There are only a few harbours in Ireland where you get the feeling that the land is effortlessly embracing the sea rather than endlessly battling it, but Kinsale is undoubtedly one of them.

The picturesque port town provides a gentle interaction which is emphasised at Christmas, when the long nights bring the opportunity for the festive lights afloat and ashore to blend with one another in a maritime display of faith, hope and love.

Boats at Kinsale marina are lit up for Christmas 2020. Photo by KYC Commodore Mike Walsh

The details of a revised plan for the O'Leary Insurance Group Sovereign's Cup 2021 have been published by Kinsale Yacht Club together with a Notice of Race (NOR).

The Notice of Race is downloadable below as a PDF document (2mb)

Sovereign's Cup Regatta Director Anthony O'Neill has outlined how plans for the event, which is to take place from 23rd to 26th June 2021, have been revised and the reasons for doing so.

"We are all only too aware of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions necessary to curtail the spread of infection. We also know that this has led to the cancellation of many planned events this year. Given the potential uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that may be required at the time of this event, the target number of entries will be 50 boats".

This total number of boats may, at the discretion of the Organising Authority (KYC), be increased in order to have a reasonable number of boats in each division and at the same time remain compliant with Covid-19 guidelines in effect at the time of the event. It is intended that boats will be participating in IRC Classes 0, 1, 2, Coastal and White-sail.

Our reason for making this revision to our plans for the event is driven by the potential uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that may be required at different times during 2021. We are taking the prudent approach that will allow maximum flexibility to proceed with the event given the capacity of our clubhouse and marina.

In addition, our clubhouse may be restricted to booked table service only for food and beverages. Given that our marina is in the town we are confident that the local hotels, restaurants and bars will cater for the participants not accommodated in our clubhouse.

If the prevailing Covid-19 restrictions next June are such that we have no option but to cancel the event all competitors will be refunded their entry fees in full.

Registration opens on January 5th here

Listen to Sovereign's Cup Regatta Director Anthony O'Neill's July podcast with Tom MacSweeney here

Tralee Bay Sailing Club's Paddy Cunnane leads an 11-strong Standard division at a 60-boat Munster Laser Championships in Kinsale Yacht Club. 

The Kerry solo sailor leads Royal Cork Yacht Club Master Nick Walsh by dint of his victory in the last race of four sailed yesterday. 

Walsh's clubmate Edward Rice, another Master sailor, lies third.

Significantly, the KYC event, under Race Officer John Stallard, sailed enough races on the first day to constitute a championship in case today's big wind forecast cancels the championships.

The Laser sailors gather for the KYC briefing ahead of the Munster Championships Photo: Bob Bateman

4.7s

In the 4.7 division, youth James Dwyer tops the leaderboard on three points, the former Optimist ace is the first of nine Royal Cork Yacht Club boats that dominate the 26-boat fleet. Second is Harry Twomey on 6 points with Justin Lucas third on ten points.

Radials

The host club's Micheal O'Suilleabhain on three points leads the Radials by four points from RCYC's Michael Crosbie. Jonathan O'Shaughnessy lies third on nine points. 

As Afloat reported earlier, the dinghy class proceeded with its County Cork Championship on a restricted basis and asked Dublin and Donegal sailors, currently under Level 3 Covid partial lockdown, not to attend.

Results are here

Bob Bateman's Laser Munsters Photo Slideshow

Finbarr O'Regan's Elan 333 leads IRC One in the Kinsale Yacht Club 'Mary P' September Saturday Series for cruisers after yesterday's first light airs race. O'Regan leads Thomas Roche's Salona 45 Meridien in second. Third from four starters is Conor Doyle's Xp 50, Freya. 

In IRC Two, the Sigma 33 Valfreya (Riome & Leonard) leads Padraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon. 

The ECHO White Sail division is led by John Twomey's Blazer 23, Shillelagh.

Dave Sullivan sailing the XC42 Cimarron is second in the White Sail Fleet in the Mary P September league Photo: Bob Bateman

The results are here

Bob Bateman's Kinsale Yacht Club September Series Day One Slideshow below

Kinsale Yacht Club has announced that the Cantor Fitzgerald Dragon Week, which was scheduled to take place in lieu of the earlier Gold Cup event has now also been cancelled.

Speaking of the announcement, Matthias Hellstern, Rear Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club stated "It's a real shame that we have to cancel another Dragon event in Kinsale, however, we looked closely at the new Government restrictions and felt that we really couldn't work within the guidelines and still provide an exceptional event, which Kinsale is noted for. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cantor Fitzgerald for their support and of our decision. We very much look forward to working with them again in the near future".

Daniel Murphy of Cantor Fitzgerald added "As a Dragon sailor, I am really disappointed that Dragon Week is cancelled. I know Kinsale Yacht Club had put so much plans in place for the week and its volunteers had once again come to the fore, to ensure its success. However, given where we are with regard to this Covid-19 pandemic, we fully support Kinsale Yacht Club's decision".

A nine boat fleet started tonight off the Charles Fort line in the SCORA and Kinsale Yacht Club 100-mile Fastnet Race.

As previously reported, the fleet was a mix of south coast cruisers, including three from Royal Cork, mixed with some high powered entries that had their sights on next month's now-cancelled Round Ireland Race.

Annamarie and Denis Murphy's Grand Soliel 40, Nieulargo was first out of the harbour in a 10-12 knot south-westerly breeze.

Download the full entry list below for the UK Sailmakers Ireland sponsored race.

Among the front runners for the 100-mile race is Nieulargo that was also racing last night in Royal Cork's July league in Cork Harbour. Also starting as a contender was Cian McCarthy's new Sunfast 3300, Cinnamon Girl that attracted a lot of interest from spectators.

Making the trip from Dublin Bay was John Treanor's Grand Soleil 34 Justina from the National Yacht Club.

KYC will award the Fastnet Trophy to the yacht with the lowest corrected time in IRC. The Ocean Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht with the second-lowest corrected time in IRC. The Minihane Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht with the lowest corrected time in Echo.

The race time limit is 1500 hours on Saturday.

Following the recent announcement of the Cantor Fitzgerald Dragon Week, enquires and interest has steadily been making their way back to the Kinsale fleet in West Cork.

Kinsale Yacht Club is hopeful that the “green list” will allow UK travel by September as several UK teams have indicated their intention to travel.

Kinsale Yacht Club dragon sailors should have seven boats competing with long time Dragon campaigner Cameron Good along with his crew on “Little Fella” will be hoping to lift the National title, the one championship that has eluded this team over their illustrious career

Other Kinsale hopefuls will be the Goggin/ Murphy team on “Serafina” along with “TBD” made up of experienced campaigners James Matthews, Dave Good and Fergal O’Hanlon.

Glandore Harbour has indicated that five teams are hopeful of making the short journey down the coast and no doubt multiple national championship winners “Phanton” from Dublin will be in Kinsale to defend their crown. The class rumour mill has also been in overdrive recently with suggestions that Royal St. George's Michael Cotter together with Belfast Lough's Simon Brien and Davy Gomes are to sail the Dragon, “Whisper” for the week!

The “Cantor Fitzgerald Dragon Week” will run in the following format:

• South Coat Championships - Saturday 5th – Monday 7th September
• Lay Day – Tuesday 8th September
• National Championships – Wednesday 9th – Saturday 12th September

Yachts that were aiming to compete in the now-cancelled Round Ireland Race are among an expected 12-boat line-up that will contest tonight's Kinsale Yacht Club Fastnet Race sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland.

Among the front runners for the 100-mile race are Annamarie and Denis Murphy's Grand Soliel 40, Nieulargo that was also racing last night in Royal Cork's July league in Cork Harbour. Also starting as a contender is Cian McCarthy's new Sunfast 3300, Cinnamon Girl.

Making the trip from Dublin Bay is John Treanor's Grand Soleil 34 Justina from the National Yacht Club.

John Treanor's Justina has made the trip from Dublin Bay for the KYC Fastnet Race Photo: Afloat

Kinsale entries are expected to include Finbarr O'Regan's Artful Dodger and Tom Roche's Meridian.

The race will have an all-in start with the first gun at 6.25 pm off the Charles Fort line.

KYC will award the Fastnet Trophy to the yacht with the lowest corrected time in IRC. The Ocean Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht with the second-lowest corrected time in IRC. The Minihane Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht with the lowest corrected time in Echo. If

The forecast is for light to medium south-west winds.

Anthony O’Neill has been sailing Dragons for twenty years. In September he would have been racing in the Dragons’ major international event, the Gold Cup, which had been scheduled for Kinsale. The pandemic stopped that. Now he has been appointed to a new role as the Director of Kinsale Yacht Club’s premier event, the Sovereigns Cup, which it runs every two years.

His first task has been to secure sponsorship which has come from the company run by a man who has won the event a few times – Anthony O’Leary. Major events need such support and the many cancellations forced on the sport this year due to COVID 19 have had their impact as companies review commitments. However, with O’Leary Insurances aboard, the new Director is now busy on two fronts.

In his on-the-water competitive role, he’ll be taking part in the Dragon Week which the Kinsale club will run from September 5-12, replacing the Gold Cup.

“That will be interesting and enjoyable. We were well keyed-up for the Gold Cup, but we’ll have our competitive week and get in some good sailing. They’re a great boat and there’s a lot of members of the class just wanting to get into the competition and enjoyment of the week ahead in September after the disappointment of the cancellation.”

In his directorial role for the Sovereigns Cup, he is already working on the Notice of Race for the event next June. That will be issued by December and entries will open in the New Year.

Anthony O’Neill is my Podcast guest this week. He is hopeful that there will be a carry-over to next year from the disappointments of this year’s sailing event which will bring more people onto the water in competitive events. The target for the Sovereigns Cup is 100 entries and work towards that is already underway he tells me.

Listen to this week’s Podcast below

Kinsale Yacht Club is welcoming welcome back the O’Leary Insurance Group as headline sponsors of its Sovereigns Cup 2021.

The other major regatta news from Kinsale this week is that Anthony O’Neill has been appointed Regatta Director for next edition. Welcoming the news, Commodore Michael Walsh reported that work is well underway into the organisation of the 2021 regatta saying “We look forward to welcoming all competitors to Kinsale Yacht Club in June for the 14th edition of the Sovereigns Cup. It’s fantastic to welcome back the O’Leary Insurance Group as headline sponsor and am personally delighted to see Anthony O’Neill take the helm as the regatta director for the event”

Speaking of his appointment Anthony O’Neill commented “I’m honoured to have been asked to head up the organising committee for next year’s Sovereigns Cup. I have competed in the event many times over the years and look forward to welcoming many cruiser/ racers as well as one-design classes to Kinsale next June. I am also especially thankful to the O’Leary Insurance Group for their support. This is the third Sovereigns Cup in a row that they have been title sponsors and we are all delighted to welcome them back”

Robert Kennedy of the O’Leary Insurance Group added, “Brian and I were delighted to be asked here this evening for this photoshoot to welcome Anthony into his role and also to acknowledge the wonderful relationship the O’Leary Insurance Group and Kinsale Yacht Club have built up over the past number of years. Sovereigns Cup is a unique event, in the unique setting of Kinsale and we very much look forward to working with Anthony and his team to ensure the success of Sovereigns Cup 2021”

This will be the 14th Sovereigns Cup which started in 1995 and runs biennially. The event runs from the 23rd to the 26th of June 2021.