Kinsale Yacht Club's Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup Series On Target For Sport And Socialising

21st June 2023

Robert Dix of Howth competes at the 25-boat 1720 European Championships this week, being raced as part of 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup

Robert Dix of Howth competes at the 25-boat 1720 European Championships this week, being raced as part of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup Credit: Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club's popular biennial Sovereign's Cup series is up and running today (Wednesday, June 21st), on target with 90 entries, and the rock stars of the re-born 1720 Sportsbat Class coming up with a fleet of 25 super-hot boats drawn from all the main sailing centres to set the pace.

Sponsored by the Simply Blue Group, the Sovereigns Series trades very successfully on the fact that while Cork Harbour is undoubtedly the senior venue in the Greater Cork area, Kinsale has all the attractions
which can be utilised by being a very appealing alternative. Arguably, it's similar to the relationship of Howth to Dun Laoghaire up in Dublin.

That feeling is borne out by the fact that Kinsale and Howth seem to share a special relationship to such an extent that at 2021's Sovereign's, the Howth J/99 Snapshot (Mike & Richie Evans) was the overall winner, and right up against her was clubmate Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom.

After Dun Laoghaire to Dingle competition earlier this month, Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom from Howth is ready for the Sovereign's Cup Regatta in Kinsale from Thursday Photo: Afloat

Both Snapshot and Samatom are back this year, with the latter finding it extra interesting with the fresh presence of the Carrickfergus J/133 Spirit of Jacana (Alan, Bruce & James Douglas), and also in the listings is Pete Smyth's successful Sunfast 3600 Searcher.

Pete Smyth's successful Sunfast 3600 Searcher from the National Yacht Club competes in this year's Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale Photo: Afloat

CLASSIC PRESENCE

A distinguished classics presence adds that extra something, with the O'Keeffe family of Schull's 1902-vintage multi-award winning gaff cutter Lady Min up against another newly-restored boat, the Sisks family's all-varnish 8 Metre Cruiser-Racer Marian Maid, bult in Dalkey in 1954.

Pictured here at the Crosshaven Trad Sailfest, the Sisks family's all-varnish 8 Metre Cruiser-Racer Marian Maid competes in the White Sails 2 division of the Sovereign's Cup 2023 at Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

1720s RAMPANT

The brilliantly re-born 1994-vintage Cork 1720 Sportsboats are so versatile, rewarding and re-vitalising to sail that they should be available on doctor's prescription. The ultra-hot fleet of 25 boats
includes such seasoned veterans as 1970 (yes folks, that's 53 years ago) Helmsman's Champion Robert Dix of Howth, and multiple champion helm (since the year dot) Anthony O'Leary of Crosshaven.

Competition has been ramped up in the 1720 class, ahead of the European Championships that sails as part of the 2023 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob Bateman

On first glance at the lineup, you'd think that at least ten are in the national elite, but a further consideration suggests that 15 of the 1720 helms are among Ireland's very best.

And in Kinsale, the varied apres sailing will be appropriate to this gold standard sailing.

Simply Blue 2023 Sovereign's Cup Entry List

Simply Blue 2023 Sovereign's Cup Race Schedule

Published in Sovereign's Cup

Tagged under

Sovereign's Cup

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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