Displaying items by tag: Royal Cork Yacht Club
It’s the peak of the best of the sailing season in the Caribbean, and key Irish crews are making a major impact at the sharp end of the fleet writes W M Nixon. Former All-Ireland Sailing Champion Nin O’Leary of Crosshaven, skippering the 60m sloop Perseus3 of Mark Byrne (a Royal Cork YC overseas member), has recorded a convincing class win at the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, an event so discreet that the precise location is really known only to the participants on the 23 superyachts taking part.
Cork interest in Perseus3 goes beyond the owner and crew, as she is a classic Ron Holland design, a Perini Navi 60. She’s a soncey big animal, even by superyacht standards. Those comfort-loving sailors who get their kicks out of being competitive with a properly-tuned standard cruiser in handicap racing will be fascinated by what’s needed to keep Perseus’s many tonnes of luxury sailing at optimum performance. But Nin O’Leary clearly has what it takes, as this is the first time Perseus has recorded wins.
It takes rare skill, very fine judgement in tight situations where a mistake could cost the equivalent of a small nation’s annual GDP, and a very large crew who know what they are doing, for with the enormous loads that you get on rigging, halyards and sheets on a boat this size, the slightest mistake can result in serious injury or worse.
But when it goes right, this is very rewarding sailing indeed, and the crew of Perseus – whose Cork complement also included RCYC members Clive Higgins and James Fagan – overcame problems to with one of the roller-furling systems during one contest to record a clean scoresheet of three wins.
Half–Tonners, Sigma 33s, X302s, J97s & Corbys Mean ICRA Class Two Title Is Wide Open
Class Two is certainly heating up and expanding this year writes Dave Cullen, Skipper of championship winning half–tonner Checkmate XV. The quality of the fleet must make it one of the most competitive with boats ranging from €15k to €150k all in with a fighting chance of the podium.
At the bottom of the rating band, Sigma 33s make up the numbers and the top end is dominated by J97s and Elan 333s.
Such are the numbers that a number of boats might find themselves unhappy participants in Class One which happened in Sovereigns Cup two years ago.
The fleet is diverse and includes a sizeable X302 fleet from Howth YC including the stalwart podium winner DUX, Maximus and Viking to name but a few.
The Half Ton class is formidable and apart from the locals of Checkmate XV, Harmony, King One and The Big Picture, visiting boats planning on basing campaigns here include Nigel Biggs latest Checkmate XVIII ex Dick Dastardly, Paul Wayte from Swansea's HB31 Headhunter and the highly optimised Miss Whiplash returns to Dublin owned by Paul Pullen visiting from Swansea. Demolition from Falmouth is also likely to appear. George Radley adds his latest 'half' Cortegada to the pile of quality competitors.
Throw in DB1s, J80s, Corby 25 & 26s and the start line really shapes up with a sharp competitive fleet.
It's easy to predict the half tonners as dominating with light to medium conditions suit them for sure. The same applies with the Corbys. Throw in an extra few knots and the X302s pick up their heels as do the Sigma 33s which are never too far behind. Movistar Blue and Lambay Rules like a breeze too so the field is really wide open.
On Dublin Bay, there will be a reported 19 boats in this year's DBSC Cruisers two fleet boosted by eight Sigma 33s who join the division.
As to predictions, any of the boats in the class can win but need to arrive on the line in good shape and well prepared. Rub your hand over the bum of any of the Class leaders and you will see the efforts put in as the best winning ingredient for race wins is boat speed.
I think a prediction is futile without a weather forecast so I would say for lighter traditional Dublin summer conditions, any of the half tonners or the Corby 25 will feature in a windward–leeward race, Lambay Rules (J97) prefers a reach round the cans races whilst a well sailed Sigma 33 has a real chance if they can stop the mighty Dux in breezy conditions.
Having answered the question like a politician would, if it was predictable none of us would bother, so place your bets and see how it fared out in October. I'll put a tenner on Biggsy though!
Dave Cullen of Howth Yacht Club is Skipper of Half–Tonner Checkmate XV and won the 2015 Half Ton Classics Cup with a race to spare
SCORA AGM To Hear Proposal For Better Collaboration Between South Coast Sailing Clubs
Topics for discussion at next week's SCORA AGM and Presentation of overall prizes is a proposal for better collaboration between the local South Coast Clubs, which may help address the twin problems of falling fleet numbers and the poor number of youth dinghy sailors progressing to the cruiser scene.
The AGM will be held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club next Wednesday March 15th at 7.45pm.
Several programmes were discussed at the recent ICRA conference and it is hoped to outline the various incentives available, which include cruiser training grants and the development of a new crew training curriculum.
A review of the current IRC class bands will take place with any possible alterations for the 2018 season.
The class winners of the overall SCORA league will be presented with a pictorial record, photographed by Afloat's Bob Bateman, at the various club events during the 2016 season. See a sample gallery below.
Crew number limits or crew weight limits at this year's ICRA National Championships are under review following discussion at last weekend's ICRA Conference in Limerick where it was shown different regattas deal with crew weight limits in different ways.
The focus of conversation, under guest speaker Mike Urwin of the RORC, was the disposal of crew limits at events such as the ICRA National Championships.
The 2017 ICRA Notice of Race states 'IRC Rule 22.4 will be deleted'. This rule says: “The Crew Number printed on each boat’s certificate shall not be exceeded or the crew weight shall not exceed 85kg multiplied by the Crew Number printed on the certificate.”
As the rule does not apply at the ICRAs, boats have an option to take less crew on a light wind day and stack the rail in breeze.
Traditionally, fun regattas like Calves Week, did not have crew limits, so that late crew members could be recruited from the quayside and children could also be accommodated as required.
The move to delete the limit rule followed significant consultation with sailors and ICRA surveys found overwhelming support for its withdrawal.
However, the meeting heard that for 'serious regattas', such as a national championships, not having a crew limit can lead to advantages to those who bring a large crew pool to an event, thus upping overall costs of participation.
Some delegates believed championships should stick to the IRC certificate crew limit or maybe the 'cert plus one'. Others thought a stipulation in the Sailing Instructions requiring the same crew numbers in every race would be helpful.
The ICRA Executive is to review the comments made on the day, and a decision on the situation for the Royal Cork championships in June will be made 'sooner than later', ICRA Commodore Simon McGibney told Afloat.ie.
'ICRA have taken on board comments and will review the discussions before any final decision is made'
Should there be crew limits? Have your say in our reader poll below. POLL EXPIRED.
Royal Cork Yacht Club will run its fourth edition of the Horizon Energy Group sponsored PY1000 river race on March 25th.
The Portsmouth Yardstick handicap dinghy race takes place on the Owenabue river in Crosshaven Cork, in front of the Royal Cork Yacht Club with a 1430 first gun.
'We already have a large number of entries from many different boats like RS400 & 200, Laser, GP14, Topper, Mirror, National 18 (Ultra, Ultimate and Classic) just to name few', says Royal Cork Rear Admiral, Kieran O'Connell.
In the last three years a vareity of different dinghy designs took home the title: 2014 RS400, 2015 Laser full Rig, 2016 Laser full Rig.
The race will have a prize pool of €1000 with a minimum guaranteed €700 going to first place. The Notice of race is downloadable below.
ICRA Nationals Sailing & Apres Sail Plans Underway At Royal Cork Yacht Club
Plans are well underway at the Royal Cork Yacht Club to host the Irish Cruiser Racing Association’s National Championships in Cork Harbour on the 9th to 11th June. For the second consecutive year the nationals will be a three day event. However while the decision to reduce the event from historically being four days was hoped to suit boat owners and crews trying to juggle family time, work holidays and participation a busy cruiser racing schedule, it unfortunately doesn’t reduce the workload for a busy event organising committee under direction of Chairman Paul Tingle and including Tom Crosbie, Michael McCann and Julianne McDonnell.
With National Titles up for grabs the Royal Cork Yacht Club have put together a very experienced team of race officials across the various divisions and with a variety of division options available to ensure all racing enthusiasts are catered for. International Race Officer Peter Crowley will take charge of the Non-Spinnaker and the new Coastal division which has been introduced due to the renewed interest in longer leg type racing. While in the IRC fleets International Race Officer’s Jack Roy and Alan Crosbie are both lined up, with a mixture of windward leeward and Olympic type courses planned.
On the shorefront craneage will be provided by Salve Marine, Castlepoint and Crosshaven Boatyards. Special cranes arrangements are available on request.
While we will all be there for great racing the social side is not forgotten by the organising committee. There will be entertainment at the club on the Friday and Saturday nights with a BBQ after racing and a sit down dinner also available and it would be remiss to speak about going to Crosshaven and not to mention the many fabulous restaurants in the area.
To alleviate any accommodation headaches the Royal Cork Yacht Club have provided a very comprehensive accommodation list. There is limited camping facilities at the venue or perhaps an equally convenient but far more comfortable option, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, would be camper van rental.
The early bird entry fee is available until May 12th but the Royal Cork Yacht Club and ICRA would ask competitors to enter early to facilitate planning and organising of the event.
Queries can be directed to the event office at the Royal Cork Yacht Club on 021 483023.
ICRA To Run IRC Measurer’s Course At Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club in conjunction with ICRA and RORC will be running an IRC Measurement weekend on the 5th, 6th and 7th of May.
The aim of this weekend is two fold:
IRC Measurers:
• To train up new people on the south-coast to be qualified to measure boats. This will be done over the one evening and two day course, the cost of this will be €50 per person and will include lunch during the course.
Boat Measuring:
• While the course is on, RORC will be offering to measure boats at a substantial discount to normal cost, so if you are interested in getting your boat weighed and measured it will be done here in Crosshaven for a cost of €200 per boat. Spaces will be limited for this offer so it will be on a first come first served basis.
If you are interested in either of the two option planned for this weekend as places will be limited, so book early to ensure you get in. Further details here.
Royal Cork Yacht Club Celebrate Top Marina Award at London Boat Show
The Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour achieved second place in a strong international field at the International Marina of the Year Awards and, as previously reported by Afloat.ie, were just pipped to the post by the Karpaz Gate Marina, located in northern Cyprus.
Gavin Deane, General Manager at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, said: “We are delighted to receive this significant award from TYHA. This is as a result of the hard work of the Executive Committee and Club Staff since the Royal Cork attained the Five Gold Anchor Status in late 2011. The award means so much to everyone at the Club as it is voted for by both our berth holders and visiting boats”.
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The Royal Cork Yacht Club achieved second place in a strong international field at the Marina of the Year Awards and were just pipped to the post by the Karpaz Gate Marina, located in northern Cyprus.
The Yacht Harbour Association (THYA) announced the winners of its prestigious Marina of the Year Awards, with proud sponsors GJW at the 2017 London Boat Show. Now in its fourth year, the Awards recognise the best of more than 160 Gold Anchor accredited marinas from around the world. The winning marinas are voted for by their berth holders in the International, Superyacht, UK Coastal and UK Inland categories.
Gavin Deane, General Manager at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, siad: “We are delighted to receive this significant award from the YHA. This is as a result of the hard work of the Executive Committee and Club Staff since the Royal Cork attained the Five Gold Anchor Status in late 2011. The award means so much to everyone at the Club as it is voted for by both our berth holders and visiting boats”
Marina of the Year 2017 winners and runners:
International Marina of the Year 2017
Winner – Karpaz Gate Marina
Runner up – Royal Cork Yacht Club
Superyacht Marina of the year 2017
Winner – IGY Isle de Sol
Runner up – Talise Pavilion Marina
UK Coastal Marina of the Year 2017 (over 250 berths)
Winner – Largs Yacht Haven
Runner up – MDL Torquay Marina
UK Coastal Marina of the Year 2017 (under 250 berths)
Winner – Poole Quay Boat Haven
Runner up – Portavadie Marina
UK Inland Marina of the Year 2017
Winner – Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina
Runner up – MDL Windsor Marina
This year saw the launch of the accolade Marina of Distinction. This honour distinguishes a marina with over three consecutive years of continual customer service excellence, as voted for by its customers in the Marina of the Year competition. To qualify, marinas must rank a category finalist over three consecutive competitions. On the third year, they would automatically receive the title of Marina of Distinction.
To commemorate their achievement, winners and runners up of the Awards, as well as receivers of Marina of Distinction, were presented with laser etched glass trophies and framed certificates by David Perfect, Managing Director of GJW, and Sarah Hanna, Chairman of The Yacht Harbour Association.
Jon White, General Manager of The Yacht Harbour Association, commented: “A huge congratulations to all the winners, runners up and all marinas who were voted for in the 2017 Marina of the Year competition. The array of marinas who stood out in this year’s competition showed how strong the today’s marina industry is at achieving, and in some cases exceeding, the modern consumer’s standard of quality service and excellent facilities.
“The new Marina of Distinction accolade goes one further, honouring outstanding long-term customer service. We are delighted this year to be awarding five marinas from across the world for the first time with the title of Marina of Distinction.”
Marinas of Distinction for 2017:
International Marina of the Year 2017
Marina de Vilamoura
Superyacht Marina of the year 2017
Porto Montenegro
UK Coastal Marina of the Year 2017 (over 250 berths)
Mayflower Marina
UK Coastal Marina of the Year 2017 (under 250 berths)
Southampton Town Quay
UK Inland Marina of the Year 2017
Overwater Marina
Durcan & Whitaker Prepare for 29er EuroCup
Royal Cork's Harry Durcan was back on the water in Crosshaven, County Cork at the weekend with crew Harry Whitaker in advance of their first 29er skiff event of the year in Spain in February.
The first Eurocup of 2017 marks a new chapter for the youth sailing pair who have already notched up an overall win at the UK 29er British Nationals last August.
Meanwhile, Harry's twin brother Johnny returns from Australia today having finished fifth overall at the Australian Laser Youth Nationals in Adelaide on Friday.