At the end of day one at Schull Harbour's Calves Week Regatta, blustery westerly winds gusting to 20 gusts brought a mix of new and vintage designs to the podium at West Cork's biggest regatta.
Schull Harbour on day one of 2024 Calves Week Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman
Seven different starts near Copper Point saw a variety of courses around islands and laid marks off Schull Harbour for the 61-boat fleet in the 40th-anniversary edition of the event, sponsored by Schull Harbour Hotel.
The Calves Week Regatta Committee Boat ran racing for seven different divisions off Copper Point under Race Officer Alan Crosbie Photo: Bob Bateman
Results (below) are provisional and subject to protest.
Paul O'Higgins's JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club leads a five-boat IRC Zero division at Calves Week 2024 Photo: Bob Bateman
It was first blood to Paul O'Higgins's JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in a five-boat IRC Zero division, which finished over a minute on corrected time ahead of John Treanor's J112 Valentina from the National Yacht Club. Third was another Dun Laoghaire boat, the Burke/Lemass/Rigley syndicate in the First 40, Prima Forte. Frank Whelan's canting keel Opal, the biggest yacht in the Calves Week fleet, did not finish the race.
The start of Calves Week Class One with the eventual winner, Imp well back at the start (green bow, second from right) Photo: Bob Bateman
George Radley's vintage Holland 39 Imp won a ten-boat IRC One Class, holding off the double threat of two J109 all-round performers by over five minutes on corrected time. Chris Moore's Powder Monkey from the National Yacht Club was second, and James Donegan's Jalapeno from Kinsale Yacht Club was third.
Dave and James Dwyer's half-tonner Swuzzlebubble competing in IRC Two division of Calves Week Regatta in IRC One Photo: Bob Bateman
It was a clear win for Dave and James Dwyer's half-tonner Swuzzlebubble in the IRC Two division. The Royal Cork crew beat two local Elan 31s by a massive nine minutes on corrected time. Alan Dwyer's Joxer was second and Flor O'Riordan's 3 Cheers third.
Norbert Reilly's J70 Ghost Raider II making waves in Class Two of 2024 Calves Week Photo: Bob Bateman
Ricky and Tony O'Brien's J/80 Slightly Steamy from Schull Harbour Sailing Club is a local entry in Calves Week Photo: Bob Bateman
Patrick Collins's Dehler 34 Ealu from Baltimore Sailing Club was the IRC Three winner from Colman Garvey & Kieran Kelleher's Dubois Quarter-Tonner Diamond by just under half a minute. Third was Conor Phelan's Farr Quarter-Tonner Anchor Challenge.
In a two-boat turnout in IRC Four, Richard Hanley's GK 24 Saoirse from Kinsale Yacht Club beat Mick Murphy's Moody 30 Shelly D from the host club.
Denis Murphy & Annamarie Fegan's Nieulargo Grand Soleil 40 lead cin In White Sails One IRC Division Photo: Bob Bateman
Denis Murphy & Annamarie Fegan's Nieulargo Grand Soleil 40 leads White Sails One IRC from clubmates Frank Caul/John Mulloy sailing Prince Of Tides.
Simon O Keeffe's Lady Min leads Calves Week Regatta in In White Sails Two ECHO Division Photo: Bob Bateman
In White Sails, Two ECHO, Simon O Keeffe's Lady Min leads Stewart Hosford in the Cork Harbour One Design Jap.
The fleet will sail to the Fastnet Rock on Wednesday with a finish line inside Schull Harbour.
