The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) at Crosshaven has received a lot of praise for the running of Sunday’s Autumn League during a “weather window” in Cork Harbour, getting the fleet home before a gale hit the Cork area which was so strong that it caused serious damage and serious flooding. 

The plan for the race involved making the start an hour earlier and racing inside the harbour.

Read Afloat's race report here.

Ready to race - Royal Cork Autumn League Race Officers Sally (left) and Anthony O'Leary (centre) Photo: Bob Bateman

The race was also part of the South Coast Offshore Racing Association’s annual league series. 

1720 sportsboats competing at Royal Cork's Autumn League Race Photo: Bob Bateman

SCORA’s Treasurer, Michael Murphy, who has been taking part in the racing, was impressed by the quality of the organisation and the safety steps taken to complete the race safely.

SCORA Treasurer Michael Murphy with his wife Derval pictured in 2019 at a gathering at the RCYC in Crosshaven, to celebrate the 40 th consecutive years for the Moody 30, Shelly D (below) and her various crews, competing in the Autumn league. Murphy is not sailing Shelly D in this year's Autumn League - She's 'resting', he says in Rosbrin yard but is doing a bit of crewing when asked.... Photo: Bob Bateman

He is my Podcast guest this week, where we discuss the importance of good on-the-water racing communications, the differing standards of race officiating and the likelihood that there will be more offshore racing in SCORA’s calendar for next year.

Listen to the Podcast here.

Shelly D was purchased in 1978 at Southamption boat show by Derval and Michael Murphy, after a meeting on the Moody stand with designer Angus Primrose, she was delivered to Kinsale in Easter 1979. Photo: Bob Bateman

The third race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's AIB-sponsored Autumn League was sailed in the shadow of a gale warning today, with all fleets completing a single blustery race in Cork Harbour.

After three races sailed – and no discard applied so far there is a clear leader in IRC Spinnaker Division One. 

Visiting J109 crew Artful Dodger from Kinsale under skipper Finbarr O'Regan has a 2.5-point lead over Eric & Wan Waterman's X37 Saxon Senator from the host club. The Waterman brothers are tied on nine points with the host club's Jones Family sailing the J122, Jelly Baby for second place. 

Overall leaders - Kinsale J109 crew Artful Dodger (Finbarr O'Regan) competing in the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

The host club's Jones Family sailing the J122, Jelly Baby in the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Results are provisional following today's third and single race under Race Officer Anthony O'Leary. 

Cape 31 Irish National Champion Anthony O'Leary was Race Officer for the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Following a Committee Boat start to the dognose mark in 12 to 16 knots, all fleets sailed course 93, but with the breeze increasing to 20 knots, Class two and White Sail divisions ended up with a shortened course.

Dave & James Dwyer Half Tonner Swuzzelbubble is the IRC Spinnaker Two division leader after the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Although Swuzzelbubble leads overall in IRC Spinnaker Two division, the Dave & James Dwyer Half Tonner had to be content with second in today's race as Michael McCann's appropriately named  Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally surfed past Swuzzelbubble at the finish line. Overall the Dwyers count five points so far with Conor Phelan's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge second on 11 and McCann a point further back in third.

Conor Phelan's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge lies second  after the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Michael McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally surfing in the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

A seven-boat 1720 fleet raced on the Curlane bank.

In a competitive outing in IRC One White Sails division, Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet on six points leads RCYC clubmates Frank Caul and John Molloy's Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides also on six.  

Aidan Heffernan's Dufour 36 Indulgence is two points off the lead in this place in the eight-boat fleet.

Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet shortly after the White Sails start in the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Racing continues next Sunday.

Bob Bateman's Photo Gallery of the third race of the AIB Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League in Cork Harbour

The Autumn League will resume at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven on Sunday, after cancellation last week due to weather conditions, but First Gun will be an hour earlier.

Fog was a particular problem last weekend, wind conditions were about acceptable, but, for safety reasons, the decision to cancel was taken.

“We have been watching the weather this weekend and see an opportunity with an earlier start for a weather window, so the start is being moved forward by an hour,” the club has announced. An Amendment to this effect has been posted on the league sailing instructions.

After the first day of racing on Sunday, October 2, Saxon Senator leads IRC Spinnaker 1, and Swuzzlebubble is Division 2 Spinnaker leader.

Prince of Tides leads Whitesails IRC 1. Apache tops Division 2 Whitesails. T-Bone is the 1720 leader.

Under ECHO handicap, Alpaca (Paul and Deirdre Tingle) leads Class 1 Spinnakers. Swuzzlebubble tops Class 2. Elegance (Paul O’Shea) leads Whitesails 1, and Loch Greine is top in Whitesails 2.

“I must go down to the sea again….”

The opening words of John Masefield’s renowned seafaring poem ‘Sea Fever,’ which was the Reflection on the funeral Mass Card for Ted Crosbie…evoking memories of his passion for sailing.

That was, perhaps, unsurprising.

It was also unsurprising that there was a very big attendance at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church in the heart of Cork City, at which State and municipality were officially represented for his funeral.

Respect for Ted was immense, as the Celebrant, Fr. Pat McCarthy, recalled when he referred to him as a man of immense achievements, of ‘robust independence,’ who valued life, with democracy of thought and action which he showed in his life in the newspaper world.

There were people from the newspaper and publishing world, past Admirals from the Royal Cork Yacht Club, where he had also been Admiral, representatives from clubs around the country, employees from the newspapers the Crosbie family had owned – the Irish and formerly Cork Examiner, The Echo and many people from the vast and varied community of Corkonians whom he had known and whose respect he had earned. A long queue that had formed at the Church took nearly two hours to pass up the main aisle to meet the family, so large was the attendance.

Tom and Andrew Crosbie shoulder their father's coffin after requiem mass for Ted Crosbie at Saints Peter and Paul’s Church in Cork City

Looking at Ted Crosbie’s coffin in the church, I remembered the lively, always jovial and helpful man whose newspapers I had worked for and later met as a colleague sailor, whose encouragement and advice helped me into the sport. We had often talked when getting ready for Thursday evening weekly racing at the RCYC changing room when we might both have hurried from the office for the start line.

I once asked him if he was “a tough sailor”, – to which he responded: “Ask the opposition….”

As Ted Crosbie’s coffin was carried by family, led by his son, Tom, also a strong sailor at the RCYC, from the church to the hearse for the burial in St.Finbarr’s Cemetery on the western side of the city, people gathered outside. They recalled Ted’s life with many anecdotes about him.

“It is,” I was told, “a celebration of his life. There is sadness, of course, but also joy amongst all those here because he was unique.”

His passion for sailing was a subject I had often suggested to Ted, when we met that would make a good interview for my Afloat Podcast and radio programme.

He was a bit elusive about agreeing, but in March 2018, he did when I began by asking him how he got into sailing.

It was at the age of ten.

He chuckled as he told me how it happened….

You will too when you listen to that Podcast, which is appropriate today to repeat below

Dave and James Dwyer's famous Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble leads the IRC Two Spinnaker division after the first two races of Royal Cork Yacht Club's AIB Autumn League.

Lying second in the 11-boat fleet is Conor Phelan's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge.

The Desmond/Ivers/Keane Sunfast 32 Bad Company is third. 

Conor Phelan's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge to weather of the Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally (Michael McCann) in the first race of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club AIB Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

The Autumn League runs on the five Sundays of October with racing for Spinnaker, WhiteSail and 1720 classes. 

It was a beautiful morning for the first races, but the northwest wind was very light.

Winds were light for the first races of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club AIB Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

After a short postponement, the combined fleets went on a Windward Leeward course outside the harbour.

The course was shortened when the wind died completely, and as it filled in again, most boats got a finish in a two-hour first race.  

There was a wait for the wind to fill in between races, but it eventually came from the southwest at about 8 to 10 knots. A laid mark gave all fleets a beat and then a run back to Harp Mark off Trabolgan, then into the Harbour, passing No 2 buoy and a finish in White Bay.

Videos by Mary Malone and Bob Bateman

In the IRC One Spinnaker division, Eric and Wan Waterman's X37 Saxon Senator tops the nine-boat fleet with a first and a second score of three points.

The Jones Family J122 JellyBaby lies second after the first races of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club AIB Autumn League in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Lying second on five points is the Jones Family J122 JellyBaby. Third, on seven, is Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca.

In the eight-boat 1720 sportsboat division, Tom Durcan and Clive O'Shea were the only finishers of the first race inside Cork harbour, and with another win in race two are now seven points clear ahead of John Crotty's Monkstown Bay entry. Third is  Dave Kenefick's Full Irish on 11 points. 

In the White Sail Division One,  the Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides (Frank Caul/John Molloy) leads from Kieran O'Brien's MG335, Magnet. 

In White Sail Division Two, Alan Mulcahy's visiting Albin Express Apache from Kinsale leads from the McGrath Family's Big Mc.

Winds were so light in the first race of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club AIB Autumn League in Cork Harbour that at least one competitor resorted to a spot of fishing and caught a Pollock! Photo: Bob Bateman 

Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League Day One Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

The Autumn League will start at the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Sunday, continuing until the month's end.

Racing is for Spinnaker, WhiteSail and 1720 classes in Cork Harbour. The event is sponsored by AIB this year.

The club says, "following Skipper requests, the racing will mix windward/leeward laid courses with some longer coastal races.” 

This will mean two races on three Sundays, October 2,16 and 30, with one scheduled on October 9 and 23.

First Gun on all days at 11.25 a.m. It is an open event.

1720 sportsboats in Cork Harbour Autumn League racing mode Photo: Bob Bateman

The Optimist dinghy Cobbler League will take place across the first Sundays in October; 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven in Cork Harbour.

Racing will take place for Junior and Senior fleets with separate starts available if numbers allow.

A one-day entry is also facilitated for those that cannot attend the full series.

The Jones family J/122 Jelly Baby from the host club were the winners of the annual Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour on Saturday. 

Racing in the seven-boat spinnaker division, skipper Brian Jones beat season-long big boat club rivals Annamarie and Denis Murphy in the Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo. 

Winner J122 Jelly Baby on starboard crosses Annamarie and Denis Murphy in the Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo on the second leg of the 2022 Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Brisk northerly winds gave the fleet a reaching start to No.5 buoy from a RIB-based Committee Boat start that proved more than adequate, with flags flying from a stick. 

Videos by Bob Bateman and Mary Malone

The 19-boat sailed close hauled to No.13 Cuskinny buoy, about a mile off Cove, then outside the harbour with a traditional finish at the Haulbowline Naval Base.

Third was Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star.

Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star racing under spinnaker in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

(Above and below) Neil Kenefick (on stern) was a guest on board vintage one tonner Imp, helmed by Paul Gibbons in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

In the 12-boat Club ECHO division, Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet continues his recent White Sail success (winning the RCYC August/SeptemberLeague, as Afloat reported previously) with a win in the Naval Race.

Kieran O'Brien's MG335 Magnet in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Frank Caul and John Molloy's Grand Soliel 37B Prince of Tides finished second ahead of Des Corbet's entry Netta J, from Cove Sailing Club.

Des Corbet's entry Netta J, from Cove Sailing Club, competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Results are below

Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Evening cruiser-racing concluded in Cork Harbour with the final race of the August/September Whitesails League at the RCYC.

Evening cruiser and dinghy racing has also finished at Cove SC. Monkstown Bay Sailing Club dinghy racing is moving from evenings to Saturdays for September.

The June/July and August/September Friday whitesail leagues at the RCYC were both won by SCRIBBLER (Tom and Cormac MacSweeney). The dual success of the Sigma 33 was helmed respectively by the young brothers Oisin (June/July) and Rowan (August/September). They are also both Laser sailors at the RCYC.

Second in August/September was John O’Connor and John Hanley’s Impala FAST BUCK, and third Clive Doherty’s PHAETON. Second in the June/July League was Peter Webster’s, THISTLE and third was FAST BUCK.

Bob Bateman's RCYC Whitesails League and Prizegiving 2022 Photo Gallery

Established in 1944, the Sutton Book Trophy (‘the book’) is arguably the oldest team racing event in Ireland which has seen Royal Cork dinghy sailors do battle with Sutton Dinghy Club sailors on Dublin Bay in order to establish which club gets to win and retain ‘the book’ year on year.

Last weekend, Sutton Dinghy Club played host to the 2022 iteration, and as is always the case with Sutton Dinghy Club, the Royal Cork sailors were warmly received over breakfast prepared in the clubhouse prior to the race briefing.

Competing for the Junior Sutton Book, the Royal Cork Junior team were first to hit the race course in a light warm northerly breeze and the sun shining. The team was made up of a cross-section of our many talented junior dinghy sailors from the RCYC Laser, Optimist, 29er and Topper club fleets.

Isabel McCarthy, Megan O Sullivan, Fionn Daly, Oisin Pierce, Liam Duggan and Jonathan O Shaughnessy (Captain) all worked in a cohesive manner and sailed very well as a team to secure the overall win and retain the Junior Sutton book trophy for the second year in a row.

The RCYC Junior Sutton Book Winning Team

Sutton DC commodore Ciara O‘ Tiarnaigh (right) presenting the Sutton Junior Book

Next up were the senior teams, and by the time they were ready to compete, all the signs were that the breeze would fade as the afternoon wore on. Nonetheless, the race officer did very well to get three races completed, with Sutton winning by two races to one and deserved winners in the conditions.

The prize giving was conducted over dinner hosted by Sutton Dinghy club members for all competitors and their wider entourage. The Junior Sutton book was presented to the team and will remain in the Royal Cork clubhouse for another 12 months. The Senior Sutton Book will remain in Dublin for now but the Royal Cork sailors are already looking forward to try and wrestle the book back to Cork in 2023.

Special thanks to Royal Cork club member Richard McGlade for organising the 2022 team and great to see the competition is still very much alive 78 years on.