Former Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett of the Irish Naval Service, who retired as head of the Defence Forces in September 2021, has been saluted by Kinsale Yacht Club at the weekend for his distinguished award from the French Government of 'Commandeur de la légion d'honneur', France's highest honorary decoration to foreigners. 

Mellet received notification of the French award last August.

The physical honour will be bestowed on him on 14th May at a ceremony in Collins Barracks, Dublin, followed by a reception at the French Embassy.

Mellet received the Kinsale recognition at a packed West Cork clubhouse – where he is already an honorary member – at the KYC Axiom Spring Series Prizegiving.

Mellett became head of the Defence Forces in September 2015; he was the first Navy officer to take the post.

The Mayo man, who learned to sail at Rosmoney and around Clew Bay’s islands, has served several times overseas with the UN and has a PhD in ocean governance.

He is passionate about the sea and its potential, and about its future in an era of climate change. He has spoken in several recent issues about climate breakdown as our greatest threat and climate justice as a major global issue.

He spoke to Afloat about some of the issues he has dealt with – from the Defence Forces' response to the Covid-19 pandemic to diversity and inclusion in the military in a Wavelenths interview with Lorna Siggins in August 2021 here

Royal Cork Yacht Club Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble was the Spinnaker 1 - IRC fleet overall winner after four races sailed at Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Series.

After a fortnight of cancellations due to big winds and fog, the KYC league concluded on Saturday, but again, the weather attempted to thwart plans and the finale was sailed in mist.

A special prizegiving at KYC was well attended and included a special announcement from the club vice commodore, Anthony Scannell, who said entries for June's Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup were now at 85 boats.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) addresses the Axiom Spring Series prizegiving at Kinsale Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

The light winds were very much to the liking of the David and James Dwyer co-skippered Half Tonner lead, who won by a single point from their Crosshaven clubmates, Paul and Deirdre Tingle, in the X4 Alpaca on six points. Third overall was the ECHO winner, the Jones family's J122, Jelly Baby on seven. Ten competed.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and sponsor Tom Roche of Axiom (right) with the Axiom Spring Series Kinsale Yacht Club IRC One Division top three overall Photo: Bob Bateman

Quarter Ton Anchor Challenge Wins IRC Two

In IRC Two Spinnaker, Conor Phelan's RCYC Farr Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge came from third overall to win thanks to wins in races three and four to be two points clear of Kieran Kelleher and Colman Garvey's Dubois Quarter Tonner Diamond on five. KYC's Under 15 J/24 'Kinsailor' crew took third place on seven. Seven competed.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and sponsor Tom Roche of Axiom (right) with the Axiom Spring Series Kinsale Yacht Club IRC Two Division top three overall Photo: Bob Bateman

Apache and Magnet share the White Sails spoils

One of the most intense battles took place over four races in the ten-boat white sail division between Alan Mulcahy's Apache and Kieran O'Brien's MG335, Magnet.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and sponsor Tom Roche of Axiom (second from right) with the Axiom Spring Series Kinsale Yacht Club White Sails Division top three overall Photo: Bob Bateman

Magnet's ECHO handicap was adjusted after the first race.

Overall, it worked out that the spoils were even; Apache-winning IRC and Magnet-winning ECHO.

Mulcahy's Albin Express crew were also winners of KYC's March League, so they become the south coast form white sails boat in 2023.

Alan Mulcahy and his Albin Express crew from Apache are congratulated by Axim sponsor Tom Roche for their White Sails win in the Kinsale Spring League Photo: Bob Bateman

The event is the year's first event to count for SCORA season points.

Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2023 Prizegiving Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Royal Cork Yacht Club Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble stays top of the Spinnaker 1 - IRC fleet after two more races at Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Series.

After a fortnight of cancellations due to big winds and fog, the KYC league finally sailed on Sunday in ideal breezes, completing two races to 'catch up' with the overall league programme.

The light winds were very much to the liking of the David and James Dwyer co-skippered Half Tonner lead, who now leads their Crosshaven clubmates, Paul and Deirdre Tingle in the X4 Alpaca. 

Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble leads IRC 1 Spinnaker division at the Kinsale Yacht Club Axiom Spring Series Photo: Bob Bateman

Finbarr O Regan's Kinsale Yacht Club J109 entry Artful DodJer lies third in Spinnaker 1 IRC on 13 points.

The cruiser race courses in Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Spring Series Photo: Bob Bateman

In IRC Two Spinnaker, Kieran Kelleher and Colman Garvey's Dubois Quarter Tonner Diamond also continues her lead after three sailed on six points. KYC's Under 15 J/24 'Kinsailor' crew is in second place on seven. Conor Phelan's RCYC Farr Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge is third on 12 points and whose score includes a 'did not compete' for the first race.

Conor Phelan's RCYC Farr Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge Photo: Bob Bateman

The event is the year's first event to count for SCORA season points.

Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2023 Photo Gallery of Race Three By Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club has not been having much luck with its Spring cruiser series where the weather is concerned.

Last Sunday, yachts gathered for the start of the planned third day of the series but, just like on the second scheduled day - Easter Monday - racing had to be cancelled. On the Bank Holiday, that was because of a forecast of very strong winds and, quite correctly, safety dictated the cancellation decision.

On Sunday, it was another weather issue, a particularly difficult one at sea, which stopped racing – dense fog. Two start attempts were made, but the fleet was recalled on both occasions when the Race Officer team deemed it too difficult to proceed as fog persisted.

So far in the Axiom Private Client Series there has been just one day of racing, on the opening Sunday, April 5. The fourth planned day of the series is this Sunday, April 23, when the organisers and sailors will be hoping for better weather.

In order to catch up on the number of races in the series, KinsaleYC has decided that two races will be sailed on Sunday: “We are bringing forward First Gun to 1225. This is as per Amendment 2 to the Sailing Instructions, which has been posted,” the club says.

Kinsale Yacht Club will begin midweek sailing for cruisers on Wednesday, May 3.

One Design keelboats Squibs and Dragons will start their evening sailing on the following evening, Thursday, May 4.

The club’s Keelboat Regatta, sponsored by the Kingston Kinsale Boatyard, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7.

Kinsale Yacht Club, which has an excellent record of promoting ‘Sailability’, has a new rescue boat to assist this aspect of the sport, particularly encouraging disabled sailors.

Its acquisition has been supported by the Cork Sports Partnership and Sport Ireland.

“We are looking for a suitable name for our new boat,” the club has told members.

Kinsale Yacht Club advises members that next Monday 24 April, LCF Marine Services will be on site to add new support piles to the marina access walkway.

Working from a barge, they will be driving new tubular steel piles and also carry out cutting and welding of brackets and new cross beams.

This work will commence at 8am on Monday 24 and will be completed by 6pm on Friday 28 April.

During this time period, there will be no access to the marina via the entrance gate and walkway. In addition, the pontoon sections between the bottom of the gangway and Leg A will not be in place.

All members are requested not to use the marina unless absolutely necessary.

If access is required between the hours of 9am and 5pm, members are requested to call to the clubhouse and speak to Brian Hunt who will arrange for you to be taken from the main slip on the pier head over to the marina, or if necessary directly to Leg A.

Kinsale Yacht Club apologises for the inconvenience which this work may cause for members wishing to access the marina.

A dense sea fog prevented any racing in Sunday afternoon's Axiom Private Clients Spring Series for Cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club. 

Two attempts were made to start racing for both Class One and Two spinnaker divisions, but there was a general recall on both occasions.

Race Officer Richard Leonard was then going to attempt to split the fleet and start under a U flag but to no avail when the fog persisted.

It means the last racing in the league was now a fortnight ago on April 5th, as last weekend's racing was also cancelled due to strong winds.

As Afloat reported previously, Royal Cork Yacht Club boats topped the leaderboard in both Spinnaker One and Two divisions after the first – and only race so far – on April 2nd. 

The next race in the series will run next Sunday morning, April 23rd.

Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

With over 80 entries already registered, the Simply Blue Group-sponsored Sovereign’s Cup has less than 20 places left at Kinsale to reach its official cap.

The biennial regatta takes place 21st to 24th June in Kinsale Yacht Club and this year, the regatta incorporates the 1720 European Championships.

Race Officer Peter Crowley will run racing in the waters between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Sovereign Islands for the Spinnaker, 1720 & White Sail Fleets.

A Coastal Fleet will have longer courses which will take them west to Black Tom and east to the Cork Buoy.

Kinsale Yacht Club's second Axiom Private Clients Spring Series race was cancelled on Monday due to strong southerly winds.

As Afloat reported previously, Royal Cork Yacht Club boats topped the leaderboard in both Spinnaker One and Two divisions after the first race on April 2nd. 

The next race in the series will run next Sunday morning, April 16th.