RCYC Under-25s Take Triple Win in Winter League Opener

1st November 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Royal Cork Yacht Club Under-25 crew racing J/24 Jambalaya on Cork Harbour during the opening day of the 2026 Brown & Brown Winter League

Winter Winners – The Royal Cork Yacht Club Under-25 crew aboard the J/24 Jambalaya secured victories under IRC, ECHO and trial ORC scoring on the opening day of the Brown & Brown Winter League in Cork Harbour Credit: Robert Bateman

The Royal Cork Yacht Club's Under-25 team made a winning start to the Brown & Brown-sponsored Winter League on Sunday (1 November), taking first place under three handicap systems aboard the J/24 Jambalaya in bright sunshine on Cork Harbour.

Racing in a northerly breeze of 12–14 knots, with occasional easterly shifts, the fleet enjoyed clear blue skies and a testing course set by race officer Michael McCann. The return of spinnaker racing to the Winter League had been previewed ahead of the opening fixture.

The opening day's provisional results, published at 15:34 GMT, show different winners across the spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions, with IRC, ECHO and trial ORC scoring producing contrasting finishing orders.

Jambalaya Wins Three Ways

The RCYC Under-25 crew aboard Jambalaya won Spinnaker IRC by just 21 seconds on corrected time from Brian Jones's J/109 Tighey Boy. The J/24 recorded 1:25:11 against 1:25:32 for Tighey Boy, while John and Ronan Downing's Miss Whiplash was third on 1:25:45, only 34 seconds behind the winner.

Close Contest – Brian Jones's J/109 Tighey Boy took second place in Spinnaker IRC at the Brown & Brown RCYC Winter League opener, finishing just 21 seconds behind the winning J/24 Jambalaya on corrected time. Photo: Robert Bateman

Frank Caul's Grand Soleil 37 Princes of Tides was fourth, 49 seconds behind, followed by Brian Twomey's Cork 1720 Dark Side, 56 seconds adrift. Tighey Boy sailed the course in 1:25:42 elapsed time against Jambalaya's 1:37:21, but the handicap correction reversed their order.

Dark Side Rising – Brian Twomey's Cork 1720 Dark Side finished fifth in Spinnaker IRC but moved up to third under ECHO scoring on the opening day of the Brown & Brown RCYC Winter League. Photo: Robert Bateman

Under Spinnaker ECHO, Jambalaya again won ahead of Tighey Boy, with Dark Side third. The Spinnaker ORC trial also placed Jambalaya first, followed by Miss Whiplash and Tighey Boy.

Ellida Wins Non-Spinnaker IRC

Ellida's Early Lead – Ria Lyden's X-332 Ellida won the Non-Spinnaker IRC division of the Brown & Brown RCYC Winter League opener on Cork Harbour, finishing 3 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Cavatina on corrected time. Photo: Robert Bateman

Ria Lyden's X-332 Ellida won Non-Spinnaker IRC on corrected time of 1:24:57, 3 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Ian Hickey's Granada 38 Cavatina. Kieran and Fiorentina O'Brien's MG 335 Magnet was third, another 1 minute 6 seconds behind. Dave Hennessy's Holly Blue and the 22 Club's Apache completed the top five.

Of 18 boats listed in Non-Spinnaker IRC, 13 recorded finishing times and five were marked DNC in the provisional results.

Split Point and Magnet Lead Other Ratings

Non-Spinnaker ECHO produced a different winner: Seamus Gilroy's Dufour 34 Performance Split Point, ahead of John O'Connor's Impala 28 Fast Buck. IRC winner Ellida was third, followed by Mike Rider's Freya and Cavatina.

In the Non-Spinnaker ORC trial, Magnet won, while Holly Blue and Paddy Good's Laser 28 Summer Light shared second place. These trial standings cover fewer boats than the principal handicap divisions and should not be treated as directly comparable fleet-wide results.

Strong Ebb Tide Shapes the Course

Most boats favoured the eastern side of Cork Harbour on the first beat towards Cuskinny, avoiding the strong ebb tide. McCann's course began with a shore-based starting line and used marks off Cuskinny and within the harbour before taking the fleet outside to W4 and back towards the Cage finish. Northerly winds with occasional easterly puffs added to the tactical decisions.

The results remain provisional.

Full Provisional Results — Race 1, 1 November 2026

Spinnaker IRC

1. Jambalaya (RCYC U25), 1:25:11; 2. Tighey Boy (Brian Jones), 1:25:32; 3. Miss Whiplash (John & Ronan Downing), 1:25:45; 4. Princes of Tides (Frank Caul), 1:26:00; 5. Dark Side (Brian Twomey), 1:26:07; 6. Anchor Challenge (Conor Phelan), 1:26:24; 7. Jalapeno (James Donegan), 1:29:06; 8. Bateleur 88 (Pat Tanner), 1:29:37; 9. RCYC 1720 (RCYC U25), 1:49:15.

Spinnaker ECHO

1. Jambalaya; 2. Tighey Boy; 3. Dark Side; 4. Princes of Tides; 5. Anchor Challenge; 6. Jalapeno; 7. Miss Whiplash; 8. Bateleur 88; 9. RCYC 1720.

Spinnaker ORC Trial

1. Jambalaya; 2. Miss Whiplash; 3. Tighey Boy; 4. Princes of Tides; 5. Jalapeno; 6. Bateleur 88; 7. Cavatina; 8. Anteex. The trial table includes two non-spinnaker boats.

Non-Spinnaker IRC

1. Ellida (Ria Lyden), 1:24:57; 2. Cavatina (Ian Hickey), 1:28:08; 3. Magnet (Kieran & Fiorentina O'Brien), 1:29:14; 4. Holly Blue (Dave Hennessy), 1:32:30; 5. Apache (22 Club), 1:32:36; 6. Summer Light (Paddy Good), 1:33:37; 7. Siamsa (Sean Hanley), 1:35:05; 8. Split Point (Seamus Gilroy), 1:36:11; 9. Fire Diamond (Mark Ring), 1:37:16; 10. Impulsive (Antony Keating), 1:38:41; 11. Anteex (Dan Murphy / James O Mahony), 1:39:10; 12. Piper Sound (Eddie Kingston), 1:48:20; 13. Musketeer (James Kelleher & Gary O Neil), 1:54:17. DNC: Morning After, Lapwing, Ejine, Big Mac, North Star.

Non-Spinnaker ECHO

1. Split Point (Seamus Gilroy); 2. Fast Buck (John O'Connor); 3. Ellida (Ria Lyden); 4. Freya (Mike Rider); 5. Cavatina (Ian Hickey); 6. Magnet (Kieran & Fiorentina O'Brien); 7. Apache (22 Club); 8. Holly Blue (Dave Hennessy); 9. Fire Diamond (Mark Ring); 10. Summer Light (Paddy Good); 11. Eril (Richard Lord); 12. Siamsa (Sean Hanley); 13. Elegance (Paul O Shea); 14. Impulsive (Antony Keating); 15. Anteex (Dan Murphy / James O Mahony); 16. Stingray (Kieran O Halloran); 17. Piper Sound (Eddie Kingston); 18. Musketeer (James Kelleher & Gary O Neil). DNC (joint 19th): Morning After, Lapwing, Ejine, Big Mac, North Star.

Non-Spinnaker ORC Trial

1. Magnet (Kieran & Fiorentina O'Brien); equal 2. Holly Blue (Dave Hennessy) and Summer Light (Paddy Good); 4. Siamsa (Sean Hanley); 5. Piper Sound (Eddie Kingston). DNC (joint 6th): Morning After, Ejine, North Star.

Source: official SailScoring provisional results, as captured at 15:34 GMT on 1 November 2026.

RCYC Winter League Photo Gallery Day One by Bob and Chris Bateman

Race Results

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Royal Cork Yacht Club

Royal Cork Yacht Club lays claim to the title of the world's oldest yacht club, founded in 1720.

It is currently located in Crosshaven, Co. Cork, Ireland and is Cork Harbour’s largest yacht club and the biggest sailing club on the south coast of Ireland.

The club has an international reputation for the staging of sailing events most notable the biennial world famous Cork Week Regatta.

In 2020 RCYC celebrated its tricentenary under its Admiral Colin Morehead.

Royal Cork Yacht Club FAQs

What is the Royal Cork Yacht Club?

The Royal Cork Yacht Club is the oldest yacht club in the world, and celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2020. It is one of the World’s leading yacht clubs, and is in the forefront of all branches of sailing activity. It is the organiser of the biennial Cork Week, widely regarded as Europe’s premier sailing event. It has hosted many National, European and World Championships. Its members compete at the highest level in all branches of sailing, and the club has a number of World, Olympic, continental and national sailors among its membership.

Where is the Royal Cork Yacht Club based?

The Royal Cork Yacht club is in Crosshaven, Co Cork, a village on lower Cork Harbour some 20km south-east of Cork city centre and on the Owenabue river that flows into Cork Harbour.

When was the Royal Cork Yacht Club founded?

The club was founded as The Water Club of the Harbour of Cork in 1720, in recognition of the growing popularity of private sailing following the Restoration of King Charles II. The monarch had been known to sail a yacht on the Thames for pleasure, and his interest is said to have inspired Murrough O’Brien, the 6th Lord Inchiquin — who attended his court in the 1660s and whose grandson, William O’Brien, the 9th Lord Inchiquin, founded the club with five friends.Originally based on Haulbowline Island in inner Cork Harbour, the club moved to nearby Cobh (then Cove) in 1806, and took on its current name in 1831. In 1966 the club merged with the Royal Munster Yacht Club and moved to its current premises in Crosshaven.

What does the Royal Cork Yacht Club do?

The Royal Cork Yacht Club today encompasses a wide variety of sailing activities, from young kids in their Optimist dinghies sailing right through the winter months to the not-so-young kids racing National 18s and 1720s during the remaining nine months. There is also enthusiastic sailing in Toppers, Lasers, RS Fevas and other dinghies. The larger keelboats race on various courses set in and around the Cork Harbour area for club competitions. They also take part in events such as the Round Ireland Race, Cowes Week and the Fastnet Race. In many far off waters, right across the globe, overseas club members proudly sail under the Royal Cork burger. The club has a significant number of cruising members, many of whom are content to sail our magnificent south and west coasts. Others head north for the Scottish islands and Scandinavia. Some go south to France, Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean. The more adventurous have crossed the Atlantic, explored little known places in the Pacific and Indian Oceans while others have circumnavigated the globe.

Who are the flag officers of the Royal Cork Yacht Club?

As of November 2020, the Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club is Colin Morehead, with Kieran O’Connell as Vice-Admiral. The club has three Rear-Admirals: Annamarie Fegan for Dinghies, Daragh Connolly for Keelboats and Mark Rider for Cruising.

How many members does the Royal Cork Yacht Club have?

As of November 2020, the Royal Cork Yacht Club has approximately 1,800 members.

What are the Royal Cork Yacht Club’s burgee and ensign?

The Royal Cork Yacht Club’s burgee is a red pennant with the heraldic badge of Ireland (a stylised harp topped with a crown) at its centre. The club’s ensign has a navy blue field with the Irish tricolour in its top left corner and the heraldic badge centred on its right half.

Does the Royal Cork Yacht Club organise racing?

Yes, the Royal Cork Yacht Club organises and runs sailing events and courses for members and visitors all throughout the year and has very active keelboat and dinghy racing fleets. The club also hosts many National, European and World Championships, as well as its biennial Cork Week regatta — widely regarded as Europe’s premier sailing event.

Does the Royal Cork Yacht Club cater for youth sailing?

Yes, the Royal Cork Yacht Club has an active junior section with sailing in Optimists, Toppers and other dinghies.

Does the Royal Cork Yacht Club cater for sail training?

Charles Yes, the Royal Cork Yacht Club regularly runs junior sailing courses covering basic skills, certified by Irish Sailing.

What sailing classes does the Royal Cork Yacht Club host?

The Royal Cork hosts both keelboats and dinghies, with the 1720 Sportsboat — the club’s own design — and National 18 among its most popular. Optimists and Toppers are sailed by juniors, and the club regularly sees action in Lasers, RS Fevas, 29ers and other dinghy classes.

Does the Royal Cork Yacht Club have its own fleet?

The Royal Cork Yacht Club has a small fleet of 1720 Sportsboats available for ordinary members to charter.

What facilities does the Royal Cork Yacht Club have?

The Royal Cork Yacht Club’s Club House office can provide phone, fax, email, internet and mail holding facilities for a small charge. Club merchandise and postcards may be purchased. Showers and toilet facilities are available 24 hours a day, free of charge. Parking is plentiful and free of charge. Diesel and petrol are available on site. Marina berths are generally available for a fee payable in advance; arrangements must be made before arrival.

Does the Royal Cork Yacht Club have a bar and/or dining facilities?

Yes, the Royal Cork Yacht Club’s Club House has all of the usual facilities, including bars and restaurant, which are open during normal licensing hours. The restaurant provides a full range of meals, and sandwiches, snacks etc, are available on request.

What are the opening hours of the Royal Cork Yacht Club?

Normal working hours during the sailing season at the Royal Cork Yacht Club are 9am to 9pm daily. For enquiries contact the RCYC office on 021 483 1023 or email [email protected]

Does the Royal Cork Yacht Club host functions such as weddings, parties or corporate events?

Yes, the Royal Cork Yacht Club caters for all types of events rom weddings, anniversaries, christenings and birthday celebrations to corporate meetings, breakfast meetings, luncheons, private dinners and more. For enquiries contact the Royal Cork Yacht Club office on 021 483 1023 or email [email protected]

How do I become a member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club?

New members are invited to apply for membership of the Royal Cork Yacht Club by completing the Nomination Form (available from www.royalcork.com/membership) and returning it to The Secretary, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven Co Cork. Nominations are first approved by the Executive Committee at its next meeting, and following a period on display for the members, and are reviewed again at the following meeting at which any objections are considered.

Do I need to own a boat to become a member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club?

No; while ordinary members of the Royal Cork Yacht Club are usually boat owners, there is no requirement to own a boat when submitting an application for membership.

How much does it cost to join the Royal Cork Yacht Club?

The annual feel for ordinary members (aged 30+) of the Royal Cork Yacht Club is €645. Family membership (two full members and all children aged 29 and under) is €975, while individuals youth (ages 19-29) and cadet (18 and under) memberships are €205. Other rates are available for seniors, associates and more. All fees quoted are as of the 2020 annual subscription rates.