There are two interesting changes planned in Cork Harbour racing this season, for cruisers and dinghies.

Two separate Cobh-Blackrock Races are planned, and the Cork Harbour Cruiser Joint Clubs league will be reintroduced.

The Cobh/Blackrock Race is a big traditional gathering that was, in times past, the traditional end-of-season event. That is no longer the situation as racing, in dinghies and cruisers, goes on into the Winter. Both raced on the same day in the annual September Cobh-Blackrock Race, organised by Cove Sailing Club, dinghies starting ahead of the cruisers.

In recent years the running of the dinghies section of the race has been organised by Monkstown Bay Sailing Club, a successful dinghy club, that has been expanding its activities.

The sailing programme issued by MBSC for this season has scheduled the CSC/Cobh-to-Blackrock dinghies race for Saturday, July 6. Monkstown will be the organisers.

The Cobh/Blackrock Cruisers Race is set for Saturday, September 14.

Keelboat forum

A keelboat racing forum held in the RCYC clubhouse at Crosshaven at the weekend had “a fantastic turnout with hugely positive engagement from members", according to the club.

Its Keelboat/cruiser Class says that it will “introduce some new additions to our racing calendar for 2024, including the re-introduction of Sunday racing, a sprint series, a combined June Friday league with Cobh Sailing Club, the ‘Round Spike Island Race’ as well as many more new initiatives.”

The Cork Harbour Combined Clubs League was run for a number of seasons but stopped when Covid impacted sailing and was not resumed. The plan is to run it on Friday nights in June. That evening is, at present, a whitesail night at the RCYC and whitesail and kites at Cove. The resumed combined league will probably be whitesail.

On Saturday, George Radley Jr's Skipper 70 Pat Mustard won the Moonduster Trophy in Cove Sailing Club's Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour.

Radley finished the 6.5 nautical miles course in a corrected time of one hour, 12 minutes and 30 seconds, approximately two minutes ahead of Micheal McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally on 1:14:27 corr.

Third was Tom MacSweeney of this parish in the Sigma 33, Scribbler II, 1:19:10 corrected.

George Radley Jr's Pat Mustard gets ahead under her blue spinnaker in the opening stages of a light airs edition of Cove Sailing Club's Cobh to Blackrock Race 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

The annual race encountered some setbacks despite initial plans for three starts and arrival in Cork city for the Ireland-Romania World Cup Rugby Match.

Unfortunately, the lack of wind disrupted these plans, causing a delay of about an hour. However, hardworking Cove Sailing Club Commodore Dominic Losty hoisted the postponement flag, and everyone waited patiently.

George Radley Jr's Skipper 70 Pat Mustard crew are presented with the Moonduster Trophy for their IRC overall win in Cove Sailing Club's Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour

Thankfully, Dom announced that pressure was heading the fleet's way over the VHF radio, and as this is a race that requires a flood tide, all fleets started together, creating a grand spectacle off Cobh.

A grand spectacle - the Cobh to Blackrock race fleet depart Cobh Photo: Bob Bateman

McCann in the Etchells 22 showed great determination by getting a great start, followed by the IOR design Bataleur 88, with Radley sneaking in behind on the Skipper 70, flying a blue spinnaker.

Little and large - The 2023 Cobh to Blackrock Race fleet was an all-in affair for dinghies, one design keelboats and cruiser-racers Photo: Bob Bateman

As the yachts and dinghies made their way up the river, it became clear that the ebb tide had started, and with the light breeze, not all could make it. So, near Little Island and within sight of Blackrock, the course was shortened.

As Afloat reported previously, Cove SC opened entry for the race in August and encouraged as many boats as possible, including motor and sail, to take part in its RNLI Rally Class. Full battle dress and music are definitely encouraged. 

The race is hosted in conjunction with the RNLI.

Despite the light wind setbacks, it was a grand finale to the Cove Sailing Club's Sailing Season on a beautiful day.

Bob Bateman's Cobh to Blackrock Race 2023 Photo Gallery 

Cove Sailing Club has announced its upcoming Cobh to Blackrock Race for Cork Harbour. 

The club hopes for good weather and a great day afloat, celebrating the fantastic harbour on September 9th.

Last year, Monkstown Bay Sailing Club offered to help reignite the dinghy racing for this iconic race, something that had been missing for a long time. The Cove Sailing Club is delighted that they will again help with the race management for the increasing dinghy fleet in the harbour.

As Afloat reported earlier, Cove SC opened entry for the race in last week and encourages as many boats as possible, including motor and sail, to take part in its RNLI Rally Class. This is a family-friendly sail or motor to the city before the main fleets race up the river. The club invites all boats to gather at the Cobh start line and leave on the gun. Full battle dress and music are definitely encouraged. The club would be delighted if all RNLI Rally boats supported this event by entering online and supporting the RNLI.

The race is hosted in conjunction with the RNLI.

This year, the added bonus of Ireland playing their opening World Cup game against Romania will make the day even more exciting. Tequila Jack's pub has promised to give a warm welcome for both the game and prize giving, with a large viewing area for the match. A BBQ will also be available this year.

The club will also provide prizes for the competitors' raffle, of which all boats entered are eligible.

Cove Sailing Club has opened online entry for the annual Cobh-Blackrock Race for cruisers and dinghies on Saturday of next week, September 9.

Rankins continues to lead the Wednesday night dinghies league. David and Richard Marshall are on top with 21 points, second Owen O’Connell on 25 and third Maurice and Frances Kidney on 30.

Friday cruiser racing ‘Kites IRC’ leader is ‘Tonga’ (Gary Mills), on 14 points from George Radley Junior’s ‘Pat Mustard’ on 29 and Billy Burke’s ‘Musketeer’ third on 32.

George Radley Junior’s ‘Pat Mustard' Photo: Bob Bateman

First and third are the same in ECHO, with Nicholas O’Rourke’s ‘Bright Wings’ second.

Ian Scandrett’s ‘Kernow’ leads Whitesail on 11 points, Maurice Kidney and Gerry Holland’s ‘Barossa; is second on 18 and ‘Déjà Vu’ (Brian Curtis) third on 27.

Spinnakers were flown from start to finish of the Cobh to Blackrock annual race up the River Lee on Saturday afternoon.

It was a great Cork Harbour spectacle as the fleet carried the colourful sails up through Lough Mahon, the Class 1 and 2 boats vying for position as the breeze varied.

Throughout the race, from the start off the seafront at Cobh to the finish off Blackrock Castle, racing was very close.

Dinghies sailed in the Cobh to Blackrock Race for the first time in several years. Monkstown Bay Sailing Club organised the dinghy racing for the overall race organisers, Cove Sailing Club.

Royal Cork's Nieulargo, the ICRA boat of the year, competed in the White Sails Division Photo: Bob Bateman

Cruisers raced two Spinnaker Classes, in whitesail and a traditional boat class.

Spinnakers/Kites 1 was won by George Radley's Imp; 2nd Jelly Baby, Jones Family; 3rd Alpaca, Paul and Deirdre Tingle. All from RCYC.

Spinnakers/Kites 2 was won by Illegal, K.Dorgan, Cove SC; 2nd Scribbler, Cormac MacSweeney RCYC; 3, Bad Company, Desmond/Ivers/Keane, RCYC.

Only one boat sailed in ECHO/Kites Netta J, Des Corbett, Cove SC.

The Cork Harbour One Designs Elsie raced in the Traditional boat class Photo: Bob Bateman

The Whitesails Class 1 was won by Prince of Tides, Frank Caul; 2, Magnet/KOB/F.Carroll; 3, Aramis/Pat Vaughan. All RCYC.

The Whitesails 2 winner was Barossa, Maurice Kidney of Cove SC; 2nd Loch Greine, Tom O'Mahony/RCYC; 3rd, Re Eile, D&A Ahern, Cove SC

The Rally Fleet Prize was awarded by the Race Committee to the 1720/MBSC, Crotty/Dineen.

There were two dinghy fleets. Class 1 winner was Ronan Kenneally's National 18 from the RCYC; 2nd, Ewen Barry/505/RCYC; 3rd, Simon Butler, Laser, MBSC. 

Tim and Isobel O'Connor sailed the smallest boat in the fleet, a 10 foot 10 inch Mirror dinghy Photo: Bob Bateman

The smallest boat in the fleet, the Mirror sailed by Tim and Isobel O'Connor from Monkstown Bay SC won Class Two; 2nd was Fiona O'Connell's Rankin, The Green Machine, Cove SC and 3rd, Cliodhan, T Class boat, Owen O'Connell, Cove SC.

Download results below

Bob Bateman's 2022 Cobh to Blackrock Race Photo Gallery

The annual Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour will be sailed this Saturday, with a number of changes from previous years, including the return of dinghies with the support of Monkstown Bay SC to Cove Sailing Club, the overall race organisers.

First Gun for Dinghies will be at 2 p.m.; Spinnaker Cruiser Classes 1, 2 and 3 will start together at 2.20 p.m.; Whitesails, racing under ECHO handicap only, at 2.30 p.m. and a new ‘Traditional Rally’ class at 2.40 p.m.

The Start line is at Cobh. Finishing for cruisers at Blackrock Castle and for dinghies at Blackrock Pier. Race channel VHF 69.

Cruiser-racers competing in the 2021 Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

There is an entry fee for the first time, €15 per boat, to be donated to the RNLI. Cove SC says there will not be individual Class Prizes this year, overall 1st place trophies only, a donation being made instead to the RNLI.

The Cove Club is making a strong effort to return the social aspect of the race for families, which had declined somewhat with the concentration on racing as part of the South Coast calendar in recent years. This will, doubtless, be welcome by non-racing cruiser sailors. There is also a reduction in the number of prizes which, the club says, will facilitate a donation to the RNLI.

“We are delighted to announce that Dinghy racing will return to the Blackrock Race this year; our ‘Traditional Rally RNLI Class’ is for families and friends to take part, for all types of sailing yachts. This is not a formal race incorporating handicaps. The winner of the rally will be decided by the Race Committee on the day. 

A Hawk 20, a 20ft self-righting, self‑draining, shallow-draft, centre-board, sea going dayboat, competing in the 2021 Cobh to Blackrock race. The hope is smaller dinghies will join this year's race. Photo: Bob Bateman

Cove Sailing Club has issued a detailed statement about the race arrangements:

“This annual event is always a highlight of our sailing and social calendar on Saturday 10th of September. This year we are delighted to support the RNLI and decided to introduce a modest entry fee of €15.00 per boat, with the total amount going directly to the RNLI. Each boat that enters will be included in a draw at this year’s prize giving for some fantastic prizes.

“The race will feature many different class bands to ensure all boats have tight racing within their class and also an opportunity to win the highly coveted overall trophies. For the kites division, we will be scoring the event under IRC only, and for the White sail class, we will be scoring under ECHO Standard only.

“The prizegiving will be held at “Tequila Jacks Bar and Restaurant outside on their fantastic boardwalk as soon as possible after racing. We have decided this year to donate to the RNLI instead of individual prizes throughout the classes. Winners will be awarded trophies.

“We are delighted to announce that Dinghy racing will return to the Blackrock race this year, and a massive amount of thanks to Monkstown Bay Sailing Club’s commodore Sandy, who will this year take the lead and help ensure we have an excellent race for the dinghies.

“As in previous years, we encourage all boats to take part in the event, and our “RNLI” rally class is an excellent way for families and friends to take part. This class is for all types of sailing yachts and is a great way to participate. A formal start will occur in front of Cobh, and boats will sail up to the finish area in Blackrock. It is worth noting that this is not a formal race incorporating handicaps, and the winner of the rally will be decided by the race committee on the day. So please come along and support the fantastic work done by the RNLI.

“With many boats on the water, it is vital that we receive all entries as early as possible and before the deadline to ensure that we can deliver quick and efficient results on the day.

Sailing instructions and further details will be available.

Prior entry for all classes, cruisers and dinghies, is needed on Cove SC website

Starting from Cobh at 2 pm and finishing at Blackrock Castle yesterday, this year's Cobh to Blackrock Yacht Race in Cork Harbour was extra special as the club is helping the Naval Service commemorate its 75th anniversary.

Festivities on the day included a parade of sail from Cork Harbour up to the city quays, providing a fitting spectacle on the River Lee.

As can be seen from the photo gallery below, the weather was pretty mixed with a fog followed by rain at Blackrock Castle for the finish.

Cove Sailing Club organisers held separate class starts for class 1 and 2 racing under spinnaker and then a second for white sail boats. There was a third start for 1720 sportsboats.

 Cobh to Blackrock Yacht Race Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Cove Sailing Club has awarded Denis Byrne's Trapper T250 Cracker its Moonduster Trophy for his overall performance in today's Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour.

Byrne and his Royal Cork Yacht Club crew outwitted a 36-boat fleet over a narrow and notoriously tricky course to take the overall prize. 

The on-form boat, Denis and Annamarie Murphy's Nieulargo, a Grand Soleil 40, was the Class One IRC Spinnaker division winner. Having won both SCORA's Fastnet 450 and Kinsale's Fastnet Race earlier this season they now add the class one prize for the Cobh to Blackrock Race.

A winning tactic for the Murphy's Nieulargo in eight boat IRC One was the ability to hoist a code zero spinnaker which proved an advantage on the narrow course. 

The Cobh to Blackrock Race fleet start off Cobh Promenade in a south-west wind

1st in IRC One - Nieulargo, Grand Soleil 40, IRL2129, Denis & Annamarie Murphy

Missing from this year's line up was a previous double winner of the in harbour race, Kieran Dorgan's Altair due to haul out for modifications.

A four-boat Class Two was won by Mike McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally followed by Byrne's Cracker.

1st in IRC 2 - Don't Dilly Dally, Etchells, Michael McCann

This morning's 1130 am start on a flood tide was delayed due to the arrival of a large container ship entering the harbour.

A clear blue sky and south-west winds gave the mixed cruiser fleet a beat up Cobh Roads past White Point and Black Point on the initial stage of the 10-km river race.

After Black Point, the yachts were able to free off and those in the Spinnaker divisions hoisted their kites on reaching Loughbeg. Spinnakers were doused though they when the fleet had to harden up for the finish at Blackrock Castle.

In White Sail which had the biggest fleet, "Prince of Tide" lead all the way to the finish followed by "Jolastan" and not far behind, the restored Cork Harbour One Design "Jap". 

1st in Whitesail (ECHO) Prince of Tides, Grand Soleil 37B, IRL14544 Frank Caul

Jap, the restored Cork Harbour One Design, reaches the finish line at Blackrock Castle

George Radley Jnr's crew were suitably dressed for the conditions on the day in the Sadler 25, Creamy Beam  

The mixed cruiser fleet included Maurice Kidney's YM Three Tonner

See the full photo slideshow of the Cobh to Blackrock Race by Bob Bateman below

A pre-race favourite for Saturday's Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour has been withdrawn. 

Cove Sailing Club Commodore Kieran Dorgan's First 36.7 Altair, a past winner of the 10-km in-harbour race, will miss the 2020 edition because the boat is hauled out of the water for the installation of a sail drive unit.

Dorgan will instead race the annual fixture with Ronan Downing's crew on the also much-fancied Half Tonner, Miss Whiplash.  

As Afloat reported previously here, the 2020 race has a reduced entry of 36 this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The race, that start on a flood tide, starts untypically early at 11.30 am due to Cork Harbour tide times tomorrow.

Cove Sailing Club's 2020 Cobh to Blackrock Race will start earlier than normal this Saturday due to Cork Harbour tide times. A first gun at 1130 will see two separate starts for a combined fleet of 36 sailing cruisers (numbers restricted due to COVID) race on the flood off Cobh up to Blackrock Castle.

There is little doubting Kieran Dorgan's mastery of this race with wins for his yacht, the First 36.7 Altair, in both 2016 and 2018. It means he is the helmsman to watch even though this year there will be some interesting challenges to the Cobh Commodore. Form boat Denis and Annamarie Murphy's Nieulargo, a Grand Soleil 40, is also entered in Class One IRC Spinnaker division. The Murphy's have been big offshore this season winning both SCORA's Fastnet 450 and Kinsale's Fastnet Race but navigating the back eddies off Monkstown may yet be a different matter. 

Nieulargo (Grand Soleil 40) IRL2129, Denis & Annamarie Murphy

Both Kieran Collins, Olson 30, Coracle and Ronan Downing's Half Tonner, Miss Whiplash are also entered in this crack nine boat division.

Coracle (Olson 30) 1883 Kieran Collins

Miss Whiplash (Half Tonner) GBR5435R Ronan Downing

Two separate starts are planned for the 2020 race with IRC spinnaker divisions going first.

Although the race is sailed on a flood tide boats still go aground if they stray too far from the channel, so local knowledge for navigating this course is a prerequisite for success.

Don't Dilly Dally (Etchells) 952 Michael McCann

IRC Two

IRC Two has just four boats competing and based on results from August club leagues, it is hard to ignore the threat of Michael McCann's well-sailed Etchells 22, Don't Dilly Dally. In a division that also contains the double Round Ireland Race winner Cavatina, A Granada 38, there will be no quarter given especially if Denis Byrne's Trapper 250, Cracker is sporting its new larger roached mainsail.

Jap (Cork Harbour One Design) C4 Clayton Love

White Sails

The biggest division in the 10-km race is the 23-boat white sail ECHO division where pride of place will surely go to the immaculately restored Jap racing on a generous handicap of .795. As Afloat previously reported Jap is now a special Royal Cork project boat and the 1897-built boat will be sailing past her shipyard of origin when she passes Carriagaloe going upriver this Saturday.

Ré Eile (Moody 31) IRL731 Damian Ahern

Prince of Tides (Grand Soleil 37B) IRL14544 Frank Caul