From a sad scene of what appeared to be nearly certain destruction for a racing yacht, a Cork Harbour Coastguard led team has successfully refloated the J/109 that grounded at the mouth of the harbour this afternoon.

As Afloat reported earlier, the Jelly Baby came to grief at Weavers Point during the final race of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League around noon.

After the yacht broached and hit rocks, all ten crew made it ashore safely, some climbing the harbour rocks to do so.

The grounded yacht stood on its keel at Bull Rock and was being pounded by the waves for several hours until the Coastguard and a salvage team could successfully get her off the rock and refloat her on a rising tide.

Jelly Baby under tow back to Crosshaven

J109 Jelly Baby is hauled out at Crosshaven Boatyard with hull damage clearly visible following her afternoon on the rocks

All crew are reported safe, but a top racing yacht of the Royal Cork Yacht Club is on the rocks at Cork Harbour after a Mayday emergency incident on the final day of racing in the Club's Autumn League.

After the race rounded a weather mark, the Class One yacht Jelly Baby broached, and it is understood that a crew member from the boat went overboard.

According to eyewitness accounts, the crewman was recovered safely by the ten strong J/109 crew, but the rescue manoeuvres, brought Jelly Baby close inshore and near the rocks at the harbour mouth. 

Despite efforts to clear the lee shore, the yacht ended up on the rocks at Weaver's Point at a point known locally as Bull Rock.

Two crew went overboard. One was picked up by a competitor and the other by a RIB. 

The incident led to to an emergency Mayday call responded to by the RNLI at Crosshaven and the local Coastguard Unit and the Port Of Cork Pilot launch.

Coastguard attend the scene at Weaver's Point where a yacht went aground

The rest of the crew made their way to safety by climbing the rocky cliff at Weaver's Point, an elevation of approximately 20 metres, at the mouth of Cork Harbour.

The J109 yacht Jelly Baby at Weavers Point

Racing has been abandoned. 

Coastguard Hopes to Refloat 'Jelly Baby' at high Water

Coastguard volunteers attend the J109 Jelly Baby aground at Weaver's Point

Update at 3.20 pm:  The yacht remains aground and an attempt to re-float it will be made by the Crosshaven Coastguard team closer to high water.

The Coast Guard has set up a cordon near the boat.

Update: 6.30 pm: The yacht is successfully refloated. See vid here.

Royal Cork's Jonathan O'Shaughnessy and Michael Crosbie, who put in a strong showing at the Laser Europa Cup in Hyeres, France, are the favourites for youth honours this Thursday in Cork Harbour.

O'Shaughnessy finished just outside the important top ten in 11th and Crosbie 21st in a tense edition of the Under-18 test.

More than 260 sailors participated in the French regatta, and full results are here.

Radial racing in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

It's a result that confirms O'Shaughnessy, who took the Radial National title in August, and Crosbie, who was the winner of the Kinsale Laser end of Season Regatta in October, as favourites for the Investwise Youth Sailing Nationals at Royal Cork later this week. 

Rocco Wright (Howth YC) Photo: Bob Bateman

It'll be a new look Radial fleet in Cork with some new names into the fleet, including Rocco Wright (Howth YC), who dominated the 4.7 National Championships back in August.

Michael Crosbie Photo: Bob Bateman

New names into 4.7s

As well as some high profile departures from the ILCA4 (Laser 4.7s), there's also some new entries into the class.

Sienna Wright (Howth YC) and Hannah Dadley-Young (Ballyholme YC) are now racing 4.7s along with Daniel Palmer (Ballyholme YC), who's moved in from the Topper class, along with Mauro G Regueral Noguerol (RCYC).

Four-course areas will operate in Cork Habour Aghada, Curlane Bank, Cuskinny and Roches Point with an 11-race schedule for the ILCA 6/Laser class.

Racing begins on Thursday, October 28th, and as well as deciding national honours, the event serves as the second part of a qualifications system to determine Ireland's representative at the Youth World Sailing Championships in Oman this December.

Youth World ILCA 6/Laser Radial Champion Eve McMahon from Howth Yacht Club is a clear favourite for success at this Thursday's youth sailing championships hosted by Royal Cork Yacht Club and sponsored by Investwise.

Former Irish youth champion McMahon, who earned more international stripes this month with a senior world championship race win in Bulgaria, is embarked on a campaign to represent Ireland at Paris 2024, so there's no doubt the U18 sailor will be putting her impressive boat speed on show in Cork Harbour. 

This month, laser sailors have been training on the Royal Cork race track with Tokyo trialist Aisling Keller as a coach in advance of the championships.

Tralee Bay's Ellie Cunnane (right) Photo: Bob Bateman

The closest guide to form is the 2021 Laser National Championships held in Royal Cork back in August. At that event – in which McMahon did not compete – Tralee Bay's Ellie Cunnane was third overall and top Girl in the 46-boat national championship fleet.

Cunnane will be racing on Cork waters again next week, but there will be no doubting McMahon's speed advantage, especially in breeze. The sixth-year student demonstrated that with a consistent scoreline on Lake Garda in August to take the Girl's worlds crown, as Afloat reported here.

Laser 4.7 sailing in Cork Harbour

Next week, four-course areas will operate for the youth championships in Cork Habour; Aghada, Curlane Bank, Cuskinny and Roches Point with an 11-race schedule for the ILCA 6/Laser class.

Racing begins on Thursday, October 28th, and as well as deciding national honours, the event serves as the second part of a qualifications system to determine Ireland's representative at the Youth World Sailing Championships in Oman this December.

Competitors in today's AIB Autumn Series in the Royal Cork Yacht Club competed over one and a half-mile long windward-leeward courses off Cork Harbour. 

After six races sailed in the three boat IRC SPIN 0 Division, Conor Phelan's, Ker 37 Jump Juice leads overall but share the same points 7.0 as Annamarie and Denis Murphy's Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo. 

Conor Phelan's, Ker 37 Jump Juice

In the seven boat IRC SPIN 1 division, Kieran Collins Olson 30 Coracle IV has a one-point margin after six races sailed over the Jones Family J109 Jelly Baby.  Third is the Kinsale sistership Artful Dodjer skippered by Finbarr O'Regan.

Kieran Collins Olson 30 Coracle IV leads the IRC SPIN 1 division

J109 Close combat - The Jones Family J109 Jelly Baby and Artful Dodjer skippered by Finbarr O'Regan

Dave Lane's J24 YaGottaWanna leads overall on ten points in the nine boat SPIN 2 IRC division from Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star on 13 points. The Tony Donworth Quarter Tonner SuperNova is third on 14 points.

Dave Lane's J24 YaGottaWanna (IRL5098) and Richard Leonard's Bolero Bandit

Results are here and scroll down for today's photo gallery

Aidan Heffernan's Dufour 36, Indulgence leads IRC White Sails Division One

RCYC Autumn Series Photo Gallery Day 4

Competitors in today's AIB Autumn Series in the Royal Cork Yacht Club enjoyed light northerly breezes and summer-like conditions.

All fleets sailed coastal courses off Cork Harbour under the watchful eye of race officer Ross Deasy. 

Kieran Collins Coracle IV of the host club continues to lead the IRC Spinnaker 1 Division. 

Class 0, 1 and Sports boats headed all the way south to Cork Buoy for their first mark, followed by Harp, Ringabella and beat to finish off White Bay. 

Race officer Ross Deasy

The Olson 30 made the most of the light winds to stay ahead of Brian Jones' J/109 Jelly Baby after four races sailed. 

Third in the seven boat fleet overall is Kinsale visitor, Finbarr O'Regan's J109 Artful Dodjer.

Conor Phelan's Ker 37 Jump Juice

In a three boat IRC Zero division, the Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy) leads on five points from Conor Phelan's Ker 37 Jump Juice on seven. Eric & Wan Waterman's X37 Saxon Senator is third.

Class 2, 3 and non-spinnaker started their coastal race at Cage and sailed to Harp, Ringabella, No.14 off the refinery, back to Roches Point, and finished at White Bay.

Dave Lane's J/24 YaGottaWanna

There's only a point between the top three in nine boat IRC 2 Spinnaker division. Dave Lane's J/24 YaGottaWanna leads on six points from today's race winner Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star on seven. Tony Donworth's Quarter Tonner SuperNova is third on eight points.

In the dayboat IRC division, the race winning 1720 Heroes & Villans leads from Michael McCann's Etchell Don't Dilly Dally but the pair are drawn on four points each. Third is Billy Campion's 1720 Wight Hare.

Michael McCann's Etchell Don't Dilly Dally

In the biggest division of the league, the White Sails ECHO Division 2, with 12 entries, Conor Hanlon's Sun Odyssey Lapwing leads from John O'Connor's Impala Fast Buck. Third is Mike Rider's Dehler 37 Freya.

The RCYC Autumn League White Sails division

Sailors were met by a live band and food in the club on arrival ashore at Crosshaven.

Racing continues next Sunday with the penultimate races.

Results are here

Day Three AIB Autumn League RCYC Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Royal Cork's Alex Barry is going quick in his new 505 campaign towards the World Championships in Cork Harbour next year.

The Irish dinghy ace is teamed up with Harry Briddon of the UK for a title at the 2022 title and is putting in some time this year training at Hayling Island, where last weekend's 505 Euro Cup competition included 49er Gold Medalist from Tokyo, Stuart Bithell. 

After five races sailed in the 15-boat fleet, Barry ended up fourth overall, just two points behind Ian Pinnell and Tom Pickles of the host club in third position. Results are below.

The early boat speed looks promising for the Irish-English duo. Barry told Afloat he was 'flying' upwind, but he and Briddon still have some work on downwind technique.

The class looks forward to holding its 2022 World Championships in Cork from August 3 – 13th, 2022, where Barry is also an event organiser.

One hundred twenty crews from over 15 nations are expected for the 2022 championships. Eight or ten Irish boats will be among this number.

As Afloat previously reported, this will be the fourth time RCYC will have hosted the 505 World Championships, having welcomed visiting crews in 1959, 1964 and 1982. 

Kieran Collins Coracle IV of the host club leads the IRC Spinnaker 1 Division after a breezy second day of Royal Cork Yacht Club's AIB Autumn League in Cork Harbour on Sunday.

The Olson 30 made the most of the big seas and strong winds to stay ahead of Brian Jones' J/109 Jelly Baby after three races sailed. 

Third in the seven boat fleet was Kinsale visitor, Finbarr O'Regan's J109 Artful Dodjer.

Denis Ellis's Mazu

In a three boat IRC Zero division, the Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy) leads on three points from Conor Phelan's Ker 37 Jump Juice on six. Eric & Wan Waterman's X37 Saxon Senator is third.

Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy)

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star has been knocked off the top of a nine boat IRC 2 Spinnaker division. Dave Lane's J/24 YaGottaWanna now leads on 6 points from Tony Donworth's Quarter Tonner SuperNova on 9. Sean Hanley's HB 31 Luas lying third with Young now fourth. 

In the dayboat IRC division, the 1720 Heroes & Villans leads from Michael McCann's Etchell Don't Dilly Dally. Third is Billy Campion's 1720 Wight Hare.

Billy Campion's 1720 Wight Hare

In the biggest division of the league, the White Sails ECHO Division 2, with 12 entries, Conor Hanlon's Sun Odyssey Lapwing leads from John O'Connor's Impala Fast Buck. Third is Mike Rider's Dehler 37 Freya.

Results are here

Day Two RCYC Autumn League Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

2004 Athens 470 Olympic partnership Ger Owens and Ross Killian teamed up again to win the 2021 All Ireland Sailing Championships in convincing style at Royal Cork Yacht Club this afternoon. 

After three wins put Owens, representing the GP14 class, firmly into Sunday's final, the dinghy champion then scored another unassailable 3, 3, 1, 1 into today's breezy final raced inside Cork Harbour.

Owens of the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour previously won the silver salver trophy 21 years ago, as WM Nixon reports here.

Squib representative Ross Kearney was runner up

Squib representative Ross Kearney finished second overall, a point behind with Owens clubmate Laser Radial sailor Sean Craig taking third place in the eight boat final raced in National 18 Ultras.

As per the forecast, Sunday's final certainly lived up to its heavy air billing, putting a premium on a 90kg wireman.

There was at least one capsize among the borrowed fleet of N18s in the strong winds.

There was also a disappointing retiral from ICRA 2 rep Nigel Biggs.  "We just found our 148kg insufficient to race the boat competitively in 20 knots in the first race today", Biggs told Afloat.

Biggs concluded that there was not much point in thrashing a borrowed boat just to get around the course, so he took the difficult decision not to participate in the remainder of the day.

"Pretty gutted as we were quick yesterday, but at least we live to fight another day", he said.

Sean Craig representing the Radial class was third overall Photo: Bob Bateman.

All Ireland Sailing Championships 2021 Overall 

All Ireland Sailing Championships 2021 Overall 

 All Ireland Sailing Finals Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Kieran Collins Coracle IV of the host club leads the IRC Spinnaker 0/1 Division after the first race of Royal Cork Yacht Club's AIB Autumn League in Cork Harbour.

The Olson 30 made the most of the big seas and strong winds to take the first gun ahead of Brian Jones' J/109 Jelly Baby.

Third in the combined Zero and One eight boat fleet was the Grand Soleil 40, Nieulargo (Denis and Annamarie Murphy).

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star tops an eight boat IRC 2 Spinnaker division. Dave Lane's J24 lies second with Sean Hanley's HB 31 Luas lying third.

Royal Cork's club J/24 Jumbalaya surfs a wave in the first race of the Autumn League

Royal Cork's Autumn League Race One Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Full results across all divisions are here