Local helmsman Chris Bateman leads the Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Laser League after a light air seventh race was sailed in Cork Harbour on Saturday.

The single race sailed brings the lead to its half way stage. A race win for Bateman in ghosting conditions puts him ahead of clubmate Ronan Kenneally with Paul O'Sullivan of Sunday's Well lying third in the popular Frostbite series.

The painfully slow going is depicted in this video clip below by Mary Malone together with an overview from Brendan Dwyer who finished second in the race.

20 boats are competing in the series.

See photos and results in Bob Bateman's Photo Gallery below.

Saturday, January 15th, was day two of Monkstown Bay Sailing Club’s Laser Winter League in Cork Harbour.

A windless morning was in store for the competitors. The bay was calm and clear, and the air had a cold bite. Nonetheless, the ever-popular league had attracted a fleet of sixteen sailors who swarmed the sand quay in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The club hut was surrounded by hustling volunteers who prepared the equipment for the intense racing that was to unfold at Ten O'Clock. With the windward/leeward course set, crash boats launched and sailors dressed, racing could begin.

The first few lasers drifted their way out on a glassy bay. The view of white dinghies on a calm bay was lovely yet unpromising. Alas, the optimism of Race Officer Alan Fehily and his team could not be quenched, and the starting gun went on time.

MBSC Committee Boat and Race Officer Alan Fehily

The pin was crowded and it was a battlefield of lasers fighting their way off the start line for race one. The breeze picked up at a slow pace and the competitors sailed their boats with finesse around the course.

Taking an early lead was MBSC’s Ronan Kenneally who took on the shifty conditions at a rapid pace. Only a metre behind was Richie Harrington. The two pushed each other around the course for the duration of the race. Taking first place was Kenneally, closely followed by Harrington across the finish line.

Slightly more breeze filled the course for race two and an increased tidal flow made race tactics difficult. Battling it out for line honours were MBSC sailors Richie Harrington, Chris Bateman and Rob Howe. With an exciting tacking battle towards the finish line, Harrington took first place. Following in second was Bateman. Rob Howe finished in third, nearly overtaking first and second place boats while they battled it out.

Race three was the most difficult of them all. Tidelines and tricky wind conditions gave the competitors a traditional South Westerly Monkstown bay racecourse.

Excelling on all fronts was MBSC’S Paul O’Sullivan, who took an early lead. Untouchable for the duration of the race, he extended away from the fleet, finishing with a big lead. Ronan Kenneally followed in second place with the consistent Rob Howe finishing in third place.

Once again, the sailors were ashore before twelve noon. After putting the boats away, they converged in the Bosun to warm up chilly hands. It was another great morning’s racing on Monkstown Bay thanks to the fine race organisers and competitive sailors.

On December 26th, Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's (MBSC) annual Christmas event was held on the tranquil waters of Cork Harbour.

On the early Sunday morning, sailors in competitive spirit showed up on time to make the early start of ten o'clock.

The bay gleamed in the winter sunshine as people began to arrive at the Sand Quay. Although the sunrise was a pretty sight, it revealed the harbour to be as still as a pond.

Alex Barry and Fred Cudmore were second in a pink RS400 Photo: Bob Bateman

Disregarding the light breeze, twelve boats lined up on the start line. Those boats were made up of a mixed fleet; Three 5o5's, an RS400, and the rest of the pack were made up of standard rigged Lasers.

Slight puffs of breeze began to show on the water just in time as the gun went off. This light wind theme continued for all three races.

Tight racing on the bay (Laser to windward is George Kingston, Laser in between Chris Bateman, blue 505 is Anthony Coole and Chris Granby) Photo: Bob Bateman

A very competitive fleet battled it out for their positions. John Downey and Sandy Rimmington's 5o5 dominated throughout the races, showing a turn of speed that put many Laser sailors in their place.

Laser sailor George Kingston (AUS210150) comes off the start line

The results were set after gently steering their boats around the courses all morning. Winning the Magner Cup was John/Sandy in their 5o5. The RS400 sailed by Alex Barry/Fred Cudmore followed up in second. In third place was Harry Pritchard sailing his Laser.

Brian Jones and Gary Frost in their 5o5 Photo: Bob Bateman

The racing was tight, on time, and the competition was intense. This is typical of Monkstown Bay and its club. Alan Fehily and his team did very well to finish the three races on time. Alan has never failed to get us in on time, and as promised, everyone was ashore by twelve o'clock.

Ronan Kenneally in Laser 192703 Photo: Bob Bateman

While the morning was a great success, it is only the start of Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's season. Coming up in two weeks is the beginning of the Laser Winter League, where Laser sailors from Cork and beyond will be treated to the best dinghy racing in Cork Harbour.

5o5 duo Sandy Rimmington (left) and John Downey Photo: Bob Bateman

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's St. Stephen's Day Race 2021 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club (MBSC) will hold the only race in Cork Harbour over the Christmas period.

This is the annual St.Stephen’s Day event, also a fundraiser for the RNLI.

An early start is planned, with First Gun at 10 a.m., which will require quite a bit of commitment from those planning to sail after Christmas Day celebrations!

“It’s an open event, with a €10 entry fee and all are welcome,” MBSC says.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's dinghy racing ended for the season on Saturday, with the conclusion of the October League in Cork Harbour which had extended into November to finish a series of eight races.

Laser sailor Ronan Kenneally was the Class One winner with a total of 12 points.

Club Commodore Sandy Rimmington and crew Alex Barry sailing an RS400 finished in second place on 17 points. Richard Harrington, sailing another Laser, was third on 20 points. Feva XLs dominated Class Two of the league. Robyn and Hazel Barry being the winners on 8 points. Amy and David Doherty were second on 10 points and Isabelle McCarthy, with Bella Clarke Waterman, third on 12.

The club is pleased with the support for dinghy racing throughout the season where, in the combined overall results for Class One June/July/August/October, Ronan Kenneally has come out the top sailor, having won the August and October Leagues.

Judy Moynihan and Therese Loesberg in a Laser Two finished second overall and Emmet O'Sullivan in an RS Aero 7 was third. In Class Two racing for the months of June/July/August/September the Feva XLs were definitely the dominant boats overall.

Tony Geraghty and Tara Kennedy finished top overall, winning the Class leagues in June/July and August. Lucy O'Connell and Kate O'Connor finished in second place overall. Ann and David Doherty were third. All sailed Feva XLs.

After four races sailed in Cork Harbour, a resurgent 505 fleet leads Class One of the Monkstown Bay Sailing Club October League 2021.

Racing is for mixed dinghies under the Portsmouth Yardstick handicap rule.

Heading a 34-boat Class One, Ewen Barry and David Barry have a one-point margin over Laser sailor Ronan Kenneally in second place on eight points. Laser sailor Richard Harrington lies third on nine.

Race Officer Ciaran MacSweeney set a triangular course in a southwest wind of up to 12/15 knots for Saturday's racing.

Robyn Barry and Hazel Barry lead a 15-boat class two by a point in an RS Feva. Second is Amy and David Doherty with Isabelle McCarthy and Bella Clarke Waterman in third, all sailing Fevas.

As Afloat's Tom MacSweeney reported recently in a podcast here with MBSC Commodore Sandy Rimmington, the club scene is 'buzzing with dinghies'. 

Rimmington says there is a revival of the 5O5 fleet in advance of next year's world championships being held in the harbour and a plan to expand the teaching of sailing through schools.

 Full class one October league results are here, and class two here

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club October League Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club is based in the inner part of Cork Harbour and is buzzing with the start of its October League and, says Club Commodore, Sandy Rimmington, a revival of the 5O5 fleet and a plan to expand the teaching of sailing through schools.

A 5O5 owner himself, he puts the revival of interest in the fleet to focus on holding the 5O5 World Championships in Cork next year. For the fourth time, they will be held at the RCYC in Crosshaven around the harbour from Monkstown, from August 3-13.

“This has led to the rejuvenation of the 5O5 fleet, which had always been strong in Monkstown,” the MBSC Commodore says.

Alex Barry (right) helming a 505 at RCYC's 'At Home' Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Support for dinghy racing is strong, with the club having successfully staged the Munster Optimists Championships at the start of the month and being assigned the Southern Feva Championships for April next year and, in the week before the 5O5 Worlds next August, Monkstown will host the Irish Championships for the class.

The Munster Optimists Championships were staged by MBSC Photo: Bob Bateman

The club’s committee is putting together a busy programme for next season.

“We are planning to push dinghy sailing even more next year especially Laser, RS dinghies, the 5O5s and the Oppies, with Laser Frostbites in February when we hope for up to 20 boats taking part, the RS Southerns for Feva/200s/400s in April, Prep for 5O5 Worlds Winter Sprint Series. We are trying to make sailing accessible to all by working with schools that may not get the opportunity to use the water and teach teenagers how to sail. We are currently fundraising to buy more boats for this. The Optimists event was a massive success and will allow us to build interest in sailing and take on more events.”

"The club bought a 1720 which has been used for adult training"

The club bought a 1720 sportsboat which has been used for adult training, and purchased two new rescue boats. “This allows us to increase the numbers we can train.”

Consideration is being given to putting the 1720 into its first competitive event next season, possibly at Cork Week at the RCYC.

The Commodore leads the club’s October Saturday morning dinghy league in Class One, sailing an RS 400, crewed by Alex Barry. In second place is Richard Harrington in a Laser and third Ronan Kenneally, also in a Laser.

Three RS Feva XLs are the leading boats in Class Two. Robyn Barry, crewed by Hazel Barry, are the leaders; 2nd Amy and David Doherty and third Isabelle McCarthy, crewed by Bella Clarke Waterman.

Monkstown Bay club dinghies are based on the Sand Quay in the middle of the village, and it was there I talked to Commodore Sandy Rimmington, my guest on this week’s podcast, which you can listen to here.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club has cancelled its dinghy league racing tonight as the Cork Harbour village community will provide a guard-of-honour on the roadside when the body of Parish curate, Fr. Con Cronin, is taken to his native Bantry for burial tomorrow.

Fr. Cronin was killed on Tuesday in a traffic accident near the sailing club in the village. He was struck by a bus that went out of control when the driver suffered medical trauma.

Commodore Sandy Rimmington said the club will pay tribute as "Fr. Con leaves our parish for his final journey home."

Despite the impact of the pandemic Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour has had a resurgence of numbers in dinghy league racing.

So outgoing Commodore Ciaran McSweeney told club members as he completed his two-year term in office.

New investment has been made in club facilities and there is a lot of hope in the village club on the edge of the harbour for next year.

It has bought a 1720 sportsboat, been donated a Drascombe Lugger, has more volunteers than before, more adults are seeking training and it also has put a new racing on the Sand Quay in the centre of the village, from where races are run. That is a short distance from the clubhouse at De Vesci Place. The hut has thrown "an invaluable light" on sailing history in Monkstown according to the outgoing Commodore. It makes Monkstown part of the history of the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's new race hut

Completing his two-year term of office he told members that the club had received a collection of photos of the Sand Quay and the famous hut from member John Hegarty. One of these shows uniformed Race Officers during a starting sequence on the quay for a yacht race that is thought to predate 1922.

"According to historian Dr Alicia St.Leger, the original hut was put in place by the Royal Munster Yacht Club in 1905. It remained there after that club departed for Crosshaven in 1922."

The Royal Munster later amalgamated with the Royal Cork which club had been based in Cobh and moved to Crosshaven to join the Royal Munster under the name of the RCYC. According to MBSC the "hut" remained on the quay and survived well into the 1950s. It was moved around the quay area several times, but the remains of an original concrete base can be seen slightly to the north of the location of the present hut. There have been others, right up to the new one.

Sandy Rimmington has been elected the new MBSC Commodore. Jacqui O'Brien is Vice Commodore.

Now listen to the Podcast below where my guest this week is the new MBSC Commodore.

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour has cancelled the rest of its October Dinghy League series due to the imposition of Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions.

The series started last Saturday and attracted a buoyant fleet of mixed dinghies including Lasers, RS400s, Fevas and Optimists as Afloat reported here.