A pursuit race can be a fun thing. Instead of all boats starting together, the goal is for all boats to finish together. So, the slow boats head off first and the fastest last writes Dave O'Sullivan, Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club.

The 40 footers chase the Class 2s, who chase the Dragons who chase the Squibs and, with the witchcraft of mathematics, all boats reach the line at the same time.

A lot of Race Office fingers are crossed.

Bang on the start of the race and the wind changes 180 degrees and we now have a Leeward/Windward course instead of the intended. A potential disaster but the wind steadied and a near-perfect race ensued. A lot of sighs of relief. 

The 1720, number 1601

But, of course, we will remember none of this. We will remember a glorious day of silver seas, blue skies and white puffy clouds. We will remember a beautiful beat to the Bulman Buoy and long spinnaker runs up and down the harbour. We will remember that Bobby Nash & Co. in 1601 had a faultless performance and were the undisputed victors on the day.

Godot - John Godkin & Co

TBD - Matthews Jacob Good

We will remember the generous (seriously generous) sponsorship of the Bulman bar that involves tying up after the race to trays of gourmet seafood and ice buckets full of Heineken. That really is an ‘only in Kinsale’ moment.

And the Race Officers (Mike Walsh & Donal Hayes) will remember their joy when they realised the happenstance of winning boat (1601) reaching the finish line one minute after 4 o’clock.

Results -

1st 1601 - Bobby Nash & Co
2nd TBD - Matthews Jacob Good
3rd Godot - John Godkin & Co

If it’s the first Friday in June then it’s the Bertoletti Trophy Race which is held annually at Kinsale Yacht Club in memory of our esteemed former steward Mario Bertoletti who welcomed one and all to our Club for many years.

The forecasted strong North winds blew and the full tide was at 2100 HRS to get everybody home on time. The sun came out and our Race Officers Denis Kieran and Mary Stanley got the fourteen boat fleet off to a clean downwind start. Spinnakers were flown by the brave to the first mark which came up all too quickly. A long reach to Sandy Cove turned into a fetch at the end with the wind bending off the land. After rounding to port, a quick gybe brought Centre Point on the bow giving the bigger boats a chance to strut their stuff in the ever increasing winds. A long tough beat back into Charles Fort via Bulman satisfied all, both big and small, as the wind stayed very fresh until the fleet had completed the course.

Back in the clubhouse, all 76 participants were on tenterhooks until the computer, wheezing in the back room, produced the results.

1. Flora (Squib) B. Nash & D. Ross
2. Valfreys (Sigma 33) D. Riome
3. Godot (Dufour 44) J. Godkin
4. Cirrus (Elan 31) G. & M. Campbell (Shorthanded)

The Bertoletti Race is the first of four “all in” races held on Friday evenings during the season.

The overall winners will receive the Matthews Trophy.

Full results on KYC.ie

A Kinsale Yacht Club crew is reported safe after being rescued 80 miles off the coast of northwest Spain last night.

The Cork yacht 'Loa Zour', a Bavaria 40 type, under skipper Ger Grant departed Kinsale bound for La Coruna on June Bank Holiday Monday but appears ran into difficulties and were rescued by Galician Search and rescue teams last night.

KYC Commodore Dave O'Sullivan says he is relieved to hear this morning that all five crew are safe and he understands that they spent the night ashore in a Spanish hotel.

O'Sullivan described the crew and skipper as 'very experienced' and that they have 'extensive cruising experience'. He also said the boat was 'very well equipped' for such a voyage.

Northwest Spain has been experiencing strong winds during Storm Miguel.

With the Kinsale Yacht Club Fastnet Race safety inspection (WS Cat 3 with Liferaft) and last minute, adjustments complete, the ten boat fleet lined up for a 1400 HRS start last Saturday writes Dave O'Sullivan. It was a tough beat into a 24-knot breeze tacking in and out of the bays along the West Cork coastline to an all but invisible Fastnet Rock shrouded in mist.

Conor Doyle's Freya rounded at 2330 HRS with EOS next at 0102 HRS followed by Finbarr O’Regan's Artful Dodger at 0215 HRS.

The offwind leg back to Kinsale involved many gybes as boats sought the advantage by playing the angles and dodging the westbound tide.

Freya finished at 0604 HRS followed by EOS at 0750 HRS and Artful Dodger at 0912 HRS. Waterford visitor the Albin Ballad Seven Whistler sailed brilliantly and finished at 1136 HRS.

Kinsale Marina was a sleepy place on Sunday afternoon with all the worn out sailors catching up on lost sleep.

The results, announced Wednesday evening after sailing, are as follows -

1. EOS (C. McCarthy) KYC - Minihan Trophy
2. Seven Whistler (R. Wubben) WHSC - Fastnet Trophy (for Visitors)
3. 3. Artful Dodger (C. O’Regan) KYC
4. Cara (F. Doyle) RCYC
5. Freya (C. Doyle) KYC
6. Flyover (D. Marchant) WHSC
7. Siboney (J. Stallard) KYC
8. Chancer (R.Carroll) KYC
9. Blue Oyster (D. Coleman) SHSC 
10.  Reavra Too (S. Lysaght) KYC

Minister for State at the Department of Health Jim Daly launched the Watersports Inclusion Games 2019 at Kinsale Yacht Club writes Bob Bateman. The event, set to take place in Kinsale harbour and environs on 24th and 25th August, is a landmark event celebrating watersports for people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums, and of all ages and demographics. The games were launched with Bryan Dobson of RTE as Master of Ceremonies together with Event Ambassadors; 11 time Paralympian Sailor John Twomey, World Para-Sailor Gina Griffin, along with Special Olympian Kayaker Oisin Feery.

Following the overwhelming success of the event in Dun Laoghaire 2017 and Galway 2018 (scooping Project of the Year at the 2018 CARA National Inclusion Awards), this year’s event, hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club, will take place at several locations around Kinsale including the main harbour and marina, Castlepark beach and Garretstown beach. There will be sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, surfing, water skiing and fast boat rides on offer and 200+ participants are expected to take part across the weekend.

The games were launched with Bryan Dobson of RTE as Master of Ceremonies together with Event Ambassadors; 11 time Paralympian Sailor John Twomey, World Para-Sailor Gina Griffin, along with Special Olympian Kayaker Oisin Feery Photo: Bob Bateman

This is a national event which aims to showcase the best of Irish inclusive watersports practice and facilitation and is organised by Irish Sailing in association with Canoeing Ireland, Rowing Ireland and Cork Local Sports Partnership along with Kinsale Yacht Club Sailability and Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre. The event is supported with activities by Spinal Injuries Ireland, Irish Waterski and Wakeboard Federation and Surf 2 Heal, in addition to those of the National Governing Bodies involved. Offering further support are numerous local and national organisations including Sailing into Wellness, Sail Training Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, and clubs and training centres from around the country who will support the event with resources, volunteers, instructors and facilitators.

The games, as a landmark occasion rounding up the summer watersports calendar, is the product of ongoing inclusion trainings and awareness drives being activated by the organising bodies in line with Sport Ireland’s Policy on Participation in sport by People with Disabilities and is enabled by grant funding from Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Sports Inclusion Fund.

Speaking at the launch, 11 time Paralympian John Twomey said: ’I am delighted to be here to help launch the third annual Watersports Inclusion Games. It is events such as this, that will help to inspire people of all abilities to take part in watersports activity and perhaps even one day compete for Ireland in Paralympic sport.’

Harry Hermon, Chief Executive of Irish Sailing spoke at the launch, stating: ‘Now in its third year, the Inclusion Games is already becoming an annual landmark occasion, celebrating inclusive watersports activity. By raising national awareness of inclusive opportunities, and encouraging more watersports providers to adopt an equal-access approach to watersports delivery, we aim to perpetuate a culture of inclusive best-practice throughout watersports.’

Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

‘O, to be in Kinsale Now that April's there’ to paraphrase the poet. A true wind, a flat sea and a warm sun reminded the combined fleet of the Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series of the reason we love to race sailboats writes Dave O'Sullivan.

Race Officer Donal Hayes took hold of the opportunity and laid two tough courses stretching the width of the outer harbour from Preghane to Hole Open. Long hard beats were followed by giddy kite rides and all accompanied by the smell of Factor 50.

Starts were hard fought and praise must go to the nerves of the committee boat, White Tiger, who looked like they were to be joined in the cockpit by Finny O’Regan’s ‘Artful Dodger’ and crew. But it was one of those days where bad things didn’t happen and with the briefest kiss she was gone.

The big boys of racing stayed in last week’s position with Nieulargo leading Jump Juice leading Meridian.

Freya in upwind mode. Photo: Donal Hayes

Another victory for the RCYC in class 1 with Bad Company winning both handicaps. A boat for the future here is surely Brian Jones’ Jelly Baby. She loved today’s conditions and landed two bullets with time to spare.

Again a popular victory in both Class 2 categories, with Waterford sailors Fulmar Fever and Flyover edging past local favourites ‘Diamond’ with the sponsor James Matthews at the helm.

No waiting for Godot in the white sail fleet as she romped home without any real competition. When a boats discard is a second place, you know they are good.

It’s back to club racing now in KYC and the next big event in the cruisers calendar is the Fastnet race on Saturday 25th May and of course the Sovereigns Cup 26th/29th June. And, if today is anything to go by, it is time to buy shares in Factor 50.

Overall results of the Matthews Helly Hansen Spring Series.

Class Zero IRC & ECHO

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy

2. Jump Juice - C. Phelan

3. Meridian - T. Roche

Class One IRC

1. Bad Company - F. Desmond

2. Justus - D. Buckley

2. Coracle VI - K. Collins

Class One ECHO

1. Bad Company - F. Desmond

2. Justus - D. Buckley

2. Jelly Baby - K. Collins

Class Two IRC

1. Flyover - D. Marchant

2. Diamond - J. Matthews

3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

Class Two ECHO

1. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

2. Diamond - J. Matthews

3. Flyover - D. Marchant

White Sail IRC & ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin

2. Gunsmoke II - S. Cohen

3. Miss Charlie - P. Beckett

Kinsale in the summertime…..If you set out to create the dream harbour as the perfect location for a regatta which captures the essence of the many pleasures of sailing and racing on Ireland’s south coast, then you’d end up with somewhere very like Kinsale writes W M Nixon. The characterful and hospitable old town climbs picturesquely above the bustling facilities-blessed waterfront, complete with its friendly yacht club. It makes for the ideal setting for the biennial Sovereign’s Cup, sponsored again by O’Leary Life, with the dates for 2019 being Wednesday June 26th to Saturday June 29th).

The impressive larger craft at the head of the cruiser-racer divisions inevitably draw the eye, with a distinct X-factor at the top of the fleet where Conor Doyle’s impressive XP 50 Freya will sail for the honour of the home fleet against such challengers as George Sisk’s new-acquired XP 44 WOW from Dun Laoghaire, and Robert Rendell’s XC 45 Samatoma from Howth - all of them electing to race with the Coastal Fleet.

X-Yachts of Denmark have a good track record at the Sovereign's, as main trophy winners in times past such as the Gore-Grimes family’s X-302 Dux from Howth will be very much in the fray, in against craft like D-Tox and Alpaca in 2019, while their club mates from the north Dublin port’s noted Half Ton Classics flotilla will be strongly represented, as will the popular J/109s from several different ports.

For those who prefer their racing at a slightly less high-powered level, the attractive racing waters between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Sovereign’s Islands off Oysterhaven will be the location for the White Sail Fleet, while nearby the race areas of the International Dragons and the International 1720s will be seeing some very intense sport.

In its early years, the Sovereign’s Cup was very much a cruiser-racer event. But the revival in popularity of the 1702 Sportsboats - and this year’s 90th Anniversary of the ever-young International Dragons - makes the addition of these rather special One-Designs seem like an appropriate and invigorating spicing-up of the Sovereign’s Cup 2019.

Early Bird 2 Closing date is April 26th so enter here

"Men Plan, God Laughs", a proverb well illustrated this afternoon in Kinsale when the elements stole away a racing mark and forced RO Donal Hayes to abandon the race and start all over in the Kinsale Yacht Club Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Spring Series writes Dave O'Sullivan.

The four classes returned to the start line as a substitute mark was laid and the day resumed. Winds were considerably stronger than forecast and the Eastern direction made conditions quite challenging but the Spring sunshine made it a thoroughly enjoyable outing.

Scroll down for photo gallery by Bob Bateman below

In Conor Phelan's absence, Prof O'Connell skippered Jump Juice Photo: Bob Bateman

Class 0 and 1 saw the honours go to Jump Juice and Jelly Baby, respectively, on both IRC and Echo. James Matthews (event sponsor) was first in Class 2 (IRC and Echo) and the stalwarts on Godot romped home in both handicaps in White Sails. Godkin & Co. now have three bullets and look pretty unassailable in White Sails. James Matthews and Co. appear to have class 2 wrapped.

Conditions were glorious - 10-12 knots of southeasterly breeze and sunshine Photo: Bob Bateman

Zero and 1 are still anybody’s to win with two races left.

If you are planning on winning it is well worth remembering, Men Plan, God Laughs.

All to plan for next week with first gun at 1155 HRS.

Overall Positions...

Class Zero IRC & ECHO

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy
2. Jump Juice - C Phelan
3. Freya - C. Doyle

Class One IRC & ECHO

1. Justus - D. Buckley
2. Coracle VI - K. Collins
3. Bad Company - F. Desmond

Class Two IRC & ECHO

1. Diamond - J. Matthews
2. Flyover - D. Marchant
3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

White Sail IRC & ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin
2. Gunsmoke II - S. Cohen
3. Miss Charlie - P. Beckett

East and South East winds gusting to over 40-knots led to the cancellation of this morning's third round of Kinsale Yacht Club's Mathews Centre Spring cruiser League where Denis Murphy's Nieulargo (pictured above) leads class one in IRC and ECHO divisions in a combined 26-boat fleet. 

Racing is scheduled again for next weekend. Read Afloat.ie's race reports here.

Kinsale Yacht Club Marina is a hive of activity today as repairs are underway to damage sustained during the gruelling two races of the Matthews Helly Hansen series last Sunday as previously reported by Afloat here. As sails are being taken away for repair thoughts turn to the lightly runners and riders next Sunday (14th) writes KYC Commodore Dave O'Sullivan.

This is the first event using the new class bands (Class Zero > 1.020, Class One 0.930 to 1.019 and Class Two < 0.929) which are now in force for all SCORA events on the South Coast and while we have last Sunday’s results to go on, the fleets have yet to settle.

Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil Nieulargo Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class Zero Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil Nieulargo is in flying form scoring two firsts in both handicap systems. The lift in their IRC Handicap caused by the larger Jib and Spinnaker appears to have been well worth it. Conor Phelan’s evergreen Jump Juice scored two seconds in both handicaps and with a crack crew on board looks more than capable of unsettling things next weekend. Conor Doyle's Freya is lying third and has yet to find form but everybody knows that this XP50 is very fast when she gets into her stride. Tom Roche of (very polished) Meridian, who had to retire from the second race due to a broken a mainsheet block, tells us that he will be ready to go once again next Sunday.

Tom Roche's Meridian Photo: Bob Bateman

Class one yachts in Sunday's race Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class One a protest hearing is pending between Artful Dodger and Bad Company and the outcome could have an impact on the overall positions. Dan Buckley’s Justus is going well with a third on IRC and first in ECHO. Kieran Collins aboard Coracle VI suffered a setback due to being OCS in the second race. This boat is in very good form and is one to watch. Brian Jones’s J109 Jelly Baby did not compete due to gear failure but will be in the mix next Sunday as will Cian McCarthy on EOS, Tony & Alice Kingston on Luv Is and Stephen Lysaght sailing Reavra. Ronan Downing’s Miss Whiplash is launched and ready to go, she is also one to watch next Sunday.

Cian McCarthy's EOS Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class Two David Marchant’s Sigma 33 Flyover is lying first in both IRC and ECHO with James Matthew’s Diamond second in both. Robert Marchant’s Fulmar Fever was third in both races. It’s far too soon to make a call here as Diamond will find form in lighter winds, Fulmar Fever has yet to sparkle and Padraig O’Donovan’s Chameleon missed out on race two.

The eight–boat White Sail fleet looks to be dominated by John Godkin (Godot), Sammy Cohen (Gunsmoke) and Sean O’Riordan (Y Dream) who are 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall. Make a prediction at your peril as Batt O’Leary (Sweet Dreams), Nigel Dan (Valkriss,) Dave Ackerlind (Paragon) and Patrick Beckett (Miss Charlie) are very competitive and yet to shine.

As always in the Spring Series, boats are being launched every day and we may well be in for a surprise yet.

First Gun on Sunday is at 1155 HRS.