The national and international achievements afloat of Irish Laser dinghy star Jonathan O'Shaughnessy were recognised ashore this weekend at Royal Cork Yacht Club when the Irish champion was presented with its perpetual Pyewacket Trophy.

As regular Afloat readers will recall, O'Shaughnessy qualified as the male radial youth sailor to represent Ireland at the 2021 World Sailing Youth World Championships in Oman in December based on his International Results and performance in the Youth Nationals.

The Pyewacket Trophy is presented each year to the youth sailor, who has achieved the best results overall in the opinion of the club's Adjudicating Committee.

In October 2001, the late Roy Disney, the widely known American sailing enthusiast who had a home in West Cork, who had strong ties with the Royal Cork Yacht Club, and participated in many Cork Week Regattas, presented the club with the Pyewacket Perpetual Cup at a dinner in the club hosted by the then Admiral, Anthony O'Leary.

The Pyewacket Trophy was the icing on the cake in a bountiful season for O'Shaughnessy, who last June at the  Laser Radial Youth Europeans in Croatia finished top Irish youth and 26th overall from a fleet of 217 male youth competitors.

Jonathon O'Shaughnessy was the winner of the AIB Laser Nationals Radial Championships Photo: Robert Bateman

The under 18-solo sailor repeated this performance at the Laser Radial Youth Worlds in Italy a month later when he finished 52nd overall from a fleet of 265 male youth competitors and again top Irish youth male sailor.

In August, he was the overall winner of the Irish Laser (ILCA 6) National Championships. He also captained Royal Cork's Junior Sutton book team racing competition and won the event as Afloat reported here.

"The Pyewacket Trophy was the icing on the cake in a bountiful season"

Also, in September, he was a silver medallist at the 2021 All Ireland Junior Helmsman Championship held in Schull, West Cork, which led to him being nominated for a 2021 Sports Award by his Secondary School.

In October, he competed at the Laser Radial Europa Cup in Hyeres, France, finishing 11th overall out of a 97 boat fleet to secure Irish qualification for World Sailing Youth Worlds.

He wrapped up the domestic year as winner of Laser Munster Championships Radial Class in Kinsale before securing Bronze at the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals on his home waters at Crossshaven. 

Winner Jonathan O'Shaughnessy (centre) with parents Stephen and Sandie at Royal Cork Photo: Bob Bateman

Frank Thompson Trophy

Also presented at RCYC at the weekend was The Frank Thompson Trophy, an award to recognise the outstanding volunteer effort of a person or family to Royal Cork dinghy sailing.

This year the award was made to Jean and Garry O'Neill.

(From left) Royal Cork's Annamarie Fegan and Kieran O'Connell are pictured with Frank Thompson Trophy winners Garry and Jean O' Neill. Also pictured is Thompson family representative Peter Thompson and Royal Cork Rear Admiral Dinghies, Maurice Collins. Photo: Bob Bateman

At the 301st AGM last Thursday evening, Kieran O’Connell was elected the 43rd Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. In his acceptance speech, O'Connell thanked Past Admiral Colin Morehead for the manner in which he executed his role over the past two years and steered the club through the Tricentenary celebrations and ongoing pandemic.

O’Connell, who now enters his ninth year on the Royal Cork Executive Committee, has been part of the Royal Cork all his life, having started sailing in mirrors and in recent years competing in keelboat and National 18 events throughout the country. On being appointed, he addressed members and reflected on the strength of the club at present with membership at a ten year high and finances particularly healthy. He spoke briefly about plans for further development of club facilities, including exploration of lifting, servicing and storage facilities for boats ashore.

Royal Cork Admiral, Kieran O'Connell Photo: Bob Bateman

The incoming Admiral also outlined his wish to complete the five-year plan for the club which will be key to retaining existing members and introducing new members to the oldest club in the world.

Following the success of the youth pathway model, O’Connell highlighted plans to adapt the model to cater to adult sailing, with the clubs growing fleet of now 20 keelboats and dinghies being key to introducing newcomers to the sport in a cost efficient manner.

Following a bumper year of events in the club, including multiple national and regional championships, the highlights of 2022 without doubt will be Volvo Cork Week in July and the 505 World Championships in August.

In his closing remarks, he set out the fact that nothing could be achieved without the support and dedication of its staff and its incredible committees and volunteers.

Vice Admiral, Annamarie Fegan Photo: Bob Bateman

O’Connell has formed an experienced and enthusiastic committee. Making history, Annamarie Fegan was elected Vice Admiral of the Crosshaven club, the first female Vice Admiral in the club’s 302 year existence. Fegan is best recognised in sailing circles as co-owner of ‘Nieulargo’ with husband Denis Murphy and daughters Molly and Mia, winners of the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle, the Fastnet 450 and one of the favourites for the Round Ireland Race in 2022. Annamarie will also co-chair Volvo Cork Week 2022 with Ross Deasy.

Rear Admiral Keelboats, Paul Tingle Photo: Bob Bateman

Paul Tingle was elected Rear Admiral Keelboats and brings with him a wealth of experience having first started sailing in Mirrors and Enterprises and now sailing the family’s new X-4 ‘Alpaca’. Sailing talk is unavoidable in the Tingle household with the family having undertaken Olympic campaigns, Fastnet Races, Dun Laoghaire to Dingle’s and much more in recent years.

Rear Admiral Dinghies, Maurice Collins Photo: Bob Bateman

Maurice Collins was elected Rear Admiral Dinghies, a considerable undertaking given the success and growth in the Youth Pathway in the Royal Cork. Having served as class captain in the Topper fleet for a number of years and with four sons competing throughout the classes in the club, Maurice is excellently positioned to ensure there is something for all youth sailors, from international competition to that first tack or gybe.

Denis Byrne, Chairman of RCYC Marina & Facilities committee Photo: Bob Bateman

Denis Byrne was elected Chairman of the Marina & Facilities committee. From the incoming Admiral’s acceptance speech, it’s clear Denis and his committee will have some exciting projects on the cards in the years ahead. Denis has been close to unstoppable in his Trapper TP250 ‘Cracker’ in Cork Harbour IRC racing in recent years.

Remaining on the committee for another term are Mike Rider as Rear Admiral Cruising, Pat Harte as Treasurer and Alex Barry as Chair of Membership, Communication and Events.

Alex Barry,Chair Membership, Communications and Events Photo: Bob Bateman

Strong winds in Cork Harbour meant the O'Leary Insurance Winter League at Royal Cork Yacht Club concluded on Sunday without further racing for the 32-boat mixed cruiser fleet.

Fiona Young's consistent performance at the top of the IRC fleet in North Star was rewarded with the perpetual Archie O'Leary Trophy.

Fiona Young with the Archie O'Leary Trophy pictured with (L to R) Andrew Kings, Eilie Anceiros, Jack Young, Nigel Young and sponsor Anthony O'Leary of O'Leary Insurances Photo: Bob Bateman

On seven points, the restored Albin Express had a two-point winning margin over early series leaders Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher in the Quarter Tonner Diamond.

Colman Garvey, skipper of Diamond, second in IRC Photo: Bob Bateman

Third was Richard Leonard in his Bolero, Bandit on 13 points. 

At the prizegiving, Young gave thanks to the league organisers and said she was proud to be part of a vibrant cruiser scene in Crosshaven.

Nigel Young (right) bought the Albin Express as a Christmas present for his wife last year and the family spent months restoring the boat Photo: Bob Bateman

The helmswoman also thanked her family, who, she said, had spent many happy hours restoring the classic during the early days of Covid in 2020.

Richard Leonard, skipper of Bandit was third Echo and IRC Photo: Bob Bateman

Rear Admiral Keelboats Daragh Connelly acknowledged people were not keen on the experimental use of the White Sail only rule for this year's league but explained it was a bid to get new boats out on the water. "I saw people who came out that might not have come out, so from that point of view it was a useful experiment to get 32 boats competing," he told the fleet. 

Sean Hanley skipper of Luas was the runner up in the Echo division Photo: Bob Bateman

Echo winners: The Under 25 Club J24 Team Sarah Kiely, Aoife O'Driscoll, Frances Corkery and Chris Bateman Photo: Bob Bateman

Winter League Race Officers Clem and Wendy McElligott Photo: Bob Bateman

Full results here 

© Afloat 2021 

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star leads the IRC White Sails Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2021 after five races sailed in Cork Harbour.

The Myrtleville helmswoman has a two-point margin after today's race in an ideal northwest sailing breeze at the bottom of a December spring tide.

One time leader, Diamond (Colman Garvey / Kieran Kelleher), is second on nine points from Richard Leonard's Bolero Bandit on 13 points.

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star Photo: Bob Bateman

After a running start from Cage out the harbour to No. 3 buoy the course set by Race Officer Clem McElligott took the fleet on a beat back to Cage and then a harbour course to the finish.

Front runner - The Tingle family's new X-4 Alpaca Photo: Bob Bateman

The Tingle family's new X-4 Alpaca led on the water but in their wake were some real boat to boat battles real between Anthony O'Leary's modified 1720 and Nick Walsh's new 1720 entry Breaking Bad. Likewise, there was a good tussle between the overall leader North Star and the quarter tonner Diamond.

Results are here

Day Five O'Leary Insurances Winter League Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Racing concluded on Sunday in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Laser and Topper Frostbite leagues with races 13,14 and 15 in bright but cold light winds under race officer Maurice Collins. Previous races in the series were overseen by Barry Rose and Rob Foster.

The league started this year with a six-race sprint event on Sunday the 7th which served as both a stand-alone event and the first 6 races in the Frostbite League.

Traditionally the prize-giving would be held at the junior laying up supper however as that has been postponed this year, Rear Admiral Dinghies Annamarie Fagan conducted the prize giving on the club lawn following racing.

Rear Admiral Dinghies Annamarie Fagan, ILCA 4 Winner Mauro G Regueral Noguerol, Laser class Captain Tim Mc Carthy

Sailing in both ILCA 4 and Toppers went right down to the wire with final places changing in both on the last day.

ILCA 4 Runner up Isabel Mc Carthy

The overall winner in ILCA 4 was Mauro G Regueral Noguerol with Isabel Mc Carthy in second and Max Tolan third.

3rd ILCA 4 Max Tolan

Overall Topper gold fleet winner and recipient of the Bill Jones trophy presented by Brian Jones was Rowan MacSweeney with Liam Duggan second and Julie O Neill third. Andrew O'Neill won the silver fleet with Ellen Mc Donagh second and Sean Holmes third.

Royal Cork Topper Frostbite racing

Class captains Maurice Collins (Toppers) and Tim Mc Carthy (Lasers) would like to thank all those that volunteered over the month and during the year in helping both fleets to go racing and most of all to the sailors for such a spirited series.

After four races sailed, Fiona Young's North Star Albin Express has taken the lead in Royal Cork's O’Leary Insurance Winter League.

The Young crew on four points now have a four-point lead over league debutantes Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher sailing their new Quarter Tonner Diamond who had held the lead on IRC for the first three races. 

One point further back is Richard Leonard's Bolero, Bandit.

Scroll down for photo galleries by Afloat's Bob Bateman of the first three races.

As Afloat reported previously, the league is being held ‘all-in’ and under ‘White Sails’ only for the first time.

Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher new Quarter Tonner Diamond

© Afloat.ie

Results are here

2021 O'Leary Winter League Photo Gallery Race 3

2021 O'Leary Winter League Photo Gallery Race 2

2021 O'Leary Winter League Photo Gallery Race 1

Royal Cork Yacht Club’s Admiral Colin Morehead presented the club with a new trophy at the annual Flag Officers’ Dinner. 

The Perpetual Trophy, named "The Tricentennial Trophy," marks the 300-year anniversary and history of the club which occurred last year, As Admiral, Colin Morehead had to defer largescale Tricentenary commemorative plans due to the Covid pandemic.

A Tricentenary Maritime Parade was eventually possible this August and had a fleet of over a hundred yachts to the Naval Base on Haulbowline Island, the original founding location of the club, where the Admiral took the salute. He has been widely complimented for the manner in which he has led the club through the difficult pandemic period when many celebratory anniversary events had to be cancelled.

The “Tricentennial Trophy” will be awarded annually to the person who, in the view of the Club’s Admiral at the time, demonstrates a dedication and commitment to the club and through their hard work ensures that others benefit.

The first recipient of the is Club Archivist  Dr.T. Paul McCarthy.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club has decided to curtail large scale indoor activities at the club premises in Crosshaven due to the current Covid situation.

The ongoing winter sailing/racing programme for cruisers and dinghies is not affected.

Club Admiral Colin Morehead has emailed all members with the decision: “I appreciate that this announcement will disappoint many of you, but assure you that we will keep our decision under constant review as the current situation unfolds. Covid hasn't gone away and indeed in recent weeks has shown a serious increase in infections nationwide.”

He says that the club’s Executive Committee “has been guided by our priority of protecting our members and staff and in this regard have no choice but to curtail large scale indoor activities at the Club. Therefore, I regret to advise that the Admirals Choice dinner scheduled for this Friday is cancelled; the Junior Laying-Up Supper is postponed to the New Year and all other organised social events currently in the calendar until year end are put on hold. The Club Office, Bar & Restaurant will remain open as per scheduled opening hours.”

The annual Members’ Open Forum will take place next Tuesday on Zoom at 7.30 p.m.

This has also been put online because of the Covid situation. The Forum will review all club activities during 2021 and plans for next year will be discussed. Members can raise issues for consideration.

Racing continued on Sunday in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Laser (ILCA) and Topper Frostbite leagues with races 10,11 and 12 in bright but cold 16 knot winds under race officer Barry Rose.

In the ILCA 4 division, all three races were won by Oisín MacSweeney. In the Toppers, Liam Duggan won race 10 and Rowan MacSweeney won races 11 and 12.

The overall leader in ILCA 4 is Isabel Mc Carthy with Mauro G Regueral Noguerol in second and Max Tolan in third.

Overall, the Topper gold fleet is led by Rowan MacSweeney with Liam Duggan second and Julie O'Neill third. Andrew O'Neill is leading the silver fleet with Sean Holmes second and Ellen Mc Donagh third.

The league started this year with a six-race sprint event on Sunday the seventh which served as both a stand-alone event and the first 6 races in the Frostbite League.

A number of the Laser and Topper sailors were sailing in the team racing nationals held in the club on Saturday and Sunday but will be back for next week when the league will conclude on Saturday the 27th of November with 3 more races and prizegiving on the club lawn afterwards.

Last week's three-way points tie in the Royal Cork O’Leary Insurance Winter League as reported by Afloat here was broken in yesterday's third race by league debutantes Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher sailing their new Quarter Tonner Diamond.

Garvey and Kelleher lead on IRC by five points from Dave Lane’s J/24 ‘Ya Gotta Wanna’, (the overall winner of the club’s Autumn Series), who stays second after more breeze for the third race in Cork Harbour.

Four points further back is Richard Leonard's Bolero, Bandit. Scroll down for a photo gallery by Afloat's Bob Bateman

The league is being held ‘all-in’ and under ‘White Sails’ only for the first time.

Yesterday marked the launch of Nick Walsh's new 1720 sportsboat, Breaking Bad, videoed going downwind (below) in her first race racing alongside Anthony O'Leary's custom 1720 Antix Beag.

On the water, the Tingle Family's new X-4 Alpaca led the harbour race that featured Corkbeg buoy and a finish at Cage.

In White Sails ECHO division, Mike Rider's Freya won the race with Cavatina second Photo: Bob Bateman

© Afloat.ie

Results are here

O'Leary Insurance RCYC Winter League Race Three Photo Gallery