Sunshine and sparkling waters provided the backdrop to an excellent sailing weekend at Kinsale Yacht Club.

Sponsored by Barry Ryan, the Kinsale Keelboat Regatta was sailed over two days and provided championship windward leeward competition with a particularly stiff wind late on Sunday giving a spectacular finish to this long established event.

With a first gun each day at 1155 HRS, six races were sailed off Kinsale Harbour between Bulman Rock and Black Head. The Squib fleet was dominated by Allegro (134) finishing up with six points after a discard scoring five bullets in all. Outlaw (785) and Sensation (523) had a good tussle for second place with Outlaw just clinching it in the end.

Squib winner 134 Allegro

The Dragon fleet were more equally matched on day one but Little Fella (211) got into its stride on day two and scored three firsts romping home with six points overall followed by Serafina (180) and Grey Hare (188) on ten and sixteen points respectively. In addition to local Kinsale Dragons, excellent competition was provided by two visiting Glandore yachts, the elegant green Aphrodite (110) and shiny white Laurus (131).

KYC Commodore Dave O’Sullivan and team officiated.

Results -

Squibs 
Allegro (134) Dunne & Ward
Outlaw (785) Travers & O’Riordan
Sensation (523) Cudmore & Cudmore

Dragons 
Little Fella (211) Good, Kingston & Furney.
Seraphear (180) Cotter, Murphy & Goggin
Grey Hare (188) Kingston, Kingston & Lewis.

• Event Sponsor James Matthews was back in form and Diamond regained the IRC trophy secured last year.
• Conor Phelan’s Jump Juice first place on the water secured the overall winners spot for IRC Class 1 over Denis Murphy’s Nieulargo
• Peter Collins maintained the impressive form of his Olsen 30 to take line honours

The Child of Prague was put out on Friday night and for the second week in a row, competitors in the Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored April League hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club enjoyed a spell of sunshine that was decent enough to warrant dusting off the factor 50 sun cream writes Michael Walsh.

Once enough breeze had filled, PRO Denis Kieran called for the AP to be removed to allow the day’s proceedings and some more champagne sailing to get underway across Kinsale’s Outer Harbour.

The light north easterly breeze was due to shift southwards which ultimately it did, meaning the Round the Cans course from Bullens Bay over to the Sovereigns Islands allowed for plenty of sunny photographs of boats finishing under full spinnakers at the Bulman buoy.

Conor Phelan’s Jump Juice first place on the water secured the overall winners spot for IRC Class 1 over Denis Murphy’s Nieulargo , with Paul Tingle’s Alpaca completing the rout for the Crosshaven fleet.

Kieran Collins maintained the impressive form of his Olsen 30 to take line honours from KYCs Finny O Regan in IRC Class 2 and secured the silverware for Crosshaven in this fleet for both IRC and Echo . 

Event Sponsor James Matthews was back in form and Diamond regained the IRC trophy secured last year. Headcase finished in second place and Flyover in third.

A special mention of thanks to Rear Commodore Susan Horgan for organizing the barrebue and for her dedicated assistance on the Race Management Team for the whole series. Also a huge thanks to Race Officer Denis Kieran and to Tony & Ciara O’Brien for providing such a warm welcome and wonderful refreshments each week aboard committee boat White Tiger.

Overall results for the Matthews Helly Hansen April League:

Class 1 IRC : Conor Phelan’s Jump Juice

Class 1 Echo: Denis Murphy Nieulargo

Class 2 IRC: Kieran Collins’s Oracle IV

Class 2 Echo: Kieran Collins’s Oracle IV

Class 3 IRC: James Matthews’s Diamond

Class 3 Echo: O ‘Halloran & Helstern Headcase

Whitesail: Sammy Cohen’s Gunsmoke II

See photos from KYC league here

A strong south east breeze provided Kinsale Yacht Club's Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Spring Series with two excellent races.

Race one got away promptly at noon with the round the cans course finishing at Charles Fort. Race two got away at 1330 sailing a longer course, taking in Black Head. Only a few brave yachts flew spinnakers early in the day but the breeze decreased slowly from 24 knots and the horizon was awash with spinnakers when the fleet came into Kinsale on the last leg of race three from centre point.

Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo dominated Class One. Shane Stratham’s evergreen GK 34 Slack Alice put in a top performance in Class Two. Matt Hellstern’s new arrival J/24 Headcase proved to be the fleet leader in Class Three. In White Sail KYC boats Paragon and Priviteer won a race each.

Matt Hellstern’s J/24 was a fleet leader in Class three

Race four FG is at the earlier time of 10.55HRS on Sunday 22nd with two races planned.

Results below

Race 2 and 3 IRC

Class One

Nieulargo 

Jump Juice

Alpaca

Race 2 ECHO
Nieulargo
EOS
Alpaca

Race 3 ECHO
Nieulargo
Jump Juice
Justus

Class Two

Race 2 ECHO
Slack Alice
Artful Dodger
Oracle

Race 2 IRC
Oracle
Artful Dodger
Slack Alice

Race 3 ECHO
Slack Alice
Artful Dodger
REAVRA TOO

Race 3 IRC
Slack Alice
Artful Dodger
Oracle

Class Three

Race 2 ECHO and IRC
Headcase
Diamond
Fulmar Fever

Race 3 IRC
Headcase
Fulmar Fever
Diamond

Race 3 ECHO
Fulmar Fever
Headcase
Flyover

White Sail

Race 2
Paragon
Privateer
Gunsmoke II

Race 3
Privateer
Sweet Dreams
Paragon

The much promised sunshine failed to arrive on the first day of the Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Spring Series for Sailing Cruisers in Kinsale Yacht Club.

Race officer Denis Kieran aboard White Tiger got the twenty six boat fleet, with welcome Waterford Harbour visitors, off to a prompt start at noon in difficult conditions with a South East lump, light winds and pouring rain.

Fortunately, the fickle wind held up and the fleet sailed the full course taking in both Black Head and the Sovereign Islands with the weather slowly brightening all the way to sunshine and smiles by the time the everyone was back on the marina.

Jump Juice (C. Phelan) dominated Class One, Oracle (K. Collins) Class Two with Diamond (J. Matthews) to the fore in Class Three. Godot (J. Godkin) romped home in White Sail with eleven minutes to spare.

More racing promised next Sunday 15th with first gun at 11.55hrs.

Results:

IRC

One – Jump Juice, Alpaca, Justice.

Two – Oracle IV, Artful Dodger, Slack Alice.

Three – Diamond, Headcase, Runaway Bus.

ECHO

One – Jump Juice, Alpaca, Jelly Baby.

Two – Oracle VI, Artful Dodger, Slack Alice.

Three – Diamond, Headcase, Runaway Bus.

White Sail 

Godot, Gunsmoke 2, Sweet Dreams.

Having lost three weeks to the vagaries of the Irish weather, flat seas and a 9 – 12 knot breeze greeted the fleets on Sunday morning for the last day of the 2018 Kinsale Yacht Club Frostbite Series.

13 Squibs left the marina and with only 4 points between the 1st to 3rd boats it was all to play for. As the wind was almost due east, and given the configuration of the harbour, the beat was going to be short so three rounds of the course per race was posted on the board.

In the first race the Squib fleet were all pushing the line which resulted in a General Recall. Second time around and with the U Flag flying they were much better behaved and we got them away at 11.07hrs. Allegro, Colm Dunne & Fiona Ward, took the lead at the windward mark. Fuggles, Jeff Condell & Jeff Cochrane, and Badger, Rob Doyle & Rob Gill, were battling for 2nd with Fuggles eventually taking it. Fifty Shades and Outlaw were also in the leading pack and got 4th and 5th respectively.

Race 2 saw the fleet much better behaved on the start line and they all got cleanly away. This time the leaders were reversed with Fuggles in front, Allegro got 2nd and Fifty Shades, Cliodhna & Finbarr O’Regan, were 3rd. At this stage the series was still undecided. Race 3 saw the wind rising to 12 – 14 knots with gusts of 19 knots and lots of shifts on the race course. Outlaw, Ian Travers & Keith O’Riordan, were challenging both Allegro and Fuggles around the course. Fuggles managed to take another bullet with Allegro in 2nd and Outlaw in 3rd.

As we had lost so many races the decision was made by RO John Stallard to give the Squib Fleet a fourth race. Race 4 started with the wind at 16 – 18 knots and gusts of 22 knots recorded on the committee boat. Outlaw lead from the off until they rounded the windward mark. Allegro decided to gybe and run down the middle of the course and this paid off handsomely. Outlaw managed to hold on to second place with Fuggles in 3rd. This however was enough to secure the series for Fuggles with Allegro in 2nd and Fifty Shades in 3rd.
 
Racing was so close in the Squib fleet that the front 3 – 4 boats were arriving at the leeward mark together most of the day. However the tight racing resulted in 3 boats hitting the committe boat at various times, 1 coming to the finish line, 1 starting and the other after finishing, they almost took the burgee off the bow. We also had a M.O.B just after the finish line, thankfully the now very wet crew managed to hang on to the boat, his helm almost followed him into the sea but he held on and then recovered his crew.

The Mixed Dinghy fleet was somewhat depleted today due to injury and other commitments. Race 1 saw Sean Collins in the Laser Radial take both line honours and 1st place, with Tom Good and Dave Carter, both in Laser 4.7’s, 2nd and 3rd. In Race 2 while Sean Collins took line honours again, Tom Good took 1st under PY with Sean Collins 2nd and Dave Carter 3rd. This result was replicated in Race 3. However Sean Collins had done enough to take the title with Micheal O’Suilleabhain and Michael Carroll, 420, 2nd and Tom Good, Laser 4.7, in 3rd. Well gone to the Laser 4.7 sailors who had recently moved up from the Topper fleet and performed so well.

A fleet of 7 Toppers took to the water with some of the sailors being very new to racing. Dorothy Matthews was very focused today and it showed with bullets in Race 1 & 2 today. However gear failure just before the start of Race 3 meant Dorothy had to sail for home. Francesca Lewis put in another strong performance but a capsize in Race 2 put paid to her chances of taking the title. However she took 2nd in the third race which was enough to secure 2nd overall. Frances Corkery was placing better each race and took a bullet in the third which placed her 3rd overall.

KYC would like to thank Bruce & June Matthews for providing Destiny as committee boat and also being an integral part of the team. Also thanks to all the mark layers on RIB’s and parents who provided safety cover. Our Race Officer, John Stallard, provided the fleets with excellent courses over the series so many thanks John and also to his team of helpers, Valerie, Susan, Michele, Siobhan and Sid. A final thanks is to our sponsor Osean74 without whom it wouldn’t be possible to run such events.
 
Overall results:

Squib Fleet
1st Fuggles Jeff Condell Jeff Cochrane
2nd Allegro Colm Dunne Fiona Ward
3rd Fifty Shades Cliodhna O’Regan Finbarr O’Regan

Mixed Dinghy Fleet
1st Sean Collins Laser Radial
2nd M O’Suilleabhain/M Carroll 420
3rd Tom Good Laser 4.7

Topper Fleet
1st Dorothy Matthews
2nd Francesca Lewis
3rd Frances Corkery

Blue skies and a cold northerly breeze greeted the fleets in Kinsale Harbour yesterday as the Kinsale Yacht Club Frostbite Series got underway. RO John Stallard assembled his usual crack team to ensure that the racing is top notch. Bruce & June Matthews, integral parts of the team, also kindly provided the Committee Boat and lunch, so we were very comfortable and well looked after aboard Destiny. Three fleets participated - Squibs, Mixed Dinghies and Toppers and racing got under way at 11.03hrs.

Race 1 got underway with 8 – 9 knots of breeze and gusts up to 18 knots. The Northerly breeze ensured that there was no swell and made for ideal sailing conditions. In the Squib Fleet Fuggles with Jeff Condell and Jeff Cochrane dominated from the first beat in Race 1 with Fifty Shades, Cliodhna O’Regan and Colm Daly and Allegro, Colm Dunne and Fiona Ward battling out for 2nd and 3rd. However things changed significantly in Race 2 with Fifty Shades leading from the start with two newcomers to the fleet Outlaw, Ian Travers and Keith O’Riordan and Badger, Rob Doyle and Rob Gill taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. An ebbing tide and lighter breeze made for interesting times at the windward mark I believe. Race 3 started with a slightly lighter breeze of 6 – 7 knots and the ebb in full flow. Fifty Shades again lead the pack with Allegro coming 2nd and Outlaw in 3rd. Only 1 point now separates each of the 2nd to 5th placings so it looks like discards could play a huge part in the overall Squib results. Protests are pending in the Squib Fleet on Race 2 so an update may be posted next week.

The Topper Fleet also welcomed some new members today and for some it was their first time racing in the fleet. Well done to Dorothy Matthews who got 1st place in all three races. Daniel Akerlind came 2nd in Race 1 & 2 and Rachel Akerlind got a 3rd in Race 1, and it was her first time racing. Francesca Lewis put in a very steady performance, her results improved with each race and she came 2nd in Race 3. Frances Corkery also had a good day with 3rd place in Races 2 & 3. Max Dillon got a 4th in Race 1 so well done to him. A big shout out to Harvey Matthews who at only 9 year of age came out in a slightly modified rig Topper, unfortunately he didn’t race as the 18 knot gusts were too strong for him. There are protests pending in the Topper Fleet also so updates next week after they are held.

The Mixed Dinghy Fleet consisted of a Full Rig Laser, Radial Laser, 4.7 Laser, 420 and 2.4m and they sailed under PY. Line honours went to the 420, Micheal O’Suilleabhain and Michael Carroll, in Races 1 & 3 with Master Laser sailor Gary Horgan taking it in Race 2. Well sailed Gary. Sean Collins in the Radial put in a very consistent performance and was over the line in 3rd for all three races. This was enough to put him in 2nd overall on corrected time. David Carter, 4.7 Laser and Georgina Griffin, 2.4m, were 4th and 5th respectively.

Many thanks to Bruce & June Matthews for sponsoring the day prize – all participants in the racing are entered into a draw and today’s winner was Micheal O’Suilleabhain.
 
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd
Squib
Race 1 Fuggles Fifty Shades Allegro
Race 2 Fifty Shades Outlaw Badger
Race 3 Fifty Shades Allegro Outlaw
Toppers
Race 1 D. Matthews D. Akerlind R. Akerlind
Race 2 D. Matthews D. Akerlind F. Corkery
Race 3 D. Matthews F. Lewis F. Corkery
Mixed Dinghies
Race 1 420 Laser Laser Radial
Race 2 Laser Radial Laser 420
Race 3 420 Laser Radial Laser

Kinsale Yacht Club will start its Frostbite Series on Sunday, February 4. This will be raced over six Sundays until March 11, writes Tom MacSweeney. Registration will take place on the opening day. First Gun each Sunday will be at 1055. 

Kinsale Marina Berth Holders

There will be a meeting of berth holders of Kinsale YC on Thursday, February 22, at 8 p.m. in the clubhouse.

Finbarr O’Regan’s Artful Dodger Photo: Bob Bateman

Tom Roche Wins Bell Trophy 

Tom Roche’s Meridian won the St.Stephen’s Day cruiser race at Kinsale Yacht Club for the Gunsmoke Bell. Michael Carroll’s Chancer was second and Finbarr O’Regan’s Artful Dodger third.

Kinsale Yacht Club has its annual ‘Gunsmoke Bell’ race scheduled for St.Stephen’s Day. First Gun will be fired to start the race at 1325 on the Charles Fort Line. It will be an All-In Race under the ECHO handicap system writes Tom MacSweeney.

“A great way to work off those mince pieces,” the club says, encouraging those with their boats still in the water to take part in this cruiser race.

The event is sponsored by Sam Cohen, whose own boat is named Gunsmoke.

Otherwise racing has ceased on the South Coast until the hardy Frostbite sailors get going in the New Year. Kinsale will kick off its Frostbite Series on February 4 and it will continue until March 11.

The club has been early into the organisation of cruiser racing for next year and has secured sponsorship of its Spring Series by Matthews and Helly Hansen. Racing is scheduled over four weekends for both White Sail and Spinnaker fleets. The series will start on Sunday, April 8 and finish on Saturday, April 28. There will be two days of windward/leeward courses and two of ‘round the cans’ according to the Notice of Race. Racing will be under both IRC and ECHO handicap systems. Entry fee is €80 for Spinnaker boats and €60 for White Sail. This will also be the opening event of the SCORA - South Coast Offshore Racing Association - series for next year. Already the warning is out to boat owners to ensure they register their vessels and provide racing certificates - “No registration, no certificates, no result,” says the club. Registration will be on Sunday, April 8, prior to the first race, from 9 to 10.30 a.m. in the club house. First gun will be at 1155 each day.

Kinsale will host the Round Britain and Ireland Race, the Yachting World Triangular Race, the Squib Southerns, Optimist Nationals, Dragon Southerns and the Mini Transat Series next year. It will be a busy administrative and organisational year at the club.

Georgina Griffin has been chosen as Club Member of the Year. She was amongst members presented with ‘Sailing Excellence Awards’ by the club for their performances in national and international events this year. The awards went to: RORC Fastnet Race, Cian McCarthy, EOS; Lough Derg Freshwater Championships, Colm Dunne and Fiona Ward, Allegro; All Ireland Junior Sailing Championships Schull, Micheal O’Suilleabhain and Michael Carroll, TR 3.6m double-handed; Europeans 2017 (Poland), Georgina Griffin, 2.4mR.

The Irish Quarter Ton fleet will be getting a new addition this Autumn with the arrival of the very distinctive and well known Quarter Tonner, Runaway Bus writes Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club's Alan Mulcahy has bought the 1977–vintage craft made famous in part for her spinnaker that is emblazoned with a printed London Bus, all of which is complemented by her gleaming red hull & white decks.

The news will be welcomed by Kinsale's Quarter–Ton interests that saw the Ed-Dubois designed Diamond arrive into the port last March.  

According to a broker description, The 40–year–old Runaway Bus was built for Mike Richardson, the owner of Seahorse Sails. Built to the same lines as the winner of the 1976 Quarter Ton Cup at Corpus Christi, she was designed by Paul Whiting & in 2006 she was fully re-built by David Heritage in Cowes with new structure & deck, new rig, keel, rudder & systems which left her looking as new. She is still in excellent condition & remains very competitive having won the Jersery Regatta in 2015, come 2nd in the IRC Small Boat Regatta in 2014, 3rd in the Poole Regatta in both 2016 & 2014 as well as 2nd in class & 4th overall in 2014 Round the Island Race. She comes very well equipped with Tak-Tik Wireless instruments & a comprehensive sail wardrobe.

It is understood Runaway Bus will arrive into Kinsale next week but thought unlikely the 23–footer will be ready in time to enter the currently underway CH Marine Autumn League at nearby Crosshaven. Race reports here.

The second day of racing at the Dragon South Coast Championships has been cancelled at Kinsale Yacht Club following two one hour postponements this morning writes Bob Bateman.

Race Officer Alan Crosbie went out in a RIB to inspect the course area. Fog and mist early on gave way to only a zephyr of breeze leaving no option but to scrub the two scheduled races. 

The cancellation means Kinsale's Cameron Good takes the championship title as per Afloat.ie's report here.