Team CH Marine member Micheal O'Suileabhain from Kinsale Yacht Club finished second overall at the Optimist Braassemermeer Easter Regatta in Holland yesterday. According to the IODAI, the series was cut short with the arrival of storm 'Katie'. It meant the series was completed in nine races and the battle for the Easter regatta's giant egg was between Micheal and two Dutch sailors. Just two points separated the top three. An Irish team were competing in the 242–boat fleet drawn from 15 countries.

Sea Kayak Around Ireland is 45–minute documentary that tells the story of two Irish Sea Kayakers who take on their dream journey of circumnavigating their country. Jon Hynes and Sean Cahill's fabulous documentary produced with support from CH Marine, went online yesterday.

CH Marine who took over the official LaserPerformance dealership in the Republic of Ireland in June have been appointed Northern Ireland agents too. The aim, says CH Marine Managing director Nick Bendon, is to increase support for sailors in the region and attract a new wave of sailors into the sport. The new arrangements come into place next month.

Bendon reports an excellent first few months with LaserPerformance in the Republic and the Munster firm looks forward to promoting the same service in Northern Ireland from its Newtownards branch.

CH Marine is a dedicated resource in the marine industry and has demonstrated decades of high level service for their customers. An already established presence in Southern Ireland provides them with the experience to be a strong leader in the Northern Ireland small boat community.

'The Northern Ireland Laser market has been well catered for in the past and we hope to continue the excellent standards, says Bendon. CH Marine has a known reputation for customer service and we are committed to holding comprehensive stocks of boats, sails, spars and parts at our Newtonards depot, to provide the best delivery times and support, he adds.

“CH Marine has been offering the best products, service and insight to customers in Ireland for the past 45 years and was appointed as our Dealer for Southern Ireland earlier this year. We are excited by the prospects of being able to work closer with the sailing community in Northern Ireland in a bid to get more sailors on the water moving forward.” Dan Smithers, Vice President of LaserPerformance.

This is an exciting and positive step forward for the community in Northern Ireland. The talent synergies of LaserPerformance and CH Marine will provide sailors in the region with the best of both worlds in customer service and product selection.

We look forward to advancing the vision for LaserPerformance with CH Marine. Our close working relationship will accelerate the momentum that both brands have built to promote dinghy sailing and the local sailing communities, clubs and programs in Ireland.

LaserPerformance is the world’s largest manufacturer of small sailboats and proudly promotes the sailing community. LaserPerformance boats are designed and built to meet the needs of all sailors. LaserPerformance proudly manufactures many iconic sailboats including: Laser, Sunfish, Laser Pico, and more. As a lifestyle brand, it distributes water sport related products.

Like the Last Supper the best weather was kept for the final day of the CH Marine Autumn League in Cork Harbour writes Claire Bateman. A brisk nor westerly breeze greeted the Royal Cork Yacht Club competitors. As usual, there were three race areas. Whitesail One and Two with Class Four were sailing down off the Eastern Bank and due to the nor westerly nature of the wind the courses were somewhat shorter with a lot of mark rounding .

The 1720s elected to go out an hour early to get an extra race in such was the enthusiasm of the class and they were able to get the full benefit from the direction of the wind by sailing right across the harbour where they were like greyhounds chasing around the course.

Classes One, Two and Three were in the outer harbour again today and they were given the B type course, which is the triangle course, and this gave great racing. R0 Peter Crowley decided that they would not finish in at the grassy today because it was felt the wind could be a bit flukey inside the harbour.

It was a day that one could use the old reliable description of champagne sailing with blue sea and sky, perfect breeze, and a very fitting end to the CH Marine Autumn League.

With six races already sailed at Royal Cork Yacht Club's CH Marine Autumn Series and one discard, there are now four races left to sail in the event writes Claire Bateman. It was a regular autumnal day yesterday, a bit grey in the harbour but at Roche’s Point it was somewhat brighter but with a bit of a lop brought about by a largely E/NE light wind and a flood tide going in the opposite direction. Fleets One, two and three were given a windward/leeward course and at the weather mark in Class One Rob McConnell’s Fools Gold came in on port with Conor Doyle’s Freya arriving on starboard and Fools Gold having exonerated herself then proceeded to go on to win in IRC.

Fools Gold and Freya close in at the weather mark. More photos in Bob Bateman's gallery above.

Paul Tingle's Alpaca leads in Class two

In Class Two IRC Paul Tingle’s Alpaca had two firsts and has a good lead over her two closest rivals, the Crosbie family on No Excuse and the Desmond/Ivers/Deasy Bad Company. For the second race RO Peter Crowley did his usual clever trick of giving the fleet a race and then finishing them off the Grassy.

Celebrations on the Albin Express White Magic

Class Four sailed inside the harbour as did White sail One and Two. Class Four has turned into a cracker (no pun intended)of a battle between Clare competitor Denis Byrne in his Ed Dubois TS 250 and Alan Mulcahy’s Albin Express White Magic. Both had a win today and are joint leaders on seven points each in IRC.Blank Zig Mosaic copy

The 1720 fleet were having their usual exciting racing but with the lighter winds did not produce any unexpected surprises. Denis Murphy’s Aquatack took the three bullets today.

Next Sunday will see the penultimate day of racing for the league with the final day of racing on the following Saturday, October 24th.

Last week may have produced conditions lulling us all into a mood of ‘A Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness’ but today sharply reminded the Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League competitors of the march on of the season writes Claire Bateman. To day was a gray day with a bite in the wind that came from the E/SE producing 15/20 knots with occasional gusts into the mid twenties. Skies were dark with occasional shafts of sunlight but none of this deterred the enthusiastic sailors as they set out all geared up for the weather.

Even as your scribe was heading out for the start there was already a 1720 limping home with a broken mast a sure indicator there might be a few more incidents to come and such turned out to be the case. The tales in the club bar afterwards were stories of crew overboard, torn sails, gear damage and protests. One of the Archambauld 35s was seen to be doing something akin to the dance of the seven veils off the Holy Ground at Cobh, fine girl you are!!

While heading out the Owenabue River to the start the harbour looked as if there were no seats left in the house. All racing was inside the harbour today due to the conditions so what we saw first on our port side were the dinghy classes with the Optimists, Toppers and Lasers. Looking ahead one could see the 1720 fleet all on starboard tack as they headed off on their first race of the day and on our starboard side we could see White Sail One and Two and Class Four heading for the Corkbeg mark and looking further in the harbour were Classes One, Two and Three. To complete the picture we had the Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile down off Spike with the Naval Service L.E James Joyce close by and finally to complete the scene a large oil tanker tied up at Whitegate.

All in all it was an extremely busy day for all the willing volunteers who help with the running of the events, the working out of handicaps and all that is necessary for the smooth operation of racing.

There was a short sharp sea as there was an ebb tide going in the opposite direction to the wind making for exhilarating racing if a little uncomfortable for some of the smaller boats at times. A full complement of racing was achieved for the day and so far four races have been held in the CH Marine series and racing will continue next Sunday

Royal Cork Yacht Club's CH Marine Autumn League got off to a great start yesterday with 13-14 knots of breeze & sunshine in Cork Harbour. Competitors were met with sunshine and SSE breeze on Day One of the event writes Claire Bateman. Photos by Bob Bateman in our gallery above.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club was in festive mood and was a hive of bustling sailing activity with an abundance of good humour everywhere. Also eagerly awaited was the rugby match between Ireland and Romania for which special viewing facilities had been set up in the main dining room.

Some twenty seven yachts in Classes One, Two and Three were in the outer harbour. They were sailing a windward /leeward course for Race One, using the Harp mark as the leeward mark. For the second race an added dimension was the fact they were brought in by Race Officer Peter Crowley to finish at the Cage. Rob McConnell’s ‘Fools Gold’ is as usual sailing well and is leading IRC One with Conor Doyle’s ‘Freya’ Second and Mary O’Keeffe, helped on by an excellent start lies third.

In Class Two it’s a question of rounding up the usual suspects with the Desmond/Deasy/Ivers ‘Bad Company’ Leading Deirdre and Paul Tingle’s ‘Alpaca’ in second and T.E. Crosbie’s ‘No Excuse’ in third.

In this class Misfortune in the way of a flying shackle on ‘Cortegada’ hit a crew member of the head causing the yacht to retire from the race. Happily, after treatment in hospital, the injured crewman is home and well.

Meanwhile, almost forty boats were saiing inside the harbour including ten 1720s and after three races the 1720 positions are – Gary Rhodes ‘Heroes and Villians’ leads Denis Murphy’s ‘Aquatack’ with Kinsale raider Bobby Nash’s 1601 in third place..

In IRC Four it was nice to see a visitor that we don’t normally see at the Autumn League. Denis Byrne was sailing ‘Cracker’, a cruiser/racer version of a Starflash quarter tonner. Kinsale’s Alan Mulcahy, who is a very frequent and popular competitor at the club was in his newly acquired Albin Express ‘White Magic’, lies in second place. In third position was Rene Wubben of WHSC in his Albin Ballad, ‘Seven Whistler’.

In White Sail One IRC Seamus Gilroy in ‘Split Point’ leads followed in second place by Peter Murray’s ‘Wild Honey’ and in third place Batt and Helen O’Leary’s ‘Sweet Dreams.’

It would be remiss of me to close this piece about the very successful first day of the CH Marine Autumn League without describing how the harbour was at its very best today. Conditions were ideal with sun and breeze. In addition to those competing in the Autumn Series, there were Lasers, Optimists, people just enjoying sailing and motor boating and in general enjoying a family day on the water. There were boats to the left, boats to the right, boats in the centre and boats on all sides of the harbour. Truly a sight to encourage people to take up water based activities. Cork Harbour is certainly alive and well.

Irish Laser agent Nick Bendon of CH Marine has announced the new Standard Mark II Sail for the Olympic dinghy has just been signed off by the Laser class and ISAF for most competition. The sail will not be legal for ISAF World Cup competitions nor for the 2016 Olympics.

Official launch of the class approved Mark II sail is set for November 1st, 2015 and CH Marine will accept pre-orders. CH Marine is quoting prices of €569 and £385 Inc VAT and free delivery.

Following the Olympic Games in Rio, the sail will be class legal for all competition. This new class approved sail is more durable due to its bi-radial construction, it is manufactured out of longer lasting 4.5 ounce Dacron cloth with optimized sail patches, tapered battens with Velcro batten pocket closures, and the new luff tube design is easier on the upper spars.

Specs:

• Bi-radial construction
• Larger window
• Tapered battens in Velcro fastened pockets
• Luff tube mast joint patch
• 4.5 oz Dacron sailcloth
• Optimized patching for durability
• Red sunburst
• ILCA Sail Button

#laser – CH Marine has become the official dealer for Laser Sailboats in the Republic of Ireland following an agreement between Laser Performance and one of Ireland's leading boating stores. The Cork company's initial focus will be to establish a reliable and regular supply of boats and equipment for boats in the existing market and later it will turn its attention on building the brand and expanding Laser's growing range of boats which include the popular Laser Pico, Bahia, Vago and Dart 16. 

CH Marine, with stores in Cork and Skibbereen, already hold comprehensive stocks of Laser Boats and Spares ready for immediate delivery, orders may be placed online or by calling directly to one of the stores. 

CH Marine is one of Irelands' largest marine equipment supply companies which has been established for over 40 years.

Nicholas Bendon, CH Marine's Managing Director, says "The Laser range fits well in the rapidly growing Dinghy side of their market" CH are established gear suppliers to the Optimist market, with the Optiparts brand and they have been very successful in selling the sailing wear brands such as Rooster and Musto the dinghy and sportsboat markets.

CH Marine has a dedicated Laser section on its site HERE

#lifejacketawareness – Inflatable Lifejackets are without doubt the most convenient and unobtrusive PFDs available but they do need regular checks and servicing for their safe operation when needs. Leading Lifejacket supplier CH Marine is holding a Life Jacket Awareness Week this week and offering information and guidance on the safe use and care of Gas Inflation Lifejackets. The RNLI are attending and, as well as daily tips ,special offers there are also chances to win some great lifejackets. Check out CH Marine Facebook Page for more.