The fun is back in sailing, and there are more families, older and younger people, active in the sport on the South Coast.
That was the encouraging view which the Commodore of the South Coast Offshore Sailing Association, Daragh Connolly, gave to SCORA’s annual meeting, held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.
It was one of the biggest-attended meetings of the Association at which 22 awards were presented to top-performing boats in multiple events during the 2025 season.
Podium Moment – From left, Michael Murphy, Treasurer SCORA, Alan Mulcahy of Apache, and Commodore Daragh Connolly at the South Coast Offshore Racing Association awards night at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven. Photo: Bob Bateman
A focus of debate was to introduce a stronger social aspect into racing and to develop more coastal races where sailors “can enjoy the competitive aspect and a gathering of like-minded people who to sail, to race, discuss the sport and how its attraction can be increased,” according to comments.
Winning Ways – Mark Mansfield pictured with SCORA Commodore Daragh Connolly during the Association’s 2025 season prizegiving at the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Photo: Bob Bateman
Commodore Connolly noted that there has been an increase in families crewing boats and the number of younger sailors helming keelboats, making the transition from dinghies to cruisers.
“There is more fun in sailing now, in racing, more young people, more family involvement, moving on from the time when one member of the family might have gone sailing, but others were not sailing. SCORA has widened inter-club activity along the South Coast. The different approach to ECHO handicap in the past year has increased participation. There is a clear interest in increasing the social aspect at the end of a race, to widen family and youth involvement. That is healthy and very encouraging for the future of the sport.”
Michael Murphy, Treasurer SCORA, Sam Tanner and his father Pat, SCORA Commodore Daragh Connolly at the Association’s annual meeting and prizegiving at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven. Photo: Bob Bateman
The Admiral of the RCYC, Denis Byrne, welcomed SCORA members to the club, noted the number of young people present and representatives from clubs around the South Coast who had made the journey to attend.
Award Honour – Afloat's Tom MacSweeney accepts the Claire Bateman Award for contribution to South Coast sailing on behalf of Scribbler during the SCORA prizegiving evening at the Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman
SCORA PRIZE AWARDS FOR 2025 SEASON:
Top Performing Boats in Multiple Events:
Swuzzlebubble – James Dwyer; Bateleur – Pat Tanner; Artful Dodger – Finbarr O’Regan; Morning After – Andy Jenkins; Apache – Alan Mulcahy.
Recent additions and boats that have contributed to the SCORA 2025 season:
Knot On Call – Andrew Crosbie; Grin & Bear It – Denis Byrne; Obsession – Barry and Marina Rose; Musketeer – Gerry O’Neill and James Kelleher; Holly Blue – Eric Lisson; If – Kieran Collins; Joyrider – Wan Waterman and Tim McCarthy; Ejine – Mark Ivers and Donal Keane; Humdinger – Mark Mansfield; Fire Diamond– Mark and Zac Ring; Izimbra – Dennis Ellis; Clodagh – Rob Foster; Sepideh – Maurice Collins; Palomer – Bryan Jones.
Offshore Kinsale to Baltimore:
Spinnaker Class – Imp, George Radley; Whitesail – Blue Oyster, Noel Coleman.
Claire Bateman Award for contribution to South Coast sailing – Scribbler, Tom MacSweeney.
Interview with SCORA Commodore Daragh Connolly here.
