Hello and welcome to my weekly Podcast …. Tom MacSweeney here ….

The Royal Cork Yacht Club at Crosshaven is launching a new initiative to bridge the gap between dinghy and keelboat racing following the success of its Under 25 Academy which was established last year.

RCYC Admiral, Pat Farnan, says that the Academy has proven to be “a great success” and its members, who represented the club in three events last year, as well as taking part in club racing activities, will be entering a number of further events this year.

“They are actively seeking funding to help them achieve their goals,” he says and announces that Ernst & Young are going to be sponsors. “This initiative is very encouraging for the club in helping to bridge the gap between dinghy and keelboat racing,” he tells members in his annual report.

There was an increase in the number of cruisers racing last season at the RCYC. Seven new boats joined the club fleet and three existing Skippers brought new boats into racing.

There has been an increase in club membership and it has also been a good year for dinghy and junior sailors at the Cork club with an increase in membership adding to an already record number of junior sailors.

There was another strong turnout for final race six of the O'Leary Insurance Group sponsored Winter Series at Royal Cork Yacht Club yesterday writes Kieran O'Connell.

Course 74 was set by the Race Officer for a strong North Westerly wind with severe gusts. During the starting sequence, a heavy squall came through. The crew work and boat handling in very testing conditions was impressive, as seen from the committee boat 'Harmony'.

An 'official' request by the RCYC Committee boat

The course began with a fast reach off the start line at Cage to Corkbeg - followed by a beat to windward to No. 8.

As the lead boats of Nieulargo, Jelly Baby, Coracle IV, Antix Beag and the Under 25s 1720 began to show their pace on the next leg to No. 9, a full-on beat to No. 20 under the cathedral at Cobh was next on the course, with a stiff breeze on the nose.

Following on the downwind leg against the tide to No 13, where a gybe brought the fleet once again back to CorkBeg Mark and on to Cage Mark to complete Round 1 in 65 minutes for the lead boat 'Nieulargo'.

Round 2, spinnakers hoisted once again on the dead downwind run heading towards the outer harbour mark No. 3. Symmetric spinnakers gained over their asymmetric counterparts.

The final leg was a beat to windward to the finish line at the Cage Mark 

Kieran Collins' winning Olson 30 under spinnaker Photo: Bob Bateman

Big Congratulations to Kieran Collins and all team on Coracle IV on winning the overall league and the Irish Mist Trophy presented by the O'Leary family in memory of Archie O'Leary, a former RCYC Admiral.

Full results can be found here

With one race left to sail, Kieran Collins's Olson 30 Coracle IV of the host club has moved into the overall lead of the O'Leary Insurances sponsored  Royal Cork Yacht Club League in Cork Harbour writes Bob Bateman. After five races sailed and a single discard applied today, Collins, on nine points, leads clubmate Anthony O'Leary in the modified 1720 by two points. Third overall in the 26-boat fleet is Denis Murphy's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo, just one point behind O'Leary's Antix Beag in the IRC all–in division.

Collins's Olson 30 is a vintage American design that arrived into Cork Harbour last season. The Olson 30 was designed by George Olson of Santa Cruz, California around 1978. Olson was a surfer and surfboard shaper who decided to design a 30' ultralight displacement boat. More on this boat type here

The lightweight flyer, the Olson 30 Coracle IV now leads at Crosshaven Photo: Bob Bateman

Today's harbour course was '70x' in a 25-knot south-westerly, set roughly between the harbour Forts and Cuskinnny.

Nieulargo was first over the line today followed by the J109 Jelly Baby.

Jelly Baby (Jones Family) crossed the finish line Photo: Bob Bateman

Antix Beag ( IRC rating .994) leads Coracle iv (.970) into the finish Photo: Bob Bateman

Granada 30 Cavatina is eighth in IRC all in in the 26-boat fleet. Photo: Bob Bateman

Results here

The Royal Cork Yacht Club Junior Laying Up Supper 2018 was held on Saturday 24th 2018 in the clubhouse with parents and junior Sailors making up the 168 attendees. The end-of-year dinner was dispersed with the Class Captains giving an overview of their respective fleets activities during 2018.

Rear Admiral Dinghies Brian Jones congratulated all the sailors and took the opportunity to thank all who provided time, expertise and resources to assist in club events and coaching during the season. A particular note of thanks was expressed for the class captains and respective committees for their hard work during the season.

Optimist sailors who have moved on to other fleets being presented with mementoes Photo: Bob Bateman

Presentations were made to the Optimists based on their overall performance for the year. The Laser fleet, rather than give mementoes to the sailors leaving, made a donation to the Crosshaven RNLI, which was very well received. All the active Mixed Dinghy sailors received action photos from events during the year. It was noted that the Topper fleet had significantly grown in numbers year-on-year and that a committee was being formed to help the Class Captain manage such a large fleet.

Royal Cork's junior Committee

Various tokens of appreciation were also awarded during the evening for good services rendered in the season including our light-hearted Parent Darwin awards for the biggest blooper of the year – a few notable contenders this year!

A memorial trophy, in the memory of a deceased Junior fleet stalwart, Frank Thompson, was presented this year to worthy recipients Pat & Deirdre Horgan who have done an incredible amount of work within the club and particularly in the junior fleet where they have been class captain three times between the two of them, helped with numerous events, race results management and photography services.

The climax of the evening was the award of the Pyewacket Trophy. Originally donated by Roy Disney, this magnificent trophy is awarded to the sailor who has achieved the best results during the season both in home waters and abroad. With the success of Royal Cork sailors in 2018, this was always going to be difficult and the sailors under consideration for the award were as follows: James Dwyer-Mathews (Optimist), David Jones (Topper), Atlee Kohl (Laser), Chris Bateman (Mixed Dinghy) and Jack Fahy (Wildcard).

After much deliberation, Atlee Kohl was crowned the 2018 Pyewacket Trophy winner. 

All fleets will be taking a much deserved Christmas break before the coaching programs kick back in in the new year.

The annual Topper and Laser Frostbite Series concluded following racing each weekend during November. Fifty-one sailors registered and we were delighted to welcome sailors from around Cork Harbour and further afield. The weather varied from light on week one to gusting up to 25 knots on week two. The third week saw racing cancelled due to the weather conditions but on the final day 31 sailors launched to race on the Curlane Bank.

It was still all to play for after race 7 as a second discard came into effect after 8 races. PRO Ciaran McSweeney got a third race completed before sending the fleets ashore for hot chocolate and the prizegiving.

The Laser 4.7 Fleet was won by Cathal O’Regan who beat club mate Jonathan O’Shaughnessy on countback. Harry Pritchard secured third after a bullet in the final race of the series.
In the Laser Radial Fleet the winner was Micheal O’Suilleabhain (Kinsale YC/Royal Cork YC) with a net score of 7 (never falling out of the top three spots across the league). Sophie Crosbie was 2nd with Chris Bateman in 3rd.

The Topper 4.2 Fleet was won by Fearghal Desmond (Royal Cork YC/Dingle SC) with Vicky McDonnell Lettice 2nd and Joe O’Sullivan taking 3rd.

The Topper 5.3 Silver Fleet was won by Anna Keal and the Gold Fleet winner was Oisin MacSweeney who had consistent results across the series. Second was Hugh Lynch who counted two bullets and a second on the final day of racing. Eoin Horgan held off clubmate David Jones by one point to secure third place.

Anthony O'Leary's modified 1720 Antix Beag from the host club continues to lead the all–in IRC spinnaker division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League by a single point writes Bob Bateman. Staying second is Kieran Collins's Olson 30, Coracle IV. Moving up to third is Brian Jones's J109 Jelly Baby.

In spite of several competing yachts grounding before the start at low tide, Royal Cork Yacht Club Race Officers Clem and Wendy McElligott got racing away promptly, setting a course (67 on the course card ) in chilly easterly conditions of eight to ten knots to Corkbeg  The course then left number 16 to port, a run past Cobh to Whitepoint (No. 5) to starboard, a beat back to (no. 13) off Cuskinny then back out the harbour to (no 5) Dognose and then a run to Cage.

Two of three competing Impala's Prometeus Paul Murray and Whistlin' Dixie Tom McCarthy Photo: Bob BatemanFrank Doyle’s J122E. CaraAntix Beag helmed by Ritchie HarringtonThe Grand Soleil Nieulargo sailed by 16 yr old Mia MurphyThe Desmond/Ivers/Deasy owned Bad Company to weather of the under-25 Academy 1720

Results are here

Last Friday night the Royal Cork Yacht Club end of year prize giving for the keelboats was held, a great crowd turned up to the evening, the format for this prize giving changed a few years ago, away from a formal dinner to a fun, more relaxed night with finger food in the main club bar and this as proven to be a great success with over 70 members in attendance on the night.

RCYC Vice Admiral Colin Morehead opened the evening with a warm welcome and thanks to all. The first set of prizes was for the Fitzgerald Menware Aug/Sept League swiftly followed by the Northsails Sunday Morning Leagues and the Coastal series league. The RCYC annual Super League prize was then presented, this is the trophy for the combination of all mid-week racing across the season.

Next up was the Overall trophies and we have introduced three new trophies in 2018, we added a Keelboat sailor of the year, won by Molly Murphy, a Under 25 sailor of the year, won by Robyn Lynch and the Royal Cork Stanchion trophy (for the boat won was unable to keep all their crew on board while racing, for one reason or another during the year) this was won by Deirdre & Paul Tingle.

Colin Morehead and Frank Doyle, Fitzgerald’s Menswear August leagueColin Morehead and Paul TingleJack Young presenting Oisin MacSweeney, winner of the North Sails Sunday Morning LeagueJack Young and Len Donnery, North Sails Sunday morning leagueCormac MacSweeney and Jack Young, Fitzgerald’s Menswear August September leagueColin Morehead and Kieran O'BrienColin Morehead and Denis Byrne IRC 2 Super LeagueColin Morehead, Mel Collins & Kieran Collins, IRC 1 Super League winnersColin Morehead and Brian Jones, Ballycottton RaceColin Morehead and Denis Ellis, August combined leagueColin Morehead and Tadgh Lynch representing Paul O’Shea for White Sail boat of the tearColin Morehead and Tom McGrath volunteer of the year with the under 25 AcademyPaul Tingle, Colin Morehead and Deirdre Tingle Royal Cork Stanchion trophyColin Morehead and Molly Murphy keelboat sailor of the yearColin Morehead and Robyn Lynch and Tom McGrath under 25 Sailor of the YearColin Morehead and Peter O’ Leary, Best Overseas Performance in the Star classColin Morehead, Kieran Collins, Mel Collins, Kieran O’Connell club boat of the yearKieran O Connell and Roy HananBrian Jones, Kieran O’Connell and Colin Morehead

A full list of prize winners is below:

RCYC Super League Winners 2018

Club ECHO SPIN 1 Fleet

1st IRL77883 Coracle IV

Club ECHO SPIN 2 Fleet

1st GBR9896 Magnet

Club ECHO WS Fleet

1st IRL1022 Aramis

IRC SPIN 1 Fleet

1st IRL77883 Coracle IV

IRC SPIN 2 Fleet

1st IRL2501 Cracker

IRC WS Fleet

1st Elegance Paul O Shea

IHS Division

1st IHS Exhale

2018 Coastal Series

Ballycotton Race IRL 9609 Jelly Baby

Round the Island Series IRL77883 Coracle IV

Club Trophies

Whitesail boat of the year Elegance Paul O Shea

Under 25 Sailor of the Year Robyn Lynch

Keelboat Sailor of the Year Molly Murphy

RCYC Stanchion Trophy Deirdre & Paul Tingle

Overseas Boat Peter & Rob O'Leary in the Star Class

Club Boat of the Year Coracle IV Kieran Collins

Boat of the Year Nieulargo Denis Murphy

Royal Cork Yacht Club Race officers set Course 97, a route that brought the O'Leary Insurance sponsored Winter League fleet to East Ferry in Cork Harbour and up to number 20 off Cobh writes Bob Bateman.

The modified 1720 Antix Beag (Anthony O'Leary) leads the all in IRC fleet after three races sailed by three points from club mate Kieran Collins in the Olsen 30 on nine points.
Third is Bad Company (Peter Deasy/Mark Ivors/Frank Desmond) in the Sunfast 32 one point behind.

Today's course was actually designed for a west wind but it worked very well for the 18-20 knots easterly that prevailed for day three of the League.

One boat retired with gear damage.

Off they go with a fetch to Cork beg. Three boats were OCS at the start. Photo: Bob Bateman

Jelly Baby (Jones Family) went into lead at Corkbeg and held on to it in race three Photo: Bob Bateman

IRC overall leader (Above and below) Anthony O'Leary's Antix Beag at speed Photo: Bob Bateman

Second in IRC overall Kieran Collins' Coracle IV Photo: Bob Bateman

Third in IRC overall is Bad Company (Peter Deasy/Mark Ivors/Frank Desmond), a Sunfast 32 Photo: Bob Bateman

Results are here

Only the bravest hoisted spinnakers in the somewhat reduced fleet that took part in today's heavy weather outing of the O'Leary Insurance Royal Cork Yacht Club Winter League from Crosshaven writes Bob Bateman.

The forecast proved correct in Cork Harbour because while conditions looked benign at 10 am the breeze soon averaged 27 knots with gusts of 37 in squalls from the south-west.

Strong gusts from the south-west for the second race of the Winter League

In what is turning out to be a series of contrasts, this race followed last week's opener in light airs.

The Committee Boat set Course 7o for the second race

Race Officers Clem and Wendy McElligott started the race from the Committee Boat at Grassy Walk and used Course 70 with a running start and took in an area from start to Corbeg to Number 7 buoy and then on to number 13 off Cuskinny, with several rounds totalling about 12 miles in total.

Kinsale Yacht Club's Alan Mulcahy now leads Echo overall

Kieran Collins' Coracle get to grips with the kite

Pat Vaughan’s Aramis in the sunshine after a rain squall

See more in Bob Bateman's photo gallery from race two below:

Coracle helmed by Mel Collins got off to a good start and led across Cork Harbour followed closely by Anthony O’Leary sailing the modified 1720 Antix Beag in the first races of the O’Leary Insurance Group’s sponsored Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club today writes Bob Bateman.

There was just a trickle of breeze at the start of the race but winds increased somewhat during racing, just as well with a 3.9m flood tide.

Light winds prevailed for the first RCYC Winter League Race

Having put their Sigma 33 Sea Hawk to bed for Winter, Clem and Wendy Mc Elligott, took up their annual role as race officers for the series. They set a course from The Committee boat /Cage across to the Eastern shore of the Harbour to Corkbeg back to round Cage take Number 7 to port round number 13 and finish between the Committee Boat and Number 9.

Despite her early lead, Coracle (Olsen 30) had to give way to an outward bound Gas Carrier and this allowed Antix Beag through on the water.

Corrected results are here.