WOW!, another Cork Week has just flown by, my 18th - an unbroken run since 1990 - a most epic half-life sentence!
As always, your North Sails team were there on and off the water supporting and helping all competitors which we hugely enjoy.
My colleague Shane Hughes was racing onboard Mike & Richie Evans J112e "The big Picture" as trimmer, winning IRC with a string of first places. Shane was also kept out of mischief every night running the North Sails Cork Week Service programme.
Paul Keal and I were racing as pit and tactician respectively onboard John Treanor's NMD 43 'CrisTina', taking 3rd overall in IRC Coastal.
Johnny Treanor's NMD 43 'Cristina' flying their North Sails 3Di 'FR0' (fractional Code 0), 'GS' (genoa staysail) and mainsail at Cork Week 2026 - pic: Maurice O'Connell North Sails Ireland
Charlie Cumbley from North Sails UK won the Etchells Europeans as tactician aboard Chris Hampton's 'Tango'.
Nick Cherry was racing aboard the IRC 3 winning all-conquering 'BLT'.
Downwind looking aft aboard Sam Laidlaw's IRC 3 winning 'BLT' - pic: Nick Cherry North Sails UK
This year was a light / medium air affair for the most part with a wide variety of sail types being used.
Onboard Mike & Richie Evans J112e in Cork testing their North Sails NPL Sport 'BR0' (blast reacher) outside their 3Di RAW Code 1 jib - pic: Shane Hughes North Sails Ireland
North Sails powered vessels took a fantastic haul of trophies, coming out on top in a huge number of classes.
We SALUTE you all in our NS roll of HONOUR for Cork Week 2026!
Here are the North Sails powered key IRC podium results:-
IRC 0
1. The Big Picture - J112 — Mike & Richie Evans - Howth YC
3. Hero - Briand One-tonner - Simon Brittten - Portishead CC*
IRC 1
Barry Cunningham's J109 'Chimaera' flying her North Sails 3Di RAW mainsail & Code 1 jib - pic: Rick Tomlinson
1.Chimaera - J109 - Barry Cunningham - Royal Irish YC
2. Joker II - J109 - John Maybury - RIYC
3. Control-J - J109 - Andy Williams - Portishead CC
IRC 2
Dave & James Dwyer's 'Swuzzlebubble' flying their North Sails 3Di RAW mainsail and Code 2 jib at Cork Week - pic: Rick Tomlinson
1. Swuzzlebubble - Farr ½ Ton - Dave & James Dwyer - Royal Cork YC
IRC 3
'Symmetry' flying her North Sails 3Di RAW main and S1.5 Spi at Cork Week: Pic: Rick Tomlinson
1.BLT - ¼ Ton - Sam Laidlaw - Royal Yacht Squadron
2. Symmetry - ¼ ton - Anton Kurshunov - Howth YC
3. Hellaby Puffin - ¼ Ton - James Waugh - County Antrim YC*
IRC Coastal 1
1. Jings - J109 - Robin Young - Royal Northern & Clyde YC
2. El Syd - GTS 43 - Frank Whelan - Greystones SC*
3. CrisTina - NMD 43 - John Treanor - RIYC / National YC / Schull Harbour SC / Royal Ocean Racing Club
IRC Coastal 2
2. Elida - X332 - Ria Lyden - Royal Cork YC
IRC Non-Spinnaker 1
1. Big Mac - Dehler 34 - McGrath family - Royal Cork YC*
2. Magnet - MG335 - Kieran & Florentina O'Brien - RCYC*
IRC Non-Spinnaker 2
John Twomey's 'Shilelagh' at Cork Week 2026 — pic: Rick Tomlinson
3. Shilelagh - Blazer - John Twomey - Kinsale YC
Sportboats
1. Sheep Dawg - VX One - Trevor Darcy - Carrickfergus SC
Etchells European Championships
'Tango' flying her North Sails PCFM-RH main and Mal-M jib — pic: Rick Tomlinson
1. Tango - Chris Hampton - Royal Brighton YC
2. Exabyte - Shaun Frolich - Royal Southern YC & RORC
3. Knot On Call - Andrew Crosbie - RCYC
Congratulation too all competitors and the wonderful team in Royal Cork YC on a fantastic weeks' racing. Roll on Cork Week 2028!
*denotes partial inventory
