others”, and when they managed to move on from the appropriately-named Maybe to the legendary Dusk, major prizes started coming their way, with the prestigious Dognose Trophy being taken by the pair in 1959.

Leading Crosshaven sailors Sam Thompson (left) and Charlie Dwyer, with the new winners of the Dognose Trophy in 1959, Douglas Deane and Donal McClement (right)Dusk as she is today, restored in a WEST project by the father-and-son team of Tom and David O’Brien, and being raced here by Andy Sargent in the 2016 IDRA 14 70th Anniversary Race at Clontarf, when she finished second. Photo: W M Nixon
But the young Dougie’s talents had already been well-recognised as early as 1955 when, with George Henry, he formed part of the Ireland team in the International Junior Regatta at Dun Laoghaire, a pioneering effort at a time when junior sailing as a category on its own was only beginning to be developed in Ireland.

Dougie Deane (right) with George Henry of Dun Laoghaire preparing to race in Mermaids at the International Junior Regatta in Dun Laoghaire in 1955.
Press cutting from Baltimore in 1964 – it took the Cork Examiner a day or two to recover from that spelling of Dinghy Week……  
His dinghy interests went on to take in busy campaigns as an owner with an International 505 and a National 18. But in classic Crosshaven style, his sailing abilities were readily transferred to cruising and offshore racing, and in 1965 he became a member of the Irish Cruising Club mainly on the strength of a voyage to Spain with Stan Roche, Joe Fitzgerald and Charlie Howlett on Stan Roche’s characterful 29-ton ketch Nancy Bet.

Stan Roche’s 29-ton ketch Nancy Bet, in which the young Dougie Deane cruised to Spain
Offshore sailing, with any hardship minimized by appropriate medication…(left to right) Dougie Deane with Charlie Howlett almost invisible behind him, Joe Fitzgerald and Stan Roche at sea on board the latter’s Nancy Bet.
In the work side of life, he had started early with what was to become Irish Distillers in their Cork administrative centre, where he went on to become Manager, and those managerial and administrative skills were quickly recognized in the sailing world, where he was a youthful member of the Royal Munster committee, rising to become Rear Commodore in 1965.

Then when the Royal Munster and the Royal Cork amalgamated in 1966-67 to become the Royal Cork Yacht Club in time for the Quarter Millennium in 1970, he was on the new RCYC General Committee when it first met in March 1967.

Thus he was to play a key role in the complex yet very successful Quarter Millennial Celebrations of 1969-70, and was much looked up to, as one who had actively been there for the Quarter Millennium, in order to give highly-valued advice for the up-coming Royal Cork Tricentenary next year. When his final illness struck with extreme rapidity, this made his sudden loss particularly painful in Crosshaven, where his eldest son Gavin is CEO of the Royal Cork YC, and had already been drawing on his helpful father’s exceptional experience in planning the very special year ahead.

For Douglas Deane - in addition to his many other attributes - was a wonderful father and family man. He married Liz Lucey in 1972 with Brian Cudmore as his Best Man in a perfect example of the inter-linking of Cork sailing families - when Brian in turn went on to marry Eleanor, Douglas was their Best Man.

A wonderful couple – a recent photo of Liz and Dougie Deane
Douglas and Liz went on to have five sons and a daughter Lucy, Crosshaven youngsters through and through, yet with a much larger breadth of vision than their strong sense of belonging to one locality might suggest.

And there was generosity and love too – when Lucy was 16 and their family virtually raised, Dougie and Liz were faced with the sudden death of Liz’s sister who left two sons younger than Lucy - Andrew and James. They were simply taken into the generous Deane household in Crosshaven, and in the end Dougie and Liz raised a family of eight.

They were a wonderful pair together, yet Dougie was able to continue his sailing, going into cruiser-racer ownership for a while with a share in the 37ft Dalcassian, and then being a regular member of the O’Leary crew on several boats with the family name of Irish Mist, particularly the two Tonner Irish Mist III which, under a subsequent owner, was seriously damaged on a stranding in the entrance to Cork Harbour after a steering failure. When she was beautifully restored by Jim McCarthy, Dougie transferred to the McCarthy crew, and stayed with him when he sought a new direction with an X99.

When the new 26ft 1720 Cork Sportsboat concept to a design by Tony Castro was being developed in time for the 1994 season, Dougie Deane was an enthusiastic supporter, so much so that he was able to persuade his directors in Cork Gin to back him in buying 1720 Sportsboat Hull No 1, which very conspicuously became Cork Dry Gin, for this was a quarter of a century ago, and such advertising seemed the most natural thing in the world.

Today, Gavin Deane vividly remembers his first sail with his father in this new boat. While his father was not particularly athletic in appearance, like Dennis Conner he became something different at the helm of a sailing boat, particularly one with a performance edge. All his experience with IDRA 14s, the 505, and the National 18 came to the fore, and the new sports machine zapped across Cork Harbour at a prodigious speed with Dougie Deane serenely at the helm and everything under control.

Pioneering in 1994. The new Cork 1720 Sportsboat Cork Dry Gin – No 1 out of the hull mould – at smooth speed in Cork Harbour with Dougie Deane at the helm. He liked all his boats, but this was a special favourite.

It was a metaphor for the way he lived his life. Donal McClement says of him: “He was a gentleman in every possible sense of the word. Quiet spoken yet effective in communication, and very highly-respected and well-liked by all who knew him. And they were many”.

For the last ten years of his life, Dougie owned a Sea Ray 22 fast power-cruiser, built in Cork, capable of 20-25 knots, with a couple of bunks in a little cabin should the urge come on him for a night or two of convenient cruising, and handy for viewing the occasional race. But sailing continued to be his favourite way of being afloat, and he was day sailing with friends and family well into the summer of 2019.

Then there was a family holiday in the south of France, where at the age of 82 he was seen diving with enthusiasm into the blue Mediterranean, to the amazement of his grandchildren. On returning home, his illness quickly manifested itself, and for his friends, he was gone in five weeks. It was a shock, a great sadness, but with the healing help of time, we can see that here was a truly great man who led an exemplary life.

Our heartfelt condolences are with his extensive family and his many close friends.

WMN

Ronan and John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash was the winner of the IRC Spinnaker Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home' Regatta on Sunday writes Bob Bateman.

The two-day event featured light winds on both days. Keelboats had two races on Saturday and one on Sunday. The National 18s, Mixed Dinghies, Lasers, Toppers and Optimists all raced on the Curlane Bank.

In the White Sail IRC division, Ria Lyden's X332 Ellida was declared the overall winner in the 11-boat fleet.

Full results in all divisions are here

Former Admiral’s attended for the RCYC 'At Home' Boules match. (from left to right) John Roche, Michael McCarthy, Bill Walsh, Current Admiral Pat Farnan, David O’Brien, Paddy Mc Glade, Barry Rose, Bill O’Mahony, Tony O’Connor and Ted Crosbie. (Hugh Mockler was also present but absent due to RNLI shout).

Mike McCarthy Winner IHS receives the trophy from Admiral Pat Farnan

George Radley, Winner, Club Echo Spinnaker Division

The Downing Family, Miss Whiplash, overall winner of IRC overall IRC division

Mary Jones, Jelly Baby, second overall in the IRC Spinnaker Division

Ria Lyden and crew Winner of both IRC and Echo Divisions

Ewan Barry winner of Saturday's National 18’s race

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Douglas Deane of Crosshaven, for many years one of Cork Harbour’s best-known sailing figures afloat and ashore.

His funeral will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11.30am in St Brigid’s Church, Crosshaven.

Afloat will publish a full appreciation of Dougie Deane in due course, meanwhile, our thoughts are with his family and many friends, and particularly with his son Gavin, CEO of the Royal Cork YC

Claiming to be the 'largest stand-alone dinghy festival event in the country', the official launch of Cork Dinghy Fest took place in the Royal Cork Yacht Club last week.

Royal Cork Yacht Club Rear Admiral Brian Jones was joined by volunteers and sailors as they marked the announcement of the continued sponsorship and support from CH Marine and the Port of Cork for the popular biennial event.

As Afloat reported previously, Event chairman Alex Barry is looking forward to another great event and was very excited to announce that DinghyFest ’19 will play host to three national championships, four Southern Championships and even a world championships.

2019 is gearing up to be a great event, according to Barry, who says it was great to have such support from our sponsors this year. Barry is a strong advocate for dinghy sailing of any type, recently moving to a GP14 in advance of the Worlds in Skerries in 2020.

This year’s event will see boats of all shapes and sizes race over the two days with National Championships for Multihulls, National 18’s and RS Fevas, Southern Championships for RS 200s, 400s, 29ers and Mirrors and a world championships for the clinker-built Rankins of Cork Harbour. Strangely enough, the international entries have been slow to date for the Rankin, says Barry, but he’s holding out hope.

The event will take place on September 14th and 15th in the Royal Cork Yacht Club with entry and NOR available on the website here

There were jubilant scenes at Royal Cork Yacht Club on Sunday evening when Paul Smith, President of the Mermaid Sailing Association presented the Foynes Yacht Club triplets Darragh, Noel and Mark McCormack with the National Championship trophy writes Bob Bateman.

The trio successfully defended their title on the last day of the Championships coming from third overall with two races left to sail in the ten race series, as Afloat reported here.

It was the first time the Mermaid Class has raced for National Honours in Cork Harbour.

The Under 25 winners trophy was presented by Patrick Finucane to Oisin Finucane, Chris McDaid and Sean Finucane. They were also winners of the Designer Trophy (below) for the biggest improvement in the fleet

Daphne Trophy Winner (Jill134) Roisin McCormack presents to Paul Smith and crew Anne Smith and Pat Mangan

See all Bob Bateman's reports and photos on the 2019 Mermaid Championships in one handy link here

The Championship prizegiving in the RCYC dining room also included day prize presentations by RCYC Rear Admiral Dinghies, Brian Jones and MSA President Paul Smith. See selection of photos below

MSA President Paul Smith...

...with Race Officer Scorie Walls

RCYC Rear Admiral Dinghies, Brian Jones addresses the Mermaid fleet

For the first time, The DBSC Mermaids are holding their annual Championship in Crosshaven over 4 days from 1st - 4th August hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. The fleet has enjoyed numbers in excess of 25 to 30 boats at its most recent championships but this year’s event is shaping up to be something special with a fistful of former champions deciding to rejoin the fray and relive old memories and try to put the current crop of recent younger winners under a little pressure.

Current form would have to recognise Daragh Mc Cormack, last year’s champion on home waters, in his exceptional boat Innocence no 188, as the firm favourite. He won the Munster’s earlier this year and dominated the Skerries regatta last weekend. In the hands his club mate Vincent Mc Cormack Innocence was also a clear winner in a competitive fleet at the Leinster’s during the Volvo Regatta earlier this month.

Mermaid National Champions 188 – Innocence helmed by Darragh McCormack and crew Mark McCormack and Johnny Dillon Photo: Ted Kelly

Regular winner Jonathan O'Rourke in Tiller Girl 77 will be certain to be in the hunt as will Mark Boylan, the youngest ever winner a few years ago in a very windy Galway Bay.

Sam Shields, twice winner, has bought the famous Helen 76 and completely rebuilt her and would have high expectations of being in the frame with his experienced crew.

Also returning is the noted Rush sailor Paddy Dillon, another former winner, in Wild Wind 131 who will be anxious to build on his experience with the outstandingly successful J 109 Storm Team over the last couple of years. A solid 2nd in Skerries as his first outing in years consolidates his credentials for consideration as a serious contender.

Mermaid racing comes to Cork Harbour in August Photo: Afloat

Long-time Mermaid stalwart, Derek Joyce has refurbished his unbeatable steed from the 2000s, Zeila 187 and he will be attempting to match Roger Bannon’s record of six wins over the years. It is also expected that Roger Bannon might be there with rumours circulating that Kate Grimes is returning from Dubai especially for the event to crew for him.

News is also circulating of several rebuilding projects around the country with the hope that some may make it to the starting line in Crosshaven, including Nichapando 114 and Perhaps 111.

Exciting times for this iconic class!

In the first race of the Ronan Enright Solicitors July League at Royal Cork Yacht Club last night, Ronan and John Downing's Half Tonner Miss Whiplash was the winner of the 19-boat IRC Spinnaker division writes Bob Bateman.

It was a light wind race with the breeze from a Westerly direction in Cork Harbour. From a Committee Boat start, the fleet sailed to Cage then to Corkbeg, with a beat to 8, a run to 7 and a beat again to 10.

Royal Cork July Sailing League Committee Boat Photo: Bob Bateman

Second overall was the Bolero Bandit with the Jones Family J109, Jelly Baby third. Results are here.

The Half Tonner Miss Whiplash was the winner of the first race of the Royal Cork July Sailing League Photo: Bob Bateman

First overall in Saturday's Royal Cork Yacht Club's annual Round the Island Race in Cork Harbour was the Sunfast 32, Bad Company (Desmond/Ivers/Deasy). 

The RCYC race was part of the North Sails Open League and had a finish at the Naval Base at Haulbowline.

This year's keelboat race edition had a smaller entry than normal due to the event coinciding with Crosshaven's Trad Sail festival. 

Kieran Collin's Olson 30 Coracle IV was second in the IRC Spinnaker division with the Jones family's J109 JellyBaby third. 

In IRC White Sails, Derry Good's Exhale won from Sean Hanley's HB 31 Luas. Third was Leonard Donnery's No Gnomes, a Nicholson 33.

See photo gallery by Bob Bateman below

A group of 29er and RS200 sailors took a well-deserved exam study break to attend the annual Royal Sprint Championship last weekend hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Two beautiful days of 29er & RS200 racing were held in 10 – 14 knots of wind near the oil refinery in Cork Harbour.

The 29er winning team with an impressive seven (seven) bullets over ten races was Lola Kohl crewed by Chris Bateman.

Dawson Kohl and Sophie Crosbie, Second place 29er

In second place, capturing the remaining three (three) bullets, was Dawson Kohl and Sophie Crosbie. Third place was Atlee Kohl and Jonathan O’Shaughnessy, closely followed by Rory O’Sullivan and Rob Keal in fourth place.

David Jones and Griff Kelleher (First place RS200)

Meanwhile in the RS200’s – David Jones and Griff Kelleher took home first while Jack Young & Ellie Aneiros were a close second.

Special thanks to the event volunteers who made this event possible: Race Officer Andrew Crosbie, Paul Keal, Brian and Mary Jones, Sandie O’Shaughnessy, Linda O’Keefe and Barbie Kohl.

RCYC Sprint competitors and volunteers

16 boats raced in last night's Royal Cork Yacht Club's Thursday night series in Cork Harbour  sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland in a light ESE breeze writes Bob Bateman

Spinnaker fleets one and two took a beat to Corkbeg (RCYC course 93) across an ebbing tide and eased sheets to number 14 off Cuskinny a turn right to beat to East Ferry 2 back via number 12 and finish at the cage.

The five-boat whitesail fleet was given a race out the harbour to number three and then back to Cage Buoy.

Results are here

1720 A cheery wave from the under 25 crew before the start of racing Photo: Bob Bateman

(Above and below) Ellida (Ria Lyden) took a Southerly option heading for first mark and it paid off as she won IRC1 Photo: Bob Bateman

Coracle (77883) with the Collins family on board leads the event overall Photo: Bob Bateman

Cara Photo: Bob Bateman

Jump Photo: Bob Bateman

The 16-boat fleetNeulargo Photo: Bob BatemanMiss Whiplash Photo: Bob Bateman