"Never mind the weather, have we a good racing breeze?" That became the mantra for Volvo Cork Week 2024. And the eclectic fleet competing had a busy time of it, with the Race Officers putting through a remarkably complete programme.

We've managed to get this overview from Senior Race Officer Con Murphy (National YC) while he is still buzzing with the energy generated by a great Week. And as he's someone who was pilot of the Government jet while in the Air Corps, and whose personal sailing CV includes being co-holder of the Round Ireland Open Sailing Record with the 60ft trimaran Lakota from 1993 to 2016, his thoughts carry real weight.

For they come with the wisdom from many other successes afloat for himself and his family with Olympic sailor Cathy MacAleavey, including their daughter Annalise's Silver Medal in the 2016 Sailing Olympiad.

Cathy MacAleavey and Con Murphy – their input and enjoyment with boats and sailing is at a stellar level. Photo: W M Nixon

So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised if he's a dab hand with the camera-phone as well. But he is that too. Yet even this he takes easily in his stride: "Standing on the foredeck of the committee boat calling sail numbers on a reaching finish is a great spot to get good shots with your iPhone". Don't say you weren't told. Here's Con Murphy's story:

THE MURPHY REPORT

Back at home now, recovering after what was definitely one of my best weeks as an RO. I had never actually been at Cork Week before, and was really impressed with everything there. Great racing course areas, superb pre- and après- sail organisation and great atmosphere ashore. Good sponsor participation, classy event gear (from Paddy Kirwan and Nick Bendon), top class results service, and a superb organising team of volunteers and club staff led by Admiral Annamarie Fegan, who is a class act.

A class act. The RCYC Admiral with the Royal Navy's Beaufort Cup team at the Haulbowline base. Photo: Con Murphy

Local ROs Peter Crowley and Kieran Mc Sweeney worked really well with us visiting ROs (Eddie Totterdell (DBSC & NYC) and myself) and their good advice and guidance made my position as PRO very straightforward.

SHARED DECISIONS

I met Ross (Organising Chairman Ross Deasy) for the first time last Sunday (July 14th), and got on really well with him. We were to make some decisions together, such as running the extra coastal (discarded on Monday) on Wednesday, which initially were not very popular. But they proved to be right in the end, and kept the programme on track. Ross's experience as a racing sailor and running previous Cork Weeks was a huge help to me and the other ROs.

The Irish Defence Forces' winning Beaufort Cup Team at Haulbowline Base with the trophy and Minister of State for Defence Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Photo: Con Murphy

COMPLEMENTARY FORCES

Another important person was Denis Murphy, the Admiral's husband. A fantastic guy and absolute gentleman, he looked after Cathy and me really well all week. He is without doubt the complementary and essential force of nature matching Annamarie's class act.

DECENT WINDS

Of course, sailing conditions have a big part to play, and we were fortunate this past week to have a decent 10-20kt - and relatively steady - wind every day. It went from 070 degrees on Monday (and the most horrible sea state that any of us on the committee boats had ever experienced!), to 320 on Tuesday, 190 on Wednesday (perfect for the Harbour Race - more below), 190 again on Thursday (in mist and fog), and finally 210 on Friday (in sunshine).

Cathy MacAleavey with the Beaufort Cup US Team's Peter Gibbons-Neff Jnr, a veteran of the Mini Transat. Photo: Con Murphy

Con Murphy at Haulbowline with Lt Alex Rumball NS of Dun Laoghaire

SUNSHINE WHEN MOST NEEDED

Talking about sunshine, it did come out most evenings ashore, greatly helping the apres sail events, and in particular the Beaufort Cup's formal dinner reception for the service crews across the harbour at the Naval HQ on Haulbowline Island, which was a really lovely evening.

THE HARBOUR RACE

Finally, the highlight of the week for many was probably Wednesday's Harbour Race. After several hours of deliberations with Peter Crowley, Ross Deasy and Anthony O'Leary among others, we put a start line across pretty much the full width of the entrance to Cork Harbour with a 3 mile upwind beat out to sea to spread the 120+ boats out a little, then a 7nm run all the way back into the harbour to the most northeasterly navigation mark there (No. 13), then a .9nm reach up river to turn at No. 20, as going any further was discounted due to shipping traffic. Then came a reach back to No18, and finally a beat out to the finish at No. 3, specifically leaving No.8 to port on the way, in case we needed to shorten the race.

The Harbour Race Course packed an exceptional amount of different sailing conditions into its 15nm length

IN BEFORE A CRUISE LINER

But that need didn't arise, and we packed a lot of very varied sailing into 15nm. Concerns I'd had about the race clashing with a cruise liner leaving three hours after the start of the race proved unfounded, as the lead boat Opal (Eliott 57, Frank Whelan, Greystones) finished in 1hr 49m, and the last boat Lady Min (1902 cutter, Simon O'Keeffe, Schull) in 3hr 06m.

Second-oldest boat of the fleet – the 1902-vintage gaff cutter Lady Min was designed and built by Maurice O'Keeffe in Schull 122 years ago, and then two years ago she had an award-winning restoration nearby with Tiernan Roe of Roe Boats at Ballydehob. Photo: Con Murphy

The buildup to the start with boats manoeuvring to find a position and the start itself was a spectacle - despite a bias on the pin, the committee boat end was favoured by many to facilitate an early tack to the right out of the tide. While there was some bunching behind the committee boat (presumably the background shouting on the video!), there were no incidents.

ALL CLEAR

All boats cleared the line within a couple of minutes. The race itself was quite tactical with gains and losses to be made on the downwind leg through the harbour. On the beat to the finish, some of the braver helms (including Anthony O'Leary's Cape 31 Antix) gained by beating across the shallow Curlane Bank to avoid the flood tide.

I've been videoing starts with my iPhone on video x2 recently, rather than voice recording, finding it good enough quality for any queries etc on starts. And the start of the Volvo Cork Week Harbour Race 2024 has added something special to the growing colllection

Trust Con Murphy to spot something out of the ordinary when otherwise immersed in running a successful race week. This is the former Etchells 22 Guapa, "cruiserfied" when Bill Trafford of Alchemy Marine in Doneraile, North Cork was allowed to work his magic. Photo: Con Murphy

Volvo Cork Week organisers have updated the regatta's overall IRC Two class results following a protest on the final day of racing by the regatta's technical committee against second-placed competitor Swuzzlebubble.

The updated results do not affect the winning Half Tonner 2 Farr but drop Swuzzlebubble to fourth overall.

The third-placed boat, another Half Tonner, Miss Whiplash, moves up to second and third place now goes to Sigma 38, Sam from the UK.

The week-long biennial regatta concluded last Friday, July 19th, following a closely fought battle for the IRC Two overall prize between three Half Tonners at the top of the 12-boat fleet.

A protest was taken on Friday following a 'post-race equipment inspection', and a hearing decision gave a "20% place penalty to be applied to all races calculated as per RRS 44.3(c)" against KZ3494 Swuzzlebubble.

Swuzzebubble skipper David Dwyer told Afloat: " A genuine mistake was made with this new sail for this regatta. This has been corrected now".

For more on this, see the Volvo Cork Week noticeboard here

Frank Caul’s Grand Soleil 37 Prince of Tides (RCYC) won the last race of Volvo Cork Week, their fourth bullet, to win the Non-Spinnaker IRC One class.

Ian Hickey’s Granada 38 Cavatina (RCYC) scored two race wins in the six-race series to claim second. Frank McGrath’s Dehler 34 Big Mac (RCYC) won a close battle for third, just two points ahead of Dan Murphy’s X-99 Anteex (RCYC).

Frank Caul’s Grand Soleil 37 Prince of Tides (RCYC) Photo: Bob Bateman

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

Irish Sailing President John Twomey’s Blazer 23 Shillelagh (KYC) scored six straight bullets to dominate the Non-Spinnaker IRC Two class of Volvo Cork Week.

John Twomey’s Blazer 23 Shillelagh (KYC) Photo: Bob Bateman

Alan Mulcahy’s Albin Express Apache (KYC) was second in every race to claim the runner-up spot. Niall McPhillips’ custom Etchells Guapa (RCYC) was third.

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

Liam & Keith Willis, racing Dark n Stormy from the Royal Lymington YC in the UK, dominated the inaugural RS21 Class at Volvo Cork Week, winning 11 of the 12 races sailed. Kenny Rumball’s RS Ireland was second but only by two points from Nick Redding’s team sailing for Goring SC in the UK.

RS21 winners Liam and Keith Willis, racing Dark n Stormy at Volvo Cork Week Photo: James Tominson

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

The Irish Defence Forces J/109 Artful Dodger, skippered by Brian Mathews, followed up their win in the offshore race around the Fastnet Rock by winning all of the inshore races at this week's Volvo Cork Week Regatta.

Simon Coveney on the helm of the Irish Defence Forces J/109 Artful Dodger, skippered by Brian Mathews, that were overall winners of the 2024 Beaufort Cup raced as part of Cork Week Photo: James Tomlinson

Second for the series was Denis Murphy & RCYC Admiral Annemarie Fegan’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo representing the Crosshaven RNLI. Third was the US Patriot Team racing First 40.7 Fandango, skippered by Brendan McMahon.

Denis Murphy & RCYC Admiral Annemarie Fegan’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo representing the Crosshaven RNLI Photo: Bob Bateman

Third was the US Patriot Team racing First 40.7 Fandango, skippered by Brendan McMahon Photo: Bob Bateman

The impressive achievement by the Irish Defence Forces was even more remarkable because the team that had only been together for one week. “To be honest, we were getting better as the regatta went on, especially in terms of manoeuvres,” commented Simon Coveney TD who was at the helm for the Irish Defence Forces. “On board we have two Army, three Navy, and three Air Force sailors. This win is all about working together as a team.” Continued Simon Coveney.

Winning Irish Defence Forces skipper Brian Mathews at the Volvo Cork Week prizegiving Photo: Bob Bateman

Skipper Brian Mathews added: “A big thank you to the Royal Cork for a fantastic event and delivering a great week of racing. A big shout out to the visiting teams from the United States and the UK for coming to Cork.”

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

Ross McDonald of Howth Yacht Club, who won the national title at Baltimore in June, has made a clean sweep of the 1720 2024 calendar by retaining his European Championship title at Volvo Cork Week.

After a faltering start on Monday, defending champion McDonald stamped his authority on this 14-boat sportsboat class in a range of conditions, including Thursday's fog.

McDonald finished the 12-race series with a win and a 20-point advantage.

McDonald finished the 12-race 1720 European Championships with a win and a 20-point advantage

On Friday's final day, Cork boats vyed for the other podium places. Runner up was Brian Twomey’s Dark Side (RCYC), and the third was Kinsale YC’s Mícheál Ó’Súilleabháin sailing Dutch Gold.

“It’s very hard to get the double, although we did manage it in 2022,” said Ross. “The quality of the fleet is very high, so there is always someone there to knock you off your stride. So we are delighted to have won at Volvo Cork Week. The weather has been very changeable, as have the course areas, but moving into the Harbour yesterday was a great decision; we had flat water, good visibility and stable wind. This has been a smallish entry but it has been a quality turn-out on the water and in the race village afterwards, I am sure there have been plenty of pints had!”

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

Eight straight bullets in Volvo Cork Week IRC Three Division for the Albin Express North Star (RCYC) was fantastic for the Young family, with Jack Young at the helm.

North Star was also awarded the Coveney Trophy for the Best RCYC boat.

The Albin Express North Star sailed by the Young family were Volvo Cork Week IRC Three winners Photo: Bob Bateman

Conor Twomey’s First Class 8 Allig8r (RStGYC) from Dun Laoghaire Harbour was second. Just three points behind in third was Conor Phelan’s Royal Cork YC Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge.

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

A titanic tussle between two well-sailed Half Tonners ran all through the nine-race series of Volvo Cork Week's IRC Two division.

In a nail-biting final race, Boardman, Kelly and O’Leary’s Half Tonner 2 Farr (RSC & BSC) won by seven seconds after IRC time correction to claim the IRC Two title.

Orange-hulled 2 Farr lived up to the pundit's pre-regatta billing as the favourite half-tonner to win Cork Week's IRC Two division Photo: James Tomlinson

2 Farr was also awarded the Sisk Corinthian Cup.

James Dwyer’s Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble (RCYC) was second by the narrowest of margins.

In third place was another Half Tonner, Miss Whiplash raced by Royal Cork’s Ronan and John Downing.

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

Hong Kong regular visitors to Crosshaven Nick Burns and Andy Pidden’s King 40 Blitz (RHKYC) scored three race wins in the ten-race series to clinch the big-boat IRC Zero class at Volvo Cork Week.

Nick Burns and Andy Pidden’s King 40 Blitz (RHKYC) was the big-boat IRC Zero class winner at Volvo Cork Week Photo: James Tomlinson

They also defied the potency of Cape 31s racing on IRC rating even though Michael Wilson’s Cape 31 Shotgunn (Isle Of Man YC & RCYC) finished in style with a bullet in the final race to clinch second place.

The Jones family’s J/122 Jellybaby (RCYC) completed the IRC Zero podium.

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes. 

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet