The two Sovereign's Cup fleets got away on the first attempt in the first race of two on the second day of the Cup on Thursday, June 26th, on a running start off the Kinsale coast from a 600m long line between two committee boats.
The Jeanot Petch race course start turned out to be quite a spectacle, as the lead boats hit the line with precise timing at the gun, and none were OCS Photo: Bob Bateman
Wind at the start was from 250 degrees and 15-20 knots, and as the battle for ICRA National Championship honours in eight classes intensifies, a tough day looks set to get tougher on Friday, with forecasts indicating gusts of 30 knots.
The 12-metre Nelson power cruiser, Irish Mist, on duty as the 2025 Sovereign's Cup Committee Boat Photo: Bob Bateman
The Group 1 yachts (33 starters) sailed a 40nm Course A, with the first leg being a 10-mile run to Cork Buoy.
The Group 1 yachts (33 starters) sailed the 40nm Course A, with the first leg being a 10-mile run to Cork Buoy.
The Group 2 (50 starters) sailed a 27 nm Course B that started with a 2.5-mile run to KYCs east mark.
The Group 2 (50 starters) are sailing the 27 nm Course B that started with a 2.5-mile run to KYCs east mark.
Cup Race Director Anthony O'Leary designed the courses, with both starts creating quite a spectacle, as the lead boats hit the line with precise timing at the gun, and none were over the start line.
The Group 2 (50 starters) sailed a 27 nm Course B that started with a 2.5-mile run to KYCs east mark on day two of the 2025 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob Bateman
Both courses took the fleets back around the old head to the Black Tom mark in Courtmacsherry Bay and then to the finish off Charles Fort in Kinsale Harbour.
Another win for Checkmate XX as 50-footer Dominates Coastal
First 50 Checkmate XX prepares to drop her spinnaker on day two of the 2025 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob Bateman
Nigel Biggs and David Cullen's First 50 Checkmate XX took a second IRC win of the Cup in Thursday's coastal race (2 hours 44 minutes 22 seconds on corrected time) but was chased by smaller 40-footers Denis and Annamarie Murphy's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo from Royal Cork YC in second (2:47:23 corr) and Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox's J/122E Mojito from Pwllheli third (2:50:22 corr). In the second race, it was again Checkmate at the top of the scoreboard with Mojito second and the Simon Knowles' J109 Indian from Howth third.
Overall, it means the Howth fifty-footer stays on top with a perfect scoreline of three points. Dunlop and Cox move up to second on 12, and Conor Doyle's Xp50 Freya drops to third on 15.
Welsh visitor Mark Thompson in his J97 Jac Y Do leads in IRC of the 2025 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob Bateman
Grin & Bear It Clinches an IRC 2 Race Win
ICRA Commodore Denis Byrne's Elan 31 Grin & Bear It was the second race winner in Coastal 2 in 1:58:59 corr from Royal Cork clubmates Kieran O'Brien and Fiorentina Stainchu in the MG 335, Magnet on 2:03:14 corr. Third was the first race winner, Welsh visitor Mark Thompson in his J97 Jac Y Do from Pwllheli Sailing Club, with a corrected time of 2:03:46. In the second race, the O'Regan/O'Sullivan J80 No notions from the host club won from Jac Y Do with Magnet third. Overall, Jac Y Do leads on six from Grin & Bear It on 13 with Magnet third and sharing the same points.
Evans' J112e Claims an IRC Zero Victory
A packed group of IRC Zero and Ones on day two of the 2025 Sovereign's Cup, including Big Picture and Outrajeous Photo: Bob Bateman
Michael & Richard Evans J112e The Big Picture from Howth took a well-earned win of over one minute (2:45:37) from the Jones Family's J122 Jelly Baby of Royal Cork in second on 2:46:59. Third, for a second day, in the five boat fleet was Welsh IRC champion, the South Caernarfonshire YC Corby 37, Impetuous (Crompton/Miller/Hodges). The Joneses were back on top in the second race with Big Picture second and Johnny Treanor's J122 Valentina back in the frame. Overall, Jelly Baby leads on 7 from The Big Picture on 10.5 and Impetuous on 11.5.
Murphy's Outrajeous in Charge in IRC 1
John and Suzie Murphy's J109, Outrajeous Photo Bob Bateman
John and Suzie Murphy's J109, Outrajeous, lived up to her form boat status again on Thursday when she added another win (2:46:14) to her eight-boat IRC 1 scorecard on the Jeanot Petch course. J109 designs again dominated proceedings with Barry Cunningham's Chimaera second on 2:47:38 and Artful DodJer (O’Regan Family) third on 2:47:40. The second race saw a repeat of the results, save for Artful DodJer and Chimaera swapping places on the podium. Overall, after four sailed, Outrajeous leads with four straight wins from Chimaera on 10 and DodJer on 12 points.
2Farr leads in IRC 2, Swuzzlebubble Second
James Dwyer's Swuzzlebubble Photo: Bob Bateman
James Dwyer's Swuzzlebubble emerged the winner in the battle of the Half Tonners in IRC 2 on the coastal course. The Sovereign's Cup defending champions won with a corrected time of 1:52:01 from Boardman, Kelly, and O’Leary in the 2 Farr sistership on 1:53:07 corrected. Steven Quinn's J97 Lambay Rules broke the half-ton stranglehold to finish third on 1:54:26 corr. 2 Farr took the gun in the afternoon race with Swuzzlebubble second and Lambay Rules third, producing an overall scoreboard after four that sees 2 Farr on five, Swuzzlebubble on eight and Lambay Rules on 16.
Kinsale Yacht Club Quarter Tonner Diamond of Kieran Kelleher/Colman Garvey, of the 2025 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob Bateman
Diamond Prevails in IRC 3
The stronger winds suited Paddy Kyne's X 302 Maximus from Howth YC for Thursday's coastal race in the ten-boat IRC 3 division to win from David Buckley's sistership Blues Xtra from Tralee Bay Sailing Club. Third was Wednesday's winner, the Kinsale Yacht Club Quarter Tonner Diamond of Kieran Kelleher/Colman Garvey, but the vintage boat was back to take second race victory from Blues Xtra with Maximus in third. Overall, this means Diamond leads on six, Maximus is second on 11, with Blues Xtra third on 14.
Racing continues on Friday.
Sovereign's Cup Day 2 Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman
Full results here
