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Displaying items by tag: Royal Cork Yacht Club

Five wins from five races for Peter O'Leary and Stephen O'Sullivan means the Star keelboat pair continue to dominate the IRC White Sails Division of Royal Cork's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour.

In Sunday's (Dec 3rd) race, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star challenged the former Olympic keelboat, but after a light airs race, they finished second to lie second overall on nine points.

Race Officer Michael McCann set Course 15 for the fifth race across the river to the Dosco buoy, back to Cage,  no 7 to port,  no 13 to starboard, no 9 to starboard and then cage to starboard to finish.

Alan Mucahy's Apache from Kinsale is lying third overall on 16 points in the 17-boat fleet.

Next week's race is the final of the League.

RCYC White Sail League Crew Shots by Bob Bateman

The results are below. 

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Dave and James Dwyer were presented with the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Keelboat Racing Sailor of the Year Award at the Cork Harbour club's annual laying up supper at the weekend.

The premier prize was one of 12 handed out at a packed gathering in Crosshaven.

Dwyers' Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble was also named winner of RCYC's Club Yacht of the Year with victories across Ireland at the Sovereigns' Cup in June, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in June, and the ICRA Nationals in September.

Royal Cork Yacht Club silverware on show at the 2023 Laying Up SupperRoyal Cork Yacht Club silverware on show at the 2023 Laying Up Supper Photo: Bob Bateman

Michael McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally was the IRC Super League Champion (Spinnaker Division), and Ria Lyden's X-Yacht Ellida was named the Offshore Series Winner. 

The Club Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Marcus Worth for his role in the organisation of RCYC's successful staging of the Topper World Championships in July.

Royal Cork Yacht Club Laying up Supper 2023 Prizewinners Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Royal Cork Yacht Club laying up Supper 2023

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Royal Cork Yacht Club's Annual Junior Laying Up 2023 was held this weekend at Crosshaven, and the club's annual celebration of dinghy sailing was held in conjunction with its Frostbites Series prizegiving.

With a European title won by Ben O'Shaughnessy in the 29er class, there was certainly a lot to celebrate across the Cork Harbour youth sailing scene and an account of the season was given by each Class Captain, along with the presentation of highly valued end-of-year prizes.

Eddie Kingston, Royal Cork's ILCA Class Captain; Royal Cork Admiral  Kieran O"Connell, together with Maurice Collins, Royal Cork Rear Admiral Dinghies, were on hand to present the prizes.

Royal Cork's Junior Laying Up Supper 2023 Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

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A fourth race victory for Peter O'Leary and Stephen O'Sullivan this morning means the Star keelboat pair lead the IRC White Sails Division of Royal Cork's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour by three points overall. 

Again, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star challenged the former Olympic keelboat but, after a medium airs race, they had to be content with third to lie second overall on seven points.

After taking a well-earned second in today's fourth race, Paul Tingle's X4 Alpaca is lying third overall on nine points in the 17-boat fleet.

Check out Mary Malone's vid of the November 26th start below: 

Results below

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Peter O'Leary and Stephen O'Sullivan took a third win in a row this morning to be firmly atop the leaderboard of the IRC White Sails Division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour.

Blustery conditions off Roches Point with westerly winds gusting to 36 knots meant it was touch and go for Royal Cork's race number three of the league. 

Again, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star challenged the former Olympic keelboat with some intense pre-start manoeuvres between the two front runners.

The fleet sailed two rounds of Course 20 again, with round one first sailing to Dosco mark, no8, no10 ef2 (East Ferry), no20 (off Cobh and a strong tide), no13 Dosco, Cage and round two back to Dosco and a finish at Cage.

As gusts hit 36 knots at Roches Point, it was touch and go as to whether to sail or not for the third race of the Royal Cork O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 Photo: Bob BatemanAs gusts hit 36 knots at Roches Point, it was touch and go as to whether to sail or not for the third race of the Royal Cork O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

North Star finished second in a depleted fleet, with Annamarie and Denis Murphy's Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo third. 

Overall, O'Leary leads from Young, with Kinsale visitor Alan Mulcahy in another Albin Express lying third. Results below.

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Forty-three dinghies have been competing in the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club over the past two weekends.

Racing is set to continue for two more rounds in November after two spectacular days on the water.

Race officer Ciaran MacSweeney has taken full advantage of the favourable November weather and managed five fleets across three races per day in fresh and sunny sailing conditions.

On Sunday, the tricky wind shifts challenged the fleets and correct course strategy paid off for the leaders, with Micheal O'Suilleabhain taking three bullets in a very strong ILCA 7 fleet ahead of Michael Crosbie, Jonathan O'Shaughnessy and Chris Bateman.

ILCA 7 competitor Jonathan O'Shaughnessy at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman ILCA 7 competitor Jonathan O'Shaughnessy at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

In ILCA 6, Max Tolan took a one-point lead from Andrew Kingston, who has a one-point lead over third-placed Liam Duggan.

The ILCA 4 fleet is dominated by the O'Neill family, with Shane Collins creating a bulwark to the full O'Neill hegemony.

Abbie Shorten and Isha Duggan (bow number 90) competing in the 420 dinghy class at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman Abbie Shorten and Isha Duggan (bow number 90) competing in the 420 dinghy class at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

The 420 fleet, after returning from the Ulster championship last weekend, had excellent days racing, with six boats racing and three more anticipated for next week.  Tommy Hiras and Conor Kelly on 4.5 points lead from Abbie Shorten and Isha Duggan on 5. Third is Rian Collins and Matt Mapplebeck on 9.

A ten-boat Topper fleet is competing at the at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman A ten-boat Topper fleet is competing at the at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

The Topper fleet is led by Ellen McDonagh on 6, followed by Ruby Foley on 13. Gwen Barry is third on the same points.

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Olympic helmsman Peter O'Leary and crewman Stephen O'Sullivan stay top of the leaderboard of the IRC White Sails Division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour after Sunday afternoon's second race of the series.

Ahead of Storm Debi, sunshine, wind, and flat seas provided perfect conditions for 21 competing boats in the Royal Cork Yacht Club league.

O'Leary and O'Sullivan raced their one-design Star keelboat, Archie, to the IRC rule to beat Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca. Third was Fiona Young's Albin Express, North Star.

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Topper dinghy sailing is going strong this winter at Royal Cork Yacht Club, four months after the Munster Club successfully staged the massive 250-boat Topper World Championships in Crosshaven.

On Sunday, both Topper and ILCA youth sailors hit the water for winter training and the first race of the club's winter dinghy frostbite league at the same time as the club's November/December White Sail keelboat League got underway in Cork Harbour.

The ILCA 7 fleet featured some dramatic racing between the ILCA 7s and a single RS Aero 7 sailed by Emmet O’Sullivan from MBSC, who swapped the outright lead several times in each race. Jonathan O’Shaughnessy leads by a point from Micheal O’Suilleabhain, in

In the Topper fleet, Ellen MacDonagh and Kate Deane traded first places, but MacDonagh leads after day one.

See Bob Bateman's photo gallery of Sunday's training below

Published in Royal Cork YC

Olympic helmsman Peter O'Leary and crewman Stephen O'Sullivan top the leaderboard of the IRC White Sails Division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour on Sunday afternoon.

After Storm Ciaran, there was sunshine, wind, flat seas and a neap tide to provide perfect conditions for the first race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club league.

There were prefect sailing conditions for the first race of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour on Sunday afternoon Photo: Mary MaloneThere were prefect sailing conditions for the first race of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour on Sunday afternoon Photo: Mary Malone

O'Leary and O'Sullivan raced their one-design Star keelboat, Archie, to the IRC rule to beat Fiona Young's Albin Express, North Star. Third was the Albin Express Apache skippered by Kinsale Yacht Club's Alan Mulcahy.

The race started offwind from the harbour's Grassy walk line in 15 knots and featured several premature starters on Course Number 21 from the RCYC course card.

Three rounds of the course took the 21-boat fleet about an hour and a half to complete.

O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman and Mary Malone

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Five weeks of racing produced comprehensive winners in all four IRC divisions of Royal Cork Yacht Club's 2023 Autumn League sponsored by AIB, but points were tight for the rest of the podium, with second and third places in both IRC One and Two spinnaker divisions decided by tie breaks.

Downwind in Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League 2023 Photo: Bob BatemanDownwind in Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

In an unusual edition, the traditionally breezy Cork Harbour series offered five weeks of only light winds to the extent that there was no final day's racing on October 29th due to a lack of breeze.

With five wins from six races, David Dwyer's Farr Half Tonner, Swuzzlebubble, won the IRC One Spinnaker Division by nine clear points in the nine-boat fleet. Annamarie and Denis Murphy's Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo took second, and Brian Jones' J122 Jelly Baby was third, finishing on an equal 14 points.

Dave Dwyer's Half tonner Swuzzlebubble (leading the fleet to the green buoy) won the Spinnaker One Fleet of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League. Pictured left to right are Pat Horgan of sponsors AIB, James Dwyer, Brian Heneghan, Dave Dwyer, Conor Horgan and (front row) Johnny McCann and Oisin Macsweeney and Vice Admiral of RCYC Annamarie Fegan Photo: Bob BatemanDave Dwyer's Half tonner Swuzzlebubble (leading the fleet to the green buoy) won the Spinnaker One Fleet of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League. Pictured (below) left to right are Pat Horgan of sponsors AIB, James Dwyer, Brian Heneghan, Dave Dwyer, Conor Horgan and (front row) Johnny McCann and Oisin MacSweeney and Vice Admiral of RCYC Annamarie Fegan Photos: Bob BatemanDave Dwyer's Half tonner Swuzzlebubble (leading the fleet to the green buoy) won the Spinnaker One Fleet of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League. Pictured left to right are Pat Horgan of sponsors AIB, James Dwyer, Brian Heneghan, Dave Dwyer, Conor Horgan and (front row) Johnny McCann and Oisin Macsweeney and Vice Admiral of RCYC Annamarie Fegan Photo: Bob Bateman

With four wins from six races, Conor Phelan's Quarter-Tonner Anchor Challenge, in an eight-boat IRC Two Spinnaker division, had a ten-point win margin. Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star, who, despite counting two 'DNCs' for the first two races of the league, took second overall ahead of Stephen Lysaght's Elan 333 Reavra Too in third, both on 16 points.

The "Anchor Challenge " Quarter Ton crew (above and below) winners of IRC Spinnaker Two Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob BatemanThe "Anchor Challenge " Quarter Ton crew (above and below) winners of IRC Spinnaker Two Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob BatemanThe "Anchor Challenge " Quarter Ton crew (above and below) winners of IRC Spinnaker Two Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob Bateman

In White Sails One IRC Dan Murphy's X-99 Anteex won by two points from Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet on ten points. Third place was taken by Ronan Twomey's First 40.7, Rosmarina

Dan Murphy's X-99 Anteex was the White Sails One IRC winner of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob BatemanDan Murphy's X-99 Anteex was the White Sails One IRC winner of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob Bateman

In White Sails Two IRC, Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache won by six points from Sean Hanley's HB 31 Luas on 11 points. The Impala Fast Buck was third. 

Alan Mulcahy, skipper of Apache and crew, with Pat Horgan AIB and Vice Admiral Annamarie Fegan, won the IRC Two White Sails Fleet of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob BatemanAlan Mulcahy, skipper of Apache and crew, with Pat Horgan AIB and Vice Admiral Annamarie Fegan, won the IRC Two White Sails Fleet of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob Bateman

Alan Mulcahy, skipper of Apache and crew, with Pat Horgan AIB and Vice Admiral Annamarie Fegan, won the IRC Two White Sails Fleet of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League Photo: Bob Bateman

In a five-boat 1720 sportsboat fleet, national champion David Kenefick took four wins to win overall from Young Offenders (Walsh / Brownlow). Third was Padraig Byrne's Zing. 

Full results in all classes below.

David Kenefick's full Irish was the winner of the 1720s at Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League  Photo: Bob BatemanDavid Kenefick's full Irish was the winner of the 1720s at Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League  Photo: Bob Bateman

Royal Cork Yacht Club's 2023 Autumn League Prizegiving Photo Gallery 

Royal Cork Yacht Club Prizewinners 2023

Published in Royal Cork YC
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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

 

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.

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

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.

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.

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]

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]

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.

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.

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.

Memberships of the Royal Cork Yacht Club are renewed annually, usually within 60 days of the club’s Annual General Meeting.
For enquiries contact the Royal Cork Yacht Club office on 021 483 1023 or email [email protected]

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