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#royalcork – The Organisers of August's Cork Dinghy Fest 2015 have introduced an Optimist fun fleet to this year's event. This fleet is for the sailors that do not qualify for the main optimist fleet. The Royal Cork Yacht Club idea is that this fleet will take part in some point to point fun races, like a race around Spike Island or a race up the Owenabue River at high tide. The young sailors will also be involved in fun shore side activities if the weather does not permit them to take to the water on any given day. This is seen as a great way to include as many sailors as possible in the festival without compromising the racing of the other fleets.

The new format dinghy week runs from 20th – 23rd of August.

The main Optimist fleet has also been limited to the first fifty entrants. Sailors must be ranked in the top fifty, from their Junior or Senior National rankings 2014.

Event plans are now well under way and it is shaping up to be a unique sailing experience, with four main race areas as well as two point to point race areas.

Here is a quick look at what's on, according to the RCYC:

1. Fun activities for all after sailing, (Stand up paddle board races, adult Optimist racing etc.)
2. Aprés sail music,
3. Anto's Famous BBQ.
4. Special guest speakers,
5. Dinghies on display.
6. Invitational sailing by other classes after racing.
7. Tidal Briefing for the next day on each race area.
8. Night time bands and DJ's.
9. Dedicated camping

Published in Royal Cork YC

#dinghyfest2015  – The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) and more than seven Irish dinghy classes have launched a Cork Harbour Dinghy racing fesival for 2015. As Afloat.ie reported in October the 'Dinghyfest 2015' will consist of four days of 'world class' racing, with courses inside and outside Cork Harbour. Dinghy fest 2015 will run from 20th to the 23rd of August.

 Irish class associations have confirmed that they will be holding the following events during the 4 day regatta:

RS200 - Euro Cup & National Championships
RS Feva National Championships
RS 400 Southern Championships
Mirror National Championships
420 Nationals Championships
Topper Munster Championships
National 18 Southern Championships

There will also be mixed dinghy racing as well as an Optimist championship.

Announcing the event, Nicholas O'Leary, 'Dinghyfest 2015' Director of Sailing said:

"I've been moniitoring the growth of dinghy sailing over the past number of years and believe the time is now right to get all fleets together and host a National Dinghy Festival. I'm delighted that we will be hosting Dinghyfest 2015 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Over the last year or so I've seen a lot of old competitors and good mates migrate back to our roots of the dinghy classes. Graduates of old from the social Intervarsity Team Racing Circuit are now picking up affordable dinghies like the RS's, Lasers and Mirrors to name but a few. The latest to get into the dinghy craze is Ireland's Figaro "Full Irish" Campaigner, David Kenefick, who will join over a dozen RS 400's now racing in Cork Harbour.

"There's a fair amount of dinghy sailors who want to get together to race hard and renew friendships forged in their youth sailing days. Expats further afield will hopefully come to the party and Dinghyfest 2015 will facilitate those sailors coming home to compete and hopefully bring sailors, from the UK and beyond , to enjoy what Cork Harbour has to offer. We have four race courses planned and will look at rotating classes to challenge the tactical skills of all, with the varying conditions which each race area will present."

Dinghyfest 2015 will encompass a number of Class Championships with two, three and four days racing planned depending on the requirements. An overall Dinghyfest Championships will combine results for three days racing from the 21st to the 23rd and the finer elements will be detailed within the NOR and SI's. Entries for all events will be through the dedicated RCYC website which will be live on 1st February.

Published in Royal Cork YC

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