Resolute, Don't Dilly Dally, Obsession, Big Mac and Four Seas took IRC class wins in the Cobh-to-Blackrock Race as the 2026 Hibernia Line Triple Crown opened in Cork Harbour on Saturday (5 September).
Two of the IRC divisions were decided by just one second on corrected time, underlining the close racing in the first of three September contests that make up the second running of the Cork Harbour Triple Crown.
Race officer Niall Hawes got the fleet away at 2.05pm in a southerly breeze recorded at 13 to 17 knots.
Resolute Heads IRC1
In Kites IRC1, Jon McClean's Royal Cork Yacht Club Farr 28 Resolute took the opening victory with a corrected time of 1:03:15.
Frank Caul's Grand Soleil Prince of Tides was second on 1:04:39, while the J/111 Joyride, owned by Tim McCarthy/Wan Waterman, placed third on 1:06:44.
John Michael McCann's Etchells Don't Dilly Dally won Kites IRC2 on 1:07:58, 32 seconds ahead of Ronan and John Downing's Miss Whiplash. Pat Tanner's Bateleur '88 completed the top three.
One Second Separates Obsession and North Star
One-Second Thriller: Barry Rose’s Obsession and Fiona Young’s North Star race past Blackrock Castle before being separated by just one second on IRC corrected time, with Obsession taking the Kites IRC3 win. Photo: Robert Bateman
One of the closest finishes came in Kites IRC3, where Barry Rose's Obsession beat Fiona Young's sister Albin Express North Star by just one second on corrected time.
Obsession recorded 1:07:27 against North Star's 1:07:28, with Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher's Illegal third on 1:08:00.
The fourth-placed BonJourNo!!, sailed by Robert O'Reilly, reversed the order under ECHO to win Kites ECHO3 ahead of Obsession and North Star.
Big Mac Wins IRC by One Second
There was another one-second decision in White Sails 1 IRC.
Tom McGrath's Dehler 34 Big Mac won with a corrected 1:15:08, just one second ahead of Fiorentina O'Brien's Magnet on 1:15:09. Ronan Twomey's Rosmarina was third.
Under ECHO, Ian Scandrett's Kernow took the WS1 victory in another close result, finishing seven seconds ahead of Magnet, with Big Mac third.
In WS2 IRC, Robert Foster's Four Seas won on corrected time from Tom O'Mahony's Loch Greine, with Ian Hickey's Cavatina third.
The ECHO result produced a different winner, with Sean Hanley's Siamsa taking first place ahead of Loch Greine and Four Seas.
Tuco Takes ECHO2
Tuco Triumph: George Radley’s Tuco took the Kites ECHO2 victory in the opening Cobh-to-Blackrock Race of the 2026 Hibernia Line Triple Crown. Photo: Robert Bateman
George Radley's Tuco headed Kites ECHO2, beating Miss Whiplash and Don't Dilly Dally.
In White Sails 3 ECHO, Patrick Dorgan's Elsie won from Kieran Collins' IF, with Tim Meagher's Birgitz third.
Three-Race Triple Crown Underway
Saturday's Cobh-to-Blackrock contest was the opening race of the three-event Hibernia Line Triple Crown.
As Afloat reported in its Triple Crown preview, Cove Sailing Club, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Monkstown Bay Sailing Club and the Navy Yacht Squadron have joined forces for the second running of the inter-club competition.
The competition combines three established Cork Harbour races and includes a two-boat team format spanning IRC and ECHO divisions. Last year's inaugural series attracted more than 50 boats, with Team Ship Shape, comprising IMP and Rosmarina, taking the first overall team trophy.
The series continues with the Cork Buoy Race on Saturday, 12 September, before the Navy Race on Saturday, 19 September decides the 2026 Triple Crown.
