#disabledsailing – Kinsale in County Cork launches this summer's International Federation of Disabled Sailing (IFDS) World Championships on Friday.
It's a proud moment for local sailor John Twomey. Not only is he a former commodre of the host club but he's also Ireland's most capped Paralympian and current president of the IFDS.

Kinsale Yacht Club will host the 16-nation event from 22nd to 25th of August 2013. All three paralympic fleets be racing with participating sailors expected from more than 16 countries.

Ten time paralympic sailor Twomey is the new President of the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS).

Twomey was elected at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Annual Conference in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin last November. The honour came two months after he competed at his tenth Paralympics in Weymouth, a record for any Irish person competing at either the Olympics or Paralympics.

The launch is expected to announce event sponsors and other plans for the event.

#Trade - Kinsale-based yacht designer Rob Doyle has announced the 'takeover' of the staff and offices of Ron Holland Design.

According to Superyacht Times, the 42-year-old issued a statement on Wednesday (27 March) outlining the changeover to his new yacht design, naval architecture and engineering business Rob Doyle Design, which is expected to take the previous company's work in a new direction with new design and refit projects.

"To have had the opportunity to work with Ron Holland over the past 18 years has been both a rare privilege and an eye opener as to what is possible," said Doyle.

"The experience I have gained and the lessons I have learnt make me want to explore more paths and develop further exciting projects with my team and build on Ron’s yacht design legacy."

Ron Holland, meanwhile, is still very much in the game - concentrating on his new centre of activity in Vancouver, where his company opened an office two years ago.

The mentor commented: "I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Rob on the projects that will carry the Ron Holland label and I also wish him all the best for the future of his own design firm and its projects."

Doyle has worked on a number of memorable projects under the Ron Holland brand, including the world's largest sloop Mirabella V and Ethereal, considered the most technically advanced superyacht yet developed.

Superyacht Times has more on the story HERE.

With just three months to go to the Covestone Asset Management Sovereign's Cup 2013, the first listing of registered entrants has just been published and features an impressive 45 entries covering the full spectrum of yacht racing - from stripped out carbon fibre thoroughbreds through to those of more leisurely racing ambitions in the White Sail Class.

The list of entrants (registered to 27th March) can be viewed below.

Regatta Director Mike Walsh expressed his delight with the early response. 'We are well ahead in terms of fully paid up registrations on where previous Sovereign's Cups would have been at this stage'.
'Almost 25% of our entries are travelling to the event from clubs in the UK.
Looking at current registrations as a whole at the moment, over 75% of the entries are visiting competitors, which demonstrates that the Covestone Sovereign's Cup provides a highly attractive offering to those travelling to Kinsale – both on and off the water ", noted Walsh.
The 1720 class will be holding their European Championships as part of the Sovereign's Cup, and six of these dynamic 26 footers are already signed up. Seasoned followers of the 1720 class will no doubt be intrigued by the father-son duel that's in store between sailing supremo Anthony O'Leary and Olympic veteran Peter. According to the Regatta Director, "the set up in Kinsale is excellent for the 1720 fleet with easy craneage into the water and convenient free parking for the trailers while the boats are afloat."
The Quarter Ton Cup will also be held as part of the Covestone Sovereign's Cup, and a number of visitors from the UK have already signed up. Some potent performers are on their way such as Aguila, winner of the Quarter Ton trophy two years ago, Anchor Challenge, winner in 2009 and third in 2012, while Illes Pitituses was nominated for ICRA Boat of the Year in 2012. With the likes of that competition, it's no wonder that there is confirmed interest and intent to enter from a number of other Quarter Ton owners in Dun Laoghaire, Howth and the Solent.
While the Covestone Sovereign's Cup 2013 will continue to deliver the special atmosphere of the nine previous events, with its intimate and friendly setting of the Kinsale Yacht Club and surrounding town and harbour, visitors this year will enjoy the benefits of the major development works underway on the clubhouse. Much improved changing room and showering facilities will be available on the ground floor, while an extended sun deck will tempt those wishing to drink in the sun while downing the finest from the Club's welcoming bar staff.

#kyc – Last Sunday was a bright and sunny day in Kinsale for Patricks day saw seven cruisers hit the water writes Brian Carlin.
The wind was cool with a strong northwesterly building to 20-25 knots.
The PRO made the most of the conditions and sent the small fleet of Class 1's and white sails on a fast downwind ride to Black Head.
The flat seas and strong winds made for an ideal windward leeward course, centre point being the only other mark on the course.
Results: IRC All In went to Chancer (Carroll Bros), Echo went to Joker (Broderick & Gibbons)
White sails went to Maximser (Carl Queen)

#sovereignscup – With entries for the Covestone Asset Management Sovereign's Cup 2013, scheduled to take place from 26th to 29th June, well ahead of expectations, a number of highly regarded "rocket-ships" have already declared their intentions of setting the pace next June in the waters off Kinsale. UK-based entries feature prominently, together with a very healthy level of registration from the domestic IRC and White Sail fleets is sure to make this year's Sovereign's Cup a great success. The addition of the 1720 and Quarter Ton Fleets competing for their European and National Championships respectively will ensure a vibrant atmosphere both ashore and afloat.

A number of the entries received to date have registered their interest in and are already eyeing up the 'Triple Crown' Trophy. This novel trophy will be awarded to the boat that achieves the lowest points aggregate score under IRC from results obtained in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, the ICRA National Championships and the Sovereign's Cup. Regatta Director Mike Walsh, is delighted to recognise the significant effort and commitment of Skippers and their crews who take part in these events and is thrilled this novel trophy is generating such interest.

Consistent with previous events, entries for this year's Sovereign's Cup will be limited to 100 boats.

Some names and stats that caught our eye among those already entered for the Covestone Sovereign's Cup to date are:

Keronimo - Overall Top Boat 2012 Brewin Dolphin Commodores Cup, Winner Class 1A 2011 Fastnet Race.

Impetuous - 2012 Class 1 ICRA National Champion, Winner 2012 Cork Week, Winner 2012 Corby Week.

Storm II - 2011 Class 1 ICRA National Champion, and too many other titles to mention!

Anchor Challenge- Irish Quarter Ton Champion – 2009, Quarter Ton Cup Winner 2009.

Wet n Ready – 1720 Supremo- Anthony O'Leary.

'EOS' Winner of the Portcullis Trophy at Sovereign's Cup 2011.

#kinsale – Ronan Kenneally received the Laser Standard Trophy, Darragh O'Sullivan – the inaugural ASM Radial Trophy, Richard Thompson – the 4.7 Destiny Trophy and Colm Dunne – the Squib Trophy after the final race day of the ASM-Marine KYC Frostbite League.

The early calm conditions on the final day of the ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club last Sunday morning did not look promising. With two previous race days cancelled due to an excess of wind it was more in hope than expectation that the Race Committee lead by OD Bruce Mathews decided to take to the race area. Their positive action was soon rewarded as the predicted South-Easterly Force 2 to 3 arrived ensuring a timely start to the final day's programme.

With a top mark laid in close proximity to Kinsale boatyard, and the incoming tide early in its cycle, a windward-leeward course was offered to the four competing classes. As racing progressed, with the South-Easterly variable and backing at times thirty to forty degrees and the flood tide increasingly more affective, the usual critical decision of which side of the beat to favour was complicated by the opposing set of conditions.

Consistency was the foundation once again this year for Ronan Kenneally (MBSC) as the returning Champion retained the Laser Standard title. Never out of the top two in any race and scoring seven wins in total, Ronan's final flourish of a second and two firsts placed him in an unassailable lead at the top of this class. Finishing in second and third overall were Matthias Hellstern (KYC) and James Long (Inniscarra SC) with two seconds and a third and two thirds and a second respectively.
Already clear ahead at the top of the Radial Fleet, an off-form Darragh O'Sullivan still retained his overall title from last year, despite just two fifth places on Sunday. Successful on the day were Ewan O'Keeffe (CSC) who won the first race with Dermot Lyden (BSC/RCYC) and Aisling Keller (LDYC/KYC) sharing the next two races, each scoring a win and a second.

Having led the Laser 4.7 League throughout, Richard Thompson (RCYC/KYC) with a fifth and a third still managed to repel a late challenge from Cliodhna O'Regan (KYC) who took line honours in the last two races of the day. Unable to discard a 'maximum points' scoring, Cliodhna had to settle for second overall. Florence Lyden (BSC) had her best day to date with two seconds.
The conclusion to the 2013 Squib Class League had all the promise of a closely fought contest for the top spot, between two very well matched boats. Neither of the two crews directly involved, nor the few privileged to view the contest could have envisaged the enfolding drama. Colm Dunne and Rob Gill in Allegro (KYC), started the first race holding an advantage overall of just a single point, to Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson in Sensation (KYC). Allegro lost that one point advantage in the first race, only to regain it emphatically in the second, thus ensuring the outcome of the final race would determine the winner. With the overall points scoring always subject to the two discards rule, both crews must have been frantically doing the 'Math' at that stage. Concerned only with the relative position of their immediate opponents and with both crews sailing tactically, Allegro quickly established a winning lead only to surrender this at a top-mark 'port and starboard' incident. Accepting the required penalty, they still managed to collect a fourth place to Sensation's second. However, with Allegro's fourth in this race and Sensation's fifth in the second going to discard, Colm Dunne & Rob Gill emerged as worthy Champions by virtue of that single point. On this occasion, Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson had to settle for second place, while Paul McCarthy & Paul Cotter held onto third place also with an excellent first and a second.

Prize-Giving was hosted by Commodore Cameron Good, who on behalf of Kinsale Yacht Club congratulated the deserving winners and thanked all the sailors for their efforts. Special mention went to PRO Bruce Mathews for his continuing and enthusiastic support for this event. Appreciation was additionally expressed for the support of the various Committee members, the Sponsor and the many helpers who had assisted, both on and off the water, to make this annual and long-standing event such an enjoyable regatta. The Commodore awarded the prizes for each class which were presented by Agnes McLaverty on behalf of ASM-Marine. Ronan Kenneally received the Laser Standard Trophy, Darragh O'Sullivan – the inaugural ASM Radial Trophy, Richard Thompson – the 4.7 Destiny Trophy and Colm Dunne – the Squib Trophy.

#kinsale – With Kinsale Yacht Club racing cancelled due to a building forecast on Sunday local helmsman Rob Howe and one other Laser sailor went out for a 'burn' with the above resulting 'deck-cam' video from Brian Carlin.

#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports that a fisherman has died after sustaining head injuries in an incident off the Old Head of Kinsale last night.

The man, one of three crew on the West Cork-based fishing trawler Liberty, is believed to have died from his injuries on board the vessel.

According to TheJournal.ie, the Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat and Irish Coast Guard helicopters from Shannon (Rescue 115) and Waterford (Rescue 117) were all scrambled to the scene.

The deceased was airlifted by Rescue 117 to Cork for transfer to hospital, while the remaining crew returned to Kinsale this morning with the lifeboat crew.

It is thought that the accident involved trawling wires on board the fishing boat.

#kinsale – The ASM-Marine Frostbite League for Lasers, Squibs and Mixed dinghies at Kinsale Yacht Club passed the half-way mark on Sunday when a further three races were successfully completed to bring the total races sailed to eight, with two discards to be applied. With a further six races possible over the next two Sundays and with one more discard to be taken into consideration, the eventual outcome in most classes remain tantalizingly open.
A steady Force 4 Moderate Breeze in a bright but cool morning set the backdrop for the fourth day of racing, as the KYC Race Committee lead by PRO's Bruce Matthews and Clem McElligott decided on a triangular course for the first two races, laying the windward mark just south of the beach at Castlepark with the leeward near Kinsale Boatyard. As the tide had just turned prior to the start of the first race, it would be the third race before the effect of the flood tide was to prove a decisive input into race tactics. A more determining factor was the greater wind strength apparent on the left side of the course. Due to a the wind veer of approximately twenty-five degrees prior to the start of race three, the course was re-adjusted accordingly for that final race of the day.
The combined Laser Fleet of thirty-two boats comprising Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs were boosted by the presence of the ISA Munster Training Squad and got off to a flying start @ 12.00 hrs. without incident.
In the Laser Standard Class, last year's overall winner Ronan Kenneally (Monkstown - MBSC) and leading helm from the previous week by just one point, markedly improved his advantage to eight points with an unbeatable combination of a second and two firsts. Meanwhile, his fellow competitors experienced very mixed fortunes on the day in this otherwise tightly contested series. Aided by a fine second in the final race James Mathews (KYC) managed to retain a firm hold on second overall, while Mathias Hellstern's (KYC) third place in the first race assisted his move to a third place overall. Robert Howe's (MBSC) performance of a first and second in the first two races is worthy of note, though he is not currently in contention due to several DNCs accumulated earlier in the series.
In the Laser Radial Class, the ever consistent Darragh O'Sullivan (KYC) and another returning winner from last year marked up one of the two outstanding performances of the day's racing by taking line honours in all three races. In so doing, he has leaped from fourth to first place overall. Given that the league standings have been affected by various helms including Darragh, not competing at various stages due to other commitments, his thirteen points lead in the top spot is looking comfortable. Despite Dara O'Shea (KYC) and Dermot Lyden (BSC/RCYC) not competing on Sunday as indicated above, with their accumulated points to date, they still manage to hold second and third positions overall. Two further notable results were achieved by Aisling Keller (LDYC/KYC) and Kinsale's Sorcha Ni Shuillabhain who was last year's winner of the Destiny Trophy for best performance by a Kinsale sailor when she competed in the 4.7 class. Aisling's second and two thirds moves her from ninth to fourth overall, while Sorcha's third and two seconds are her first set of scores in the league to date.
In the Laser 4.7 class, with three wins to his credit so far Richard Thompson (RCYC/KYC) has emerged as this year's leading helm. Another first, a third and a second on Sunday gives him a lead of three points and a total of eight overall. However Cliodhna O'Regan (KYC) with two of her maximum scores discarded and due to a second and two wins on Sunday moves up into second place and is definitely very much in contention for that top place. Thomas McGrath (RCYC) unable to repeat his performance of last week which delivered two wins drops to third overall and three points behind.
In the Squib Class, the competition between the two leading boats is definitely ratcheting up with both boats seldom out of the top two positions in any race. On Sunday Colm Dunne &Mark Buckley (KYC) in Allegro gained the upper hand, and overturned a deficit of two points overall with a remarkable winning performance of three firsts. Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson (KYC) in Sensation had to settle for three seconds and though they drop to second place overall are only one point behind. The final outcome between these closely matched boats remains very much open. Paul McCarthy/Paul Cotter (KYC) in Mack took third place in the second race, and Bobby Nash/Mike Walsh (KYC) were third in races one and three.
With only the elements as their main adversaries, the K6 of Peadar Murphy, Alan Bateman & Keith O'Riordan continued unchallenged in the Mixed Dinghy Class, adding its own particular spectacle to the overall excitement of the Frostbites.
The league continues over the next two Sundays ending on 24th February. It is an Open Event for all Lasers, Squibs and Mixed Dinghies. F.G. @ 11.55.

#kinsale – The seasonal sharp drop in temperature heralded the opening day of the 2013 ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club on Sunday. The long established winter league, offering early competitive racing opens the KYC sailing season and continues to appeal in the main to the local Laser and Squib Fleets on the South coast. Though entries to the Mixed Dinghy fleet were predictably down in numbers this year, appetites for an injection of excitement were somewhat sated by the appearance of a Rondar built K6.

A chill though steady Force 4 Easterly was the dominating feature of the first day's racing that saw two races completed. The windward-leeward course set by OD's Bruce Mathews and Clem McElligot placed the upwind mark just shy of Kinsale Boatyard crossing the ebbing tide at the start of its cycle.

The three Laser Classes comprising Standard, Radial and 4.7 had a combined start and were first off at the usual time at 12.00 hours. Setting the early pace in the Standard Fleet was RCYC's Edward Rice who expected to take the lead overall with two on-course results of a first and second. Due to missing a mark of the course in error, he settled for an RAF scoring –retirement from the first race. Taking the advantage, KYC's Sean Murphy with a third in race 1 ended the day with a fine win in race 2 and leads the field overall on four points. Eoin Keller (LDYC & KYC) with a consistent showing of a second and third is one point adrift in second position overall. James Long (Inniscarra SC) despite taking line honours in race 1, had to settle for third overall due to a fifth in final race.

KYC's Dara O'Shea has set an early marker in this year's Laser Radial league with his initial results of a second and first, putting him in the top spot on three points. Just two points off the lead is Dermot Lyden (RCYC & BSC) with a win in the first race and a fourth in Race 2. Two points off this mark is Ross O'Sullivan (KYC) due to a fourth and a third.

It is encouraging each year to see the progression of young sailors through the different ranks of the Laser Fleet, and in particular to welcome the new entrants coming into the 4.7 class and gaining their first experience of frostbite series. After the first day of racing Richard Thompson (KYC & RCYC) tops indisputably the league table with two excellent wins. Thomas McGrath's (RCYC) second in the first race against Scott O'Sullivan's (KYC) third being the difference in the battle for second overall.

KYC's familiar stable of Squib crews gathered once again for their annual contest in the Frostbite League with Glandore's Diarmuid Wrenne & Finbar Durgan in Scooby Doo hoping to shake up the local fleet. With last year's winners James and Bruce Mathews participating in Laser this time around – James to the Standard and Bruce to the 4.7 – the way is clear for a compelling and hopefully close-fought competition. Off to a flying start on the first day were Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson in Sensation by winning the league's first two races. Determined to put pressure on the leaders in the weeks ahead are the crews of Colm Dunne & Mark Buckley of Allegro and Victor Fusco & Ruth Ennis of Espresso (is that a double?). With both crews scoring a second and a third they hold the next two positions on the league table on equal points.

Sole entrant to date in the Mixed Dinghy Class was the Peadar Murphy owned K6 - The Widowmaker, crewed on its maiden race by fellow adrenalin junkies Alan Bateman & Keith O'Riordan (KYC). Spectacular performance on the run as the boat leap onto a plane ably assisted by the increasing Force 4 and manfully handled by the crew before succumbing to a spreader bolt giving up the ghost. Looking forward to next week lads?

The league continues over the next five Sundays and is an Open Event for all Lasers, Squibs and Mixed Dinghies. F.G. @ 11.55.