Now It’s The Rankin ‘Worlds’ at DinghyFest in Cork Harbour

19th July 2019

Rankin dinghies in Cork Harbour Credit: Oisin MacSweeney

There is satisfaction in being associated with a good news story about sailing, so the latest step in the Rankin dinghy development, which we have followed for four years on the Afloat website is the announcement that the revived, restored and re-energised fleet is to hold “the inaugural Rankin Worlds.”

They will be part of the ‘Cork Dinghy Fest’ in Cork Harbour in September.

The aim of the “Dinghy Fest” is to inject more fun into dinghy sailing, as Organiser Alex Barry told Afloat when plans for its third running were announced, with an on “keeping dinghy sailing classes alive,” by reaching out to all classes to take part and by encouraging young sailors.

"The classic fleet will be part of the ‘Cork Dinghy Fest’ in Cork Harbour in September"

He approached the Rankin Dinghy Class which has responded enthusiastically, “after all it is the dinghy class of the harbour,” Conor English, one of the leaders of the Rankin revival told me, putting emphasis on it being THE Cork Harbour dinghy class, with its historical association with boat-building in Cobh.

Planned in the schedule for the “Dinghy Fest,” are the National 18s National Championships; the Irish Multihull Nationals; the RS 200, 400 and Feva Southerns, the Mirror Southerns and the 29er Southerns. To these the Rankin ‘Worlds’ have been added.

Dinghy sailors have often told me that “friendship” is a key to keeping sailing classes going. That is well represented in the Rankin revival. Up to six of Rankins are racing weekly in Cove Sailing Club events and the Class says there are owners of the boats also in Dungarvan, Ardmore, Kinsale and Baltimore.

There is also a Rankin in Monkstown with the Barry family and Dinghy Fest Organiser, Alex, is an All-Ireland Sailing Champion and a member of both the RCYC and Monkstown Bay SC.

Port and starboard in a Rankin - we were in the right!

Sailing in a Rankin to Crosshaven

I have sailed a Rankin, from Cobh to Crosshaven (!) as the photos show! After years out of dinghies and finding it easier to board a cruiser (!) it was an interesting experience!

The Rankins will race at the Dinghy Fest gathering on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15. Conor English tells me on my Podcast how the ‘Worlds’ have come about.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST BELOW

Published in Rankin Dinghy, Royal Cork YC, Historic Boats, Cork Harbour, Tom MacSweeney

Published in Rankin Dinghy

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About The Author

Tom MacSweeney

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Tom MacSweeney writes a column for Afloat.ie. He is former RTE Marine Correspondent/Presenter of Seascapes and now has a monthly Podcast on the Community Radio Network and Podcast services

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The Rankin Dinghy of Cobh, Cork Harbour

A Rankin is a traditional wooden dinghy which was built in Cobh, of which it’s believed there were 80 and of which The Rankin Dinghy Group has traced nearly half.

The name of the Rankin dinghies is revered in Cork Harbour and particularly in the harbourside town of Cobh.

And the name of one of those boats is linked to the gunboat which fought against the Irish Volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising and later for the emergent Irish Free State Government against anti-Treaty Forces during the Irish Civil War.

It also links the renowned boat-building Rankin family in Cobh, one of whose members crewed on the gunboat.

Maurice Kidney and Conor English are driving the restoration of the Rankin dinghies in Cork Harbour. They have discovered that Rankins were bought and sailed in several parts of the country.