Over 250 people with physical, sensory, intellectual and learning disabilities took part each day in a “splashingly” good weekend at the third annual Watersports Inclusion Games in Kinsale writes Treasa Cox

This year’s participants tried out more sports than ever before, with an expanded range including sailing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, rowing, surfing, water skiing and powerboating all on offer. The Games took place at Kinsale Yacht Club in Co Cork on 24th-25th August.

The Watersports Inclusion Games are an award-winning event organised by Irish Sailing with partners from across the watersports sector, that enable people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums to take to the water to participate in a wide range of water activities.

First-time participant Callum O’Mahony from Douglas, Cork, came to the Games with Enable Ireland. He went on a powerboat ride and said “it was great – we went so fast. I definitely want to come back again next time”.

One parent commented: “our daughter has autism. Today we watched her attempt kayaking, paddle boarding, and even skipper a yacht. The atmosphere was beyond inclusive, it restored our faith in humanity”.

Participants ranged in age from pre-teens to seniors and came from across the country. Some are repeat attendees, and some were first timers. The activities were tailored to each participant’s level and ability – so no two experiences were the same.

There were wheelchairs on Stand-Up Paddle Boards, visually impaired participants waterskiing in Kinsale Harbour, thrilling fast-boat rides, and all sorts of sailing.
Organiser Johanne Murphy said: “Irish Sailing promotes sailing as a ‘sport for all, a sport for life’. We believe in inclusion and the elimination of barriers to accessing sport, so that sailing and other watersports can be more readily available to the one in seven (13.5%*) of people in Ireland who have a disability.” (*2016 Census)

The organisers of the Games wanted to let people of all abilities know that there are multiple watersports available to them, and to encourage more people from all backgrounds to get involved and out on the water regardless of ability. They aim to highlight that any barriers faced by people with disabilities can be eliminated.

There are social, health and wellness benefits associated with sailing and all watersports. These include improved muscle strength and endurance, improved cardiovascular fitness and increased agility, enhanced spatial awareness, greater mental wellness through the balancing of serotonin levels and the lowering of stress levels, improved concentration and the forging of positive relationships.

Harry Hermon, CEO of Irish Sailing, added: “This is the third year of the Watersports Inclusion Games and they’re successful because of the many different strands that come together behind a single purpose, to get everyone afloat enjoying and benefitting from watersports. There are at least 11 different organisations involved in the Games – and at least 200 volunteers. Together we want to raise the profile of the Games so that everyone around the country becomes aware that sailing and other watersports are accessible to them, no matter what their circumstances”.

A pursuit race can be a fun thing. Instead of all boats starting together, the goal is for all boats to finish together. So, the slow boats head off first and the fastest last writes Dave O'Sullivan, Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club.

The 40 footers chase the Class 2s, who chase the Dragons who chase the Squibs and, with the witchcraft of mathematics, all boats reach the line at the same time.

A lot of Race Office fingers are crossed.

Bang on the start of the race and the wind changes 180 degrees and we now have a Leeward/Windward course instead of the intended. A potential disaster but the wind steadied and a near-perfect race ensued. A lot of sighs of relief. 

The 1720, number 1601

But, of course, we will remember none of this. We will remember a glorious day of silver seas, blue skies and white puffy clouds. We will remember a beautiful beat to the Bulman Buoy and long spinnaker runs up and down the harbour. We will remember that Bobby Nash & Co. in 1601 had a faultless performance and were the undisputed victors on the day.

Godot - John Godkin & Co

TBD - Matthews Jacob Good

We will remember the generous (seriously generous) sponsorship of the Bulman bar that involves tying up after the race to trays of gourmet seafood and ice buckets full of Heineken. That really is an ‘only in Kinsale’ moment.

And the Race Officers (Mike Walsh & Donal Hayes) will remember their joy when they realised the happenstance of winning boat (1601) reaching the finish line one minute after 4 o’clock.

Results -

1st 1601 - Bobby Nash & Co
2nd TBD - Matthews Jacob Good
3rd Godot - John Godkin & Co

If it’s the first Friday in June then it’s the Bertoletti Trophy Race which is held annually at Kinsale Yacht Club in memory of our esteemed former steward Mario Bertoletti who welcomed one and all to our Club for many years.

The forecasted strong North winds blew and the full tide was at 2100 HRS to get everybody home on time. The sun came out and our Race Officers Denis Kieran and Mary Stanley got the fourteen boat fleet off to a clean downwind start. Spinnakers were flown by the brave to the first mark which came up all too quickly. A long reach to Sandy Cove turned into a fetch at the end with the wind bending off the land. After rounding to port, a quick gybe brought Centre Point on the bow giving the bigger boats a chance to strut their stuff in the ever increasing winds. A long tough beat back into Charles Fort via Bulman satisfied all, both big and small, as the wind stayed very fresh until the fleet had completed the course.

Back in the clubhouse, all 76 participants were on tenterhooks until the computer, wheezing in the back room, produced the results.

1. Flora (Squib) B. Nash & D. Ross
2. Valfreys (Sigma 33) D. Riome
3. Godot (Dufour 44) J. Godkin
4. Cirrus (Elan 31) G. & M. Campbell (Shorthanded)

The Bertoletti Race is the first of four “all in” races held on Friday evenings during the season.

The overall winners will receive the Matthews Trophy.

Full results on KYC.ie

A Kinsale Yacht Club crew is reported safe after being rescued 80 miles off the coast of northwest Spain last night.

The Cork yacht 'Loa Zour', a Bavaria 40 type, under skipper Ger Grant departed Kinsale bound for La Coruna on June Bank Holiday Monday but appears ran into difficulties and were rescued by Galician Search and rescue teams last night.

KYC Commodore Dave O'Sullivan says he is relieved to hear this morning that all five crew are safe and he understands that they spent the night ashore in a Spanish hotel.

O'Sullivan described the crew and skipper as 'very experienced' and that they have 'extensive cruising experience'. He also said the boat was 'very well equipped' for such a voyage.

Northwest Spain has been experiencing strong winds during Storm Miguel.

With the Kinsale Yacht Club Fastnet Race safety inspection (WS Cat 3 with Liferaft) and last minute, adjustments complete, the ten boat fleet lined up for a 1400 HRS start last Saturday writes Dave O'Sullivan. It was a tough beat into a 24-knot breeze tacking in and out of the bays along the West Cork coastline to an all but invisible Fastnet Rock shrouded in mist.

Conor Doyle's Freya rounded at 2330 HRS with EOS next at 0102 HRS followed by Finbarr O’Regan's Artful Dodger at 0215 HRS.

The offwind leg back to Kinsale involved many gybes as boats sought the advantage by playing the angles and dodging the westbound tide.

Freya finished at 0604 HRS followed by EOS at 0750 HRS and Artful Dodger at 0912 HRS. Waterford visitor the Albin Ballad Seven Whistler sailed brilliantly and finished at 1136 HRS.

Kinsale Marina was a sleepy place on Sunday afternoon with all the worn out sailors catching up on lost sleep.

The results, announced Wednesday evening after sailing, are as follows -

1. EOS (C. McCarthy) KYC - Minihan Trophy
2. Seven Whistler (R. Wubben) WHSC - Fastnet Trophy (for Visitors)
3. 3. Artful Dodger (C. O’Regan) KYC
4. Cara (F. Doyle) RCYC
5. Freya (C. Doyle) KYC
6. Flyover (D. Marchant) WHSC
7. Siboney (J. Stallard) KYC
8. Chancer (R.Carroll) KYC
9. Blue Oyster (D. Coleman) SHSC 
10.  Reavra Too (S. Lysaght) KYC

Minister for State at the Department of Health Jim Daly launched the Watersports Inclusion Games 2019 at Kinsale Yacht Club writes Bob Bateman. The event, set to take place in Kinsale harbour and environs on 24th and 25th August, is a landmark event celebrating watersports for people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums, and of all ages and demographics. The games were launched with Bryan Dobson of RTE as Master of Ceremonies together with Event Ambassadors; 11 time Paralympian Sailor John Twomey, World Para-Sailor Gina Griffin, along with Special Olympian Kayaker Oisin Feery.

Following the overwhelming success of the event in Dun Laoghaire 2017 and Galway 2018 (scooping Project of the Year at the 2018 CARA National Inclusion Awards), this year’s event, hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club, will take place at several locations around Kinsale including the main harbour and marina, Castlepark beach and Garretstown beach. There will be sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, surfing, water skiing and fast boat rides on offer and 200+ participants are expected to take part across the weekend.

The games were launched with Bryan Dobson of RTE as Master of Ceremonies together with Event Ambassadors; 11 time Paralympian Sailor John Twomey, World Para-Sailor Gina Griffin, along with Special Olympian Kayaker Oisin Feery Photo: Bob Bateman

This is a national event which aims to showcase the best of Irish inclusive watersports practice and facilitation and is organised by Irish Sailing in association with Canoeing Ireland, Rowing Ireland and Cork Local Sports Partnership along with Kinsale Yacht Club Sailability and Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre. The event is supported with activities by Spinal Injuries Ireland, Irish Waterski and Wakeboard Federation and Surf 2 Heal, in addition to those of the National Governing Bodies involved. Offering further support are numerous local and national organisations including Sailing into Wellness, Sail Training Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, and clubs and training centres from around the country who will support the event with resources, volunteers, instructors and facilitators.

The games, as a landmark occasion rounding up the summer watersports calendar, is the product of ongoing inclusion trainings and awareness drives being activated by the organising bodies in line with Sport Ireland’s Policy on Participation in sport by People with Disabilities and is enabled by grant funding from Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Sports Inclusion Fund.

Speaking at the launch, 11 time Paralympian John Twomey said: ’I am delighted to be here to help launch the third annual Watersports Inclusion Games. It is events such as this, that will help to inspire people of all abilities to take part in watersports activity and perhaps even one day compete for Ireland in Paralympic sport.’

Harry Hermon, Chief Executive of Irish Sailing spoke at the launch, stating: ‘Now in its third year, the Inclusion Games is already becoming an annual landmark occasion, celebrating inclusive watersports activity. By raising national awareness of inclusive opportunities, and encouraging more watersports providers to adopt an equal-access approach to watersports delivery, we aim to perpetuate a culture of inclusive best-practice throughout watersports.’

Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

‘O, to be in Kinsale Now that April's there’ to paraphrase the poet. A true wind, a flat sea and a warm sun reminded the combined fleet of the Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series of the reason we love to race sailboats writes Dave O'Sullivan.

Race Officer Donal Hayes took hold of the opportunity and laid two tough courses stretching the width of the outer harbour from Preghane to Hole Open. Long hard beats were followed by giddy kite rides and all accompanied by the smell of Factor 50.

Starts were hard fought and praise must go to the nerves of the committee boat, White Tiger, who looked like they were to be joined in the cockpit by Finny O’Regan’s ‘Artful Dodger’ and crew. But it was one of those days where bad things didn’t happen and with the briefest kiss she was gone.

The big boys of racing stayed in last week’s position with Nieulargo leading Jump Juice leading Meridian.

Freya in upwind mode. Photo: Donal Hayes

Another victory for the RCYC in class 1 with Bad Company winning both handicaps. A boat for the future here is surely Brian Jones’ Jelly Baby. She loved today’s conditions and landed two bullets with time to spare.

Again a popular victory in both Class 2 categories, with Waterford sailors Fulmar Fever and Flyover edging past local favourites ‘Diamond’ with the sponsor James Matthews at the helm.

No waiting for Godot in the white sail fleet as she romped home without any real competition. When a boats discard is a second place, you know they are good.

It’s back to club racing now in KYC and the next big event in the cruisers calendar is the Fastnet race on Saturday 25th May and of course the Sovereigns Cup 26th/29th June. And, if today is anything to go by, it is time to buy shares in Factor 50.

Overall results of the Matthews Helly Hansen Spring Series.

Class Zero IRC & ECHO

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy

2. Jump Juice - C. Phelan

3. Meridian - T. Roche

Class One IRC

1. Bad Company - F. Desmond

2. Justus - D. Buckley

2. Coracle VI - K. Collins

Class One ECHO

1. Bad Company - F. Desmond

2. Justus - D. Buckley

2. Jelly Baby - K. Collins

Class Two IRC

1. Flyover - D. Marchant

2. Diamond - J. Matthews

3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

Class Two ECHO

1. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

2. Diamond - J. Matthews

3. Flyover - D. Marchant

White Sail IRC & ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin

2. Gunsmoke II - S. Cohen

3. Miss Charlie - P. Beckett

Kinsale in the summertime…..If you set out to create the dream harbour as the perfect location for a regatta which captures the essence of the many pleasures of sailing and racing on Ireland’s south coast, then you’d end up with somewhere very like Kinsale writes W M Nixon. The characterful and hospitable old town climbs picturesquely above the bustling facilities-blessed waterfront, complete with its friendly yacht club. It makes for the ideal setting for the biennial Sovereign’s Cup, sponsored again by O’Leary Life, with the dates for 2019 being Wednesday June 26th to Saturday June 29th).

The impressive larger craft at the head of the cruiser-racer divisions inevitably draw the eye, with a distinct X-factor at the top of the fleet where Conor Doyle’s impressive XP 50 Freya will sail for the honour of the home fleet against such challengers as George Sisk’s new-acquired XP 44 WOW from Dun Laoghaire, and Robert Rendell’s XC 45 Samatoma from Howth - all of them electing to race with the Coastal Fleet.

X-Yachts of Denmark have a good track record at the Sovereign's, as main trophy winners in times past such as the Gore-Grimes family’s X-302 Dux from Howth will be very much in the fray, in against craft like D-Tox and Alpaca in 2019, while their club mates from the north Dublin port’s noted Half Ton Classics flotilla will be strongly represented, as will the popular J/109s from several different ports.

For those who prefer their racing at a slightly less high-powered level, the attractive racing waters between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Sovereign’s Islands off Oysterhaven will be the location for the White Sail Fleet, while nearby the race areas of the International Dragons and the International 1720s will be seeing some very intense sport.

In its early years, the Sovereign’s Cup was very much a cruiser-racer event. But the revival in popularity of the 1702 Sportsboats - and this year’s 90th Anniversary of the ever-young International Dragons - makes the addition of these rather special One-Designs seem like an appropriate and invigorating spicing-up of the Sovereign’s Cup 2019.

Early Bird 2 Closing date is April 26th so enter here

"Men Plan, God Laughs", a proverb well illustrated this afternoon in Kinsale when the elements stole away a racing mark and forced RO Donal Hayes to abandon the race and start all over in the Kinsale Yacht Club Matthews Helly Hansen sponsored Spring Series writes Dave O'Sullivan.

The four classes returned to the start line as a substitute mark was laid and the day resumed. Winds were considerably stronger than forecast and the Eastern direction made conditions quite challenging but the Spring sunshine made it a thoroughly enjoyable outing.

Scroll down for photo gallery by Bob Bateman below

In Conor Phelan's absence, Prof O'Connell skippered Jump Juice Photo: Bob Bateman

Class 0 and 1 saw the honours go to Jump Juice and Jelly Baby, respectively, on both IRC and Echo. James Matthews (event sponsor) was first in Class 2 (IRC and Echo) and the stalwarts on Godot romped home in both handicaps in White Sails. Godkin & Co. now have three bullets and look pretty unassailable in White Sails. James Matthews and Co. appear to have class 2 wrapped.

Conditions were glorious - 10-12 knots of southeasterly breeze and sunshine Photo: Bob Bateman

Zero and 1 are still anybody’s to win with two races left.

If you are planning on winning it is well worth remembering, Men Plan, God Laughs.

All to plan for next week with first gun at 1155 HRS.

Overall Positions...

Class Zero IRC & ECHO

1. Nieulargo - D. Murphy
2. Jump Juice - C Phelan
3. Freya - C. Doyle

Class One IRC & ECHO

1. Justus - D. Buckley
2. Coracle VI - K. Collins
3. Bad Company - F. Desmond

Class Two IRC & ECHO

1. Diamond - J. Matthews
2. Flyover - D. Marchant
3. Fulmar Fever - R. Marchant

White Sail IRC & ECHO

1. Godot - J. Godkin
2. Gunsmoke II - S. Cohen
3. Miss Charlie - P. Beckett

East and South East winds gusting to over 40-knots led to the cancellation of this morning's third round of Kinsale Yacht Club's Mathews Centre Spring cruiser League where Denis Murphy's Nieulargo (pictured above) leads class one in IRC and ECHO divisions in a combined 26-boat fleet. 

Racing is scheduled again for next weekend. Read Afloat.ie's race reports here.