What a difference a week makes in the Axiom Spring Series for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club.

From last week's dramas in winter-like conditions to the blue skies and sunburn this week, Race Officer John Corkery and his team ran one race.

Class 1 was dominated by James Dwyer's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble and Denis and Annmarie Murphy's Nieulargo. Both elected to take the left-hand side of the course on the first beat, and this paid off as they led the fleet for the rest of the race. Swuzzlebubble finished two minutes ahead of Nieulargo. Swuzzlebubble came first in both Echo and IRC in Class 1. Nieulargo came second in IRC and third in Echo. Stephen Lysaght's Reavra Too came second in Echo and third in IRC.

In Class 2, Kieran Kelleher's ¼ tonner Diamond led the fleet and came first in both Echo and IRC in Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring League Photo: David Cullinane

In Class 2, Kieran Kelleher's Quarter Tonner Diamond led the fleet and came first in both Echo and IRC. Padraig O'Donovan's Chameleon finished second in Echo and third in IRC. David Marchant's Flyover (Waterford Harbour Sailing Club) came second in IRC and third in Echo.

Alan Mulcahy's Apache continues his winning streak with first place in IRC for the fourth race in a row at Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Series Photo: David Cullinane

In White Sails, Alan Mulcahy's Apache continues his winning streak with first place in IRC for the fourth race in a row. John O'Connor's Fast Buck from RCYC came second in IRC, followed by Patrick Beckett's Miss Charlie. Fast Buck came first in Echo, followed by Nigel Dann's Val Kriss and Apache.

Only two 1720s competed this week, with James Matthews coming first with Matthews Helly Hansen and then Bobby Nash's 1601.

A special guest was in Kinsale for the prize giving. Round the world sailor Robin Knox-Johnson was cruising in West Cork and stopped off in Kinsale, where he kindly agreed to present the prizes, having presented prizes at Royal Cork Yacht Club on Saturday evening for the annual PY 1000 race.

Robin Knox-Johnson, KYC Commodore Tony Scannell, KYC Rear-Commodore Dave Cullinane and RCYC Admiral Annamarie Fagan at the KYC Axiom Spring Series weekly prizegiving

Royal Cork Yacht Club Lady  Admiral Annamarie Murphy leads the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club after three wins from three races sailed.

In provisional results subject to protest, the Murphy family Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo from Crosshaven heads a 12-boat entry to lead IRC and ECHO in Class One on three points.

Lying second is Stephen Lysaght's Reavra Too of the host club on seven. Third is KYC clubmate Thomas Roche on Meridian with 12 points.

Stephen Lysaght's Elan 333 competing in Class One of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Thomas Roche's Salona 45 Meridian competing in Class One of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Having suffered a cancellation under Storm Kathleen last weekend, KYC race organisers meant business today and set about staging two races to put the Spring Series back on schedule.

Racing started at Kinsale Boatyard in a 16-knot south-westerly wind, occasionally gusting to the high 20s in rainy squalls.

Race Officer John Corkery laid a weather mark off Hake Head with a run back to the Bullman buoy and a beat across to Sandycove back to Bullman and an in-harbour finish.

At the top of the Class One fleet, Nieulargo and Meridian saw the lead changing several times.

In one of the squalls, one boat broached and lost two crew overboard, but they were quickly recovered.

Kieran Kelleher's Quarter Tonner, Diamond, leads IRC Class 2  with three straight wins from Waterford Harbour's David Marchant sailing the Sigma 33 Flyover. Padraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon is third on six. 

Waterford Harbour visitor David Marchant sailing the Sigma 33 Flyovercompeting in Class Two of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Padraig O'Donovan's Fastnet 34 Chameleon competing in Class Two of the Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache continues its strong form from March and stays top in IRC and ECHO in the five-boat White Sail fleet, according to KYC's provisional results below.

Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo Gallery (April 14th) by Bob Bateman

An 'ugly' sea state and a gale warning in operation have led to the cancellation of the second day of racing at Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom April League on the south coast.

The league began last weekend for mixed cruisers in both Spinnaker and White Sail divisions as Afloat reported here.

On Friday evening, Storm Kathleen closed Kinsale Yacht Club's marina. Berth holders were asked to vacate the marina and refrain from staying overnight.

Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt were honoured at home on the Easter weekend by Kinsale Yacht Club, the West Cork club joining a long list of organisations that saluted the duo's Christmas 2003 achievements competing in Australia's Sydney Hobart Race.

After Monday's April league racing, Kinsale Commodore Anthony Scannell and cruiser-racer skipper Brian Carroll led tributes to the Sunfast 3300 'Cinnamon Girl' pair at a special KYC clubhouse gathering. 

The gathering included Poppy and Keith Hunt, who represented Sam, who was unable to attend.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell presents Cian McCarthy's wife Catherine with a bouquet Photo: Bob Bateman

As regular Afloat readers know, the duo were the keynote speakers at February's ICRA conference at Dun Laoghaire when they pair recalled the ' brutal experience' in parts, as Hunt recalled for Afloat here.

Cian McCarthy (left) and Sam Hunt on board the Sunfast 3300 'Cinnamon Girl' off the Dublin coast Photo: Afloat

In Irish offshore doublehanding sailing, few stories are as inspiring as that of Cian McCarthy, a dedicated sailor whose journey to success is marked by resilience, determination, and a passion for the open sea.

From relatively humble beginnings on Laser dinghies to triumphant victories in prestigious races, Cian's remarkable career has earned him admiration and respect within the sailing community, especially at home at Kinsale Yacht Club.

Keith (left) and Poppy Hunt receive prizes on behalf of Sam from Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell Photo: Bob Bateman

Cian's sailing odyssey began with Lasers, where his talent quickly caught the eye of Denis Doyle. Recognizing his potential, Doyle offered him a position on Moonduster, propelling Cian into the world of competitive sailing. It was on Moonduster that Cian completed a Round Ireland and participated in a series of Fastnet Races, laying the foundation for his future achievements.

In 2003-2004, Cian delved into Mini Transat racing aboard a boat named Tom Crean. Despite facing challenges along the way, he sailed Tom Crean with remarkable success until a rig loss brought an end to that chapter of his journey.

Undeterred, Cian's determination led him to the BT Challenge, where he crossed paths with his future wife, Catherine. His exceptional skills and dedication caught the attention of skipper Conrad Humphries, who promoted him to First Mate on L G Flatron. Cian played a pivotal role in their victory in the round-the-world race, earning accolades for his invaluable contributions.

In 2009, Cian embarked on a new venture, building a Class 40 yacht. However, the arrival of his identical triplet sons prompted him to sell the boat and shift his focus to family life.

The McCarthy family at Monday's KYC presentation Photo: Bob Bateman

Despite these changes, Cian's passion for sailing remained unwavering. He continued to pursue his love for the sport, participating in the X-yacht EOS and competing in challenging races such as the Fastnet Race and Round Ireland, often sailing two-handed.

In 2022, Cian's dedication and skill were once again on display as he entered and emerged victorious in the inaugural KYC Inishtearaght Race aboard Cinnamon Girl, racing two-handed with Sam. His success continued with a commendable second-place finish in the biennial Round Ireland Race, showcasing his prowess in navigating the most gruelling of conditions.

The Kinsale Yacht Club entry Cinnamon Girl sailed by Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt berthed in Hobart after completing the 2023 Sydney-Hobart offshore race

A familiar sight in Kinsale Harbour, Cian can often be found training tirelessly, honing his skills in preparation for future challenges. His contributions to the sailing community have not gone unnoticed, as he is held in high esteem at KYC and beyond, admired for his ability to excel in the most demanding of conditions, as this recording of the Kinsale Yacht Club presentation (below) reveals.

As Cian's journey continues, his determination, resilience, and passion inspire sailors everywhere, proving that anything is possible on the open sea with perseverance and dedication.

The Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 at Kinsale Yacht Club got underway on Easter Monday with a fine turnout of over 30 cruisers and 1720 sportsboats in both the Spinnaker and Whitesail divisions.

The racing lived up to its pre-event promise to deliver an 'impressive lineup' of contenders following on from KYC's March Frank Godsell sponsored league, including visiting entries from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, Royal Cork YC and Schull Harbour Sailing Club.

The series incorporates the SCORA League 2024.

Although raced under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting strong interest. Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache continued its strong form from March and finished top in IRC and ECHO in the nine-boat fleet, according to KYC's provisional results below.

Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache is the IRC and ECHO White sail leader in Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Cruiser Series Photo: Bob Bateman

John O Connor's Impala 28 Fast Buck lies second on ECHO, and Patrick Beckett's Tofinou 8 Miss Charlie lies third.

In the spinnaker divisions, Kinsale Yacht Club says the first day's "results are being held over until next week to allow for redress".

Kinsale Yacht Club's 2024 Axiom Spring Cruiser Series Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club is all set to host its Axiom Spring Series 2024 for sailing cruisers and one designs, which incorporates the SCORA League 2024, on Easter Monday, April 1st.

The event promises an 'impressive lineup' of contenders already signed up and following on from KYC's March Frank Godsell sponsored league, including entries from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, RCYC, KYC, and Schull Harbour Sailing Club.

The Sailing Instructions for the event can be downloaded below, covering the Spinnaker, White Sail & 1720 Classes.

The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club that was cancelled last weekend due to 'adverse wind and sea conditions' will sail two races this Sunday to compensate.

Although racing under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO after the first races on March 11th.

The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club was cancelled on Monday, March 18, due to 'adverse wind and sea conditions'. 

Although racing under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO after the first races on March 11th.

Racing continues next Sunday. 

The picturesque town of Kinsale Harbour in West Cork was packed with spectators over the weekend as it played host to the tenth annual St. Patrick's Maritime Festival. Despite a gloomy and wet day, the town was buzzing with excitement as the festival kicked off on Saturday night, March 16th. The highlight of the evening was the dazzling fireworks display, and yachts, boats and commercial craft lit up overall, which drew huge crowds from all over the region.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Tony Scannell with Kinsale's St. Patrick's Maritime Festival committee ahead of last night's maritime parade by boats and fireworks display Photo:  Bob Bateman

As the gloomy day turned into a foggy evening, the organisers faced a difficult decision—whether to proceed with the parade and fireworks. However, they decided to take the plunge, and the event was a resounding success.

(L to R) Anthony Scannell, Commodore Kinsale Yacht Club, Celine Henderson of St. Patrick's Maritime Festival, James Lyons winning skipper and Aine Ryan O'Brien. Photo: Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club played an important role in the event, with members' boats involved in the on-the-water parade. The RNLI Kinsale lifeboat featured along with inshore and offshore fishing vessels, as well as yachts led by Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Tony Scannell on board his yacht, "Hansemer." This resulted in a wonderful display as the boats emerged from the mist and passed by James' Fort. The coinciding fireworks provided great entertainment for all.

Commodore Scannell welcomed Festival organisers back to the clubhouse after the parade, where awards were presented to the best-dressed boats. 

Tenth Kinsale St. Patrick's Maritime Festival Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

The logistics of putting on such a spectacular show were not without their challenges. The nearby Cork airport had to control permission for the fireworks display, which only gave a narrow window in which to hold it. However, the organisers pulled it off with aplomb, and the fireworks display was a true feast for the eyes.

The festivities kicked off at 7:30 pm, with participants gathering behind the Blockhouse to prepare for the parade. The procession began with a minute's silence in memory of Des Hurley, the Kinsale fisherman who passed away in December, setting the tone for a sombre yet celebratory occasion. 

Vid below by Mary Malone

The 42nd annual Frank Godsell League kicks off this Sunday at Kinsale Yacht Club, located on the South Cork coastline.

The cruiser league will run for three weeks, with two more races to follow after Sunday's opening.

The next race will occur on Monday, March 18, the day after St. Patrick's Day, and the final race will occur on Sunday, March 24. The first gun for each day of the race will be at 13:55.

Kinsale Yacht Club is anticipating a strong turnout of boats for the event, which, according to them, is sponsored by Frank Godsell for a record 42nd consecutive year, a feat that is "surely unequalled anywhere."