Displaying items by tag: Cobh to Cork Race

5th September 2022

Cove Sailing Club's Cobh to Blackrock Race This Saturday Has Changes

The annual Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour will be sailed this Saturday, with a number of changes from previous years, including the return of dinghies with the support of Monkstown Bay SC to Cove Sailing Club, the overall race organisers.

First Gun for Dinghies will be at 2 p.m.; Spinnaker Cruiser Classes 1, 2 and 3 will start together at 2.20 p.m.; Whitesails, racing under ECHO handicap only, at 2.30 p.m. and a new ‘Traditional Rally’ class at 2.40 p.m.

The Start line is at Cobh. Finishing for cruisers at Blackrock Castle and for dinghies at Blackrock Pier. Race channel VHF 69.

Cruiser-racers competing in the 2021 Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

There is an entry fee for the first time, €15 per boat, to be donated to the RNLI. Cove SC says there will not be individual Class Prizes this year, overall 1st place trophies only, a donation being made instead to the RNLI.

The Cove Club is making a strong effort to return the social aspect of the race for families, which had declined somewhat with the concentration on racing as part of the South Coast calendar in recent years. This will, doubtless, be welcome by non-racing cruiser sailors. There is also a reduction in the number of prizes which, the club says, will facilitate a donation to the RNLI.

“We are delighted to announce that Dinghy racing will return to the Blackrock Race this year; our ‘Traditional Rally RNLI Class’ is for families and friends to take part, for all types of sailing yachts. This is not a formal race incorporating handicaps. The winner of the rally will be decided by the Race Committee on the day.

A Hawk 20, a 20ft self-righting, self‑draining, shallow-draft, centre-board, sea going dayboat, competing in the 2021 Cobh to Blackrock race. The hope is smaller dinghies will join this year's race. Photo: Bob Bateman

Cove Sailing Club has issued a detailed statement about the race arrangements:

“This annual event is always a highlight of our sailing and social calendar on Saturday 10th of September. This year we are delighted to support the RNLI and decided to introduce a modest entry fee of €15.00 per boat, with the total amount going directly to the RNLI. Each boat that enters will be included in a draw at this year’s prize giving for some fantastic prizes.

“The race will feature many different class bands to ensure all boats have tight racing within their class and also an opportunity to win the highly coveted overall trophies. For the kites division, we will be scoring the event under IRC only, and for the White sail class, we will be scoring under ECHO Standard only.

“The prizegiving will be held at “Tequila Jacks Bar and Restaurant outside on their fantastic boardwalk as soon as possible after racing. We have decided this year to donate to the RNLI instead of individual prizes throughout the classes. Winners will be awarded trophies.

“We are delighted to announce that Dinghy racing will return to the Blackrock race this year, and a massive amount of thanks to Monkstown Bay Sailing Club’s commodore Sandy, who will this year take the lead and help ensure we have an excellent race for the dinghies.

“As in previous years, we encourage all boats to take part in the event, and our “RNLI” rally class is an excellent way for families and friends to take part. This class is for all types of sailing yachts and is a great way to participate. A formal start will occur in front of Cobh, and boats will sail up to the finish area in Blackrock. It is worth noting that this is not a formal race incorporating handicaps, and the winner of the rally will be decided by the race committee on the day. So please come along and support the fantastic work done by the RNLI.

“With many boats on the water, it is vital that we receive all entries as early as possible and before the deadline to ensure that we can deliver quick and efficient results on the day.

Sailing instructions and further details will be available.

Prior entry for all classes, cruisers and dinghies, is needed on Cove SC website

Published in Cove Sailing Club

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

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