West Cork Sailing & Boating News
Lawrie Smith of Glandore is “Sailor of the Month (International)" for September
1st October 2023 Sailor of the Month
Early in the 1960s, Sid Smith – a builder and developer from Bury near Manchester – secured the site for the modest holiday home of his dreams beside the harbour in Glandore in West Cork. Summers in Glandore with much…
Baltimore RNLI in West Cork Launches Both Lifeboats During Storm Agnes
27th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
The Baltimore RNLI lifeboat crew carried out a rescue mission during storm Agnes on September 27th. The Irish Coast Guard called for assistance to rescue a yacht in trouble in the Ilen River in West Cork. At 3.48 pm, the Baltimore…
A Season of Success Celebrated at Kinsale Yacht Club's 'At Home' Regatta
20th September 2023 Kinsale
Kinsale Yacht Club's 'At Home' Regatta, sponsored by Victoria's Antiques, was held on Sunday, 17th September, and saw a great turnout despite the damp weather. The event was a big success, with many sailors from the sailability, dinghy, and keelboat…
Four of Ireland’s top Optimists sailors will be getting ready to sail in the Junior Champions Cup to be held in Schull, West Cork, on September 23rd and 24th. Harry Dunne (HYC), Gemma Brady (NYC/LDYC), Max O’Hare (RStGYC) were nominated based…
Glandore Yacht Club’s Lawrie Smith, the 2015 Gold Cup and 2011 Dragon World Champion, and this season's Edinburgh Cup champion, emerged victorious in the Børge Børresen Memorial Trophy after a gruelling 10-mile-long windward leeward course in challenging conditions. From Ireland,…
Courtmacsherry RNLI Crew Welcomes Donor to Name New Shannon Class Lifeboat ‘Val Adnams’
10th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
A significant crowd gathered at Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat station in West Cork for the naming ceremony of the new Shannon class lifeboat on Saturday. Val Adnams, the principal donor, flew from Idaho, USA, to name the state-of-the-art vessel. Esteemed guests,…
A sea swimmer in West Cork was rescued by an RNLI lifeboat crew in thick fog this morning. The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat "Val Adnams" was called early this morning (Saturday, September 9th) by the Valentia Coast Guard Marine…
West Cork Shellfish Company Launches Ireland’s First Crab Pate With BIM Support
8th September 2023 BIM
Shellfish Ireland, a company that specialises in shellfish in West Cork, has launched Ireland's first crab pate after receiving a grant worth €793,281 under the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). The grant was worth a…
A 'Heritage & Fastnet Centre' is scheduled to open in Summer 2024 on Cape Clear Island, located on the West Cork coast. The development of the centre was celebrated by raising flags at the proposed site during a 'Flags Day'…
Three Decades of Marine Data Published By Sherkin Island Marine Station
6th September 2023 Island News
“A dream come true” is how Matt Murphy, founder of one of Ireland’s longest-running coastal research stations, describes publication of 35 years of key environmental data. Phytoplankton records for the south-west Irish coast dating back to 1980 have been published…
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) officers confiscated 48 live undersize crawfish off the southwest coast late last month. The SFPA says that the crawfish were “returned safely to sea” after the discovery during a routine patrol. It says that a…
The South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) has cancelled its Fastnet Race scheduled to start, in conjunction with Kinsale Yacht Club, this Friday from Kinsale, due to weather, but this time because the forecast conditions are too light! It is…
The 54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, a renowned solo sailing race, kicked off its first stage today at Ouistreham beach off Caen on France's Normandy coast. The 32 solo skippers were given a purposeful but relatively straightforward start on…
A yacht that got into difficulty during Storm Betty was rescued by the West Cork Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat on Saturday morning. The sailors had been anchored off Dromquinna on the Kenmare Peninsula, but as the storm worsened, the vessel dragged anchor…
Lawrie Smith, sailing Alfie for the Glandore Harbour Yacht Club in West Cork, gave a sailing masterclass in perfect Solent conditions to claim twin victories on the opening day of the 75th Edinburgh Cup and UK Dragon Grand Prix in…
Big Breeze and Thrills and Spills as Calves Week 2023 Ends on a High in Schull Harbour
11th August 2023 Calves Week
There were thrills and spills – particularly in the Spinnaker fleets – in the final race of CD Environmental Calves Week Regatta in Schull Harbour, West Cork, on Friday. Race officer Alan Crosbie started all fleets in the harbour in…