Kinsale Yacht Club's second offshore race of the season indicates a south coast demand for this type of racing. Still, the absence of any Cork boats on July's K2Q 260 race course means organisers look set to alter the timing of future editions of the Dun Laoghaire to Cork Race.

The gun for Kinsale's next race will fire on August 19th for an All-In race around the Fastnet Rock. It's another offshore fixture that ISORA chief Peter Ryan says proves 'there is interest in offshore racing'.

Ryan has been in the vanguard of an offshore revival on the east coast over recent seasons bringing together Dublin and Welsh crews for cross-channel racing and local coastal races. 

Ryan, as one of the K2Q race organisers, accepts that the timing of the July 1 K2Q race (with both 160 and 260-mile course options) was too close to June's Round Ireland Race, but he also says it 'went well' for its first staging. 

As regular Afloat readers know, the K2Q is a Dun Laoghaire to Cork Race. Its staging was a collaboration between the Munster-based SCORA and the Irish Sea ISORA offshore racing associations.

As previously reported, the K2Q was a replay of the first recorded Irish offshore race of 1860.

It was won by Welsh J109, Mojito (Vicky Cox and Peter Dunlop), while the 160-mile course was won by Royal Cork yacht Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy). 

2022 K2Q (160 miles) race winner - Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo Photo: Afloat

Denis and Annamarie Murphy win the McGovern trophy for the K2Q Race 160 mile course Photo: Bob Bateman

There were 26 entries in the race but only 13 starters. Only four completed the Fastnet long course.

There were no Cork boats in the four-boat race, and three of the four ISORA boats competing were from Wales.

2022 K2Q (260 mile) race winner - J109 Mojito Photo: Afloat

K2Q winners - In 1860, It is reported that the race's winner was paid a £15 at the time, and all competing boats got a bursary of 10/6 each. The first race winner was a Schooner Kingfisher owned by Cooper Penrose Esq. The race was held on July 14th 1860, with sixteen boats racing. In 2022, Mojito was awarded the first prize of a cheque for €15 mounted and framed and a Trophy provided by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest yacht club in the world. Photo: Bob Bateman

Speaking to Afloat, Mojito Co-skipper Vicky Cox said, "the race was a real tough one for the crew, both physically leading to the rock and mentally coming away from it."

ISORA Chief Peter Ryan, who set up the race with SCORA's Daragh Connolly, told Afloat, "It’s a great format - dual courses. It could be an annual event but definitely a biennial one. If biennial, it needs to be later, possibly mid-August. 

ISORA and SCORA are to sit down to review the race, discuss other co-operations and set a date for a future edition.

To meet a growing demand for offshore racing, Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern along with Dave Cullinane (SCORA Vice-Commodore) and Harvey Matthews representing sponsors Matthews of Cork, launched the inaugural Inishtearaght Race in Kinsale on Wednesday, December 23rd.

As Afloat reported previously, the race is a new south coast offshore race to be held biennially commencing in 2022.

The course will be approximately 240nm long and will run along the spectacular coast of West Cork and Kerry, round Inistearaght and back to Kinsale. 

The video below by Mary Malone captures the announcement by the KYC team.

The race will start on Friday 20th May 2022. Download the Notice of Race below.

SCORA Vice Commodore Dave Cullinane with The 150-year-old Thuillier Trophy to be presented to the line honours winner of May's Inistearaght Race Photo: Bob Bateman

The Thuillier family have kindly allowed the oldest trophy in Kinsale YC to be presented as the line honours trophy for the race. The Thuillier Cup is 150 years old, having been originally presented by the Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers in 1871 and won by Michael Thuillier. The cup was presented to Kinsale YC by the Thuillier family to acknowledge the long tradition of yacht racing in Kinsale.

Kinsale Yacht Club say sailing instructions and a race entry form will be available on www.kyc.ie closer to the date and additional information is available by emailing [email protected].

Kinsale Yacht Club and Marina - the start and finishing point for the new 240-mile Irish offshore yacht race Photo: Bob Bateman

The increasing interest in Irish offshore yacht racing events was illustrated at last Friday's South Coast Offshore Racing Association AGM with the announcement of a new race on the Cork and Kerry coast next May. 

The twenty-first annual SCORA meeting was held via Zoom. The large online attendance included representatives of all the South Coast yacht racing clubs.

SCORA racing in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Commodore Daragh Connelly opened the meeting with a report on the season's sailing activities, highlighting the successful running of the Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale, together with Calves Week in Schull and a well-supported autumn league in Crosshaven. This together with good participating numbers in the local clubs’ weekly events indicated a strong desire of sailors to get back on the water, following the Covid interruptions.

New Kinsale - Inistearaght - Kinsale race

Kinsale Yacht Club's David Cullinane confirmed that the West Cork Club are planning a Kinsale - Inistearaght (Blasket Islands) - Kinsale race with a provisional date of Mid May 2022, and with the starting times arranged so that boats would round the island in daylight.

The race will be approximately 240 nautical miles in length and will be held on a biennial basis. An IRC short-handed division will be included in the new race.

Smaller boats, such as quarter tonners and J/24s (above) are becoming increasingly popular Photo: Bob Bateman

Refurbished Quarter Tonners

The increasing popularity of smaller boats, particularly refurbished quarter tonners was mentioned as one of the reasons why the existing class band’s structure was no longer fit for purpose, and it was proposed that the committee would publish new recommendations before the opening of next season.

The Jones family J109 Jelly Baby was the South Coast Boat of the Year Award. Photo: Bob Bateman

SCORA Prizes

Prior to announcing the prize winners for 2021, Daragh Connelly complimented Bob Bateman and Mary Malone on the high quality of the fourteen framed photographs, which were delivered to the winners before the meeting, including the Jones family Jelly Baby taking the South Coast Boat of the Year Award and the Waterman's Saxon Senator winning the Claire Bateman Award for their contribution to sailing.

Waterman's Saxon Senator won the Claire Bateman Award Photo: Bob Bateman

Ron Holland forty-footer Imp

At the conclusion of the meeting George Radley of Cove Sailing Club confirmed that the restoration work on the veteran Ron Holland forty-footer Imp is almost complete and is expected to be back on the water early next season, he also added intriguingly that he may be joined by another veteran offshore racer that has recently changed ownership having been in storage for over twenty years.

2022 SCORA League

• April - Kinsale April League
• August 2022 - Calves Week
• October 2022 - Royal Cork Autumn Series

2022 Offshore SCORA League

• Mid May - Inistearaght Race 
• June 22 - Cobh to Dunmore East 
• August - Kinsale - Baltimore (Calves Week feeder)  
• August - Baltimore - Kinsale (Post Calves Week)

The South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) will run a Cork Harbour to Dunmore East offshore race next Saturday, August 21st.

The offshore body is also considering a race back to Crosshaven the following day.

The plan is for a first gun at 7.00 am between No 3 Buoy at Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour.

According to SCORA Commodore Daragh Connolly, seven boats plan on racing to Waterford.

SCORA aims to foster links with a burgeoning Waterford fleet and build on the regular WHSC attendance at Kinsale Yacht Club for its April league and Sovereign's Cup. Connolly notes how the WHSC crews also travel to RCYC for Autumn Leagues and Cork Week. 

A strong SCORA team this year also includes Kinsale's David Cullinane and Schull's Michael Murphy to promote offshore interest on the south coast.

Royal Cork J/109 Jelly Baby was the winner of SCORA's coastal race from Kinsale to Baltimore completing the passage in a corrected time of 7 hours 57 minutes and 16 seconds. 

There were six entrants for the overnight feeder race to join boats already in Baltimore and Schull for next week's Calves Week Regatta. 

It is the second coastal victory for the Brian Jones skippered Crosshaven yacht this season, having previously won Kinsale Yacht Club's Fastnet Race in July.

The Jones crew beat Michael Carroll's larger Elan 40 from Kinsale that finished on a corrected time of 8:53:01.

Frank Doyle's J112 Cara was the only other finisher with George Radley's Half Tonner Cortegada, Frank Caul's Prince of Tides and Padraig O'Donovan's Chameleon all retiring.

The six boat SCORA Kinsale to Baltimore Race fleet make slow progress along the West Cork coast Photo: Bob Bateman

A prizegiving will be held at Baltimore Sailing Club today. 

It was a one, two overall for the J109 design in this weekend's Kinsale Yacht Club SCORA Fastnet Race. 

Royal Cork yacht Jelly Baby claimed a victory in a corrected time of 21 hours:13 minutes: 26 seconds from the host club's Artful Dodger (Finbarr O'Regan) on 21:24:34 corrected in a race that was shortened due to light winds.

The defending champion Nieulargo, a Grand Soleil 40, finished third on a corrected time of 21:36:02

Artful DodJer (IRL1713) from Kinsale Yacht Club skippered by Finbarr O'Regan Photo: Bob Bateman

As Afloat reported yesterday, after a well-timed postponement the nine-boat Kinsale Yacht Club SCORA Fastnet Race got away in a great breeze at 10 am on Saturday morning for its annual offshore race.

Royal Cork's Nieulargo (IRL2129) skippered by Denis Murphy Photo: Bob Bateman

The fleet, sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland, rounded the much closer Kowloon Bridge south cardinal buoy instead of the Fastnet rock.

Full results are here

Bob Bateman's Kinsale/SCORA Fastnet Race Photo Gallery

A well-timed postponement meant the nine-boat Kinsale Yacht Club SCORA Fastnet Race got away in a great breeze this morning at 10 am for its annual offshore race even though the fleet will not now round the Rock but the much closer Kowloon Bridge south cardinal buoy instead. 

Scroll down for start photo gallery below

The Kowloon Bridge buoy that marks the position of a wrecked ship is just off Toe Head on the West Cork coast giving boats a much easier chance of completing the course back to Kinsale in the forecasted light winds.

The boats started on a tight reach before popping spinnakers as they reached Kinsale's harbour mouth.

Sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland, the fleet includes the on form host club J109 entry of Artful Dodjer (Finnbarr O'Regan). 

The Kinsale J109 entry of Artful Dodjer (Finnbarr O'Regan) Photo: Bob Bateman

Last year's winner the Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy) is also racing along with the Grand Soleil 34 Justina (John Treanor) from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour as well as other cruiser racers, Reavra Too, White Tiger, Valfreya and Flyover from Dunmore East in County Waterford. 

Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy) Photo: Bob Bateman

The Dublin Bay Grand Soleil 34 Justina dockside in Kinsale with skipper John Treanor (left) and among the crew Adam Winkelmann (second from left) the organiser of June's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race Photo: Bob Bateman

Bob Bateman's Kinsale SCORA Fastnet Race Start Photo Gallery

Due to the light winds forecast for Friday night, Kinsale Yacht Club has postponed the SCORA Kinsale Fastnet race until Saturday morning. 

Sailing secretary David Cullinane told Afloat "We have decided to postpone until Saturday 17th July. First Gun will be 10:55"

As Afloat reported previously, Kinsale has increased interest in the UK Sailmakers sponsored event this year with boats from Dublin, Waterford as well as the Cork clubs taking part.

Kinsale Yacht Club has increased interest in this weekend's Fastnet race in association with SCORA Photo: Bob Bateman

The arrival of two Half Tonners into the fleet, namely George Radley's Cortegada and Ronan Downing’s Miss Whiplash, will add extra spice to Saturday's race against some of the larger cruiser racers, especially if the forecasted light winds prevail.

The latest KYC amendment is detailed here

South coast J109 sisterships Artful Dodjer (above) and Jelly Baby (below) are both racing round the Fastnet Rock this Saturday

An estimated fleet of ten boats is contemplating a light air forecast for Friday evening's SCORA Kinsale Yacht Club Fastnet Race.

Sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland, the fleet includes the on form host club J109 entry of Artful Dodjer (Finnbarr O'Regan). 

Update: The race has been postponed to Saturday. Read more here

Forecasts are for south easterlies at only 3-5 knots at 7.25 pm start time, a big change on last year's race that started in much stronger winds as Afloat reported here.  

2020 winner - the Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy Photo: Bob Bateman

Also lining up for what looks like it will be a slow race, are Cian McCarthy's Sunfast 300 Cinnamon Girl, the J/109 Jelly Baby (Brian Jones) from Royal Cork.

Last year's winner the Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy) is also entered along with the Grand Soleil 34 Justina (John Treanor ) from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour as well as other cruiser racers, Reavra Too, White Tiger, Valfreya and Flyover from Dunmore East in County Waterford.

Download the NOR for the Kinsale Fastnet Race (with amendment) below

More young sailors are interested in racing offshore, an encouraging trend that should be fostered. It can help to bridge the problems that have been encountered in sailing where younger sailors have been lost to the sport in bridging the gap from dinghy to cruiser racing.

Younger sailors have been featuring more in South Coast racing and are included on the crews of leading Cork boats.

The newly-elected Commodore of the South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA), Daragh Connolly, sees this as a particularly positive and encouraging trend.

Daragh Connolly, the new Commodore of SCORA. Listen to him on the podcast below Photo: Bob Bateman

Noel Coleman's Blue Oyster is registered for August's Fastnet Race Photo: Bob Bateman

"I cut my teeth in coastal, offshore racing. It is an exciting part of the sport and I'm encouraged and very positive about this. It is part of the renewed and growing interest in coastal racing," he says in this week's podcast, where he also talks about liaising with ISORA, the successful 450 Dun Laoghaire to Cork Race and the three south coast yachts which have entered for the Fastnet Race.

Denis and Annamarie Murphy's Nieulargo from Royal Cork was the winner of the inaugural Fastnet 450 Race and will compete in August's Fastnet Race Photo: Bob Bateman

There are two boats from his own club and one from that of the new Vice-Commodore of SCORA, Dave Cullinane from Kinsale YC. From the RCYC - Noel Coleman's Blue Oyster and Denis/Annemarie Murphy's Nieulargo. From Kinsale Cian McCarthy's Cinnamon Girl.

Cian McCarthy's Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl from Kinsale Yacht Club is entered as a 'double-hander' for August's Fastnet Race Photo: Bob Bateman

"For the season ahead, perhaps offshore could start on the Cork coast even if with restricted crewing. More racing outside Cork Harbour will be a positive experience for SCORA boats and challenging. The entry of 21 boats for last year's Navy Race, which was switched from inside to outside the harbour due to the Covid situation, showed the interest and that included white sail as well as spinnaker. There is a positive role here for more development and I am positive and hopeful. Despite the challenges which we face from Covid which has impacted so much on sailing, as soon as we have the clearance to go, you can be sure that SCORA will be there and ready. Despite the difficulties and challenges, I am positive for the future. We have a good team in place at SCORA and will carefully plan for the season ahead, allowing for the restrictions and limitations in place at present."

Listen to the podcast below