Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Jack O'Keeffe of Cork Harbour Becomes Chairman of International Drascombe Association  

27th April 2021
Jack O'Keeffe's Drascombe Coaster Tyboat sailing sweetly, with the mainsail's wishbone boom (one of Jack's many modifications) performing exactly as planned
Jack O'Keeffe's Drascombe Coaster Tyboat sailing sweetly, with the mainsail's wishbone boom (one of Jack's many modifications) performing exactly as planned Credit: :W M Nixon

The many, varied and characterful boats of the Drascombe range became even better known throughout Ireland during 2020. Their trailerable flexibility of logistics and boat-positioning - together with their Association's long experience in organising cruises-in-company and rallies to remote coastlines and lakes - enabled them to give textbook lessons in how to comply with pandemic regulations while still providing their flotillas and small fleets with worthwhile ventures afloat and ashore. Our report of their Boyne Rally in July was very typical of the special ingenuity which the Drascombes deploy in getting to the places other boats don't reach.

The Drascombe Association's main man in coordinating a varied programme of rallies in Ireland and the UK through 2020 was Jack O'Keeffe of Cork – of Carrigaline, to be precise. And whatever he did during the past year or so, it seems to have been neatly on target, as the Association's recent online AGM saw him being elected Chairman for the next two years, heading up an organisation which has members and officers based in several countries, with the most distant being in Australia.

Jack O'Keeffe of Cork Harbour, newly-elected Chairman of the internationally-operating Drascombe Association, has been involved with Drascombes since 2002.   Jack O'Keeffe of Cork Harbour, newly-elected Chairman of the internationally operating Drascombe Association, has been involved with Drascombes since 2002.  

They produce an attractive professional-standard quarterly news-letter which everyone knows as DAN (Drascombe Association News), and here too the O'Keeffe household is involved, as Jack and his wife Anne are the proofreaders, but Jack tells me that it's really Anne alone – "she can pick up a typo at a hundred yards….".

Meanwhile, he'll be busy enough with other work, as he has been retained as Rally Coordinator. The difficult organisational environment of 2020 saw the Drascombe Association availing of Jack's skill, as their main rally in Ireland in August on Lough Corrib – with the Rev David Williams of Cong as the on-site organiser – had a problem of success, with 27 boats applying to take part when the regulations then in force limited the fleet to 15.

So they made it two fleets, with Jack O'Keeffe leading one group starting on the Friday, while the Reverend led the others next day. It says much for the size and variety of island-studded Lough Corrib, that the two groups managed to avoid each other, yet had themselves a fine old time at some of Lough Corrib's more intriguing ports and islands.

This year the main rallies in Ireland will be a first one off the northern coast to Rathlin Island and then back to Strangford Lough in June, culminating on June 18th with a rally at the Down Cruising Club Lightship HQ, the focus for Strangford Lough's growing fleet of Drascombes. After that between July 18th and August 9th, the fleet will be working their way along the coast of Northern Ireland to the River Bann, and thence upriver to Lough Neagh.

Reaching the places other boats don't reach - Drascombes together at Staleen on the River Boyne, 12th July 2020.   Reaching the places other boats don't reach - Drascombes together at Staleen on the River Boyne, 12th July 2020.  

Far to the southwest, there's a rally at the Kenmare River on August 21st & 22nd, and then in September there's what well could become the big one, the Autumn Rally on Lough Derg around the weekend of September 10th to 12th.

It's a challenging programme when you remember that Drascombe owners tend to be highly individualistic types who - from time to time – also like to do their own thing. But an overview of 2020's successfully completed activities suggests that beneath its amiable and easygoing image, the Drascombe Association is an extremely effective organisation. Yet when I asked the new Chairman what was the secret of it all, he immediately replied with a chuckle: "A bit of luck goes a long way".

Published in Cork Harbour
WM Nixon

About The Author

WM Nixon

Email The Author

William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

Cork Harbour Information

It’s one of the largest natural harbours in the world – and those living near Cork Harbour insist that it’s also one of the most interesting.

This was the last port of call for the most famous liner in history, the Titanic, but it has been transformed into a centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

The harbour has been a working port and a strategic defensive hub for centuries, and it has been one of Ireland's major employment hubs since the early 1900s. Traditional heavy industries have waned since the late 20th century, with the likes of the closure of Irish Steel in Haulbowline and shipbuilding at Verolme. It still has major and strategic significance in energy generation, shipping and refining.

Giraffe wander along its shores, from which tens of thousands of men and women left Ireland, most of them never to return. The harbour is home to the oldest yacht club in the world, and to the Irish Navy. 

This deep waterway has also become a vital cog in the Irish economy.

‘Afloat.ie's Cork Harbour page’ is not a history page, nor is it a news focus. It’s simply an exploration of this famous waterway, its colour and its characters.

Cork Harbour Festival

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór and Cork Harbour Open Day formerly existed as two popular one-day events located at different points on Cork’s annual maritime calendar. Both event committees recognised the synergy between the two events and began to work together and share resources. In 2015, Cork Harbour Festival was launched. The festival was shaped on the open day principle, with Ocean to City – An Ras Mór as the flagship event.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown from strength to strength. Although the physical 2020 festival was cancelled due to Covid-19, the event normally features nine festival days starting on the first week of June. It is packed full of events; all made possible through collaboration with over 50 different event partners in Cork City, as well as 15 towns and villages along Cork Harbour. The programme grows year by year and highlights Ireland’s rich maritime heritage and culture as well as water and shore-based activities, with Ocean to City – An Rás Mór at the heart of the festival.

Taking place at the centre of Ireland’s maritime paradise, and at the gateway to Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork is perfectly positioned to deliver the largest and most engaging harbour festival in Ireland.

The Cork Harbour Festival Committee includes representatives from Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Port of Cork, UCC MaREI, RCYC, Cobh & Harbour Chamber and Meitheal Mara.

Marinas in Cork Harbour

There are six marinas in Cork Harbour. Three in Crosshaven, one in East Ferry, one in Monkstown Bay and a new facility is opening in 2020 at Cobh. Details below

Port of Cork City Marina

Location – Cork City
Contact – Harbour Masters Dept., Port of Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 4273125 or +353 (0)21 4530466 (out of office hours)

Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831023

Crosshaven Boatyard Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4831161

Salve Marina Ltd

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831145

Cork Harbour Marina

Location: Monkstown, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)87 3669009

East Ferry Marina

Location: East Ferry, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4813390

New Cove Sailing Club Marina

(to be opened in 2020)

Location: Cobh, Co. Cork
Contact: 087 1178363

Cork Harbour pontoons, slipways and ramps

Cork City Boardwalk Existing pontoon

Port of Cork 100m. pontoon

Cork city – End of Cornmarket St. steps and slip;

Cork city - Proby’s Qy. Existing limited access slip

Quays Bar & Restaurant, Private pontoon and ramp for patrons, suitable for yachts, small craft town and amenities

Cobh harbour [camber] Slip and steps inside quay wall pontoon

Fota (zoo, house, gardens) Derelict pontoon and steps

Haulbowline naval basin; restricted space Naval base; restricted access;

Spike Island pier, steps; slip, pontoon and ramp

Monkstown wooden pier and steps;

Crosshaven town pier, with pontoon & steps

East Ferry Marlogue marina, Slip (Great Island side) visitors’ berths

East Ferry Existing pier and slip; restricted space East Ferry Inn (pub)
(Mainland side)

Blackrock pier and slips

Ballinacurra Quay walls (private)

Aghada pier and slip, pontoon & steps public transport links

Whitegate Slip

Passage West Pontoon

Glenbrook Cross-river ferry

Ringaskiddy Parking with slip and pontoon Ferry terminal; village 1km.

Carrigaloe pier and slip; restricted space; Cross-river ferry;

Fountainstown Slip

White’s Bay beach

Ringabella beach

Glanmire Bridge and tide restrictions

Old Glanmire - Quay