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Displaying items by tag: Navy Race

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

Neil Kenefick (on stern) was a guest on board Imp, helmed by Paul Gibbons 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

Neil Kenefick (on stern) was a guest on board 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 BatemanKieran 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 BatemanDes 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

Published in Royal Cork YC

About Quarter Tonners

The Quarter Ton Class is a sailing class of the International Offshore Rule racing the Quarter Ton Cup between 1967 and 1996 and from 2005 until today.

The class is sailed by smaller keelboats of similar size and is likely the world's most-produced keelboat class.

The Ton, Half, Quarter, etc. 'classes' were each given a 'length' and yacht designers had almost free rein to work the hull shapes and measurements to achieve the best speed for that nominal length.

The Ton Rules produced cranky and tender boats without actual downwind speed. Measurement points created weird, almost square hull shapes with longish overhangs.

They were challenging to sail optimally and lost value very quickly as any new wrinkle (e.g. 'bustles') to take advantage of the rule made older boats very quickly uncompetitive.

Although its heyday was 30 years ago, the boat class continues to make its presence felt by holding its own in terms of popularity against some fern race fleets.