Minister for State at the Department of Health Jim Daly launched the Watersports Inclusion Games 2019 at Kinsale Yacht Club writes Bob Bateman. The event, set to take place in Kinsale harbour and environs on 24th and 25th August, is a landmark event celebrating watersports for people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums, and of all ages and demographics. The games were launched with Bryan Dobson of RTE as Master of Ceremonies together with Event Ambassadors; 11 time Paralympian Sailor John Twomey, World Para-Sailor Gina Griffin, along with Special Olympian Kayaker Oisin Feery.

Following the overwhelming success of the event in Dun Laoghaire 2017 and Galway 2018 (scooping Project of the Year at the 2018 CARA National Inclusion Awards), this year’s event, hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club, will take place at several locations around Kinsale including the main harbour and marina, Castlepark beach and Garretstown beach. There will be sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, surfing, water skiing and fast boat rides on offer and 200+ participants are expected to take part across the weekend.

The games were launched with Bryan Dobson of RTE as Master of Ceremonies together with Event Ambassadors; 11 time Paralympian Sailor John Twomey, World Para-Sailor Gina Griffin, along with Special Olympian Kayaker Oisin Feery Photo: Bob Bateman

This is a national event which aims to showcase the best of Irish inclusive watersports practice and facilitation and is organised by Irish Sailing in association with Canoeing Ireland, Rowing Ireland and Cork Local Sports Partnership along with Kinsale Yacht Club Sailability and Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre. The event is supported with activities by Spinal Injuries Ireland, Irish Waterski and Wakeboard Federation and Surf 2 Heal, in addition to those of the National Governing Bodies involved. Offering further support are numerous local and national organisations including Sailing into Wellness, Sail Training Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, and clubs and training centres from around the country who will support the event with resources, volunteers, instructors and facilitators.

The games, as a landmark occasion rounding up the summer watersports calendar, is the product of ongoing inclusion trainings and awareness drives being activated by the organising bodies in line with Sport Ireland’s Policy on Participation in sport by People with Disabilities and is enabled by grant funding from Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Sports Inclusion Fund.

Speaking at the launch, 11 time Paralympian John Twomey said: ’I am delighted to be here to help launch the third annual Watersports Inclusion Games. It is events such as this, that will help to inspire people of all abilities to take part in watersports activity and perhaps even one day compete for Ireland in Paralympic sport.’

Harry Hermon, Chief Executive of Irish Sailing spoke at the launch, stating: ‘Now in its third year, the Inclusion Games is already becoming an annual landmark occasion, celebrating inclusive watersports activity. By raising national awareness of inclusive opportunities, and encouraging more watersports providers to adopt an equal-access approach to watersports delivery, we aim to perpetuate a culture of inclusive best-practice throughout watersports.’

Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

‘O, to be in Kinsale Now that April's there’ to paraphrase the poet. A true wind, a flat sea and a warm sun reminded the combined fleet of the Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series of the reason we love to race sailboats writes Dave O'Sullivan.

Race Officer Donal Hayes took hold of the opportunity and laid two tough courses stretching the width of the outer harbour from Preghane to Hole Open. Long hard beats were followed by giddy kite rides and all accompanied by the smell of Factor 50.

Starts were hard fought and praise must go to the nerves of the committee boat, White Tiger, who looked like they were to be joined in the cockpit by Finny O’Regan’s ‘Artful Dodger’ and crew. But it was one of those days where bad things didn’t happen and with the briefest kiss she was gone.

The big boys of racing stayed in last week’s position with Nieulargo leading Jump Juice leading Meridian.

Freya in upwind mode. Photo: Donal Hayes

Another victory for the RCYC in class 1 with Bad Company winning both handicaps. A boat for the future here is surely Brian Jones’ Jelly Baby. She loved today’s conditions and landed two bullets with time to spare.

Again a popular victory in both Class 2 categories, with Waterford sailors Fulmar Fever and Flyover edging past local favourites ‘Diamond’ with the sponsor James Matthews at the helm.

No waiting for Godot in the white sail fleet as she romped home without any real competition. When a boats discard is a second place, you know they are good.

It’s back to club racing now in KYC and the next big event in the cruisers calendar is the Fastnet race on Saturday 25th May and of course the Sovereigns Cup 26th/29th June. And, if today is anything to go by, it is time to buy shares in Factor 50.

Overall results of the Matthews Helly Hansen Spring Series.

Class Zero IRC & ECHO

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy

2. Jump Juice - C. Phelan

3. Meridian - T. Roche

Class One IRC

1. Bad Company - F. Desmond

2. Justus - D. Buckley

2. Coracle VI - K. Collins

Class One ECHO

1. Bad Company - F. Desmond

2. Justus - D. Buckley

2. Jelly Baby - K. Collins

Class Two IRC

1. Flyover - D. Marchant

2. Diamond - J. Matthews

3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

Class Two ECHO

1. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

2. Diamond - J. Matthews

3. Flyover - D. Marchant

White Sail IRC & ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin

2. Gunsmoke II - S. Cohen

3. Miss Charlie - P. Beckett

Kinsale in the summertime…..If you set out to create the dream harbour as the perfect location for a regatta which captures the essence of the many pleasures of sailing and racing on Ireland’s south coast, then you’d end up with somewhere very like Kinsale writes W M Nixon. The characterful and hospitable old town climbs picturesquely above the bustling facilities-blessed waterfront, complete with its friendly yacht club. It makes for the ideal setting for the biennial Sovereign’s Cup, sponsored again by O’Leary Life, with the dates for 2019 being Wednesday June 26th to Saturday June 29th).

The impressive larger craft at the head of the cruiser-racer divisions inevitably draw the eye, with a distinct X-factor at the top of the fleet where Conor Doyle’s impressive XP 50 Freya will sail for the honour of the home fleet against such challengers as George Sisk’s new-acquired XP 44 WOW from Dun Laoghaire, and Robert Rendell’s XC 45 Samatoma from Howth - all of them electing to race with the Coastal Fleet.

X-Yachts of Denmark have a good track record at the Sovereign's, as main trophy winners in times past such as the Gore-Grimes family’s X-302 Dux from Howth will be very much in the fray, in against craft like D-Tox and Alpaca in 2019, while their club mates from the north Dublin port’s noted Half Ton Classics flotilla will be strongly represented, as will the popular J/109s from several different ports.

For those who prefer their racing at a slightly less high-powered level, the attractive racing waters between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Sovereign’s Islands off Oysterhaven will be the location for the White Sail Fleet, while nearby the race areas of the International Dragons and the International 1720s will be seeing some very intense sport.

In its early years, the Sovereign’s Cup was very much a cruiser-racer event. But the revival in popularity of the 1702 Sportsboats - and this year’s 90th Anniversary of the ever-young International Dragons - makes the addition of these rather special One-Designs seem like an appropriate and invigorating spicing-up of the Sovereign’s Cup 2019.

Early Bird 2 Closing date is April 26th so enter here

"Men Plan, God Laughs", a proverb well illustrated this afternoon in Kinsale when the elements stole away a racing mark and forced RO Donal Hayes to abandon the race and start all over in the Kinsale Yacht Club Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Spring Series writes Dave O'Sullivan.

The four classes returned to the start line as a substitute mark was laid and the day resumed. Winds were considerably stronger than forecast and the Eastern direction made conditions quite challenging but the Spring sunshine made it a thoroughly enjoyable outing.

Scroll down for photo gallery by Bob Bateman below

In Conor Phelan's absence, Prof O'Connell skippered Jump Juice Photo: Bob Bateman

Class 0 and 1 saw the honours go to Jump Juice and Jelly Baby, respectively, on both IRC and Echo. James Matthews (event sponsor) was first in Class 2 (IRC and Echo) and the stalwarts on Godot romped home in both handicaps in White Sails. Godkin & Co. now have three bullets and look pretty unassailable in White Sails. James Matthews and Co. appear to have class 2 wrapped.

Conditions were glorious - 10-12 knots of southeasterly breeze and sunshine Photo: Bob Bateman

Zero and 1 are still anybody’s to win with two races left.

If you are planning on winning it is well worth remembering, Men Plan, God Laughs.

All to plan for next week with first gun at 1155 HRS.

Overall Positions...

Class Zero IRC & ECHO

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy
2. Jump Juice - C Phelan
3. Freya - C. Doyle

Class One IRC & ECHO

1. Justus - D. Buckley
2. Coracle VI - K. Collins
3. Bad Company - F. Desmond

Class Two IRC & ECHO

1. Diamond - J. Matthews
2. Flyover - D. Marchant
3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

White Sail IRC & ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin
2. Gunsmoke II - S. Cohen
3. Miss Charlie - P. Beckett

East and South East winds gusting to over 40-knots led to the cancellation of this morning's third round of Kinsale Yacht Club's Mathews Centre Spring cruiser League where Denis Murphy's Nieulargo (pictured above) leads class one in IRC and ECHO divisions in a combined 26-boat fleet. 

Racing is scheduled again for next weekend. Read Afloat.ie's race reports here.

Kinsale Yacht Club Marina is a hive of activity today as repairs are underway to damage sustained during the gruelling two races of the Matthews Helly Hansen series last Sunday as previously reported by Afloat here. As sails are being taken away for repair thoughts turn to the lightly runners and riders next Sunday (14th) writes KYC Commodore Dave O'Sullivan.

This is the first event using the new class bands (Class Zero > 1.020, Class One 0.930 to 1.019 and Class Two < 0.929) which are now in force for all SCORA events on the South Coast and while we have last Sunday’s results to go on, the fleets have yet to settle.

Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil Nieulargo Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class Zero Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil Nieulargo is in flying form scoring two firsts in both handicap systems. The lift in their IRC Handicap caused by the larger Jib and Spinnaker appears to have been well worth it. Conor Phelan’s evergreen Jump Juice scored two seconds in both handicaps and with a crack crew on board looks more than capable of unsettling things next weekend. Conor Doyle's Freya is lying third and has yet to find form but everybody knows that this XP50 is very fast when she gets into her stride. Tom Roche of (very polished) Meridian, who had to retire from the second race due to a broken a mainsheet block, tells us that he will be ready to go once again next Sunday.

Tom Roche's Meridian Photo: Bob Bateman

Class one yachts in Sunday's race Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class One a protest hearing is pending between Artful Dodger and Bad Company and the outcome could have an impact on the overall positions. Dan Buckley’s Justus is going well with a third on IRC and first in ECHO. Kieran Collins aboard Coracle VI suffered a setback due to being OCS in the second race. This boat is in very good form and is one to watch. Brian Jones’s J109 Jelly Baby did not compete due to gear failure but will be in the mix next Sunday as will Cian McCarthy on EOS, Tony & Alice Kingston on Luv Is and Stephen Lysaght sailing Reavra. Ronan Downing’s Miss Whiplash is launched and ready to go, she is also one to watch next Sunday.

Cian McCarthy's EOS Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class Two David Marchant’s Sigma 33 Flyover is lying first in both IRC and ECHO with James Matthew’s Diamond second in both. Robert Marchant’s Fulmar Fever was third in both races. It’s far too soon to make a call here as Diamond will find form in lighter winds, Fulmar Fever has yet to sparkle and Padraig O’Donovan’s Chameleon missed out on race two.

The eight–boat White Sail fleet looks to be dominated by John Godkin (Godot), Sammy Cohen (Gunsmoke) and Sean O’Riordan (Y Dream) who are 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall. Make a prediction at your peril as Batt O’Leary (Sweet Dreams), Nigel Dan (Valkriss,) Dave Ackerlind (Paragon) and Patrick Beckett (Miss Charlie) are very competitive and yet to shine.

As always in the Spring Series, boats are being launched every day and we may well be in for a surprise yet.

First Gun on Sunday is at 1155 HRS.

Kinsale Yacht Club's Matthews Centre and Helly Hansen Spring Series is led by Denis Murphy's Nieulargo on IRC and ECHO after today's first race in breeze writes Dave O'Sullivan.

The committee boat, White Tiger, anchored with difficulty just south of Bulman and race officer Denis Kieran (with helpers T. O’Brien, G. Kieran, S. Keane Hopcraft, S. Horgan and G. Noonan) got the twenty-nine boat fleet off into a boisterous east breeze to Sovereign followed by a leeward leg to Hake and Sandy Cove. After two gruelling laps, competitors were finished near Bulman by mark boat Big Blue (C. Clarke and D. Boyd).

Nieulargo Denis Murphy Photo: Bob Bateman
The second race started at Charles Fort sending the fleets round Bulman once again to Sovereign with a long off wind leg and two laps of Sandy Cove & Bulman. The finish was also at Charles Fort.

The east breeze strengthened all day leading to rough conditions and some thrills and spills. All boats were back on the marina at 1600 HRS.

It all starts again next Sunday (14th April) at 1155 HRS. 

Scroll down below for photo gallery by Bob Bateman

Results...

Class Zero ECHO & IRC

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy
2. Jump Juice - C Phelan
3. Freya - C. Doyle

Class One IRC

1. Artful Dodger - F. O'Regan
2. Bad Company - F. Desmond
3. Just Us - D. Buckley

Class One ECHO

1. Just Us - D. Buckley
2. Artful Dodger - F. O'Regan
3. Bad Company - F. Desmond

Class Two IRC and ECHO

1. Flyover - D. Marchant
2. Diamond - J. Matthews
3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

White Sail IRC and ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin
2. Gunsmoke - S. Cohen
3. Y Dream - S. O'Riordan 

The final race of the Frank Godsell sponsored March League took place in gentle spring conditions in Kinsale Yacht Club writes Commodore Dave O’Sullivan.

For the third week in a row, the weather favoured the lighter boats and James Matthews and his crew on Diamond were in winning form. They won on both ECHO and IRC and were followed in both by Stephen Lysaght's Too and Class Captain Cian McCarthy's EOS.

Meanwhile, in White Sails David Hanly and his band of raiders from the RCYC onboard Fast Buck, made it look easy, romping home in front of Y Dream and Miss Charlie.

The generosity of Frank's sponsorship is renowned and the bar talk afterwards was whether or not this was his 40th year sponsoring the March League. To be certain, it was agreed to celebrate the 40-year event this year and the next two years!

Results…

Spinnaker IRC & ECHO

1. Diamond (J. Matthews)
2. Reavra Too (S. Lysaght)
3. EOS (C. McCarthy)

White sail

1. Fast Buck (D.J. Hanley)
2. Y Dream (S. O’Riordan)
3. Miss Charlie (P. Beckett)

All sailors are reminded that the Matthews/Helly Hansen sponsored Spring Series starts next Sunday 7th April with the warning signal at 1155 HRS.

The promised light winds never materialised and the second week of the Frank Godsell sponsored, March League at Kinsale Yacht Club was sailed in a delightful 15-knot breeze writes Dave O'Sullivan. The course, taking in Sandycove and CentrePoint, was testing with three spinnaker hoists and three hard upwind beats.

As often happens in Kinsale, the harbour finish can provide one final banana skin and today's treat was a particularly low tide. A number of boats learned how shallow the harbour can get and although there were one or two red faces there was no damage done.

A good day stolen at the start of Spring.

Results…

Spinnaker IRC & ECHO

1. Diamond (J. Matthews)
2. Reavra Too (S. Lysaght)
3. Luv Is (T. Kingston)

White sail

1. Y Dream (S. O’Regan)
2. Miss Charlie (P. Beckett)
3. Fast Buck (D.J. Hanley)

It’s still all up for grabs next Sunday 31st, the final race of the League, with the FG at 1125 HRS. Competitors are reminded of the change to Irish summer time next Sunday (clocks go forward).

Six boats braved the chilly morning and were soon lining up near the start line at Charles Fort for the first race of the Frank Godsell March League at Kinsale Yacht Club on 18th March 2019. 

Race Officer Donal Hayes on Fiona got things promptly underway at 1125 HRS. The blackboard (pictured above) displayed a course of Bulman to Starboard followed by a laid mark to Starboard with two laps and then Bulman to port and straight to the finish line.

Quarter tonner Diamond (J. Matthews) was the winner on both IRC and ECHO with EOS (C. McCarthy) second on both handicaps and LuvIs (T. Kingston) third on both. Chameleon (P. O’Donovan) and Fast Buck (D.J. Hanley) were fourth and fifth respectively.

There was a sole white sail competitor, the lovely Impala Deboah (M. Hargrove).

The competitors and sponsor are confident of an increase in the size of the fleet for next weeks edition with FG on Sunday 24th at 1125 HRS