Storm Cuts Dinghy Champions' Event to One-Day Contest at Royal Cork

4th October 2025

Afloat.ie Team

GP14 duo Ger Owens (Wicklow SC) with crew Ross Killian (National YC) competing in the 2021 Champion of Champions competition. The pair return to Royal Cork and the National 18s on Sunday, 4th October, for a restructured 2025 edition as part of a line-up of 12 dinghy champions. Credit: Bob Bateman

Storm Amy has cut the Dinghy Champions' event, formerly the Helmsmans, from a weekend to one day of racing in Cork Harbour.

The event, once known as the Helmsman’s Championships, will feature 11 dinghy class champions who will race in three-man National 18s without spinnakers and with an owner's representative onboard.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday (October 5th) at Cuskinny Bank, with forecasts of west-northwest winds of 15 mph, gusting to 25 mph.

Launching at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven begins at 8 am.

Sunday's line-up includes:

GP14: Ger Owens (Wicklow SC) with crew Ross Killian (National YC).
Fireball: Daniel Thompson (Waterford Harbour Boat & TC / Royal St George YC) with Harry Thompson (WHBTC/WHSC).
RS400: Robert Espey and Michael Ferguson (Ballyholme YC).
Shannon One Design: Liam Maloney (Lough Ree YC) with Jonathan Horgan (LDYC / RCYC).
National 18: Alex Barry (Royal Cork YC / Monkstown Bay SC) with Sam Hunt (Kinsale YC).
IDRA 14: Ryan Cairns and Simon Revill (Howth YC).
Water Wags: John O’Driscoll with Marcus O’Leary (Royal St George YC).
DBSC Mermaid: Jonathan O’Rourke (National YC) with Pat Mangan (Royal Irish YC).
ILCA 7: Tom Coulter (East Antrim BC) with Charlie Keating (National YC).
Melges 15: Sean and Tadhg Donnelly (National YC).
Fireball: Josh Porter (Newtownards SC) with Conor Twohig (Sutton DC).
RS Aero 6: Sophie Crosbie with Paddy Crosbie (Royal Cork YC).

Organisers are aiming to deliver a streamlined format that will still deliver close competition despite the disruption caused by the storm.

Published in All Irelands

Tagged under

Dinghy Champions

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.