#royalcork – The penultimate Day of Royal Cork Yacht Club CH Marine Autumn Series provided plenty of exhilarating sailing writes Claire Bateman.
Yesterday was the penultimate day of the Royal Cork CH Marine Autumn Series and such were the conditions a decision was taken to cancel Whitesail 1, 2 and Class 4. However, the 1720s had a fantastic day and as the 1720 Race Officer, Anthony O'Leary commented, they got good value for money as they got in three races and they were competitive right throughout the fleet. Sailing with smaller jibs and threequarter spinnakers they sailed windward/leeward courses and many a 'Yahoo' was heard as they went downwind at high speed. At the top end of the fleet Nicholas O'Leary, four times in a row winner of the Irish Helmsman's Championship, and sailing T Bone, had keen competition from David Kenefick sailing Wet 'N Ready and just back from two years sailing the Figaro circuit. At the end of the day T Bone is top of the leaderboard for the class and the final day of racing next Saturday will be interesting to watch.

Meanwhile, further in the harbour RO Peter Crowley for Classes 1, 2 and Three set up Sparetime using No. 13 as the Pin End and sent Classes 1 and 2 on a windward/leeward course up to Whitepoint and on their way they passed the original home of the Royal Cork Yacht Club at Haulbowline where the club was founded in 1720.

Class Three were sent on a shorter windward/leeward course to No. 20 off Cobh. For their second race things got more interesting . They went on a beat to No. 20 again but this time they had a run to No. 11 then to No. 10, back to No. 11 and finished at the Cage.

Classes 1 and 2 for their second race also went to No. 20, a run to No. 11 on to 10, back to 11, back to 10, back to 11 and finished at the Cage. This proved to be quite a challenging race for the crews.

Also in the harbour today, and having an absolute ball in the conditions, were the hardy youngsters competing in their October 'Cobbler' League and here again it should be remembered that CH Marine were the sponsors of the Optimist National Championships at the Royal Cork this year.

The final race of the series will be held next Saturday with the prize giving dinner taking place that evening.

#royalcork – Today was another wonderful October day for the CH Marine Autumn Series writes Claire Bateman. There was bright sunshine after a night of dense fog that cleared exactly as had been forecast. The wind in the outer harbour was 10 to 14 knots from the east but in the inner harbour the Wind Gods were not quite so kind and the wind was a little bit softer about 5 to 7 knots.

Speaking of the lighter wind in the harbour, RO for Classes 1, 2 and 3, Peter Crowley, would have liked to finish his fleets inside but given the reports of light winds, opted instead for two triangle courses which as it turned out were rather exciting to watch and the racing was not without its moments. In Class 3 there was a coming together and both boats retired. For the second race there was an individual recall and Tom Roche's Meridian returned to restart. Also in the second race Ian Nagle's Jelly Baby was playing a blinder and came into the weather mark in the first round in second place. It was a 4.2m tide with low water about 3pm and there were a lot of alternative approaches to the beat. The J80, J92 and the Main Four seemed to be having a ding dong battle on the reach and a bit of a luffing match ensued.

However, inside the harbour David O'Brien's fleets were sent off from the committee boat, anchored near the No. 8 buoy, in what was the best order, Class 4 first, WS2 and then WS1. They were given a beat to the No. 11 buoy and then back to No. 8 where the course was then shortened. In the second race they were sent off on what was effectively a triangle course. Indeed one wag was heard to mutter that the fastest thing in the harbour for the afternoon was a ship coming through the fleet and indeed any yachts in the path of this ship were quickly shepherded away by Gavin Deane and Mark Ring.

Meanwhile Anthony O'Leary had his 1720 fleet down off Cuskinny and they looked quite interesting when the wind eventually filled in during the afternoon.

This series counts for SCORA (South Coast Offshore Racing Association) and we hope to have an update on this during the coming week.

Sunday next will be see the penultimate race of the series with the final race on the following Saturday followed by the prize giving dinner always a highlight of the season.

#chmarine – Yesterday luck was on the side of the organisers of the CH Marine Autumn series at Royal Cork Yacht Club as the full quota of races was sailed before the worst of the weather that had been forecast started to come in writes Claire Bateman. There was a calm before the storm as the yachts headed out this morning. When they got out into Cork Harbour there about 12 knots of wind greeted the fleet but during racing as rain squalls were passing through winds rose to about 25 knots and for the final half hour of racing it rose to approximately 30 knots. Luckily Cork Harbour, as always, was available and with RO Peter Crowley in Sparetime anchored off Cuskinny, Classes 1,2 and 3 were given a windward/leeward course while off the corner of Spike Anthony O'Leary in Irish Mist gave an enlarged 1720 fleet a windward/leeward course to a laid mark on the Curlane Bank and David O'Brien went to the Eastern side of the harbour off Whitegate where he was able to set a course round the navigation buoys for Whitesail 1, 2 and Class 4.

It was a day for boats with good beating ability given a very strong 4m flood tide and a south westerly wind. With the very squally conditions being experienced good crew handling had to be at a premium. A number of yachts suffered minor gear failure in the form of broken halyards, torn sails etc., and in the second race it was only the bravest of the bold flew spinnakers and they surely were rewarded with an exhilarating ride for their endeavours.

As is usual in handicap racing there are always one or two boats who end up competing with each other on the water and nowhere more so than in the case of Kinsale's Conor Doyle's X42 'Freya' and KYC Vice Commodore Tom Roche in his Salona 45 'Meridian'. On the water in Race 1 of the day Conor Doyle was leading the battle but in the second race the position was reversed and Freya eventually had to retire with gear failure. However, on handicap there was no stopping Rob McConnell's A35 'Fools Gold' from WHSC who notched up another two wins in IRC to match his result from Day One of the Series. Ian Nagle's J109 'Jelly Baby' from Royal Cork put in a competitive performance against Fools Gold but had to be content with the number two spot.

Meanwhile the Whitesail 1 fleet went on a course to No. 6 port, E1 starboard, W2 starboard, E4 port, Cage starboard and finish. In today's conditions Dan Cross in 'Yoshi' looked splendid as he was beating out against the tide in the freshening breeze but leading on the water was the more race orientated John Downing's Samba reveling in the stronger conditions. For the second race of the day David O'Brien reversed the order of the start and sent off Class 4 first and this worked very well. An unusual incident took place when relaying the mark after the Class 4 start of race 2. When the anchor was pulled up it was found to have a cavity block embedded in it!!

All in all it is great to be able to enjoy excellent racing in October and assuming that conditions next Sunday permit even one race to be sailed, there will be a discard applied and we will then see the picture more clearly for all of the fleets.

Racing will continue next Sunday

#royalcork – Yesterday saw an auspicious start to day one of the CH Marine Autumn Series at Royal Cork writes Claire Bateman. The weather saw to it that the day produced excellent conditions for the start of this major and very popular annual event even if the wind was light The sun was shining, there was a light south easterly breeze and flat water, it was like a July day. With seventy boats, including many most welcome visitors from clubs around the south taking to the water all champing at the bit to get to the start line well ahead of the first gun, the fleet made a great sight pouring down the river all eager for action and the promise of a great day ahead. Then there was that brief uncanny feeling, almost a loneliness, that always prevails when yachts go to sea, of emptiness and silence while breaths were being drawn before preparations got get underway for other classes getting ready for their racing of the day with the excitement and preparation starting all over again. All of great interest for those enjoying their morning coffee on the patio area in the brilliant weather.

The entries today seemed to confirm what has gradually become obvious for the past couple of seasons and that is the growth of the white sail fleet. This was certainly in evidence with the increase of numbers in the fleets. The Whitesail fleets normally considered the gentlemens' class did not live up to their reputation today as there was much shouting on the start line. Their sailing yesterday was inside the harbour with Race Officer David O'Brien and they had a course to No. 7, back to No. 14, which was a very slow leg against the tide, and then to No. 6 where the course was shortened.

Close action in the 1720s. More photos below

Classes I, 2 and 3 were sailing outside the harbour and they had a windward/ leeward course with Race Officer Peter Crowley. Many of the yachts had to place the crews on the leeward side such were the conditions. The race was shortened after one round of the course.

In the second race these classes were given windward/leeward courses again but this time they were brought back into the harbour where they made a splendid spectacle joining up with the White Sail and 1720 fleets and they were finished in the harbour by Peter Crowley who had moved inside and positioned Sparetime off the Grassy line at the Cage Buoy.

In a change for the Autumn series the 1720s had their own course with Anthony O'Leary as Race Officer, and given that this is a One Design fleet it made for a very efficient way of running this fleet in the series.

Racing continues next Sunday, October 5th.

#glandore – South coast yacht clubs are seeking to breathe new life in to Glandore Harbour Regatta this June Bank Holiday weekend. In a combined effort between Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, Kinsale Yacht Club and the Royal Cork Yacht Club a drive is being made to to revive Glandore Regatta.

Berthing will be provided on Glandore Harbour Yacht Club's summer moorings at Union Hall. The club is providing a ferry service to and from the moored boats. There will also be limited mooring at Union Hall Pier available.

Glandore Harbor Yacht Club are organizing a Barbeque on the pier at Glandore at 1700 hours attendee are invited to bring their own preferred drinks. Prize giving for the races into Glandore will take place at 19:00 hours on Glandore pier.

Glandore Harbor Yacht Club ere providing a ferry service to Union Hall after the prize giving for those wishing to socialise in the village. 

Schedule of racing

Friday 29th May. Fastnet Race from Kinsale around Fastnet and finishing in Glandore (Sponsored by CH Marine). 

Saturday 30th May. Crosshaven to Glandore. The race is open to all Cruisers/Sports Boats and White Sail fleets. This race commences: at the Revised First Gun of 0855 hours from Weavers point.

Note that there is also a race from Kinsale to Glandore on Saturday.

Sunday 31st May. Race from Glandore to Kinsale first gun 10:55. This race is open to all cruiser and white sail fleets. Marina berths will be offered to competing visiting boats in Kinsale on Sunday. Food will be served in the club house from 1700 hours with prize giving at 18:30. There will be a time limit cutoff of 1800hrs for this race.

#magblade – Leading Irish marine supplier Nick Bendon, well known to Afloat.ie readers through his CH Marine brand, launched MagBlade™ marine propellers at last week's international Marine Trade fair, Mets, in Amsterdam.

The South African venture, where Bendon is a Sales Director, aims to improve on propellor design. MagBlade™, says Bendon takes propulsion design to a new level with unique features like improved fuel efficiency and superior hydrodynamic efficiency.

Designed using a lightweight aerospace technology, MagBlade™ provides a blade surface which claims to be seven times stronger than stainless steel, seven times more rigid than the most hardened steel, and four times more impact absorbent than aluminium.

More in the company vid below:

#rcyc – There were surfing conditions for day four of the CH Marine sponsored Royal Cork Autumn League in Cork Harbour yesterday writes Claire Bateman.

Classes one, two and three sailing to the mouth of the harbour made a superb spectacle as they rounded the mark and headed downwind, in many cases surfing on the waves, as they made their way in the harbour to No. 10 making a kaleidoscope of colour in the bright sunshine and with plenty of breeze from the south east.

Tension was high today on the penultimate day of what has been to date an excellent league. In Class One Gloves Off dominated the class with six wins to date but today they had to yield to Mary O'Keeffe's Tux who took the gun in the first race of the day when she won Class One IRC.

The competition in Class Two was equally as intense especially with the three modified quarter tonners and an unusual scenario occurred when there was an incident between the Losty Brothers Illes Pitiuses and Ian Travers' Per Elisa. What was unusual was the fact the hearing was open to any competitors wishing to attend. The protest was heard under the chairmanship of Donal McClement and resulted in the disqualification of Per Elisa. Did I forget to say that the two guest helms on the day were brothers Peter O'Leary, newly crowned All Ireland Champion, on Per Elisa, with Nicholas O'Leary on Illes Pitiuses.

Meanwhile White Sail division One and Two, Class Four and 1720s were sailing on the flat waters of the eastern bank where the breeze appeared tohave more east in it and this provided tremendous competition in all the fleets.

To date in the League with the exception of week one, when the weather caused a bit of a hold up but nonetheless ended up with a brilliant afternoon's racing, sailing conditions have been excellent and it is hard to believe that next week will be the last.

The daily prizes were certainly unique and very popular with the winners. A novel idea on the part of CH Marine.

The final two races will take place on Saturday next October 27th and the prize giving dinner will take place at 7pm.

#royalcork – A discard after five races saw the first trends emerging in all classes of the CH Marine Autumn league in Cork Harbour yesterday writes Claire Bateman.

Gloves Off has an invincible look about her in IRC One with five wins one of which she has discarded. The battle for second place has changed somewhat EOS having a good day today has moved into second place with Fools Gold slipping to third. In IRC Two it is interesting that the modified Quarter Tonners have found their way into this class by their speed alone and Iles Pitueses leads IRC Two on 6 points and also the the Quarter Ton Class. It's not by any means all over yet with Bad Company on 9 points and Allure on 13.5 points so all is open to fight for here over the next two days of the regatta.The same can't be said for IRC Three with No Half Measures counting four wins while Maximus is on 10 points with Outrigger on 12 points. The 1720s are currently being led by Antix and Wahoo on eight points apiece followed by I Dunno in third place on 14 points and T Bone on 15.

The sky had some glorious blue patches with bright sunshine becoming obscured at times by some ominous clouds that never did decide to drop any showers on the fleets. Winds started out about 11 knots from the North West and freshened during the day going more into the west providing ideal sailing conditions.

Racing inside the harbour today with ICRA Commodore Barry Rose doing the honours as Race Officer, the fleets had two short races in conditions similar to outside the harbour. In Race One Whitesail One were sent off first to a laid weather mark before rounding a number of the harbour marks. Whitesail Two and IRC 4 started together and there was some bunching at the line following which the Race Officer gave them all separate starts for the second race of the day. In IRC Four Sundancer has chalked up five wins and Shelley D has five seconds with Thistle also taking five wins.

In Whitesail One it's still all to play for Cavatina having 6 points, Samba on 8 points and Minx 111 who took today's prize on a total of 9 points. In Whitesail Two Loch Greine leads counting four wins, LadyT is second on 9 points and Julia B hot on her heels on 10 points.

As there are now only two days of the Regatta remaining competition will be more intense than ever. This may also be a good time to remind competitors of the final day's racing that will be held on Saturday October 27th and the prize giving dinner later that evening with good entertainment assured. As bookings are hotting up anyone wishing to attend should ensure their reservation is made in good time.

#royalcork – Kieran Twomey's Gloves Off continues to lead in the 14-boat Cruisers 1 fleet of the CH Marine Autumn league at Royal Cork. The Corby 38 took its third race win this afternoon to lead by a margin of 13 points from Rob McConnell's A35, Fools Gold. Third is Dan Buckley's J109 Justus writes Claire Bateman.

With thrills, spills, T bones, a medical emergency and seasick sailors the second Sunday of the CH Autumn Regatta provided very different fare to last week.

Outside the harbour Class One were the first to start today and they got away cleanly as they had a long start line square to the boat and off they went on a windward leeward course.

There was no catching Kieran Twomey's lightweight flying machine 'Gloves Off' on the day. However, a ding dong battle ensued between Conor Doyle's Freya and Tom Roche's Meridian, Conor Doyle leading at the first weather mark but a better hoist on Meridian brought them into the lead. This lead continued for the three rounds of the course and ended up with Meridian coming into the finish line on starboard with Freya coming in on port but one boat length behind. Mary O'Keeffe's X332 'Tux' was also engaged in tough rivalry with the other two X332s. Similar situations of these ding dong battles pertained right throughout the fleet in today's conditions. Bad Company, Alpaca, and Allure were also engaged in tough battles for supremacy. A similar situation also existed with the three quarter tonners, Iles Pitiuses, Per Elisa and Anchor Challenge.

Today there was an awkward sea with wind over tide for a period and also the matter of the tide flowing out the harbour to create lumpy stretches followed by dropping into holes in the sea and with wind of about 16 knots occasionally rising to over 20 it put the crews to the test. There were many broaches and many sailors not feeling the best as a result and many raised voices urging fast action as required.

The second race was a triangle course, the wind having shifted some 30 degrees more into the south east and again there were many incident s including one port and starboard incident where the porthand boat tried to dip the starboard boat but in the conditions the boat wouldn't bear away quickly enough.

Meanwhile, inside the harbour the Class four and whitesail fleets were having good racing as well with flat water and with the wind starting out at about 11 knots and before racing finished it had risen to some 16 or 17 knots. The 1720s were sailing on this course today and they had a fleet of nine boats. Class four were given a course running between the East Ferry mark and no. 16 buoy while the wind shift that was affecting the outside harbour course caused the Race Officer to slightly alter the course on the eastern bank as well using EF2 and No. 13.

A competitor who was feeling unwell was whisked away in one of the Club's high speed rescue RIBs to rendezvous with Crosshaven RNLI 'Miss Betty'. The lifeboat crew then took the sailor on board and transferred him to the ambulance waiting to take him to CUH. The good news welcomed is the sailor involved is making a good recovery.

All in all today proved to be a wonderful day of sailing with the sailors congregating afterwards while awaiting the prize giving and regaling one another with stories of their experiences of the day that left everyone looking forward to next Sunday's racing.

#rcyc – A fleet of almost seventy cruisers took to the waters of Cork Harbour today for the opening race of the CH Marine Autumn Regatta writes Claire Bateman.

Competitors travelled from Waterford, Kilkenny, Schull, Cobh and a group of nine very well known and welcome racing boats arrived from Kinsale including Tom Roche's 45ft Salona 'Meridian' and Conor Doyle's X442 the beautiful 'Freya'. All the very welcome boats from other clubs augmented the Royal Cork entry to an excellent number for this very popular event.

Sunday morning's weather was somewhat unkind with rain, mist and a lot of wind. After a short postponement a decision was made to race all the fleets within the harbour. Race Officer Peter Crowley set up Sparetime just north of Whitegate jetty and sent the seven fleets off on various courses in a westerly breeze that started out about 17 to 18 knots but quickly abated to 8 or 9 knots.

The 1720s and the Class One fleet were sent up to No.22 with Whitesail One and Two and Class Four starting with a weather mark that was laid off Spike Island. Classes Two and Three, after an initial beat followed by a run and a Gybe off Cuskinny, arrived at number 20 and on the return leg joined with a convergence of all the boats in the fleets arriving at No. 11 in close proximity to one another. This resulted in a well controlled, and fascinating to watch, Piccadilly Circus like situation. In some instances more than one fleet reached the buoy at the same time with one fleet rounding on Starboard and the other rounding on port.

By this stage the weather was clearing and lightening but it was adjudged too late to start a second race and all the crews returned to enjoy the hospitality of the warm clubhouse.

The event will continue for the next three Sundays and will finish on Saturday October 27th with a prize giving dinner that night. This function is always a heavily booked event so reservations would want to be secured as soon as possible.