Anchor Challenge Takes RCYC Winter League Lead After Race Three

15th November 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Conor Phelan's Anchor Challenge racing between Princes of Tides and Bateleur 88 during Race Three of the RCYC Winter League

Taking the Lead: Conor Phelan’s Anchor Challenge (centre) races between Princes of Tides (left) and Bateleur 88 (right) during the third race of the Brown & Brown RCYC Winter League on Sunday, 15 November. Anchor Challenge finished second on IRC handicap to take the overall Spinnaker IRC series lead by one point Credit: Bob Bateman

Conor Phelan’s Farr Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge has moved to the top of Spinnaker IRC after the third race of the Brown & Brown Royal Cork Yacht Club Winter League on Sunday, 15 November, as the results across six handicap categories produced new race winners and changing overall positions in Cork Harbour.

Anchor Challenge finished second in Sunday's Spinnaker IRC race to take the series lead on nine points. The RCYC Under-25 crew aboard the J/24 Jambalaya and Brian Jones's J/109 Tighey Boy are just one point behind, tied on ten points, with Jambalaya ranked second overall.

Photographer Robert Bateman reported a grey day on Cork Harbour, with a northerly wind, light rain early on and initially light airs before the breeze filled in. The keelboat course included a reach across the river towards Corkbeg and then mark 74.

Illegal Wins Again, but Anchor Challenge Leads IRC

Colman Garvey and Keiran Kellher's Quarter Tonner Illegal took its second successive Spinnaker IRC race victory, following its Race Two win a week earlier. But having missed the opening race, Illegal lies fourth overall on 13 points, behind Anchor Challenge (9), Jambalaya (10) and Tighey Boy (10).

Sunday's Spinnaker IRC finishing order was Illegal first, Anchor Challenge second, Tighey Boy third, James Donegan's Jalapeno fourth and Jambalaya fifth. Jalapeno is fifth in the series on 16 points, while John and Ronan Downing's Miss Whiplash, which did not compete in Race Three, is sixth on 17.

Cavatina Wins Non-Spinnaker IRC as Dark Side Stays Ahead

Ian Hickey's Granada 38 Cavatina won the third Non-Spinnaker IRC race, ahead of Brian Twomey's Cork 1720 Dark Side and Dave Hennessy's Holly Blue. Dark Side nevertheless remains the clear series leader with five points from a first and two seconds.

Cavatina is second overall on eight points, followed by Kieran and Fiorentina O'Brien's Magnet on 13, Holly Blue on 17 and Ria Lyden's Ellida on 18. The three-race results place Cavatina firmly in contention after a 3–4–1 scoreline.

Winter Pursuit: Ian Hickey’s Cavatina sails in Cork Harbour, with the RCYC Under-25 crew aboard Jambalaya approaching astern. Cavatina won Sunday’s Non-Spinnaker IRC race. Photo: Robert Bateman.

Jambalaya Leads ECHO and Extends Unbeaten ORC Run

In Spinnaker ECHO, Eddie Kingston's Piper Sound won Race Three, ahead of the RCYC Under-25 1720 and Jalapeno. The overall lead remains with Jambalaya on seven points after its fifth place on Sunday. Tighey Boy follows on nine and Anchor Challenge on 12.

The strongest sequence in the spinnaker fleet belongs to the Under-25 J/24 in the ORC trial: Jambalaya has won all three races to lead with the minimum three points. Tighey Boy is second on eight, ahead of Miss Whiplash and Jalapeno, both on 12, with Miss Whiplash ranked third.

Young Guns: The RCYC Under-25 crew aboard Jambalaya race under spinnaker during the third round. The J/24 completed a hat-trick of Spinnaker ORC trial victories and stands second overall in Spinnaker IRC. Photo: Robert Bateman.

Fast Buck Leads Non-Spinnaker ECHO; Holly Blue Tops ORC

Mike Rider's Freya took Sunday's Non-Spinnaker ECHO victory, with Lapwing second and Holly Blue third. John O'Connor's Impala 28 Fast Buck leads the overall ECHO standings on 12 points, four ahead of Seamus Gilroy's Split Point. Dark Side, winner of the first two races in this category, is now third on 17 after placing 15th on Sunday.

The Non-Spinnaker ORC trial has an especially close contest at the top. Holly Blue won Race Three to take the lead on 5.5 points, just half a point ahead of Magnet on six. Cavatina holds third on 12, with Paddy Good's Summer Light fourth on 15.5.

RCYC Winter League Photo Gallery (Nov 15) by Bob Bateman

Three Sundays, Six Different Contests

The series opened on 1 November with a triple success for the RCYC Under-25 crew and followed the return of spinnaker divisions to the Winter League after recent whitesail-only editions. Sunday's provisional scores underline how the IRC, progressive ECHO and ORC trial calculations can produce quite different winners and series leaders from the same day's racing.

After three races, the overall leaders are Anchor Challenge (Spinnaker IRC), Dark Side (Non-Spinnaker IRC), Jambalaya (Spinnaker ECHO and Spinnaker ORC trial), Fast Buck (Non-Spinnaker ECHO) and Holly Blue (Non-Spinnaker ORC trial).

All results are provisional as at 15:10 GMT on 15 November 2026. The complete Brown & Brown RCYC Winter League results are published by Sail Scoring.

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.