At the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Fiona Young’s Albin Express, North Star, is leading the IRC Spinnaker Division of the June League, with Michael McCann’s Etchells, Don’t Dilly Dally second and the Sunfast 32, Bad Company, of Desmond/Ivers/Keane, third.

The Club ECHO Spinnaker Division is led by Wan and Eric Waterman’s X37 Saxon Senator, with North Star second and Bad Company third.

IRC and ECHO White Sails leader is Pat Vaughan’s Contessa 33, Aramis, with Sean Hanley’s HB 31 Luas second and also holding third place in ECHO.

Kieran O’Brien’s Magnet is third in IRC. In ECHO White Sails Paul O’Shea’s Elegance, a Sun Odyssey, is in second place.

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Alex Barry took third overall at the 505 British National Championships at Brixham Yacht Club on the south coast of England at the weekend.

After ten races sailed with two discards, Barry, sailing with Harry Briddon of Ogston Sailing Club, finished on an equal 30 points with Roger Gilbert and Ben McGrane of Frensham Pond but the RCYC ace took the podium place after the tie-break rule had been applied. 

Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel of Santa Cruz YC won overall on 12 points with Nathan Batchelor and Sam Pascoe from Tynemouth SC runners-up. 

The top performance couldn't be better timed as Barry prepares to contest the World 505 Championships on home waters this August. 

The placing represents a consistent showing for the Cork Harbour sailor, who has now finished on the podium in three British Championships. He finished second in 2013 and third in 2014.

And in further good news for Munster 505 interests, National 18 class captain Charles Dwyer crewing for the UK's Ian Pinnell, finished fifth overall at Brixham. 

Full results here

Royal Cork YC has just announced the cancellation of racing tonight (Friday). The second evening race in the June White Sail League was due to be raced with 1855 as First Gun.

Wind speeds in Cork Harbour are gusting to 35 knots at present.

The May League Trophy Winners at the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) evening league cruiser series in Cork Harbour in the Thursday League IRC Spinnaker division was Michael McCann's Etchells 22 Don’t Dilly Dally.

The ECHO Spinnaker division victor was the Sunfast 32, Bad Company, Desmond/Ivors/Keane. The IRC White Sails winners was the MG335 Magnet skippered by Kieran O’Brien.

The ECHO handicap White Sails victory went to Frank Caul's Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides. The IHS Friday Night White Sails was won by Labous Gewn, Darren O Keeffe.

Frank Caul's Grand Soleil 37B Prince of Tides won the First Sloop Flotilla Salver Photo: Bob Bateman

RCYC May Trophy winners

• IRC WhiteSail – ‘Magnet’ – Kieran O Brien. Trophy = Camden Challenge Cup.
• ECHO WhiteSail – ‘Prince of Tides’ – Frank Caul. Trophy = First Sloop Flotilla Salver.
• IRC Spinnaker – ‘Don't Dilly Dally’ – Michael McCann. Trophy = Admiral Doyle Silver Plate.
• ECHO Spinnaker – ‘Bad Company’ – Desmond/Ivors/Keane Trophy = Belville Cup.
• IHS Friday night WhiteSail – ‘Labous Gewn’ – Darren O Keeffe. Trophy = Sans Souci Cup.

Racing continues at RCYC for the Thursday night and Friday night Leagues starting at the Grassy Walk area.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour and the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth, England are delighted to announce that the historic race between the two ports, most recently run in the late ’90s, is to be revived this summer, starting at 2100hrs on 7th July 2022 off Pendennis Point.

THE PRINCE OF WALES’S 300TH ANNIVERSARY TROPHY

In 2022, the overall race winner will be the inaugural recipient of a specially commissioned perpetual trophy donated by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, to the Royal Cork Yacht Club to mark its 2020 tricentenary and recognise the very close relationship between the sailing communities of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Kieran O’Connell, Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club

Commenting on the announcement, Kieran O’Connell, Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, paid tribute to his counterpart at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Commodore Sarah Hancock and the members and volunteers at the RCYC in Falmouth who have been so generous with their support for the race.  He also expressed his deep appreciation to His Royal Highness for his commitment to the provision of an impressive trophy for the race, which will be delivered to Cork in time for the prizegiving.

His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales

Royal Cork Yacht Club

Commodore Hancock of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club said “I am personally delighted to see the race reintroduced as I was on the winning boat in the Falmouth to Cork race in 1984 and I am particularly pleased that the Royal Cork Yacht Club has decided that the winner of the race on this occasion will be the inaugural recipient of the Prince of Wales’s 300th Anniversary Trophy” – noting that His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, is Royal Patron to the Falmouth based yacht club.

Royal Cornwall Yacht Club

THE COURSE

The 180nm course will provide competitors with a mix of strategic coastal navigation and challenging open water sailing on the passage between Falmouth and Cork.

The race is set to start at Falmouth at 2100hrs on Thursday 7th July and competitors are expected to reach Cork late on Friday night, where they will be welcomed by the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.

VOLVO CORK WEEK 2022

It is anticipated that boats and sailors interested in the Falmouth to Cork race may also compete at Volvo Cork Week 2022, the latest edition of the biennial regatta run by the Royal Cork since 1978, which will be held in Cork Harbour from 11th to 15th July. Co-chairman of Volvo Cork Week 2022 and Regatta Race Director Ross Deasy commented that there has been strong interest from Volvo Cork Week entries in this exciting race from Falmouth and, given the attractions of a wonderful new trophy for the winner, he is sure that the standard of the fleet will be high.

Run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club for its junior and youth sailors, Sunday's fun Coolmore race for dinghies started off Coolmore House near Rabbit Island in Cork Harbour and finished in front of the RCYC clubhouse at high tide.

This year the race was sponsored by local handcraft furniture and kitchen company House of Coolmore.

The club’s particular interest in promoting ‘mixed dinghies’ racing was reflected as a section within the race which included Optimists, Toppers and Lasers.

There were three separate starts from 1730 hours in front of the Coolmore Estate. The first for 29ers skiffs and Fireflies, the second for Toppers and the third start for younger Optimist sailors.

The race is about 3 km long and boats usually get a tow up and come down with the tide. It's a very sheltered course leading to light spots in places.

For the first time, the event incorporated the inaugural Coolmore Kayak and SUP (stand up paddleboards) Run for adults and juniors.

The Carrigaline-Crosshaven walk and cycleway runs alongside the river and provided lots of race course observation points.

Coolmore Race 2022 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Fresh from his IODAI Optimist Trials success at Ballyholme at Easter, Royal Cork's Oisin Pierse has taken the overall lead on home waters at the Optimist Munster Championships after four races sailed in the 46-boat senior fleet. 

119 boats in three fleets are contesting the Championships hosted by Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven this weekend.

On six points, Malahide Yacht Club's Conor Cronin lies second to Pierse with Royal St. George Yacht Club's Carolina Carra in third place on eight points. 

Both junior and senior fleets sailed the same course (with separate starts) on the Curlane bank in Cork Harbour.

Southwest winds of eight knots with gusts of 12/14 made for ideal sailing conditions for the youth sailors. 

Peter Crowley in his Committee Vessel Sparetime was in charge of both fleets with Race Officer Tom Crosbie in charge of the Regatta fleet and also racing on the Curlane Bank. 

Malahide Yacht Club's Juliet Ryan took two wins from four races ins the Junior fleet of the Optimist Munster Championships at Royal Cork Photo: Bob Bateman

In the Junior fleet, Malahide Yacht Club's Juliet Ryan leads on  5.0 points from Royal St. George Yacht Club's Max O'Hare Third is Royal Cork's Dougie Venner. 

Racing continues for all fleets on Sunday.

Results are here

Bob Bateman's Optimist Munster Championships Photo Gallery

Run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club for its young club members, the race starts off Coolmore House near Rabbit Island in Cork Harbour and finishes in front of the RCYC clubhouse.

The Carrigaline-Crosshaven walk and cycle way runs alongside the river and provides lots of observation points.

The RCYC has announced that this year’s race will be sailed on Sunday, May 28, sponsored by local company ‘House of Coolmore’.

The club’s particular interest in promoting ‘mixed dinghies’ racing will be reflected as a section within the race which will include Optimists, Toppers and Lasers. For the first time the event will incorporate the inaugural Coolmore Kayak and SUP (stand up paddleboards) Run for adults and juniors.

“This is always a great evening. We encourage all our junior sailors, particularly those who recently joined to partake. First gun will be at 17:30hrs in front of Coolmore Estate with launching at the club from 16:30hrs and a tow upriver if required. With high tide at 17:50, racing will finish in front of the club,” says the RCYC race notice. “The following dinghies are available for hire from the club. Oppies, Toppers, Magnos, Topaz, Lasers and Kayaks. Contact the club office to book a dinghy. It would be great to see sailors sail a dinghy other than the one they sail regularly, to team-up with clubmates to sail one of the 2-handed club dinghies, or borrow one. Parents are encouraged to enter a Kayak or SUP and take part in the occasion.

There is no entry fee for the race, which is for RCYC club members only.

With many Royal Cork boats away competing at the Kinsale Yacht Club Spring league, as well as a large club contingent at the Ballyholme Youth Nationals this weekend, turnout was low for the opening white sail race of the 2022 season.

Four boats came to the line, however, in a brisk north easterly breeze.

Three 1720 sportsboats were also out from the Crosshaven club competing on their own harbour course.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club has appointed a long-time club member to a new full-time role as Head of Sailing Development

Eddie Rice has been a long time Crosshaven club member, competing and winning in the Laser, National 18 and Keelboat fleets and currently serves on the Irish Laser Association committee

He will work with club General Manager Gavin Deane, fellow club staff and the club Committees on the following areas;

Planning and orchestrating class coaching, including that of the Under 25 keelboat programme and the Adult Sailing Programme

Providing the schedule and programming for junior classes to include: training programs, target events and guidance on advancement from class-to-class for junior sailors with delivery of class racing in season.

Assisting youth sailors in identifying an appropriate class for their sailing desire and assist sailors’ transition through the classes and identifying suitable next moves at an early stage

Continuing development of Team Racing, Under 25 Keelboat Racing, Junior Sailing Academy, multi-handed dinghy sailing

Providing and delivering a structure for developing Club Coaches to achieve a best-in-class approach with our home-grown coaches. Welcome and support guest coaches in their requirements at clinics

Assisting the Junior Organiser with the recruitment of instructors for the sailing courses and the sailing course roll-out with the Senior Instructor appointed
In conjunction with the Club officials, managing the Club fleet of sailing dinghies and keelboats, ensuring they are maintained to an appropriate standard

Developing the process for members to access these boats through rental or programme.