Crosbie and O'Connell in Tie for Top Spot at Rankin Dinghy 'Worlds' After Three Cork Harbour Races

29th June 2024

Rankin dinghy racing at the 2024 'Worlds' at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour. Scroll down for a photo gallery Credit: Bob Bateman

Andrew Crosbie and Dan O'Connell are tied on points at the top of the scoreboard (see below) at the Rankin dinghy 'Worlds' after the first three races sailed at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, on Saturday. Both are on nine points with John Horgan lying third on 11.

24 are competing in the revered class that is based across Cork Harbour in Cobh, and revived in 2016.

24 Rankins are competing in Cork Harbour for the 'Worlds' title Photo: Bob Bateman

Race one was a triangular course x three rounds. Robbie and Conor English lead from start to finish.

Race two was an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Spike Island, which Tommy Dwyer won convincingly.

Race three was over a windward leeward course and finished at the club line. An ebb tide, drizzle and very patchy breeze meant almost everyone led the race at some point. Andrew Crosbie took to the Crosshaven shore and eventually found the breeze to win the race.

Peter Crowley, Honorary Member and former Admiral of the RCYC and former President of the Irish Sailing Association, a long-time Rankin enthusiast, is the Sailing Coordinator for the weekend.

The 'Worlds' were last held in 2019, and the title holders from then are Conor and Robbie English. Conor was one of the two enthusiasts who, with Maurice Kidney, led the revival of the Rankins, which is now thriving within Cove Sailing Club.

Sunday (June 30) will see two races, one of which includes shore-based activities on Spike Island.

Rankin Dinghy 'Worlds' 2024 Results (After Three Races)

Rankin Dinghy 'Worlds' 2024 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

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The Rankin Dinghy of Cobh, Cork Harbour

A Rankin is a traditional wooden dinghy which was built in Cobh, of which it’s believed there were 80 and of which The Rankin Dinghy Group has traced nearly half.

The name of the Rankin dinghies is revered in Cork Harbour and particularly in the harbourside town of Cobh.

And the name of one of those boats is linked to the gunboat which fought against the Irish Volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising and later for the emergent Irish Free State Government against anti-Treaty Forces during the Irish Civil War.

It also links the renowned boat-building Rankin family in Cobh, one of whose members crewed on the gunboat.

Maurice Kidney and Conor English are driving the restoration of the Rankin dinghies in Cork Harbour. They have discovered that Rankins were bought and sailed in several parts of the country.