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Displaying items by tag: Royal Cork Yacht Club

Overall results for the O'Leary Insurance White Sails Winter League will stand after the Royal Cork Yacht Club decided to cancel Sunday's (December 10) final race of the Series in Cork Harbour due to storm force westerly winds. 

Afloat's Bob Bateman will report with a photo gallery on the league prizegiving that takes place in the clubhouse at 4. 30 pm.

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Five wins from five races for Peter O'Leary and Stephen O'Sullivan means the Star keelboat pair continue to dominate the IRC White Sails Division of Royal Cork's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour.

In Sunday's (Dec 3rd) race, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star challenged the former Olympic keelboat, but after a light airs race, they finished second to lie second overall on nine points.

Race Officer Michael McCann set Course 15 for the fifth race across the river to the Dosco buoy, back to Cage,  no 7 to port,  no 13 to starboard, no 9 to starboard and then cage to starboard to finish.

Alan Mucahy's Apache from Kinsale is lying third overall on 16 points in the 17-boat fleet.

Next week's race is the final of the League.

RCYC White Sail League Crew Shots by Bob Bateman

The results are below. 

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Dave and James Dwyer were presented with the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Keelboat Racing Sailor of the Year Award at the Cork Harbour club's annual laying up supper at the weekend.

The premier prize was one of 12 handed out at a packed gathering in Crosshaven.

Dwyers' Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble was also named winner of RCYC's Club Yacht of the Year with victories across Ireland at the Sovereigns' Cup in June, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in June, and the ICRA Nationals in September.

Royal Cork Yacht Club silverware on show at the 2023 Laying Up SupperRoyal Cork Yacht Club silverware on show at the 2023 Laying Up Supper Photo: Bob Bateman

Michael McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally was the IRC Super League Champion (Spinnaker Division), and Ria Lyden's X-Yacht Ellida was named the Offshore Series Winner. 

The Club Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Marcus Worth for his role in the organisation of RCYC's successful staging of the Topper World Championships in July.

Royal Cork Yacht Club Laying up Supper 2023 Prizewinners Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Royal Cork Yacht Club laying up Supper 2023

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Royal Cork Yacht Club's Annual Junior Laying Up 2023 was held this weekend at Crosshaven, and the club's annual celebration of dinghy sailing was held in conjunction with its Frostbites Series prizegiving.

With a European title won by Ben O'Shaughnessy in the 29er class, there was certainly a lot to celebrate across the Cork Harbour youth sailing scene and an account of the season was given by each Class Captain, along with the presentation of highly valued end-of-year prizes.

Eddie Kingston, Royal Cork's ILCA Class Captain; Royal Cork Admiral  Kieran O"Connell, together with Maurice Collins, Royal Cork Rear Admiral Dinghies, were on hand to present the prizes.

Royal Cork's Junior Laying Up Supper 2023 Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

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A fourth race victory for Peter O'Leary and Stephen O'Sullivan this morning means the Star keelboat pair lead the IRC White Sails Division of Royal Cork's O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour by three points overall. 

Again, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star challenged the former Olympic keelboat but, after a medium airs race, they had to be content with third to lie second overall on seven points.

After taking a well-earned second in today's fourth race, Paul Tingle's X4 Alpaca is lying third overall on nine points in the 17-boat fleet.

Check out Mary Malone's vid of the November 26th start below: 

Results below

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Peter O'Leary and Stephen O'Sullivan took a third win in a row this morning to be firmly atop the leaderboard of the IRC White Sails Division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour.

Blustery conditions off Roches Point with westerly winds gusting to 36 knots meant it was touch and go for Royal Cork's race number three of the league. 

Again, Fiona Young's Albin Express North Star challenged the former Olympic keelboat with some intense pre-start manoeuvres between the two front runners.

The fleet sailed two rounds of Course 20 again, with round one first sailing to Dosco mark, no8, no10 ef2 (East Ferry), no20 (off Cobh and a strong tide), no13 Dosco, Cage and round two back to Dosco and a finish at Cage.

As gusts hit 36 knots at Roches Point, it was touch and go as to whether to sail or not for the third race of the Royal Cork O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 Photo: Bob BatemanAs gusts hit 36 knots at Roches Point, it was touch and go as to whether to sail or not for the third race of the Royal Cork O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

North Star finished second in a depleted fleet, with Annamarie and Denis Murphy's Grand Soliel 40 Nieulargo third. 

Overall, O'Leary leads from Young, with Kinsale visitor Alan Mulcahy in another Albin Express lying third. Results below.

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Forty-three dinghies have been competing in the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club over the past two weekends.

Racing is set to continue for two more rounds in November after two spectacular days on the water.

Race officer Ciaran MacSweeney has taken full advantage of the favourable November weather and managed five fleets across three races per day in fresh and sunny sailing conditions.

On Sunday, the tricky wind shifts challenged the fleets and correct course strategy paid off for the leaders, with Micheal O'Suilleabhain taking three bullets in a very strong ILCA 7 fleet ahead of Michael Crosbie, Jonathan O'Shaughnessy and Chris Bateman.

ILCA 7 competitor Jonathan O'Shaughnessy at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman ILCA 7 competitor Jonathan O'Shaughnessy at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

In ILCA 6, Max Tolan took a one-point lead from Andrew Kingston, who has a one-point lead over third-placed Liam Duggan.

The ILCA 4 fleet is dominated by the O'Neill family, with Shane Collins creating a bulwark to the full O'Neill hegemony.

Abbie Shorten and Isha Duggan (bow number 90) competing in the 420 dinghy class at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman Abbie Shorten and Isha Duggan (bow number 90) competing in the 420 dinghy class at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

The 420 fleet, after returning from the Ulster championship last weekend, had excellent days racing, with six boats racing and three more anticipated for next week.  Tommy Hiras and Conor Kelly on 4.5 points lead from Abbie Shorten and Isha Duggan on 5. Third is Rian Collins and Matt Mapplebeck on 9.

A ten-boat Topper fleet is competing at the at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman A ten-boat Topper fleet is competing at the at the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman 

The Topper fleet is led by Ellen McDonagh on 6, followed by Ruby Foley on 13. Gwen Barry is third on the same points.

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Olympic helmsman Peter O'Leary and crewman Stephen O'Sullivan stay top of the leaderboard of the IRC White Sails Division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour after Sunday afternoon's second race of the series.

Ahead of Storm Debi, sunshine, wind, and flat seas provided perfect conditions for 21 competing boats in the Royal Cork Yacht Club league.

O'Leary and O'Sullivan raced their one-design Star keelboat, Archie, to the IRC rule to beat Paul and Deirdre Tingle's X4 Alpaca. Third was Fiona Young's Albin Express, North Star.

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Topper dinghy sailing is going strong this winter at Royal Cork Yacht Club, four months after the Munster Club successfully staged the massive 250-boat Topper World Championships in Crosshaven.

On Sunday, both Topper and ILCA youth sailors hit the water for winter training and the first race of the club's winter dinghy frostbite league at the same time as the club's November/December White Sail keelboat League got underway in Cork Harbour.

The ILCA 7 fleet featured some dramatic racing between the ILCA 7s and a single RS Aero 7 sailed by Emmet O’Sullivan from MBSC, who swapped the outright lead several times in each race. Jonathan O’Shaughnessy leads by a point from Micheal O’Suilleabhain, in

In the Topper fleet, Ellen MacDonagh and Kate Deane traded first places, but MacDonagh leads after day one.

See Bob Bateman's photo gallery of Sunday's training below

Published in Royal Cork YC

Olympic helmsman Peter O'Leary and crewman Stephen O'Sullivan top the leaderboard of the IRC White Sails Division of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour on Sunday afternoon.

After Storm Ciaran, there was sunshine, wind, flat seas and a neap tide to provide perfect conditions for the first race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club league.

There were prefect sailing conditions for the first race of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour on Sunday afternoon Photo: Mary MaloneThere were prefect sailing conditions for the first race of the O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 in Cork Harbour on Sunday afternoon Photo: Mary Malone

O'Leary and O'Sullivan raced their one-design Star keelboat, Archie, to the IRC rule to beat Fiona Young's Albin Express, North Star. Third was the Albin Express Apache skippered by Kinsale Yacht Club's Alan Mulcahy.

The race started offwind from the harbour's Grassy walk line in 15 knots and featured several premature starters on Course Number 21 from the RCYC course card.

Three rounds of the course took the 21-boat fleet about an hour and a half to complete.

O'Leary Insurance Winter League 2023 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman and Mary Malone

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Page 3 of 68

About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth

Main Trophies

Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy – overall race winner under IRC Time Correction

Boccale de Mediterraneo – winner of ORC category

RLR Trophy – winner of monohull line honours

Captain Morgan Trophy – winner of multihull division on corrected time (MOCRA)

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