O'Leary Insurance Winter League debutantes Colman Garvey and Kieran Kelleher sailing their new Quarter Tonner Diamond were the winners of Sunday's first IRC race of the Royal Cork League that is being sailed this year exclusively under White Sails.
Dave Lane's J/24 Ya Gotta Wanna, the overall winner of the October League, stayed on form and finished second in today's light airs in Cork Harbour. Third, in the 18-boat fleet was the O'Connell Family sailing the club J/24 Jambalaya.
Although it was the subject of some misgivings, today's opening race under white sails only worked out well, even if the light harbour westerly spoiled the proceedings a little.
Race Officers Clem and Wendy Mc Elligott gave the fleet a running start across the harbour to Corkbeg, somewhat affected by the ebb tide.
Mel and Kieran Collins' Coracle (pictured left) got a good light air start in the first race of the O'Leary Winter League. Coracle (below) was sailing with just two crew. Photo: Bob Bateman
From there, it was course 101, leaving buoys No 1, No 8, No 10, No.7 and Corkbeg to starboard and then back to Cage to starboard and a sausage to Corkbeg, back to cage, leaving No eight and No 5 to starboard before the finish.
(Above and below) Paul and Deirdre Tingle's new Alpaca, an X Yacht X-4 'Pocket Luxury Yacht' model
Royal Cork dinghies
On a busy day for Royal Cork, the Laser (ILCA 4 and 6) and Topper dinghy Frostbite league were also on the water. There was coaching for top Optimist sailors too.
Results here
