All racing at the Royal Cork Yacht Club yesterday had an early start to enable competitors to watch the Ireland v Argentina Match writes Claire Bateman. It was so much different passing Drakes Pool on the road to Croshaven at 9am on a rather grey day but it still looked magnificent in its stillness with wonderful reflections, a tide on the turn, the autumnal colours glorious, and the lights of the wind turbines twlnkling on and off as they rotated in the breeze.

True to the forecast there was breeze in the harbour about 10/12 knots from the north east which produced a cold nip in the early morning air. There was also an air of absolute intensity from the smallest Optimist to the largest cruiser to get to their race areas on time where the Race Officers for all the fleets were ready to go on the dot of their allotted start times.

Mention should be made here of Autumn Series Sponsor, Nick Bendon of CH Marine, a very generous sponsor. The day prizes are gift credit cards for his well known Chandlery business in Cork and Baltimore and are extremely sought after and appreciated by the winners. The main prizes will be presented at the prize giving dinner on Saturday night. CH Marine has also recently taken over the agency for the Laser brand in Ireland.

With eight races of the series now sailed several classes are wide open and it is all to play for in the final races next Saturday, October 24th.

Waterford Harbours Fools Gold leads by a good margin Photo: Bob Bateman

In Class One IRC Fools Gold had two wins today and is leading by a good margin from Freya followed by Tux. In IRC Two it is very tight at the top with only two points separating the top three boats with Bad Company on 12 points, Alpaca on 13 points and No Excuse on 14 points. In IRC Three Ya Gotta Wanna and Bonanza had a first and second each today and that leaves Ya Gonna wanna on 11 points, Bonanza on 14 points and Sea Hawk is lying third on 16 points. In IRC Four our regular visitor from Kinsale, White Magic had two wins today and leads the class on 9 points with Cracker on 11 points and Seven Whistler on 22 points.

In the 1720 Class T Bone leads on 26 points with Aquqtack on 28 points and Heros and Villians on 33 points.

In IRC WHitesail One Aisha had two wins again today and is lying on 9 points with Split Point on 12 and Wild Honey wo did not sail to day on 25 points. In IRC Whitesail Two Minx 111 lies on 9 points, with Promethus on 15 points and Fast Buck on 22 points.

Results here

Final racing will be on Saturday next October 24th

With six races already sailed at Royal Cork Yacht Club's CH Marine Autumn Series and one discard, there are now four races left to sail in the event writes Claire Bateman. It was a regular autumnal day yesterday, a bit grey in the harbour but at Roche’s Point it was somewhat brighter but with a bit of a lop brought about by a largely E/NE light wind and a flood tide going in the opposite direction. Fleets One, two and three were given a windward/leeward course and at the weather mark in Class One Rob McConnell’s Fools Gold came in on port with Conor Doyle’s Freya arriving on starboard and Fools Gold having exonerated herself then proceeded to go on to win in IRC.

Fools Gold and Freya close in at the weather mark. More photos in Bob Bateman's gallery above.

Paul Tingle's Alpaca leads in Class two

In Class Two IRC Paul Tingle’s Alpaca had two firsts and has a good lead over her two closest rivals, the Crosbie family on No Excuse and the Desmond/Ivers/Deasy Bad Company. For the second race RO Peter Crowley did his usual clever trick of giving the fleet a race and then finishing them off the Grassy.

Celebrations on the Albin Express White Magic

Class Four sailed inside the harbour as did White sail One and Two. Class Four has turned into a cracker (no pun intended)of a battle between Clare competitor Denis Byrne in his Ed Dubois TS 250 and Alan Mulcahy’s Albin Express White Magic. Both had a win today and are joint leaders on seven points each in IRC.Blank Zig Mosaic copy

The 1720 fleet were having their usual exciting racing but with the lighter winds did not produce any unexpected surprises. Denis Murphy’s Aquatack took the three bullets today.

Next Sunday will see the penultimate day of racing for the league with the final day of racing on the following Saturday, October 24th.

Last week may have produced conditions lulling us all into a mood of ‘A Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness’ but today sharply reminded the Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League competitors of the march on of the season writes Claire Bateman. To day was a gray day with a bite in the wind that came from the E/SE producing 15/20 knots with occasional gusts into the mid twenties. Skies were dark with occasional shafts of sunlight but none of this deterred the enthusiastic sailors as they set out all geared up for the weather.

Even as your scribe was heading out for the start there was already a 1720 limping home with a broken mast a sure indicator there might be a few more incidents to come and such turned out to be the case. The tales in the club bar afterwards were stories of crew overboard, torn sails, gear damage and protests. One of the Archambauld 35s was seen to be doing something akin to the dance of the seven veils off the Holy Ground at Cobh, fine girl you are!!

While heading out the Owenabue River to the start the harbour looked as if there were no seats left in the house. All racing was inside the harbour today due to the conditions so what we saw first on our port side were the dinghy classes with the Optimists, Toppers and Lasers. Looking ahead one could see the 1720 fleet all on starboard tack as they headed off on their first race of the day and on our starboard side we could see White Sail One and Two and Class Four heading for the Corkbeg mark and looking further in the harbour were Classes One, Two and Three. To complete the picture we had the Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile down off Spike with the Naval Service L.E James Joyce close by and finally to complete the scene a large oil tanker tied up at Whitegate.

All in all it was an extremely busy day for all the willing volunteers who help with the running of the events, the working out of handicaps and all that is necessary for the smooth operation of racing.

There was a short sharp sea as there was an ebb tide going in the opposite direction to the wind making for exhilarating racing if a little uncomfortable for some of the smaller boats at times. A full complement of racing was achieved for the day and so far four races have been held in the CH Marine series and racing will continue next Sunday

Royal Cork Yacht Club's CH Marine Autumn League got off to a great start yesterday with 13-14 knots of breeze & sunshine in Cork Harbour. Competitors were met with sunshine and SSE breeze on Day One of the event writes Claire Bateman. Photos by Bob Bateman in our gallery above.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club was in festive mood and was a hive of bustling sailing activity with an abundance of good humour everywhere. Also eagerly awaited was the rugby match between Ireland and Romania for which special viewing facilities had been set up in the main dining room.

Some twenty seven yachts in Classes One, Two and Three were in the outer harbour. They were sailing a windward /leeward course for Race One, using the Harp mark as the leeward mark. For the second race an added dimension was the fact they were brought in by Race Officer Peter Crowley to finish at the Cage. Rob McConnell’s ‘Fools Gold’ is as usual sailing well and is leading IRC One with Conor Doyle’s ‘Freya’ Second and Mary O’Keeffe, helped on by an excellent start lies third.

In Class Two it’s a question of rounding up the usual suspects with the Desmond/Deasy/Ivers ‘Bad Company’ Leading Deirdre and Paul Tingle’s ‘Alpaca’ in second and T.E. Crosbie’s ‘No Excuse’ in third.

In this class Misfortune in the way of a flying shackle on ‘Cortegada’ hit a crew member of the head causing the yacht to retire from the race. Happily, after treatment in hospital, the injured crewman is home and well.

Meanwhile, almost forty boats were saiing inside the harbour including ten 1720s and after three races the 1720 positions are – Gary Rhodes ‘Heroes and Villians’ leads Denis Murphy’s ‘Aquatack’ with Kinsale raider Bobby Nash’s 1601 in third place..

In IRC Four it was nice to see a visitor that we don’t normally see at the Autumn League. Denis Byrne was sailing ‘Cracker’, a cruiser/racer version of a Starflash quarter tonner. Kinsale’s Alan Mulcahy, who is a very frequent and popular competitor at the club was in his newly acquired Albin Express ‘White Magic’, lies in second place. In third position was Rene Wubben of WHSC in his Albin Ballad, ‘Seven Whistler’.

In White Sail One IRC Seamus Gilroy in ‘Split Point’ leads followed in second place by Peter Murray’s ‘Wild Honey’ and in third place Batt and Helen O’Leary’s ‘Sweet Dreams.’

It would be remiss of me to close this piece about the very successful first day of the CH Marine Autumn League without describing how the harbour was at its very best today. Conditions were ideal with sun and breeze. In addition to those competing in the Autumn Series, there were Lasers, Optimists, people just enjoying sailing and motor boating and in general enjoying a family day on the water. There were boats to the left, boats to the right, boats in the centre and boats on all sides of the harbour. Truly a sight to encourage people to take up water based activities. Cork Harbour is certainly alive and well.

The sun shone at its best for Royal Cork's Unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque at the Naval Base in Haulbowline in Cork Harbour last Friday writes Claire Bateman. The Naval Base was resplendent and also at its best. From driving over the newly reconstructed bridge following the cars of other guests arriving there was a feeling all round something important was about to take place. From the cheery greeting of the security personnel to the welcoming cup of tea or coffee at the Officers Mess the atmosphere was filled with bonhomie and anticipation.

This was the day of the eagerly awaited official unveiing of the newly refurbished plaque commerating the location of the Club’s first clubhouse in 1720 at Haulbowline Island. While enjoying the refreshments, the buzz of conversation and meeting with the club representatives and friends was creating a remarkable atmosphere for what was to be a remarkable occasion and coupled with the Naval Personnel resplendent in their immaculate uniforms and the Royal Cork representatives in their formal club attire made for an elegant gathering to mark the occasion.

L. to R. Captain Michael Malone, Cdr. William Roberts and Lt. Jason O’Brien. Photo Robert Bateman

The occasion was marked by the presence of the highest ranking Naval Service Officer in Ireland, Rear Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, soon to be Admiral and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. On arrival the guests were welcomed by Commodore Hugh Tully of the Naval Service and then it was time for the arrival of the Minister for Agriculture, Food, The Marine and Defence, Simon Coveney T.D. The Minister ‘of course’ is also a popular member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Minister Coveney addressing the attendance. Photo Robert Bateman

The formal part of the proceedings then commenced with an address by Commodore Hugh Tully who invited the Minister to perform the ceremony of the unveiling of the commemorative plaque. The Minister gave a most interesting account of the entire history of the Royal Cork to date from sailing in Cork Harbour in the 1600s to the formation of the Water Club of the Harbour of Corke in 1720. His speech then ranged to developments in the harbour some of which have already taken place with more in the pipeline involving a total spend of half a billion euro for the area. Here one has to say the Minister has pushed relentlessly for the betterment of the harbour and its surrounds and is to be highly commended for this. The Minister then unveiled the commemorative plaque that was originally commissioned by the late Bernie Cahill during his term as Admiral of the Royal Cork.

Royal Cup Admiral Pat Lyons. Photo Robert Bateman

The current Admiral of the Royal Cork, Pat Lyons, then spoke and referred to the excellent relationship enjoyed between the Naval Service and the Club. He also referred to the plans being made for the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of the yacht club with which the Naval Service will be very much involved and details of which will be revealed as time moves on towards 2020.

Former RCYC Admirals T.E.Crosbie and David O’Brien. Other former Admirals in attendance were Archie O’Leary, Bill Walsh, Tony O’Connor, Bill O’Mahony, Anthony O’Leary, Peter Crowley, Hugh Mockler and Paddy McGlade. Photo Robert Bateman

The official part of the proceedings concluded with a blessing from the Naval Chaplain, Fr. Des Campion, and the naval personnel and their guests then enjoyed a delightful lunch in the elegant surrounds of the Officers Mess and the celebration finished on a high note.

Naval Chaplain Fr. Des Campion. Photo Robert Bateman

It was a happy day, a proud day, and a day to get a glimpse of life inside the naval base and see what wonderful work they do. We read all about them and their difficult work in the far flung corners of the world and also patrolling our own shores. To enjoy their hospitality, cordiality and graciousness to their guests was indeed a delightful experience. We, the Irish people have an awful lot to be proud of in our defence forces and a lot to thank them for as they are always there in times of need and never shirk from the often very arduous duties they carry out on our behalf.

Afloat's Claire Bateman with (left) Rear Admiral Mark Mellett and Neil Kenefick

Anthony O'Leary's bid to win the New York Invitational Cup for Royal Cork Yacht Club will have to wait for another edition after Britain's Royal Thames YC lifted the Cup in Newport, Rhode Island yesterday. The sole Irish entry finished seventh. 

The morning air reverberated with the sound of cannon fire and boat horns as the international fleet, battle flags flying, paraded around Newport harbor and past the main dock of the New York Yacht Club where supporters were gathered to cheer them on for the final day of the 2015 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup.

This traditional sendoff for the competitors is just one of the many details that make this event so special. Over four editions, 21 countries have gone head-to-head on the water and then made lasting friendships during social gatherings at Harbour Court, New York Yacht Club’s iconic waterfront clubhouse in Newport. As with the heritage of the sport, woven into the very fabric of this event is the historic partnership of Rolex and New York Yacht Club, which was forged in the 1950s. Through this enduring association, one of yachting’s greatest traditions was established with a winning sailor being presented a specially-engraved Rolex timepiece – the ultimate symbol for achieving excellence.
Out on the water, the fleet was sent up Narragansett Bay for the second consecutive day, where racing was held in an eight knot south-southwesterly breeze. The team representing the oldest yacht club in the world, London’s Royal Thames Yacht Club, was in the most perilous position of the 17 competing teams. Having been in the lead, or tied for the lead, through the entire series, it was their regatta to win – or lose. In the first race of the day, an eighth-place finish put their nine-point cushion under pressure. With their closest competitor in the standings – Marblehead’s Eastern Yacht Club – finishing fourth, the gap shrunk to five points.

“We didn’t make it very easy for ourselves throughout the day,” said John Greenland, skipper of the Royal Thames Yacht Club team. “At one point in the first race we almost sailed ourselves into a really comfortable position. Instead it turned inside out. But that’s how the fleet has been all week. You just have to take each race as it comes.”

Greenland said the team had a conversation to make sure they were in the right mindset going into the last race. They crossed the line 10th, with Eastern Yacht Club following in 12th; the Brits securing the win 71 points to Eastern’s 78. “The overall level has absolutely improved,” said an elated Greenland. “The competition is demonstrated in the results. There are some seriously good sailors in these boats who are struggling to get into the top five. It’s a great conclusion to years of preparation… everyone is over the moon.”

The New York Yacht Club’s team, led by skipper Paul Zabetakis, concluded the series second overall after finishes of 3-6 were added to their score line for 77 points. “We were third on the first day then we dropped to ninth; we had a couple of bad races,” said Zabetakis. “We kept telling ourselves we could do it. Yesterday we went from ninth to fourth and then today it was a matter of sailing our own race. We felt like we did a great job.”

The only team new to the 2015 Rolex New York Invitational Cup, Australia’s Middle Harbour Yacht Club, not only met their goal for the regatta, they exceeded it. Hoping to finish in the top-five, they were fourth overall with 81 points after finishes of 7-2 on the final day of racing. Just one point behind was the Japan Sailing Federation, after placing 2-5 today.

Guido Belgiorno-Nettis, skipper of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club team was very happy with team’s final position in their first appearance at the event. “We’re a bit hard on ourselves,” said the 2011 Rolex Farr 40 World Champion. “Putting the spinnaker in the water on the penultimate day of the competition was not a very smart tactical move. It set a bad precedent; we were about fourth [at that point] and then we finished 11th in that race. If you’re in fourth place around the top mark you have half a chance of defending that position and not getting caught up with the fleet; but once you drop back its very hard. We came second today and once we managed to get out of the pack we just kept extending.”

Zabetakis, who has been sailing since his mid-20s, but has raced the Mumm 36 and Farr 40 Worlds, and Key West Race Week, in addition to campaigning his Swan 42, summed up the uniqueness of the event: “This regatta has no equal. The other races [in which I’ve sailed], there were always pros involved. I think it’s a phenomenal tribute to New York Yacht Club who put this together, and these amateur teams that come together to do this. It’s the most competitive racing I’ve ever done.”

Anthony O'Leary and his Royal Cork crew are sixth overall at New York Yacht Club's Invitational Cup. The first race of the day was won by RCYC, which O'Leary unfortunately followed with back-to-back double-digit finishes. They stand sixth overall with 49 points. There are some excellent aerial shots of Royal Cork very well positioned off the line in the above vid.

A day of intense racing on Rhode Island Sound marked the mid-point of the 2015 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. The south-south west breeze filled in early in the day, which allowed three races to be sailed in 8-10 knots by the international fleet. Like the standard of excellence established by Rolex, the competition has exceeded the expectations of the competitors.

Yesterday's subsequent races were both won by Australia's Middle Harbour Yacht Club, which bumped them up in the standings from eighth yesterday, to now second overall with 40 points. Returning to the top of the leaderboard is London's Royal Thames Yacht Club which consistently finished in the top-five. They have an eight-point cushion over Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

The racing was intense according to Brad Dellenbaugh, New York Yacht Club's Director of Sailing. "If you missed getting off the line and got forced to the wrong direction on the first beat, you spent the rest of the race trying to catch up. Occasionally one side or the other of the course was favored, but not the same side all the time."

Racing resumes Friday with the winning team determined at the conclusion of racing on Saturday, September 19.

Today's lone race favored the teams who were in the right place to strike and who were proficient in sailing in light air. Genoa, Italy, where the Yacht Club Italiano is based, is known for light breeze and, with Leonardo Ferragamo at the helm, the team parlayed that experience to win the race.

Second across the line was the Irish team representing Royal Cork Yacht Club. Skipper Anthony O'Leary, who has raced every edition of this event, credited finding a hole in the starting line with their performance in the race.

After two days, Seattle Yacht Club has taken over the top spot in the overall standings although it is tied on points (22) with Royal Thames Yacht Club. Royal Cork is third overall with 24 points, and Itchenor Sailing Club is fourth with 27 points. Three points back, tied at 30 points apiece, are Marblehead's Eastern Yacht Club and Toronto's Royal Canadian Yacht Club which is the two-time defending champion.

Racing resumes this morning with the winning team determined at the conclusion of racing on Saturday, September 19.

Royal Cork helmsman and Afloat Sailor of the Year Anthony O'Leary has assembled his crew for this week's Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup based on their performance on his winning Ker 40, Antix. A previous 5-8-4 record at this event indicates that while the Irish team infrequently sails one-design boats of the size of the Swan 42s used for the Invitational Cup, they are strong competitors within reach of the prize.

The first race is scheduled for 1100 each day starting tomorrow. Racing is scheduled to take place on Narragansett Bay, north of Gould Island, or on Rhode Island Sound, south of Brenton Point Park. The racing location will be picked each morning. The regatta is hosted out of the New York Yacht Club at Harbour Court.

It is a testament to the ideals of Corinthian competition, and the camaraderie associated with the sport that for the fourth edition of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, six of the 17 entered yacht club teams will be welcomed back as four-time veterans of this highly-regarded event, including O'Leary's Irish team.

Hailing from all corners of the globe, the returning teams - Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Japan Sailing Federation, Real Club Nautico de Barcelona (ESP), the Royal Yacht Squadron (GBR) and the two-time defending champion, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club - are drawn by the intensity of the on-the-water competition which is enhanced by notable social events held at Harbour Court, New York Yacht Club's iconic clubhouse overlooking Newport harbour.

The 2015 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup welcomes competitors from the following yachts clubs: the Royal Yacht Squadron (GBR), Japan Sailing Federation (JPN), Real Club Nautico de Barcelona (ESP), Royal Canadian Yacht Club (CAN), Royal Cork Yacht Club (IRL), Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (HKG), Royal Thames Yacht Club (GBR), Yacht Club Argentino (ARG), Yacht Club Italiano (ITA), Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (AUS), Royal Swedish Yacht Club (SWE), Eastern Yacht Club (USA), Itchenor Sailing Club (GBR), Middle Harbour Yacht Club (USA), Newport Harbour Yacht Club (USA), Seattle Yacht Club (USA) and New York Yacht Club (USA).

The Union Chandlery sponsored 1720 European Championships were held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club last weekend with Neil Hogan’s “Micam”, helmed by Mel Collins being crowned champion. The Durcan/Higgins’ owned T-Bone (helmed by David Kenefick) was second and Anthony O’Leary’s “Antix” was third. Day three event photos by Bob Bateman are here.

Race Officer Peter Crowley gave the fleet 10 fantastic races over three days, with the windward/leeward course being set two miles South East of Roches Point each day in it what were generally northerly winds.

Neil Hogan’s “Micam” really stole the show at this event counting a 3, 1, 1, on day one, a 1, 2, 1 on day two and two thirds on the final day, discarding his last race.

The fleet were treated to a harbour tour on the Thursday evening, courtesy of Peter Crowley and Anthony O’Leary and enjoyed a very sociable visit to Cobh and Monkstown.

The next port of call for the sportsboat class is Royal Cork's Autumn league.