More clubs around the country are developing cruiser racing opportunities for young sailors.

It is, increasingly, being seen as vital to ensure that clubs themselves have a future.

The biggest loss to sailing has been when young sailors leave dinghies and the sport itself for other sports, which, they perceive, as offering a better continuing pathway.

The Irish Cruiser Racing Association have been encouraging the formation of Under 25 groups to combat this and develop more interest in cruiser sailing and racing amongst younger sailors.

"Is insurance preventing young sailors from getting into cruiser racing?"

Kinsale Yacht Club in Cork is the latest to launch such a group. It has two particularly interesting aspects to it.

One is that it was young sailors themselves who asked the club for such a development, which has been most enthusiastically supported by older members of the club because, says former Club Commodore Dave Sullivan, the senior members want to ensure that the future of the club is planned for and protected.

Kinsale Yacht Club has identified the J/24 (above) as a suitable boat for their Under 25 project Photo: Bob Bateman

Kinsale has identified the J/24 as a suitable boat for their project, but the former Commodore says that boat insurance is preventing young sailors, who may be interested in buying their own boats, from moving from dinghies into cruisers and that is an issue that must be addressed.

He is my Podcast guest this week, where we discuss the Kinsale Under 25 keelboat development, the support of senior members for the project and the issue of insurance.

The first-ever UK and Irish Squib National Championships featuring combined fleets will take place next year in Kinsale.

The rescheduled Squib National Championships incorporating the Irish Squib National Championships will sail from Kinsale Yacht Club from 19th to 24th June 2022.

Six days of competitive racing are scheduled on the waters South of Kinsale Harbour.

Ashore, Kinsale Yacht Club is looking forward to welcoming competitors to its facilities. The Club is equipped to run large events with its flagship bi-annual Sovereigns Cup regatta hosting up to 100 cruiser racers a popular fixture on the Irish sailing calendar. Kinsale Yacht Club is also the chosen venue for the prestigious Dragon Gold Cup in 2024.

The rescheduled Squib National Championships incorporating the Irish Squib National Championships will sail from Kinsale Yacht Club from 19th to 24th June 2022.

The Regatta Director is Squib sailor Ian Travers who has launched a new event website.

The event website is now available here which accepts entries with an early bird entry discount available until the 31st December.

Kinsale Yacht Club's new event logo for the dual UK & IRL Squib Championships

Travers commented 'the Bandon Co-op sponsored event will bring the National Squib racing fleets from both sides of the Irish Sea together for the first time and will make for a very competitive regatta. Having been to many class events over the past number of years, I know that Squib sailors are extremely competitive, and their rivalry on the water is quickly exchanged for camaraderie once ashore. This competitive and social mix along with the wonderful venue of Kinsale provides all the ingredients necessary to make a memorable dual National Championships Event.'

Squib regatta director Ian Travers and Keith O'Riordan sailing Outlaw in Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

Early entries have the added incentive that One early bird entry will receive a full refund in a draw that will take place in early January. A specially discounted under-25 entry fee is offered to encourage participation.

Kinsale Yacht Club's October/November White Sails series has six boats entered in the IRC 1 fleet where the leader is Anthony O'Brien's White Tiger, with Meridian (Thomas Roche) second and Valfreya (M.Leonard/D.Riome) third. The IRC 2 leader is Patrick Beckett's, Miss Charlie.

ECHO 1 fleet has eleven entries and is also led by White Tiger with Nadie (Stephen McCarthy) second and Meridian third.

ECHO 2 has nine entries, the leader is Martin Hargrove's Deboah, second Miss Charlie and third Atlantis II (Ted Power).

Racing will continue until November 14 with First Gun each day at 1355.

Kinsale Yacht Club plans for an Under 25 sailing team are progressing in West Cork. 

The plan is to acquire a suitable yacht (most likely a J/24) that will compete on the under 25 keelboat circuit around Ireland.

It follows expressions of interest and 'considerable support' from many KYC members.

Ten U25 sailors (5 male and 5 female) under the leadership of Team Captain Mikey Carroll are already putting their own fundraising plans in place to finance the team, according to former KYC Commodore Dave Sullivan, who is the U25 Team Mentor.

As Afloat reported previously, Skerries Sailing Club in north Dublin recently purchased J/24s for a similar purpose.

The Laser End of Season regatta sponsored by Matthews of Cork concluded at Kinsale Yacht Club yesterday with Munster sailors taking the prizes in each of the three rig divisions after four races sailed in the 63-boat fleet. 

The PRO, John Stallard, who successfully complete the Saturday schedule cancelled Sunday racing due to weather forecasts.

Kinsale Yacht Club's own Micheal O'Suilleabhain was the winner of the 11-boat standard division. O'Suilleabhain was two points clear of Paddy Cunnane from Tralee Bay. Kinsale's George Kingston was third, four points behind Cunnane.

In the 24-boat Radial fleet, Royal Cork's Michael Crosbie was four points clear at the top from Royal St George YC's Fiachra McDonnell. RCYC's Jonathan O'Shaughnessy was third.

In the biggest fleet of the end of season regatta, 4.7 Youth helmswoman Eimer McMorrow Moriarty of Tralee Bay Sailing Club beat Christian Ennis of the National YC. Mauro Noguerol of RCYC was third. 

The results are here

Neil Hegarty, Peter Bowring and David Williams in Phantom held on to the overall lead during Day three of the O'Leary Life Irish Dragon National Championships.

14 knots of easterly wind and a reduced swell made for near-perfect sailing conditions.

The Royal St. George Phantom was caught OCS in race 5, restarted, and sailed a tactically perfect race to come second. Local boat Ghost took the lead on the first run by coming down the right-hand side of the course. They held on to the lead to take first. Serafina with the Murphy brothers and Brian Goggin secured third.

Race 6 started with slightly lighter winds of 8 – 10 knots. Serafina and Little Fella were jockeying for first place; Serafina held them off and took line honours. Phantom and Ghost were tick tacking for third – Ghost got ahead, leaving Phantom in fourth.
Nothing is certain in the top four places, so the Irish National Dragon Champion 2021 and second and third will be decided in the final race. Testament to the close racing enjoyed over the last three days.

Click here for results. See photo galleries here and day two here

Local ace Cameron Good leads a fleet of 15 after day one of the O’Leary Life Irish Dragon Championship at Kinsale Yacht Club.

Race 1 got underway with an easterly wind blowing 16 – 18 knots and a 2-metre swell making for heavy conditions.

The local KYC fleet dominated from the off with TBD, James Matthews KYC, in the lead followed closely by Little Fella, Cameron Good KYC, hot on their heels. Serafina, Brian Goggin KYC, was 3rd with a newcomer to the fleet, Ghost, Colm Dunne in 4th.

Aphrodite from Glandore Harbour Sailing Club retired following a MOB incident with the crew recovered safe and well.

Race 2 and TBD was pushing the line at the start resulting in them being OCS and by the time they were able to return to restart they had lost a lot of time. However, they managed to catch the fleet and ended up with a 9th. Phantom, Neil Hegarty RStGYC, had a good start and stayed ahead of Little Fella to take line honours, Little Fella was 2nd, Ghost was 3rd and Serafina 4th.

Today ended with Little Fella lying in first place with 4 points, Phantom has 6 and Serafina and Ghost each have 7.

The heavy conditions suited some boats today, but it is early in the championship and there are lighter conditions forecast for tomorrow which may suit more of the fleet.

Results are here 

Dragon Nationals Photo Gallery Day One By Bob Bateman

It was a one, two overall for the J109 design in this weekend's Kinsale Yacht Club SCORA Fastnet Race. 

Royal Cork yacht Jelly Baby claimed a victory in a corrected time of 21 hours:13 minutes: 26 seconds from the host club's Artful Dodger (Finbarr O'Regan) on 21:24:34 corrected in a race that was shortened due to light winds.

The defending champion Nieulargo, a Grand Soleil 40, finished third on a corrected time of 21:36:02

Artful DodJer (IRL1713) from Kinsale Yacht Club skippered by Finbarr O'Regan Photo: Bob Bateman

As Afloat reported yesterday, after a well-timed postponement the nine-boat Kinsale Yacht Club SCORA Fastnet Race got away in a great breeze at 10 am on Saturday morning for its annual offshore race.

Royal Cork's Nieulargo (IRL2129) skippered by Denis Murphy Photo: Bob Bateman

The fleet, sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland, rounded the much closer Kowloon Bridge south cardinal buoy instead of the Fastnet rock.

Full results are here

Bob Bateman's Kinsale/SCORA Fastnet Race Photo Gallery

Kinsale Yacht Club is hosting the Squib South Coast Championships this weekend.

Racing on Saturday and Sunday will be between the Old Head and the Sovereign Islands of Kinsale Harbour.

As Afloat reported previously, the Squib Northern Championships on Belfast Lough was won last month by locals Greg Bell and Jayne Kearney in Prodigal who stamped their authority on the 17 strong fleet.

Meanwhile, the Squibs Summer Series at Kinsale YC has ten boats racing and is being led by Michael O'Sullivan's Mucky Duck on 16 points, followed by Bobby Nash and Dave Ross in Flora on 22 and Kevin Downing's Grey Matter on 30.

Due to the light winds forecast for Friday night, Kinsale Yacht Club has postponed the SCORA Kinsale Fastnet race until Saturday morning. 

Sailing secretary David Cullinane told Afloat "We have decided to postpone until Saturday 17th July. First Gun will be 10:55"

As Afloat reported previously, Kinsale has increased interest in the UK Sailmakers sponsored event this year with boats from Dublin, Waterford as well as the Cork clubs taking part.

Kinsale Yacht Club has increased interest in this weekend's Fastnet race in association with SCORA Photo: Bob Bateman

The arrival of two Half Tonners into the fleet, namely George Radley's Cortegada and Ronan Downing’s Miss Whiplash, will add extra spice to Saturday's race against some of the larger cruiser racers, especially if the forecasted light winds prevail.

The latest KYC amendment is detailed here

South coast J109 sisterships Artful Dodjer (above) and Jelly Baby (below) are both racing round the Fastnet Rock this Saturday