The Squib National Championships scheduled for Kinsale Harbour in West Cork next month got a boost on Tuesday when the Mayor of County Cork launched the one design championships that is expected to attract 120 sailors from across Ireland and the UK.

Mayor Cllr Gillian Coughlan joined local business and civic representatives as well as members of the Kinsale Yacht Club at the launch of the Bandon Co-op Squib National Championships at the West Cork clubhouse.

(Above and below) Mayor Cllr Gillian Coughlan with Kinsale Yacht Club members at the launch of the Squib National Championships at the club Photo: Bob Bateman

The joint UK and Irish National Championships will see 60 Squib crews from England, Wales and the Island of Ireland compete for two national champions on the waters South of Kinsale harbour.

Originally scheduled to be sailed in June 2020, the championship was postponed to this year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Vice Commodore Tony Scannell, Anthony O Neill and Chris Clarke of Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Speaking at the launch, regatta director Ian Travers indicated that while the postponement was disappointing, the reschedule appears to have served to increase the anticipation around the event. Kinsale is a world-class destination with its sheltered waters under the lee of the old head of Kinsale which makes for the perfect championship race area. This coupled with the natural beauty of its historic harbour along with everything the town has to offer makes it the jewel of the Irish South coast.

Kinsale Yacht Club Vice Commodore Tony Scannell, Event organiser Ian Travers, Kinsale Yacht Club Master of Ceremonies Tomas O'Brian and Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern Photo: Bob Bateman

In thanking the title sponsor, Travers highlighted how Bandon Co-op is part of the fabric of Kinsale and with its support, the Yacht Club will be able to stage a superb which will bring positive energy to the already bustling seaside town of Kinsale and beyond. He also thanked secondary sponsors for supporting the event which includes Cork County Council, Blacks of Kinsale, the Good Food Circle and CH Marine.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern and Councillor Tim Lombard Photo: Bob Bateman

‘Events like the Bandon Co-op Squib Nationals make Kinsale yacht Club the club that it is and the energy this event will generate will contribute to help make Kinsale the fantastic destination that it is, both on and off the water’.

John O'Gorman of Bandon Co-op Photo: Bob Bateman

The Bandon Co-op Squib National Champions takes place from the 19^th to the 24^{th of} June.

Kinsale Yacht Club has announced its Vice Commodore Anthony Scannell as the Regatta Director for the 2023 Sovereign’s Cup.

The regatta will take place from 21st to 24th June 2023.

"The club is very much looking forward to returning to the pre-covid number of entrants," according to KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern.

The 2023 event will be the 15th edition of the biennial event.

Chris Power Smith's J/122 entry Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire was the line honours winner of the inaugural Inishtearaght Race, finishing at 9 pm on Saturday.

The only Dublin entry in the Kinsale Yacht Club offshore 240-mile race took just under 36 hours to complete the challenging course from Kinsale along the Cork and Kerry coast and back to the West Cork port. 

"It was a tough race, big seas and big winds, but we were able for it", Chris Power Smith told Afloat after crossing the finish line. 

Subject to official confirmation, the Dublin crew will lift one of Kinsale Yacht Club's most prestigious trophies, the Thullier Cup, which dates back to 1850, for their line honours achievement.

Chris Power Smith's J/122 entry Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club closes in on the Kinsale finish line Photo: Bob Bateman

An enthusiastic Power Smith said that after the initial 'slog', the crew enjoyed 'champagne sailing', and the Dublin Bay sailors were already promising to return for the 2024 race.

Second home of the seven boat fleet was Cian McCarthy's double-handed Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl.

Cian McCarthy's double-handed Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl

Full handicap IRC results are awaited

There were great starts for the host club's Elan 40 Chancer (Brian Carroll) and Denis Murphy's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo from Royal Cork in the inaugural Inishtearaght Race from Kinsale this morning in the brand new Irish offshore yacht race fixture along the Cork and Kerry coasts.

An entry of seven boats started a new chapter in West Cork offshore yacht racing just after 9 am when the small but competitive fleet crossed the Kinsale Yacht Club line.

Cian McCarthy's two-handed Sunfast 3330 Cinnamon Girl Photo: Bob Bateman

The fleet, led by Chancer off the line, set out in 15-20 knot south-westerly conditions and light rain. Forecasts this morning indicate gusts to over 30-knots on the way to the Blasket Islands.

The single Dublin entry in the race is Royal St.George's J/122 Aurelia (Chris Power Smith) Photo: Bob Bateman

Unfortunately, the planned start using a Navy ship did not materialise due to the exigencies of the Naval Service but Club Race Officer Dave O'Sullivan got the fleet underway in a club vessel from the KYC's Charles fort startline inside Kinsale Harbour.

The Inishtearaght Race fleet set out in 15-20 knot south-westerly conditions and light rain Photo: Matthias Hellstern

As Afloat previously reported, the course is approximately 240nm long and will run along the spectacular south coast, round Inistearaght island and back to Kinsale.

Soft day - The Elan 40 Chancer crew all wearing offshore gear in anticipation of a wet trip to the Blaskets Photo: Bob Bateman

The first boats in the Matthews Centre sponsored event are expected home sometime on Saturday evening but as competitor Brian Carroll told Afloat in a podcast here, the fleet is expecting quite a lot of challenging upwind sailing today. 

Cian McCarthy's Cinnamon Girl on starboard and Chris Power Smith's Aurelia on port after the start Photo: Bob Bateman

The Inishtearaght Race fleet emerge from Kinsale harbour with (from left) Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl, Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo, Elan 40 Chancer and Dublin Bay J/122 entry Aurelia to weather  Photo: Matthias HellsternThe breeze is on for (from left) Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo, Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl and Dublin Bay J/122 entry Aurelia to weather  Photo: Matthias Hellstern

The Thuillier family have kindly allowed the oldest trophy in Kinsale YC to be presented as the line honours trophy for the race. The Thuillier Cup is 150 years old, having been originally presented by the Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers in 1871 and won by Michael Thuillier. The cup was presented to Kinsale YC by the Thuillier family to acknowledge the long tradition of yacht racing in Kinsale.

Noel Coleman's Oyster 37 Blue Oyster from Royal Cork YC on her way to the Blaskets Photo: Bob Bateman

The inaugural Inishtearaght Race fleet

Bob Bateman's Inishearaght Race Start Photo Gallery below

One of the country’s leading marinas will become unusable for keelboats unless urgent action is taken to address increasing silting in the harbour area writes David Forsythe in West Cork

Kinsale-based Fine Gael councillor Kevin Murphy told the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Division that the issue was among the most serious he had ever had to bring to the attention of the council.

“The story is that Kinsale Harbour itself has severe silting at the yacht marina and around pier head itself. A substantial number of the keelboats are bottoming out now. This is a very serious issue and a very expensive one to sort out because there is a substantial dredging to be done,” he said.

Matthias Hellstern, Commodore of the Kinsale Yacht Club said that the issue had become much more serious in the last few years and the rate of silting in Kinsale Harbour seemed to be increasing.
“During Covid there was obviously a lot less activity at the marina and in the harbour in general because of the restrictions. It has been happening over a number of years but seems to be getting much worse now. It is something that we really need to address urgently,” he said.

Matthias Hellstern, Commodore of the Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

The 200 berth marina brings in some 3,500 visiting boat nights to the town every year contributing an estimated €525,000 to the local economy according to the yacht club’s own estimates. A non-profit organisation run by volunteers, it is one of only three yacht clubs in the country that owns its own marina, the others being Howth Yacht Club and the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.
“We have visitors coming from France, the UK, Spain, Germany, the USA and all around Ireland,” said Matthias Hellstern, “and we run also run national and international sailing championships which we could not do without the marina facility.”

The KYC is due to host the upcoming Squib UK National Championships, Dragon Gold Cup and also hosts the biennial Sovereign’s Cup, but silting is already causing problems for events in Kinsale.
“We hosted the April Spring series recently and we were having yachts running aground at low tide,” said Matthias, “they simply couldn’t get out of the marina and obviously that’s a serious problem.”
Mr Hellstern said that already about 25% of the marina was not useable for keelboats at low tide.

A KYC Marina pontoon at Kinsale Harbour Photo: David Forsythe

“At the moment we can move things around a bit. The berths furthest from the channel are most affected so we can put power boats, boats without keels in there for the time being but as the silting gets worse more and more of the marina will be affected.”

Cllr Kevin Murphy said that silting was affecting other users of the harbour as well across leisure, fishing and commercial sectors.

“We have to at all times ensure Kinsale continues being useable for leisure and also commercial and fishing, it’s all three. The Kinsale Yacht Club will help out with a survey that needs to be done on the silting and I would expect that the county council will also chip in if we can to help out in their endeavours to get that done as soon as possible.”

(Above and below) The 200 berth Kinsale Yacht Club marina brings in some 3,500 visiting boat nights to the town every year contributing an estimated €525,000 to the local economy Photos: Bob Bateman

Cllr Murphy said that he would put down a notice of motion at the next municipal district meeting to have all of the stakeholders attend a meeting at Kinsale Yacht Club, “to make sure this is addressed as soon as possible”.

Responding to Cllr Murphy, Kevin Morey, Director of Water Services at Cork County Council said, “We will engage just to take stock and see what is the issue there. From your description, it sounds like it might be quite a significant one and we are aware from other locations that that could bring us into quite complex and protracted processes. Let’s start looking first and take stock so we’ll get back to you on that and arrange some kind of assessment on site.”

The idea for the Inishtearaght Race originated because Kinsale sailors thought that the best and most scenic part of the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race is west of Kinsale. So what about a race from Kinsale around the Blaskets and back to Kinsale?

It was discussed at the club, so the first race around the Blaskets, organised by Kinsale Yacht Club, will start this Friday morning.

Two new trophies await the winners of IRC and ECHO and there is a special older trophy reserved for the boat which takes line honours.

Royal Cork's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo is entered for Friday's Inishtearaght Race Photo: Bob Bateman

Brian Carroll will be racing on Chancer, the boat of the Carroll Brothers that currently leads the IRC 1 and ECHO 1 fleet in Kinsale’s early Summer cruiser club series.

Cian McCarthy's double-handed Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl is one of four boats from the host club that will race in Friday's Inishtearaght fixture

2022 Kinsale Matthews Inishtearaght Race EntriesThe inaugural seven boat fleet for Kinsale Yacht Club's Inistearaght offshore yacht race

He says it is probably a “bit early for offshore racing” and expects that there will be “quite a bit of beating to the Blaskets and, unfortunately, probably part of the way back as well.”

Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia from the Royal St. George is the only Dublin Bay Boat racing to Inishtearaght

That will make it a testing and challenging task for the crews.

Brian Carroll is my guest on this week’s Podcast.

MarJ skippered by Adrian Bendon was the overall winner of the 13-boat Dragon class in Kinsale Yacht Club's Robotic Mowers sponsored Open Keelboat Regatta 2022 sailed at the weekend.

With three race wins from six races sailed, Bendon on seven nett points had a clear six-point margin over second overall James Matthews at the helm of TBD. In third place was Cameron Good's Little Fella with 16 points. 

Scroll down for Bob Bateman's Photo Gallery from the KYC Open Keelboat Regatta 2022

The fleet, under Race Officer John Stallard, included a strong showing from the host club and took the top five positions overall with representation from other West Cork clubs too including Glandore Harbour Yacht Club. 

1st place Dragon overall - Mar J - Adrian Bendon, Eoghan O'Neill, Eoghan O’Mahony & Tristan Bendon with sponsor Fergal O’Hanlon of Robotic Mowers 

In a prestigious role, the club will host the International Dragon Gold Cup at the club in 2024.

Squibs

Ian Travers and Keith O'Riordan were the winners of a three-boat Squib fleet

On four points, Ian Travers and Keith O'Riordan were the winners of a three-boat Squib fleet after five races sailed. 

Second was Denis and Brid Cudmore in Sensation on seven points with Sonata in third.

Bob Bateman's Photo Gallery from the KYC Open Keelboat Regatta 2022

Results are here

The overall lead changed in three of four classes after the final race of Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Private Clients Spring Series on Saturday.

Ending in West Cork style, the wind filled in, the sun came out and the dolphins put on a magical show for the fourth and final race that also counts towards SCORA series points.

Light southwesterly winds of five knots led KYC Race Officer Donal Hayes to lay a weather mark followed by racing around existing club marks in the outer harbour before a reach to an in harbour finish.

Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Private Clients Spring Series winners Photo: Bob Bateman

IRC 0 and 1 Fleet

J/109 'Artful DodJer skippered by Kinsale's Finbarr O'Regan was the Zero/One class winner Photo: Bob Bateman

Last week's third overall yacht, the J/109 'Artful DodJer skippered by Kinsale's Finbarr O'Regan took the overall IRC prize following a race win in yesterday's last race but only by the tightest of points as the top three all finished on six nett points overall.

One time leader Reavra Too, an Elan 333 skippered by Stephen Lysaght was second overall with RCYC's J/122 1Jelly Baby (Brian Jones) third in the seven boat fleet.

IRC 2 Fleet

Overall IRC winner Royal Cork Albin Express North Star skippered by Fiona Young to weather of clubmates and second overall Conor Phelan's Anchor Challenge Photo: Bob Bateman

The final race brought no changes to the overall standings in IRC Two. With three straight wins, the Royal Cork Albin Express North Star skippered by Fiona Young was the clear winner on three points in the six-boat IRC Two fleet ahead of clubmate Conor Phelan's Farr Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge on six. 

Third was Kieran Kelleher/Colman Garvey's Dubois Quarter Tonner, Diamond on seven points.

White Sails 1 Echo Fleet

Mike McCarthy's Royal Cork Dehler 40, Jolastan Photo: Bob Bateman

After four races sailed, Batt and Helen O'Leary took the six-boat White Sails 1 Echo Fleet in Sweet Dreams, a Sun Odyssey 36 but it was a tightly fought battle with Mike McCarthy's Royal Cork Dehler 40, Jolastan second on the same six points.  Third was James Matthews' Fiscala on nine.

White Sails 2 Echo Fleet

Sam Cohen's First 32, Gunsmoke 2 Photo: Bob Bateman

Leading the seven-boat fleet is Sam Cohen's First 32, Gunsmoke 2 on five points. Dermot Lanigan's Dufour 365 Privateer was second on seven. Nigel Dann and Vincent Murphy's First 345 Val Kriss took third also on seven

See full results here

Kinsale Yacht Club Spring League Race Four Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

A competitive eight boat fleet is building in Kinsale for the inaugural Matthews Inishtearaght Race taking place in less than a month's time. 

The race, promoted as an 'ideal shakedown race' for boats entering June's Round Ireland Race, has attracted top Dublin J/122 Aurelia from the Royal St. George Yacht Club.

Having only narrowly missed out on overall Round Ireland race victory previously, Chris Power Smith's potent ISORA entry is showing the depth of the Dun Laoghaire crew's ambitions by taking on the new Kinsale offshore challenge.

As Afloat already reported, the race will take the fleet along the coast of West Cork and Kerry, around Inishtearaght and return to finish in Kinsale.

Cian McCarthy's Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl from the host club will race in May's Inishtearaght Race Photo: Dave Cullinane

The starting times are planned so that boats would stand the best chance of rounding the island in daylight.

The race was formally launched last December by KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern. The first race will be sponsored by Matthews of Cork.

The course will be approximately 240nm long and will run along the spectacular coast of West Cork and Kerry, round Inistearaght and back to Kinsale. 

KYC Inishtearaght Race Current Entry List (April 24th)

Sailing Instructions for the race will be available shortly.

The inaugural Matthews Inishtearaght Race takes place on Friday 20th May with FG 08.55hrs

Local yachts are back in charge at the top of the IRC One fleet after two races sailed in the Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Private Clients Spring Series in West Cork.

The wind for the second race of the series, after last week's cancellation, was flukey, up and down in strength and the race began in lighter winds.

Race Officer Donal Hayes laid a weather mark and then used fixed marks outside the harbour and finished at the club line off Charles Fort.

Race Officer Donal Hayes set the course (below) Photos: Bob Bateman

Such was the nature of wind race two featured a lot of reaching with limited upwind or spinnaker work.

IRC 1 Fleet

The start of IRC Zero and One Photo: Bob Bateman

New Royal Cork yachts that enjoyed debut success in the first race of the seven boat fleet a fortnight ago have been replaced by the recent Frank Godsell Series winner Reavra Too, an Elan 333 skippered by Stephen Lysaght. Second is the host club's Finbarr O'Regan in the J/109 'Artful DodJer'.

Third overall is the Royal Cork yacht of the year, the Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (Annamarie & Denis Murphy).

IRC 2 Fleet

The Royal Cork Albin Express North Star skippered by Fiona Young was a clear winner in the six-boat IRC Two fleet beating Conor Phelan's Farr Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge. Third is Waterford Harbour's Sigma 33 Flyover (David Marchant). 

White Sails 1 Echo Fleet

After two races sailed, Batt & Helen O'Leary lead the six-boat White Sails 1 Echo Fleet in Sweet Dreams, a Sun Odyssey 36 from new arrival Mike MacCarthy's Royal Cork Dehler 40, Jolastan. Third is Tony Scannell's Hanse 370, Hansemer.

White Sails 2 Echo Fleet

The Beneteau First 345 Val Kriss (Nigel Dann VincentMurphy) leads Albert O'Neill's Feeling 326 Sallybelle. Third in the seven-boat fleet is Sam Cohen's First 32, Gunsmoke 2.

See full results here

Bob Bateman's Kinsale Yacht Club Axiom Spring Series Race Two Photo Gallery