Classic racing is back at Volvo Cork Week and Royal Cork Yacht Club's Harold Cudmore was on the helm of the Cork Harbour One Design Jap for a victory on the first day.

1968 French entry Bilou-Belle Tina from the Atlantic Yacht Club is second with Dafydd Hughes Bendigedig in third place in the eight-boat fleet.

Simon O'Keeffe's 1902 restored Gaff Cutter Lady Min is racing in Cork Week's Classic division Photo Rick Tomlinson

Last October, Jap skippered by Harold Cudmore and with a crew that counted former club Admiral Colin Morehead among its number won Le Voile Saint Tropez Classic Regatta in the South of France.

Jap, built in Carrigaloe in 1897 and fully restored and sailing again as part of RCYC's 300th celebrations, took an unassailable lead in her class at the important classic regatta.

Cork Week Classics after one race sailed

1st Jap Cork Harbour One Design CHODMF CHODMF C4 Royal Cork YC
2nd Bilou-Belle Tina 1968 JJ Ollu FRA 4335 Atlantic YC
3rd Bendigedig S&S 34 Dafydd Hughes GBR 8383L Aberaeron

Last week's club talk by Royal Cork Yacht Club helmsman Harold Cudmore on the exploits of the Cork Harbour One Design classic yacht Jap at St. Tropez in October gave details of the 1897-built yacht's recent performances on the continent but also revealed details of 2022 plans to bring a classic boat division to Cork Week Regatta next year.

As regular Afloat readers will recall, the restored Jap skippered by Cudmore and with a crew that counted club Admiral Colin Morehead among its number won Le Voile Saint Tropez Classic Regatta in the South of France.

In a great result for Cork Harbour classic boat enthusiasts, Royal Cork member Terry Birles and his yacht Erin took fifth in their class in St. Tropez too.

Royal Cork member Terry Birles (left) with a half model of his yacht Erin and RCYC Admiral Colin Morehead Photo: Bob Bateman

During the club talk, Birles presented a half model of the classic yacht Erin for display at the Crosshaven clubhouse.

Details of Cork Week's Classic Division are to be announced at the Paris Boat Show on 4th December.

Jap, built in Carrigaloe in 1897 and fully restored and sailing again (pictured here in Cork Harbour) as part of RCYC's 300th celebrations, took an unassailable lead in her class at the important classic regatta in October. Olympic helmsman Cudmore was on the tiller of the oldest and the smallest yacht at the classic yacht Centenary Trophy fleet in St. Tropez. Photo: Mary Malone

The restored Royal Cork Yacht Club Cork Harbour One Design Jap skippered by Harold Cudmore and with a crew that counts club Admiral Colin Morehead among its number have won Le Voile Saint Tropez Classic Regatta in the South of France.

Jap, built in Carrigaloe in 1897 and fully restored and sailing again as part of RCYC's 300th celebrations, took an unassailable lead in her class at the important classic regatta on Saturday.

Royal Cork member Terry Birles and his yacht Erin took fifth in their class.

Olympic helmsman Cudmore was on the tiller of the oldest and the smallest yacht at the classic yacht Centenary Trophy fleet.

The Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy is a French classic regatta reserved for boats of one hundred or more years old.

Jap on her way to a classic victory in St Tropez

Jap returned for the third time to try for the trophy, now one of the most prestigious in classic yachting circles. 

It's not Cudmore's first time sailing in Jap this season, he was at the helm in August during the Cork 300 celebrations in Cork Harbour as Afloat reported here.

One of seven remaining Cork Harbour One Designs, created by designer William Fife III, Jap was the ninth to be built in 1896 and was accepted into the class in 1897.

As regular Afloat readers will know, the immaculately restored 'Jap' was back on home waters in June 2020 at the marina at Royal Cork Yacht Club in celebration of Cork300.

And, as Afloat's Tom MacSweeney reported in March 2020, C4, Jap, after many years based on the South Coast of England, was donated by her owner to the Royal Cork YC.

Three Irish flagged yachts are among some of the most beautiful centenarians gathering in Saint-Tropez for the 10th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy this Thursday, 30th September. 

The "youngest "centenarian taking part in the Trophy will be the Irish Bermudan cutter Erin (1919 - Fred Shepherd) and the oldest the Bermudan Yawl Sky (1890 - Thetis Ware), both boats flying the Irish flag, according to race organisers.

As Afloat previously reported Irish Olympic helmsman Harold Cudmore will sail Royal Cork's restored Cork Harbour One Design Jap at the unique regatta.

Royal Cork's restored Cork Harbour One Design Jap Photo: Bob Bateman

To celebrate this anniversary edition, 22 yachts are expected on the starting line of the event organised, since its inception during the Voiles by the Gstaad Yacht Club, in co-operation with the Societe Nautique de Saint Tropez, and dedicated to the most beautiful boats of one hundred years or more.

Irish Bermudan cutter Erin

The double winner and title holder of the GYC Centenary Trophy, Olympian (1913) will be on the starting line as well as the 2015 and 2016 winners: Oriole (1905) and the NYYC 50' class Spartan (1912), not to mention the aficionados of the event Esterel (1902), Marga (1910) and Nin (1913).

Royal Cork Yacht Club Olympic helmsman Harold Cudmore will be on the tiller of the oldest and the smallest yacht at the classic yacht Centenary Trophy fleet in Saint Tropez later this month.

Cudmore is skippering RCYC's restored Cork Harbour One Design, Jap.

The Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy is a French classic regatta reserved for boats of one hundred or more years old.

Jap returns for the third time to try for the trophy, now one of the most prestigious in classic yachting circles. 

It's not Cudmore's first time sailing in Jap this season, he was at the helm in August during the Cork 300 celebrations in Cork Harbour as Afloat reported here.

One of seven remaining Cork Harbour One Designs, created by designer William Fife III, Jap was the ninth to be built in 1896 and was accepted into the class in 1897.

Harold Cudmore at the helm of Jap in August during the Cork 300 celebrations in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

As regular Afloat readers will know, the immaculately restored 'Jap' was back on home waters in June 2020 at the marina at Royal Cork Yacht Club in celebration of Cork300.

And, as Afloat's Tom MacSweeney reported in March 2020, C4, Jap, after many years based on the South Coast of England, was donated by her owner to the Royal Cork YC.

Best performing classic yachts

In Saint Tropez, this month's Centenary trophy has gathered some of the most gorgeous and best performing classic yachts from the past century for this tenth edition. The event, raced in a pursuit format with staggered starts, has been created and organised by the Gstaad Yacht Club since 2011.

Over the past ten years, the event, according to the organisers, features an especially created and constantly refined handicap system, allowing very different boats in size and rig to compete on equal terms. 

Much more on the CHOD fleet here

Royal Cork Yacht Club Admiral Colin Morehead was aboard Royal Cork's Jap for some pre-race preparations before next Saturday's big race from Cobh to Blackrock. 

'She's So light, so responsive, an absolute joy to sail' was the verdict from the Admiral as the immaculately restored but engineless Cork Harbour One Design was put through its paces just south of Spike Island.

As Afloat previously reported the yacht that has been gifted to RCYC was originally built in Cork Harbour at Carrigaloe in 1897.

Jap is stored ashore by RCYC in its own special container and launching trailer. Plans are afoot to introduce more people to the historic craft over the course of the winter and next season.

See Bob Bateman's Jap photo slideshow below