This Saturday (June 3), the annual Coolmore Race for Junior Crews of the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) will provide a great sight down the riverside from Carrigaline to Crosshaven.

The Coolmore Cup is an annual event which attracts a lot of support and will begin with a race briefing for crews at the club’s dinghy centre in Crosshaven at 1545.

This year’s race is being organised by Jim Hughes, who says he wants as many boats on the water as possible. ”If it floats, get it out! The club runs this fun race for its junior and youth sailors, but we would love to see families and friends together on the water. We want to see Mums and Dads (as crews), and we want to encourage the youths to take the helm. It is not all about who comes first; there will be a mix of prizes, from the best turned-out boat, the best-dressed crew, to the youngest helm to mention a few.”

High Tide will be at 1745 hours, and First Gun will be timed accordingly.

Club Admiral Kieran O’Connell and Rear Admiral of Dinghies Maurice Collins will start this year’s race in “an innovative way” - to be outlined at the pre-race briefing!

Run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club for its junior and youth sailors, Sunday's fun Coolmore race for dinghies started off Coolmore House near Rabbit Island in Cork Harbour and finished in front of the RCYC clubhouse at high tide.

This year the race was sponsored by local handcraft furniture and kitchen company House of Coolmore.

The club’s particular interest in promoting ‘mixed dinghies’ racing was reflected as a section within the race which included Optimists, Toppers and Lasers.

There were three separate starts from 1730 hours in front of the Coolmore Estate. The first for 29ers skiffs and Fireflies, the second for Toppers and the third start for younger Optimist sailors.

The race is about 3 km long and boats usually get a tow up and come down with the tide. It's a very sheltered course leading to light spots in places.

For the first time, the event incorporated the inaugural Coolmore Kayak and SUP (stand up paddleboards) Run for adults and juniors.

The Carrigaline-Crosshaven walk and cycleway runs alongside the river and provided lots of race course observation points.

Coolmore Race 2022 Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

 

 

Run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club for its young club members, the race starts off Coolmore House near Rabbit Island in Cork Harbour and finishes in front of the RCYC clubhouse.

The Carrigaline-Crosshaven walk and cycle way runs alongside the river and provides lots of observation points.

The RCYC has announced that this year’s race will be sailed on Sunday, May 28, sponsored by local company ‘House of Coolmore’.

The club’s particular interest in promoting ‘mixed dinghies’ racing will be reflected as a section within the race which will include Optimists, Toppers and Lasers. For the first time the event will incorporate the inaugural Coolmore Kayak and SUP (stand up paddleboards) Run for adults and juniors.

“This is always a great evening. We encourage all our junior sailors, particularly those who recently joined to partake. First gun will be at 17:30hrs in front of Coolmore Estate with launching at the club from 16:30hrs and a tow upriver if required. With high tide at 17:50, racing will finish in front of the club,” says the RCYC race notice. “The following dinghies are available for hire from the club. Oppies, Toppers, Magnos, Topaz, Lasers and Kayaks. Contact the club office to book a dinghy. It would be great to see sailors sail a dinghy other than the one they sail regularly, to team-up with clubmates to sail one of the 2-handed club dinghies, or borrow one. Parents are encouraged to enter a Kayak or SUP and take part in the occasion.

There is no entry fee for the race, which is for RCYC club members only.