#royalcork – Ireland's Royal Cork Yacht Club is among returning Invitational Cup competitors to Newport, Rhode Island taking aim at two-time Champs from The Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Of the 19 yacht clubs, from 11 countries, that will gather September 12 to 19 at the New York Yacht Club at Harbour Court for the fourth New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex, only one is making its debut appearance. A third of the clubs will be competing in the premiere Corinthian big boat competition for the fourth time including Ireland under the captaincy of Commodore's Cup winning skipper Anthony O'Leary from Crosshaven.

"The number of clubs asking to return is the best indication that the New York Yacht Club's initial vision of a global yacht club championship for amateur sailors has come to fruition, in spades, with this event. " says NYYC Commodore Rives Potts. "It also means the fourth edition of the Invitational Cup will be the most competitive ever, as all but one of the teams competing have seen first-hand what it takes to succeed."

With a second in the inaugural event in 2009 and then wins in 2011 and 2013, the team from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, Canada, led by former America's Cup helmsman and Olympic medalist Terry McLaughlin, has set the standard for success in this event. But the Canadian crew was pushed to the wire in 2013 by teams from Larchmont (N.Y.) Yacht Club and England's Royal Thames Yacht Club.

"In 2013, we almost sailed ourselves out of the regatta on the first day," says McLaughlin. "More and more teams are taking time to practice in the Swan 42. I have heard about some teams taking their preparation to a higher level for 2015.

"The NYYC Invitational Cup is a very unique event," he continues. "The regatta is run extremely well both on and off the water. It gives us a great opportunity to see sailing friends from many different countries that we haven't seen in many years and also to meet new international friends."

One of the reasons the Invitational Cup is such an popular competition is that it is one of the truest one-design regattas for large boats. The New York Yacht Club Swan 42s used for the regatta are identical, all built by the Nautor boatyard in Finland. But the Invitational Cup goes further than a traditional one-design event. The sails and running rigging are provided, ensuring no team has an equipment edge. Additionally the boats are identically equipped and the rigging tension is standardized throughout the fleet.

As a result, the racing is extremely close; it's not unusual to see the entire fleet round the first mark tip to tail. Mistakes, especially during the start, on the first leg or while rounding a mark, can be extremely costly. And few teams are ever truly out of a race.

As tense as the competition can be on the water, ashore it's a celebration of a shared passion for yachting. The New York Yacht Club, along with presenting sponsor Rolex and other regatta partners, aims to provide the sailors and their friends and family, with a unique, first-class social experience. Each day after racing, competitors gather on the lawn of Harbour Court to renew old acquaintances, make new ones and relive the day's action.

The regatta also prides itself on its comprehensive media plan. In 2015, this will include daily videos, live regatta coverage and an active social media presence. "We're always pleasantly surprised at the number of people from each participating club that follow this event in real time, no matter what hour it is at home," says event chairperson Patti Young. "This year we plan to give them—and any sailing fan interested in top amateur competition—even more reason to tune in."

Competing Teams, 2015 New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex: Eastern Yacht Club (Marblehead, Mass.), Itchenor Sailing Club (GBR), Japan Sailing Federation, Middle Harbour Yacht Club* (AUS), New York Yacht Club, Newport Harbor (Calif.) Yacht Club, Real Club Nautico de Barcelona (ESP), The Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL), Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (CHN), The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (AUS), Royal Southern Yacht Club (GBR), Royal Swedish Yacht Club, Royal Thames Yacht Club (GBR), Royal Yacht Squadron (GBR), Seattle Yacht Club, Yacht Club Argentino (ARG), Yacht Club Capri (ITA) and Yacht Club Italiano (ITA).
*First-time Invitational Cup Competitor

#royalcork – Following the final race of the CH Marine Autumn league series on Saturday, sponsor Nick Bendon presented the prizes for the Cork Harbour cruiser event. The prize giving dinner proved to be a total sell out, a resounding success, and a great end to the Autumn series. Scroll down for more presentation photos.

#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.

#rorc – In a show of early season strength, Irish IRC champion Antix has won RORC's Easter Challenge regatta on the Solent. Anthony O'Leary's Royal Cork team on the Ker 39 was the class act of the regatta posting a 1-2-1-1, to finish 9.5 points ahead of James Gair's Cowes Race School crew on Zero II, the only boat in IRC One, to claim a point off the Irish former Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup winners today.

Blistering sunshine, great visibility and a stiff, consistent breeze - sadly none of this featured on the final day of racing at the RORC Easter Challenge. As a slow moving front passed overhead, the Solent received a relentless deluge with the visibility dropping off enough to make it hard to see the weather mark. Conditions then deteriorated further with the deluge becoming a torrent, many crews turning on their yachts' navigation lights, despite it being lunchtime. Nonetheless, the wind held during the day allowing PRO Stuart Childerley and the RORC race management team to lay on four races in the central/eastern Solent.

"We have got good upwind speed in our fleet," observed tactician David Lenz. "In IRC One there is a big mixture of boats - some like Tokoloshe get up and go downwind. Some days will suit them and some days won't."

Lenz said that Antix's crew had benefitted this weekend from the coaching laid on by Jim Saltonstall, his colleagues and, from across the pond, the North U Regatta Services team of Andreas Josenhans and Chuck Allen. "They helped us with our starts and we are able to hold a lane for a good few minutes, even though it is hard against the faster boats. But we had good speed - high and fast, so we were able to mix it with the big boats."

Finishing in sixth place in IRC One was Ed Broadway's black Ker 40, Hooligan VII. "We did better today because we like a bit more wind," said Broadway. "Apart from the weather it was very exciting racing - particularly the last race where Baraka and us finished within a boat length of one another, under kite - a final high"

This is the Hooligan team's second season in their boat, and the crew is currently gunning to get selected for the British team in this summer's Brewin Dolphin Commodore's Cup.

Also scoring three bullets today was Peter Morton's new Salvo, the JND35, raced previously as the French-owned Gaia of Bernard Moureau. However this performance in IRC Two was not enough to topple Simon Henning's Mumm 36, Alice.

"It wasn't the most pleasant conditions, but at least there was breeze and they did really well to get four races in," said Mike Henning, the Alice owner's son, who was racing on board.

While Alice has been in the Henning family since 1996, over the winter it has been modified with a new rig featuring swept-back spreaders and increased sail, that has also shed its runners and overlapping jib. This is the first major IRC regatta the boat has done since these modifications. "We had some discussions with Mark Mills, who was involved in the mods," continued Mike. "We have got more optimisations that can be done, but we are quite pleased with it so far."

A third boat to score three bullets in today's four rainy races was David Franks' former IRC Nationals winning JPK 10.10, Strait Dealer, that ended up claiming IRC Three ahead of Benoit D'Halluin's A-35 Dunkerque Plaisance - Gill Racing Team.

This was the Strait Dealer crew's first 2014 outing on their boat and Franks said that the RORC Easter Challenge had provided a good warm-up. "We started a bit slow, but we got faster. The Easter Challenge is a lovely warm-up for the season and it has a nice feel to it. This year it was rainy, but we had the wind and the Race Committee did a good job with some pretty big shifts to deal with."

After being the dominant force of the first two days of the RORC Easter Challenge, Louise Morton's crew on their Quarter Tonner Espada, had an off-day while Ian Braham's Parkstone Yacht Club team on their 22 year old MG 346 Haven Knox Johnston Enigma, was another to score three wins in four races, causing them to close to within 1.5 points of Espada.

"We had a great day - there was a little bit more wind, which suits us," said Braham. "We struggled a bit on the first two days with the Quarter Tonners that are really quick in the light stuff. We are a bit heavier and today that allowed us to stretch our legs and get going a bit."
Braham said that this was the first RORC Easter Challenge they have sailed in about six years and they enjoyed the training being laid on. "We went to the post-race briefings and there was some interesting things that we learned particularly about starting which we were applying today and yesterday."

RORC CEO Eddie Warden Owen, who was also part of the coaching team for the Easter Challenge, felt the regatta had gone well, even though today's conditions were miserable. "The wind was challenging for the new race officer Stuart Childerley and his team. But they did a very good job and I think everyone has had a great time.

"This is a regatta where there's training with racing and we fully appreciate North Sails for their support in bringing two very good technical guys from America to help with the setting up of the boats. Everyone has appreciated that and I think the general standard has risen. I really believe that this Easter weekend should be much bigger."

Full results here

#teamracing – A two boat team representing the Royal Cork, and skippered by Frederick Cudmore & George Kingston, finished a credible 4th at last weekend's prestigious Monaco 2K Team Racing Invitational.

The Royal Cork were joined by 7 other 2-boat teams representing their clubs in this new discipline of team racing. '2K' (2 Keelboats) racing is a form of team racing where two boats sail against an opposing set, around a short and exciting course. The event was sailed in J24s and the competition featured America's Cup sailors, as well as experienced match racing teams.

A high pressure system over Monte Carlo ensured blue skies, but not much wind for Day 1. The majority of the action took place on the Sunday with 10-15kts and lots of very close racing.

The sailors completed one full round robin and saw the team from Costa Smeralda Yacht Club (ITA) setting the pace. The Royal Cork got off to a slow start with a narrow loss to the GBR 'Spinnaker Team'. RCYC then managed to defeat the Bavarian Yacht Club, The Yacht Club de Monaco team, and took a great win against Team GBR Serpentine/Royal Thames Yacht Club after an intense 4 boat jibing duel on the final downwind. Royal Cork then had an unfortunate gear breakage while in a race winning combination against the Dutch Match Racing Association entry that cost them a race, and ultimately, a podium position. Team Smeralda were the worthy winners and their experience as a team really paid off.

The event was a great success both on and off the water with Yacht Club de Monaco providing fantastic hospitality. There was champagne sailing, and the stunning backdrop of such an iconic and beautiful part of the world was unforgettable.

Plans are in place to keep in touch with our various club contacts at Y.C de Monaco, and proudly represent the Royal Cork at the 2015 event.

The next stop for the 2K Circuit is Rome, in late May, with the Royal Cork team gunning for a podium position.

The 2014 Royal Cork Team:
Frederick Cudmore (Skipper)
George Kingston (Skipper)
Ian Mcnamee
Sarah O'Leary
Emma Geary
Eimear O'Leary
Seán Cotter
Philip O'Leary

2014 Teams:
Spinnaker Auspicious (GBR)
Costa Smeralda Yacht Club (ITA)
Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL)
Serpentine Sailing Royal Thames Yacht Club (GBR)
Bavarian Yacht Club (GER/AUS)
Dutch Match Racing Association (DUT)
Yacht Club de Monaco (MON)
Rome Racing Team (ITA

The ISAF Women's Match Racing Worlds Circuit arrives in Cork Harbour from June 3rd to 8th, 2014 and will be hosted by Royal Cork Yacht Club writes Claire Bateman.

What a prospect both exciting and daunting lies ahead for Royal Cork Yacht Club, organisers of the prestigious Women's Match Racing Worlds June 3rd to 8th, 2014. Not that the club is any stranger to such events having hosted the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final in September 2006 with huge success and also the European leg of the ISAF Match racing circuit in the nineties. The event is part of the tour for the Women's International match Racing Association (www.wimra.org) 

Match Racing is one of the more intensely exciting forms of racing and the pace never slows. Race Officers tasked with the running of racing for the sixteen teams in this event are Peter Crowley (IRO) assisted by Alan Crosbie (IRO) who incidentally also officiated at the 2006 Nations Cup Grand Final. The event is being run in the Sailfleet J80's. It will certainly be nice to see these boats back in Cork.

Numerous detailed site inspections and high level consultations took place before Cork was chosen ahead of all other venues such as such as Long Beach California to host the competition. Both Cork County Council and the Port of Cork have agreed to be joint title sponsors of the world rated event.

The planned sailing in the waters of Cork Harbour, close to shore and under Camden Fort Meagher, offers unrivalled viewing to the competitors' families, friends, supporters and general public, who can also avail of the magnificent facilities at the refurbished historic fort to enjoy close up viewing of the competition.

The ISAF Women's Match Racing Worlds is an annual event that was first held in Genoa in 1999. Sailors are invited to attend based on their world ranking. Invitations will be issued by ISAF and the organising authority in February based on world rankings at that time. The 2013 Match Racing Worlds took place in Busan, Korea where 2012 Spanish Olympic Gold Medalist Tamara Echegoyen took the 2013 world match racing title.

Of course the event will also have a lighter side and an excellent entertainment plane is in place. On Friday, June 6th, a unique event is planned for the city. It is planned to hold a "Sailing in the City" day on the river in front of Kennedy Quay. An event will be held on the city quays followed by an early evening entertainment programme. This will provide the people of Cork with a wonderful opportunity to see and meet Olympic standard sailors close up and bring unparalleled top notch racing into the heart of the city. There is a match race planned for the sailors (watch out for fun on the river) and also an exhibition race where local schoolchildren could have the opportunity of sailing with these unrivalled top quality sportswomen.

The Women's Match Racing Worlds is a world sailing event of the highest calibre and is an opportunity for everybody to come to Crosshaven and enjoy the carnival atmosphere of the village for the event and experience a feast of intense sailing viewing from the world ranking surrounds of the magnificent Camden Fort Meagher.

#optimist – The CH Marine Irish Optimist National and Open Championships 2014 preparations are well underway and the team at the Royal Cork Yacht Club are making plans for this exciting event due to be held in the Harbour in August. T

At the launch of the event Pat Lyons, Admiral welcomed the annoucement and commented that "the Royal Cork Yacht Club has a long tradition of hosting large sailing events and will be delighted to welcome the Optimist sailors to our Club. We are sure they will enjoy our facilities, our hospitality and top class race management".

Rob Foster, Optimist Class Captain commented that without a strong team of volunteers and sponsorship that we could not host such an event. He thanked CH Marine for their generous support. He also asked that all participants support the sponsors before, during and after the event.

Nick Bendon, Managing Director of CH Marine stated they were delighted to be associated with an event run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club and it's very large Optimist Class.

There will be a 4 day racing programme running from Thursday to Sunday (14th -17th August 2014). As with all IODAI events fleets will include Regatta, Junior and Senior.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club is keen to welcome not only Irish but international visitors and already has interest expressed by sailors from as far away as Monaco.

#rcyc –The November/December O'Leary Insurance Group League in underway at Royal Cork writes Claire Bateman. It was very noticeable on the way to Crosshaven today that the leaves on the trees had suddenly decided to become a glorious riot of colour and definitely were marking the passing of Autumn to winter.

Today's race was a light airs start in a westerly breeze and race officers Dave Kearney and Dave Coveney decided on sending the fleet to No. 6 Port, 7 Port, 13 Starboard, 9 Starboard, Cage Starboard, 7 starboard and then to take Cage to Starboard to finish. Obviously the intention was that after No. 9 if they wanted to shorten the course they could do so.

As the fleet made its way under Fort Camden Meagher it was met with a flood tide coming in the harbour and in the light breeze with the fleet trying to round the mark all bunched together, there was a little bit of bumpers being played out of which the least said the better!!

During the racing the wind filled in towards the end but had swung to a more south westerly direction giving more reaching on the course than had been intended'

However, it turned out to be Conor Phelan's day in Jump Juice taking the IRC win on the day but, after three races to date, it is still the Martin Darrer/Colman Garvey True Pennance that holds the lead while Denis Murphy's Aquatack is lying second at the halfway stage in the league. In second place today was Judy McGrath sailing the Impala Bonanza.

In the Progressive Handicap All In Kieran and Liz O'Brien's Magnet leads the way with True Pennance second and Pat Vaughan's Aranis in third place.

Racing will continue next Sunday with FG 12.25

#Two short sharp races in Narragansett Bay produced some thrilling action, as the 2013 New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup passed the halfway stage. The wind speed settled in at about 12 to 15 knots from the south, but there were several shifts during the day. The narrow confines of the race area, in the East Passage between Gould Island and Prudence Island, meant that the fleet was very much bunched together. Picking the lifting tacks and gybes, as well as staying out of traffic and trouble, rewarded the smarter teams today.

After seven races there was a swing at the top of the leader board, but it was only temporary. The overnight leader, Larchmont (N.Y.) YC kept their lead after Race 6 but technical issues forced the American team to retire from Race 7, the resulting DNS dropping them to fifth. However, after redress was given, Larchmont YC was given average points for the race (4.8 as of the end of racing today). For now, Larchmont YC are now tied for the lead with the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club put in another outstanding day on the water, scoring two more bullets, but it wasn't easy for the team from Ontario, the last race went to a photo-finish with Seattle YC. After a jibing duel to the finish, both yachts crossed the line virtually in tandem but the win was given to Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Seattle Yacht Club had their best day of the regatta, scoring two podium finishes to climb up seven places to 4th. The British team from the Royal Thames Yacht Club, posted a 2nd and a 4th today, to leap up the leader board to third.

The young crew from the Royal Thames Yacht Club includes husband and wife, Katie and Johnny Greenland, who have sailed the last three editions of the Invitational Cup. "The standard at this regatta just keeps going up." said Johnny Greenland. "There are very few boats making mistakes, and the quality of the competition is very deep. It is not just the top tier that is in contention, the vast majority of the fleet are all capable of putting in the results, there are some terrific amateur sailors here and the fact that we are all Corinthians really adds to the atmosphere. A lot of the teams have brought along friends and family, and it is not just the 11 crew that are having a great time, the New York Yacht Club really know how to look after their guests. It is a pleasure to be here."

Bruce Foye, skipper of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia entry, has competed in many Rolex Sydney Hobart Races. The team from Sydney had a good day on the water, scoring their best results of the regatta.

"We have come a long way, and it feels like a dream to come here." said Foye. "To sail in these waters, against international yacht clubs and represent the CYCA is something that we feel very honored to do. The crew have done a few Sydney Hobarts, well over 100 in total. The history of our yacht club is in offshore sailing, but recently we have competed in more inshore regattas in our own one-design Sydney 38s. The standard of sailing at this regatta is very strong and we took a couple of days to understand how to get these boats going, but we had a much more success today. We have come here to compete, but the average age of our crew is 50 and competing against the younger guys on short courses is difficult/ We have come to Newport to sail within the spirit of the event and enjoy the atmosphere and we love it here. I am looking forward to the lobster supper tonight and I will see how they compare with our Hobart Crayfish."

Results here

#laser – Finn Lynch proved his ISAF silver medal status again at the weekend fighting off a significant internatiional challenge for the Irish Laser Radial title at Royal Cork Yacht Club. The National Yacht Club's Lynch counted only one result outside the top ten in the 79–boat fleet ending up seven points clear at the top of his 79–boat fleet, the only Irish boat in the top five. Results downloadable below as a jpeg file. Second was Australian Tristan Brown. Britain's Jon Emett from Weir Wood Sailing Club was third. Lynch's victory comes after a summer of international competition including the Under 21 World Championships in Hungary. 

Olympic campaigner Annalise Murphy, who has just returned from a three week training stint at the Olympic venue in Rio de Janerio, finished seventh overall and tweeted afterwards: "finished nationals @royalcork, good practice for euros next week! I hope to do a better job then I did this weekend!

The Vodafone sponsored Irish event at Royal Cork with a total entry of 160–boats had the added spice of international competition due to the fact it is a forerunner to this weekend's Laser European Championships on Dublin Bay.

In the Standard rig, Chirs Penney from East Antrim Boat Club took the overall win. Rush Sailing Club's Alan Ruigrok was second. Russian entry Maxim Nikolaev was third in the 36–boat fleet.Results downloadable below as a jpeg file.

East Antrim's Chris Penney won the Standard Division. Chris's father Stephen, in 11th place, won the Masters division. Photo: Bob Bateman

In the Laser 4.7 rig, Daniel Raymond of the National Yacht Club was the overall winner from club mate Nicole Hemeryck. 38 competed. Results downloadable below as a jpeg file.