There were breezy conditions for the annual dinghy race from Cobh to Ballinacurra in Cork Harbour on Sunday.
Organised by Cove Sailing Club in conjunction with the National 18 Class, the race started as usual from the Spit Bank area off Cobh.
But with 18/20 knots from the east and a flood tide, it made for a tricky and wet beat from the start to the East Ferry turn before the relative calm of the narrow and shallower waters towards Ballinacurra village.
With 18/20 knots from the east and a flood tide, it was a wet start to the 2022 Ballinacurra Race for this 505 crew Photo: Bob Bateman
As Afloat reported earlier, racing is provided for Class 1, Class 2 and Cobh’s Rankin dinghies with National 18s, 505s and Lasers all setting out on the challenging course.
A visiting cruise liner near the start line added to the challenges for the dinghy sailors
The conditions put off some participants and there were a number of capsizes off Whitepoint with some boats returning to shore.
For all those that made it to Ballinacurra, close to Midleton, there was a carnival atmosphere, a prizegiving and a special celebration of a vintage 'T' dinghy outside Creenan's Brooklands Bar.
National 18 helm Charles Dwyer (left) receives his prize from Commodore Cove Sailing Club Niall Hawes, Anne Ahern CSC and winning crew Kieran Dwyer and Richie Harrington Photo: Bob Bateman
The overall winner of the 2022 Ballinacurra race was the National 18 trio Charles Dwyer crewed by Kieran Dwyer and Richie Harrington.
Cliodhna arrives by road, not sea to Ballinacurra
A valiant attempt to honour the Cliodna's 75-year history by racing to Ballinacurra this year was stymied by the tough sailing conditions.
Having got to the start line off the east end of Haulbowline in the vintage clinker-built boat, the weather proved far too inclement so skipper Owen O'Connell and crew Eamonn Twomey were forced to retire. The safer option was to trailer the Cliodna to Ballinacurra for post-race celebrations where Cliodna was quite rightly centre stage.
Owen O'Connell with the 75-year-old Cliodna Photo: Bob Bateman
Cliodna was built by Eddie Twomey in 1947. She was the third T Class to be built, Eddie designed and built the first one called Darine in 1945.
Cliodna was built by Eddie Twomey in 1947 Photo: Bob Bateman
Eric Rankin built T2 called Murtoo with the last, T10 built in 1949. Eddie Twomey raced and won the Ballinacurra Cup in the Cliodna in 1947.
He sold her in 1950 to Dr Scully of Crosshaven. She remained with the Scully family until 2016 when Eddie Twomey's daughter, Eithne, bought her.
She was restored by Jim Walsh over the following year and finally put back in the water this year.
The Ballinacurra Cup prizegiving had a special setting with Cliodna on her road trailer at Brooklands Bar Photo: Bob Bateman
