#corkharbour  – Camden Fort Meagher, an historic fort in Cork Harbour will headquarter June's International Sailing event for women hosted by Royal Cork Yacht Club it was announced yesterday. An Irish team for the event has yet to be anounced due to late changes in the selection process. 

Sixteen international teams are expected to travel and compete and will include some of the world's highest ranking sailors and potential Olympians. Entries to date have been received from New Zealand, United States, Denmark, France and the Netherlands. As Afloat reported earlier the event will also be the first stage of the Women's International match Racing Association tour.

Sponsored by Cork County Council and the Port of Cork, the World Match Racing Championship for Women is one of the world's highest calibre sporting events. 

Cork Harbour renowned for its sailing throughout the world, is hosting this event directly under Camden Fort Meagher, which offers unrivalled viewing to competitors, their families, friends, supporters and general public.

Camden Fort Meagher will be the Event Head Quarters for this international sailing event. This will be a first for the fort. Paul Brierley, project coordinator for Camden Fort Meagher said "we are delighted to be part of this world event, which will allow competitors and spectators to enjoy the wonderful ambience of this historic fort and an ariel view of the racing from its spectacular deck". Royal Cork Yacht Club Admiral, Pat Lyons, explains that "Cork and the Royal Cork Yacht Club were chosen over other locations, such as Long Beach California". "This speaks volumes" he said, "of the commitment and expertise we have in the yacht club and in Crosshaven to be chosen to host such a prominent event here in Cork Harbour".

However not all the sailing will take place in the harbour from the 3rd to 8th of June. On 6th of June the River Lee will play host to a one day event, which will bring the international sailing competition into the heart of Cork City for everyone to enjoy.

Cork County Council and the Port of Cork have come together as Joint Title Sponsors to support this prestigious international sailing even. In recent times both Cork County Council and Port of Cork have invested heavily in the harbour area; promoting sailing and other water based activities to aid development of the harbour. Cork's natural harbour is not only a place to do business, but an attractive tourist destination which offers so much to visitors.

Event Chairman, Ronan Enright, comments "We are delighted with the support that has been shown by our sponsors Cork County Council and the Port of Cork. This sponsorship is not only promoting women's sailing, it is also providing a once in a life time experience within the unique setting of Camden Fort Meagher to both competitors and spectators"

#rcyc – Weather obliged beautifully for PY 500 making a perfect Sunday morning event at Royal Cork Yacht Club writes Claire Bateman. And what a magnificent spectacle the PY500 (Portsmouth Yardstick) race turned out to be. The sun was shining and there was a Westerly breeze of some 15 knots lightening slowly during the race. The course was Windward/Leeward around laid marks and consisting of seven rounds.

The event consisted of a mixed dinghy race for vessels holding a PY Handicap of 700-1320. Results are downloadable below as a jpeg file.

Due to the thirty one boats participating and the different speeds involved there were officials in position at each mark to record each competitor rounding for each of the seven rounds. Due to the location of the course up and down the river outside the club magnificent spectator viewing was provided for the large numbers present.

There were many boats from different classes represented and they certainly provided spectacular viewing.

The representatives were from National 18s, 505's, RS 400, RS 200, a lone Finn, Fevas, Fireflies, Lasers of all rig types, a Rankin and the star of the show, a 29er that charged around the course showing such style with a fluorescent orange Gennaker. Spotted sailing his RS 200 with his wife Heather was Sean Craig from the RstGYC. Also sailing from the RCYC's own club boats were 2 Topaz, one Magno and one Omega.

In between all this flying action there were Optimsts, 420s and 1720s all setting out for training and all in all there was a tremendous buzz in the club.

Sean and Heather Craig travelled from Dun Laoghaire for Royal Cork's PY 500. More photos by Bob Bateman below.

It must have made interesting and delightful viewing in the lovely conditions for the members and friends arriving for Sunday lunch at the Club's Globe Restaurant.

All credit due to the organisers and so obviously successful and enjoyable they might consider a repeat performance.

#CorkHarbour - 24 April is the date set for a decision on the clean-up of the toxic waste site on Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour, as RTÉ News reports.

The news comes at the conclusion of the oral hearing into proposals for the former Irish Steel/Ispat plant, for which the only submission received was from the applicant Cork City Council.

The hearing was told by risk consultants representing the council that the site in its present state no immediate or long-term risk to the community at large.

However, Dr Cecilia MacLeod of consultants WYG echoed the concerns of local councillors last month over breaches in the embankments around the toxic dump, which contains some half a million tonnes of waste, when she said the site remains a health risk to the locality.

Plans for the site currently involve landscaping the area, with a perimeter wall to prevent leaching of potentially hazardous or carcinogenic matter.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

#corkharbour – The building at Cobh Railway Station is currently undergoing renovation with the intention of opening the premises as a dual operation, offering tourism information on Cork City and County to visitors, in particularly cruise passengers, and as a vibrant exhibition space. A new company 'Cobh Maritime Development Company Ltd' has formed to manage and develop this building and consists of directors from the Port of Cork, Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh Tourism, SECAD, Cobh & Harbour Chamber, Cobh Town Council and Cork City Council. Their main aim is to develop and promote the potential of Cobh, East Cork, Cork City and Cork Harbour as an area of significant tourism, maritime, historical and economic importance.

South and East Cork Area Development Ltd. (SECAD) is grant aiding the renovation of the building through the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 supported through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the National Development Plan. The project will cost in the region of €150,000 and it is anticipated to have the building open for the commencement of the cruise season in April 2014.

The building currently being converted is a protected structure owned by CIE Properties, which forms part of the Cobh Railway Station Facility and which underwent a major upgrade in recent years. CIE Properties have enthusiastically welcomed the approach to utilise the available space and a long term lease agreement between Cobh Maritime Development Company Ltd and CIE Properties has been agreed. The facility will be managed by Cobh Maritime Development Company Ltd as a not-for-profit facility which will serve to promote and complement existing tourism, economic and community activity in the Cork Harbour Area. It is envisaged the building will open throughout the year and will capitalise on the increased footfall from cruise passengers from April to November each year. The building will also be used to accommodate cruise passengers who are either embarking or disembarking from a cruise ship. Cobh Maritime Development Company Ltd, together with SECAD, hopes to employ two or three staff through the Tus community employment scheme.

Announcing the details of the project, Cobh Maritime Development Company Ltd Chairman, Captain Michael McCarthy said: "This is a very exciting project for the Cobh and Cork region which will see a disused building turned into a tourism information hub and a space for exhibitions. The railway station already has a high footfall during the summer months when cruise liners are in Cobh and this building will offer passengers a place to absorb what the region has to offer either before or after a trip by train to Cork City."
He continued: "Our aim is to complement other venues in Cobh offering similar exhibition space and Cobh Maritime Development Company Ltd will work closely with all local tourism venues to maximise the regions offering. We are also working closely with Cork City and Cork County Council to ensure Cork City and County attractions and events are also promoted to visitors."

Following a tender application, local Cork Company MMD Construction was awarded the contract to carry out the necessary works to the building, which commenced in December 2013.

#CorkHarbour - Cork County Council is investigating reports that defences built around the toxic dump on Haulhbowline Island have been breached in the recent severe weather.

According to the Irish Examiner, two Cobh-based councillors reported seeing breaches in the embankments around the dump, which contains an estimated half a million tonnes of waste - including toxic heavy metals and various cancer causing materials such as Chromium 6.

It's now feared that the recent high tides have carried toxic waste out of the site and contaminated the waters of Cork Harbour.

The council has confirmed that tests are being carried out at and around the site, next to the former Irish Steel/Ispat plant.

A full clean-up operation of the toxic dump is expected to begin later this year, though the contract for the job has not yet been awarded, pending the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency on a waste licence application and a nod from An Bord Pleanála for redevelopment of the site.

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.

#storm – December storms provided Cork harbour boatbuilder Safehaven Marine with the perfect test bed for sea keeping trials with winds of Force 12 and near 30ft waves off the coast of Cork Harbour. On test was Safehaven's Interceptor 48, a self-righting pilot/ Search and Rescue vessel.

Almost the ultimate conditions prevailed for the test, storm force winds of a sustained duration and fetch creating mountainous seas nearly 30ft high, a strong ebb tide running out against the waves creating a maelstrom of steep breaking waves over the harbour rock at the entrance to Cork Harbour, all combined with perfect visibility.

Safehaven Managing director Frank Kowalski told Afloat, 'I think this video portrays the immense power and danger of the sea'. It certainly does and it also shows the seakeeping abilities of Safehaven's Interceptor pilot and rescue designs.

The Cork Harbour based Safehaven Marine, specialist builders of pilot boats and rescue vessels have undertaken probably an industry first, by capsizing their latest Interceptor 48 Pilot / S.A.R. vessel in a live condition with two crew inside during the roll over.

In the ultimate expression of confidence in the vessels design and integrity, Safehaven's managing director and designer, Frank Kowalski, volunteered to be inside the vessel during the roll over. Strapped in with a full harness at her helm position he commented "it was a bit stressful when she was over at 90 degrees about to go over, and the motion past 180 during recovery was pretty violent, but it went off without a problem"

The above youtube video Safehaven made with multiple cameras both inside and outside during the test makes very interesting viewing in clearly showing the forces involved.

Look closely and you can see her crew inside at the time.

#MarineResearch - Up to 77 jobs may be be supported by a new €29 million research centre that's set to put Ireland at the cutting edge of the marine energy sector, as The Irish Times reports.

The SFI Research Centre, Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) at University College Cork (UCC) will be part of the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC), which had its annual conference in Cork Harbour last month.

Funded by €19 million from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation via the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), with €10.5 million more coming from industry partners, the new centre has the potential to make Ireland "an international focal point for the marine renewable industry", according to Research Minister Sean Sherlock.

Scientists at the centre will be working on the likes of new offshore wind, wave and other marine energy devices and related infrastructure, as well as new technology and materials to survive tough ocean conditions.

This summer Taoiseach Enda Kenny helped turn the sod on the Beaufort Building at UCC, which will be the flagship development of IMERC and brings together the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC), Coastal Marine Research Centre (CMRC) and the Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) under one roof.

#royalcork – Cork Harbour was alive with boats today with dinghies and cruisers writes Claire Bateman. On the water the Optimists were sailing their Cobbler League, the Lasers were sailing as were the 420's and also the Toppers and it was even possible to watch the Phil Morrison designed new National 18 prototype.

In the third day of the CH Marine League Race Officers were indeed fortunate to get in two races for the competitors as light winds were the order of the day with about 6 knots from the North. With a 3.5m tide and racing starting at the top of the tide it was essential especially for the Class 1, 2 and 1720 fleets sailing outside the harbour to sail the best course to get to the weather mark. But then it is factors like this that make sailing interesting.

Rob McConnell in Fools Gold did not have it all his own way in IRC 1 to day posting a second and a fourth but was able to discard the fourth while Jump Juice had a good first race taking the gun and is lying second overall, with Freya lying third.

Things are very tight at the top of IRC2 with Bad Company on 9 points with Waterford raider Shane Statham in Slack Alice just one point adrift but Paul Tingle got Alpaca going well today and took the gun in the first race in that class.

IRC 3 and Sigmas sailed the inner harbour course today and Kieran Collins' Tambourine leads from Finbarr Dorgan's No Half Measures while in the Sigmas Wendy and Clem McElligott had two firsts today and now top the leaderboard in that class.

1720 racing. More photos below. Photo: Bob Bateman

The eight boat 1720 fleet is led by Denis Murphy's Aquatack on 9 points, while Salve Marine Racing, with a little bit of help from tactician Anthony O'Leary, is just one point adrift . In Class 4, Alan Mulcahy's Sundancer leads on 5 points from Shelley D while the positions are reversed in ECHO. Finally, in IRC Whitesail Michael Wallace's Felix is getting the better of Conor O'Donovan's Xtension but it was Tom McNeice who took the two wins today.

Racing continues next Sunday with FG at 11.55