A large attendance of about 40 sailors at the SCORA AGM was swelled by a good contingent from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club who travelled to Crosshaven despite the bad weather writes Bob Bateman.
The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) hosted meeting on Tuesday evening heard a productive discussion on class bands for the 2019 cruiser–racer season.
The powwow also heard calls for what some deemed a 'long overdue' race to Dunmore East. The SCORA committee is now looking at dates in the existing schedule and a June date has been proposed.
ECHO system review
The evening's discussion also moved to the revised ECHO Handicapping system already implemented in RCYC and Kinsale Yacht Club (KYC) this past season. The new handicap will be reviewed on a month by month basis in 2019. Details of how the new system operates will be explained over the winter at club sessions and it is hoped other clubs will also participate.
In all, it is hoped to run three offshore races for the coming season as part of SCORA's 2019 programme.
As reported earlier by Afloat.ie, Johnanna Murphy took over as Commodore from Kieran O'Connell. Read more on the first female Commodore's appointment here.
Bateman Trophy
Following the election of officers, the annual prizegiving was held which included the Bateman Trophy, presented in memory of Afloat correspondent, the late Claire Bateman. This year it was won by Kinsale's Alan Mulcahy in Moondance and presented by Claire's son Robin.
Mulcahy won out for his sailing in a variety of South Coast events and for introducing newcomers to the thrill of sailing and racing. Mulcahy made sure to give thanks to all his crew over his many years racing on Moondance, Runaway Bus, White Magic and Sundancer and, as recently as last month, to all those who helped him win The Autumn League at Royal Cork Yacht Club.