#portofcork – Captain Pat Farnan is to retire as harbour master of the Port of Cork after 33 years with the company.

Captain Farnan joined the Port of Cork in 1980 as Assistant Harbour Master and since then, has built a reputation as one of the leading Harbour Masters in the country. He also served as President of the European Harbour Masters Association from 1996 to 1998.

The Harbour Master is primarily responsible for the safety of all vessels within the port and advises the Board of the Port Company on all nautical matters. In the case of the Port of Cork, he is also responsible for the management of all aspects of port operations, including pilotage, towage and crane operations.

Prior to joining the Port of Cork, Captain Farnan enjoyed a sea-going career with Irish Shipping Ltd, joining as a cadet and subsequently serving in all ranks on a wide variety of vessels, trading worldwide. He left Irish Shipping in 1980 to join the Port, having served as master for two years.

Captain Farnan has also served as Harbour Master of Bantry Bay since 2002.

Captain Farnan lives in Cobh with his wife Carmel and this year celebrates 40 years of marriage. He has two sons, Keith based in Dublin and Patrick based in Cork.
Commenting on his retirement, Captain Farnan said "It has been a privilege to have been the 12th person to hold the position of Harbour Master since 1820.

"I joined the then Harbour Commissioners in 1980 at a particularly fortuitous time as the Port was about to enter an exciting phase of its development with the construction of new facilities at Ringaskiddy. This facilitated the expansion of the Port and in the intervening years the deepwater facilities at Ringaskiddy allowed the Port to accommodate large Panamax vessels and more recently a deep sea container service. Now it is established as one of the leading Ports in the country.

"Among the many highlights for me during my time at the Port of Cork was the return of cruise liners to Cork with the berthing of the QE2 at Ringaskiddy in 1990 and the development of the cruise facilities in Cobh to meet the challenge of the ever increasing size of cruise liner culminating in the berthing of the "Independence of the Seas" and "Queen Mary 2" two of largest cruise ships. The Tall Ships visit in 1991, which was the first time the event was ever hosted in Ireland, was also a great personal highlight of my career.

"One of the major strengths of the Port is the combined efforts of every individual who make the day-to-day running of the Port possible, at all levels and the high level of morale that was maintained over the years. I was fortunate in having a great team supporting me in operations."

Deputy Harbour Master, Captain Paul O'Regan will assume responsibility as Acting Harbour Master and Captain Pat Murphy will be the Acting Deputy Harbour Master. Both will bring their many years of experience and expertise to continue the efficient operations of the Port.

Brendan Keating, Chief Executive of the Port of Cork concluded "Pat has given outstanding service to the Port of Cork and he retires today with our very best wishes."

Calling all 5th Class Teachers – Win a Free Boat Trip around Cork Harbour for your class

The Port of Cork has launched their Schools Initiative for 2013 and is calling on all 5th class primary school teachers to get their class involved. This year's theme 'The Gathering 2013 – Cork Harbour – Ireland's Maritime Gateway to the World' is celebrating The Gathering and Cork Harbour's strong links with Irish diaspora, both as a tourism hub today and as a departure point for Irish emigrants in the past.

The Port of Cork Schools Initiative aims to teach 5th class primary school children about the rich history of Cork Harbour and its uses today as a natural harbour, commercial port and excellent leisure amenity. All participating 5th classes who take part in the Port of Cork Schools Initiative will be treated to a boat trip around Cork harbour, compliments of the Port of Cork and each class will also receive a certificate of participation. In addition to the overall prize, awards will also be given for the best artwork piece and best photograph. The overall best project will receive a tour on board one of the many large cruise liners visiting Cork during the summer of 2013.

Speaking about the 2013 theme, Port of Cork Chief Executive Brendan Keating said: "As 2013 is the year of 'The Gathering', we are encouraging classes to think about Cork Harbour and its role as Ireland's maritime gateway to the world both as a departure point for emigrants in the past and as a gathering point for tourists today. Cork Harbour has a long association as the departure point for many Irish emigrants in the 1800s and in the 1900s. Now thousands of visitors come into our spectacular harbour on passenger ferries and on cruise liners from all over the world. For many of these tourists, their visit also provides them with the opportunity to see the place that their Irish ancestors departed from so many years ago."

Projects are to be presented in artwork format using paintings, models or photographs. Submitted projects will go on public display in Customs House before the winner is announced in April 2013. Closing date for entries is 29th March 2013.

For more information on this year's schools project and how to get involved, please contact Sinead Kavanagh, Tel: +21 4625375 or email [email protected].

#rnli – Last night at 8.40pm, as the Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat was returning from exercise, information was received from Valentia Coast Guard Radio of a distress flare sighted about 1 miles South of Gyleen. Further information received was of a 37' fishing vessel taking on water. The Volunteer crew quickly loaded a salvage pump and headed to the incident. Ballycotton Lifeboat was also on exercise and made best speed towards the incident. On arrival, it was found the fishing vessel had sank and the lone skipper had abandoned to a liferaft. The Crosshaven crew brought the casualty on board the lifeboat before he was brought back to the Lifeboat station. The skipper was checked out by the Lifeboat Doctor and found to be well.

The volunteer crew were Warren Forbes (Helm), Geraldine Farrell and James Fagan.

#rcyc – Derry Good's Exhale was the IRC Handicap winner and the overall ECHO All In winner was Ian Hickey's Cavatina in today's third day of Royal Cork's Winter league writes Claire Bateman.

The weather forecast turned out to be deadly accurate and the race organisers of the Marshall Textiles sponsored racing had prepared for every eventuality with great detail including shortening of the course.

The course was predetermined and a sheet showing same was given to each skipper of the fleet of intrepid mariners before they took to the water and this information was again radioed to the fleet as they arrived at the Grassy start. Four rounds were scheduled to be sailed.

Racing commenced in 18 knots of a south/south westerly breeze. Starting from Grassy the first round went to No. 5 port, No. 7port, 14port and back to Grassy and then on to round two first to 12 starboard, and back to Grassy where the organisers had taken the decision to finish racing. What had started as 18 knots had increased to 26 gusting 30 and there wasn't anybody about to question that decision.

A few brave souls did fly kites but that did not last very long in the conditions and indeed some were seen to be having difficulty retrieving them and ended up doing a bit of trawling.

The lower rated boats had possibly an hour and a quarter racing with the big boats possibly having slightly less.

#figaro – A 21–year–old Cork sailor has launched a bid to compete in one of the world's toughest offshore challenges. David Kenefick will debut in an international fleet that sails to Ireland next year in the 44th edition of the famous French La Solitaire du Figaro single-handed race.

The Crosshaven sailor who is currently training in La Grande Motte, Languedoc, France with the British Artemis team is fulfilling a long held ambition to compete in the race, one of the most competitive solo races in the world. The Cork Harbour helmsman will likely be the only Irish entry in the multi-stage offshore race.

"There are just over seven months to the start of the 2013 Solitaire du Figaro race and everyday in my training schedule counts. My programme is being managed by Figaro veteran Marcus Hutchinson who has organised my boat and technical programme and secured for me a place in the elite CEM training centre in La Grande Motte on the French Mediterranean coast. We will be here for the next five months developing my shorthanded sailing skills to such a level that I can confidently compete in the Solitaire du Figaro in 2013" Kenefick told Afloat.ie. The full campaign press release is available for download below as a pdf.

The unique stages of the race, the presence of great solo sailors regularly in the line up plus the fact it is also open to amateurs has made it one of the most appealing in offshore sailing. Sailors are required to sail long passages single-handedly catching only brief periods of sleep while underway.

French organisers have yet to nominate the 2013 Irish stop–over port for the 50 plus professional helmsmen who will race over 1600 miles.

The race has previously called to Kinsale, Dingle, Howth, Kenefick's own home port of Crosshaven and most recently Dun Laoghaire.

Irish rookie David Kenefick afloat in French waters at the start of his 2013 Figaro campaign. Photo: Brian Carlin

Noted America's Cup communications manager Hutchinson a former Figaro competitor in the 1998 and 2000 editions of the race and now based in Kinsale, is acting as a coach and mentor to the rookie Munster campaign, according to Kenefick's father Neil, the well known Cork Harbour yachtsman.

As well as Hutchinson previous Irish entrants in the event include Volvo race winner Damian Foxall and Paul O'Riain. In 2011, when the race called to Dun Laoghaire, the Dublin solo sailor Mick Liddy's chances were set-back through a lack of sponsorship.

The race is sailed in one design keelboats, Figaro Bénéteau II type yachts.

Kenefick's team is also seeking sponsorship but his 2013 bid is already on the water and competing in warm up events. The former Optimist,1720 and A35 ace has chartered a Figaro class yacht from the fleet of the famous French navigator Michel Desjoyeaux for a one year term. Desjoyeaux recently competed in Ireland in Dun Laoghaire at the helm of the winning MOD70 Foncia, when the tour visited Dublin Bay for the first time.

In spite of his young years Kenefick has over 30,000 sea miles, has completed some arduous voyages including two Fastnet races, a transatlantic and some high end TP52 sailing. Recently he completed a number of very strenuous Artemis British offshore duration sailing tests and showed plenty of promise.

Kenefick, the younger brother of George, Afloat's sailor of the year, is currently completing a six week training stint in France.

Kenedfick's introduction began at the age of three in the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) and progressed to sail for Ireland in the youth classes. He grew up across the river from the RCYC clubhouse so his only form of transport was a tender. Today he now have over 30,000 sea miles in different locations around the world and is also aiming for Master 200 certification and become one of the world's leading Super Yacht captains.

His recent sailing experience is below:

2011

2nd 1720 Europeans

NYYC Invitational Cup, sailing for his club the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

2010

Rolex Middle Sea race 2010,on Dublin yacht "Legally Brunette"

ISA All Ireland sailing Championships 2010' 3rd sailing with his father.

1st 1720 sports boat Europeans 2010.

Rolex Commodores Cup. He was part of the Hong Kong team were we finished 2nd.

2008

ACC Bank Cork Week 2008 - For Cork Week He skippered an IRC A 35.

Rolex Commodores Cup - Blondie IV king 40, part of Ireland' s finishing third overall.

BMW Round Ireland - 9th overall and 2nd in class 1. Kenefick's role on board was a watch leader in one of the windiest round Ireland's in the races history and the youngest sailor taking part in the race.

His campaign can be followed on twitter @davidkenefick

The full schedule for David Kenefick's programme is as follows:

CEM Training Centre, La Grande Motte (November-March)

Icom Cup, Marseille (6-12 March)

Solo Concarneau, Concarneau (4-9 May)

Transmanche, l'Aberwrach (16-20 May)

La Solitaire du Figaro, Bordeaux to Dieppe (2 – 31 June)

Cowes Week (3-9 August)

Rolex Fastnet Race (11-15 August)

Two-handed Tour of Brittany (31 August – 7 September)

Generali Med (22-30 September)

#corkharbour – After two races of the Marshall Marine Textiles Winter League in Cork Harbour Diarmuid Foley in Anchor Challenge and Anthony O'Leary on Antix Beag are tied on ten points each writes Claire Bateman.

Light winds prevailed for the second race of the League on Sunday. The fleet had an all in Grassy start under Race Officers Vinnie O'Shea and Mark Ring who set course 101, consisting of three rounds in a 10 knot west/north westerly breeze and finishing again at Grassy.

After two races in the IRC 'All In' fleet Diarmuid Foley in Anchor Challenge and Anthony O'Leary on Antix Beag are tied on ten points each while Fergus Coughlan's Whyte Knight and Alan Mulcahy's Sundancer are next on 12 points each.

In ECHO All In Richard Lord's Blue Peregrine leads on thirteen points from Anthony O'Leary's Antix Beag on seventeen points while Fergus Coughlan's Whyte Knight is third on eighteen points.

Racing continues next Sunday.

#rcyc – Royal Cork Yacht Club celebrated a highlight of the year in its Crosshaven clubhouse at the weekend with the presentation of perpetual RCYC trophies writes Claire Bateman.

Admiral Peter Deasy presented the Boat of the Year Trophy to Ian Nagle of Jelly Baby as well as League trophies for: O'Leary Insurance Group Whitesail April, UK Halsey Sailmakers May, Union Chandlery June, a new and welcome sponsor Airport View Parking for July, August and September and last but certainly not least the Heineken Super League.

There were so many trophies that a second table had to be provided to hold them and the magnificent display generated a huge amount of interest during the evening.

#cruiseliners – The Port of Cork welcomed MV Adonia, the final cruise liner of the 2012 season to Cobh today following the busiest year to date for the Port in terms of cruise calls. In total, 57 liners called to the Port of Cork, home to Ireland's only dedicated cruise berth, carrying almost 100,000 passengers and crew.

The Port of Cork has ambitious plans to grow the business and already the 2013 season is showing growth, with 62 liners expected to call. Some of these calls will stay overnight and at least 10 liners will make their maiden call to Cork in 2013. For the first time ever, Europe's largest cruise liner "Independence of the Seas" will welcome passengers to embark at Cobh next June and September for a 12 night cruise around the Norwegian Fjords. This initiative which is exclusive to Lee Travel is a major coup for Cork.

Over the last 10 years, the Port of Cork has invested €8 million in upgrading and improving cruise facilities and this has made a major impact on the number of calls, increasing from 35 in 2005 to 57 this year. With an average spend per in-transit passenger of approximately €73 per day*, the cruise business is an important catalyst for the local economy.

Commenting on the success of the 2012 cruise season, Captain Michael McCarthy, Commercial Manager of the Port of Cork said "We know from our meetings with the cruise lines that Cork and the Munster region is a very popular destination for passengers due to the exciting range of shore excursions on offer and the warm welcome they receive here which is second to none. We want to grow the number of cruise calls to 80 over the next five years and to increase turn-around calls and overnight stays to generate even further revenue for the region."

As always, all cruise liners that called to Cork throughout the season were given a very special welcome courtesy of CorkCruise, providing tourist representatives to go onboard each vessel, a display of traditional Irish dancing for passengers and a fond farewell on the quayside with a performance by a local brass band. These efforts were recognised once again in 2011 when the Port of Cork was awarded two Cruise Insight Awards for 'Best Shore Side Welcome' and 'Best Tour Guides' which were announced at the global shipping conference, Seatrade Miami in April 2012.

#rcyc – Apart from the chill in the breeze on Saturday and the beautiful colours in the trees around Crosshaven, one might have been forgiven for thinking it was a summer's day for the last race of the CH Marine Autumn league writes Claire Bateman. (scroll down for photos by Bob Bateman)

The sailors were all in high good humour anticipating an excellent day of sailing with the prospect of two good races and an early return ashore to get back to the club tonight for the final highlight of the event, the prize giving dinner.

Racing outside the harbour today was on two triangular courses with a verycomfortable 8 to 11 knots of breeze from the north with the same conditions pertaining inside the harbour with the fleets on round the cans courses.

Special thanks must got to all the visiting yachts, the huge contingent from Kinsale, our neighbors from CSC, all those from east of the south coast and west of the south coast and of course all our own Royal Cork competitors who turned out in such numbers.

The organisers and all volunteers have worked extremely hard to ensure this was the hugely successful Autumn League it turned out to be and many thanks and appreciation must go to Nick Bendon of CH Marine for the generous sponsorship and wonderful prizes.

#corkharbour – Back in 1992, we were sailing a true cruiser-racer which was moderately competitive despite going off for a proper cruise or two each year. In that year we did Cork Week and lived aboard the boat in true cruiser-racer fashion – in fact, the security man checking my pass at the end of the week said it showed I'd never gone to the landward side of the Royal Cork compound throughout the regatta, which on reflection I had to say was indeed true.

Anyway, on that last day before I finally ventured into nearby County Cork, we had a breezy race with lots of wind between south and southwest, and as the ebb was running hard I can remember taking it easy going out to the start, because for once we had time in hand and the space to avoid the tide rip which develops in those conditions off Roche's Point.

We were trundling along, and suddenly Ted Crosbie's boat (it would have been one of his earlier excursions into the X Boats) came rocketing past heading seaward at full speed carrying all sail. His start was earlier than ours, and he was late. It may be that he wanted to teach whoever had kept him late a fierce message, or maybe he did it for the hell of it, but he just went straight through the breakers at full chat (despite his affable appearance, Ted is one tough cookie) and came out the other side still going strong, and with us marvelling that his boat was still in one piece, and joking about the citizens of Cork having such an excellent boat test tank right on their doorstep.

Mock not, lest your predictions come true. Since 2006, Frank Kowalski and his team at Safehaven Marine in Cobh have been putting their Pilot and Search & Rescue boats through the demanding test bed off Roche's Point, and the success of the company is testament to the thorough nature of the conditions experienced when there's an onshore gale and the ebb is running strong.

It all started with a boat for Cork Harbour, though I should imagine the Cork Harbour authorities have mixed feelings about the way the entrance to their "safest harbour in the world" is now being used to publicise the marque. But fair play to the men of Cork, they backed a winner, and these days the Safehaven boats are sold to harbour authorities and other maritime bodies all over the world, with the company employing 25 highly skilled staff between their factories on Little Island in Cork Harbour, and in Youghal.

It's very much a team effort, and usually when they want to take a boat out to test, other boats may go along to observe and photograph. But if things are just too much, or the factories are extra busy, all they need is one guy with a camera down on Roche's Point.

This recent sequence was taken from another boat, and it shows former naval diver Ciaran Monks putting the newest in the sequence of pilot and rescue vessels through her paces. For once, the word awesome can be allowed. No other word will do. Frank Kowalski and his team are an inspiration to us all.