Cove Sailing Club in Cork Harbour has expressed excitement at progress being made on its new marina.

Planning approval was granted this past May for the marina at Whitepoint, scaled down from a larger scheme that faltered in the planning stages some years ago.

Contracts were signed last month for the 30-berth facility designed by Byrne Looby from their Cork office.

And construction began at the end of October, with the breakwaters recently cast across the water at Ringaskiddy.

“This is a huge step forward in the overall development process and it’s great to see the project progressing and coming together,” said the club, which expects the marina to be completed and open well in advance of the 2020 sailing season.

Richard Marshall, Anne Ahern, Micheál O’Driscoll and Damian Ahern, committee members of Cove Sailing Club, with Paul Murphy of Byrne Looby and local councillor Cathal Rasmussen | Photo: Colm McDonagh

Speaking at the contract signing last month, Kieran Dorgan, Commodore of Cove Sailing Club, said the new marina would provide state-of-the-art facilities year-round and accommodate both locals and visitors.

This week Cove Sailing Club celebrated its centenary with a gala dinner in the town’s Commodore Hotel, as reported on Afloat.ie yesterday.

Sailing has its ‘ups-and-downs’ and a hundred years brings many changes as the years roll by, both good times and those that are more difficult.

Sailing in the Cork Harbour town of Cobh has experienced this, an experience which underlines that history repeats itself. There were once two sailing clubs in the town, then there was one, now there are two again.

That there are two is the result of difficulties which set back what had been the main club as it approached its centenary. Problems for Cove Sailing Club emanated from the decision to provide a much-needed marina on the town’s seafront when financial problems led to difficulties that had to be dealt with and there was movement away of members who felt more concentration was needed on sailing and founded the Great Island Sailing Club. That was the motivating force behind the foundation of the Cork Harbour Combined Clubs League, which is in its second pretty successful year.

Cove Sailing Club’s Commodore Kieran Dorgan launches the centenary programme Photo: Bob Bateman

Positive things can happen from problems and this was the approach taken by Cove Sailing Club’s Commodore Kieran Dorgan when I spoke to him about the future for the club: “Sailing is back, we worked through our difficulties and now we’re driving on.”

"There were once two sailing clubs in the town, then there was one, now there are two again"

The club’s committee view is that “the next few years provide an opportunity to put sailing in Cobh firmly on the map and we plan to work closely with other clubs within the harbour to adapt to the challenges of encouraging new boat ownership and participation in sailing.”

This is the centenary year of Cove SC and the positive approach has been marked by getting planning approval and financial backing for the marina at Whitepoint which had been at the source of its difficulties.

So, when I spoke to Commodore Dorgan for the Podcast, he first recalled that this is not the only time when there have been two sailing clubs in Cobh.

Listen to the podcast below

Cove Sailing Club launched an exciting centenary programme at Cork Harbour's Sirius centre in Cobh, the former clubhouse of the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Friday, May 17 writes Bob Bateman.

In order to mark the special occasion, CSC Commodore Kieran Dorgan published a 100-year anniversary booklet commemorating the club's important history from 1919 to 2019.

CSC Commodore Kieran Dorgan launches the centenary season Photo: Bob Bateman

The well attended launch night for the 2019 season –  that included the display of vintage club trophies – got an extra boost with the news that Cork County Council had approved Cove Sailing Club plans to construct a new 25 berth marina located at Whitepoint, Cobh as Afloat previously reported here.

A vintage 'T' Class One Design dinghy (built 1947) on display outside the Sirius Centre for the Cove Sailing Club centenary launch Photo: Bob Bateman

In cruiser racing news from Cobh, Johanna Murphy, the Commodore of SCORA, who attended the CSC function, told Afloat she is expecting a sizeable south coast fleet of 25 boats to race from Great Island Sailing Club in Cobh to Dunmore East on June 1st, the first time the Cork fleet has sailed east to Waterford in a number of years.

The CSC programme was quickly underway with Saturday's race to Ballincurra as Afloat reports here

The Cove Sailing Club Committee at the Sirius Centre

Cove Sailing Club has announced that Cork County Council gave approval on Monday (13 May) to its plans for a new 25-berth marina located at Whitepoint.

Earlier this year saw the display of new plans for the marina, scaled down from a larger scheme that faltered in the planning stages some years ago.

It was reported in the East Cork Journal in March that the new marina plan — touted as a major boost to marine tourism in the Cork Harbour town — would be divided between visitor moorings and club spaces, with a 40m pontoon for ferry sailings to Spike Island.

The club hailed its now green-lit joint venture with the council as “fantastic news for the people of Cobh and the Cork Harbour area” and announced it would be holding meetings in the coming weeks for those interested in a berth or to discuss the project in greater detail.

Cove Sailing Club is also celebrating its centenary this year, and will launch a special yearbook to mark the occasion this Friday evening 17 May from 8pm at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh.

Cobh may finally get a new marina in what’s being touted as a major boost to marine tourism in the Cork Harbour town, as plans are prepared for public display.

The East Cork Journal has details on the new €450,000 development — scaled down from a larger plan that faltered a number of years ago — which would see 25 berths divided between visitor moorings and club spaces, and a 40-metre pontoon that would serve as a ferry port for access to Spike Island.

Future expansion is also envisaged for the new scheme, a joint venture between Cork County Council and Cove Sailing Club — which last month celebrated its 100th anniversary.

The Cork Harbour institution has since been joined in the area by the new Great Island Sailing Club, established after Cove’s previous marina plans failed to progress and prompted concerns over its pressures on sailing activities.

Cove Sailing Club in Cork Harbour this year celebrates its 100th year anniversary and plans are in place to celebrate its history and further lay new roots to carry it on and grow for another 100 years writes Commodore Kieran Dorgan.

From the early days of the William Fife designed “Cork Harbour One Designs” Cove Sailing Club has a strong affiliation with boat building and the town itself. Today this is ever present with the large
number of “Rankin” dinghy boats that sail up and down the harbour front linking the clubs past and its future.  

Rankin dinghy sailing off Cobh Photo: Mary Kidney

2018 was a defining year as the club worked diligently to build on its history and set about securing a solid foundation to continue and provide a platform for the people of Cobh and the surrounding areas
to enjoy sailing and all the fun and excitement it offers.

"2018 was a defining year as the club worked diligently to build on its history"

A detailed plan of all the events marking this historic year will be published in the coming weeks and we invite all past and present members to help share their memories, stories and pictures with the
Club.

The club is committed and focused in its pursuit to provide a marina facility that will be all-encompassing for the many varied sporting organizations to enjoy through Cobh, East Cork and
Harbour area; continuing the hard work and dedication of previous committees to deliver this most sought after piece of community infrastructure.  

The Cobh to Blackrock yacht race Photo: Bob Bateman

The committee is working hard to produce our 100-year anniversary booklet and feel this will be a very special collaboration on the club's history.

The 2019 Sailing season promises to be a bumper year on the water with the return of the family-friendly, Social, Friday night racing in July and August for the cruiser classes providing a stepping
stone for new and novice members to try sailing and racing. Along with the highly successful “Cork Harbour Combined  Clubs League” with our neighbouring clubs, 2019 will be a busy summer for all.

We will endeavour to provide a safe fun space for our junior members to learn and develop their sailing skills through weekly summer racing and professionally accredited sailing courses.

The club is really looking forward to hosting some of the harbour’s most special races including the fabulous “Brooklands  Cup” and “Ballinacurra Cup” for dinghies made famous by the visiting boats
from around the harbour including the highly competitive but very social National 18 Class.

Our annual “Cove at Home” invites cruiser and  dinghy classes from all over the harbour to race in front of our iconic home town under the watchful eye of St. Colman’s Cathedral which also celebrates its
100 year anniversary of consecration in 1919.

The “Cobh Peoples Regatta” in August will be a celebration of sail with boats vying to win the Harbour’s most valuable silverware. The regatta will also host a very unique race for the “Rankin
Trophy”; this is an annual gathering of these very special boats and embodies the spirit of “Cove Sailing Club”.

The culmination of the 100-year celebration is the Legendary “Cobh to Blackrock” race and plans are afoot to have 100 boats compete in this annual harbour classic.

Our full range of membership for the 2019 season is now open.

Further information about membership and the 100-year celebrations will be provided on our club website www.covesailingclub.ie  over the coming weeks. 

Cork Harbour will have a new name in sailing this season - the Great Island Sailing Club, formed to ensure the continuance of sailing at Cobh, following difficulties which arose in Cove Sailing Club as it attempted to build a marina at Whitepoint.

The development is on an amicable basis between the two clubs, according to both.

“The aim is to ensure that sailing continues and develops in Cobh and the new club is open for membership and registration,” said Johanna Murphy, Commodore of the new club where the Sailing Secretary is Pat Coakley

Kieran Dorgan, Commodore at Cove Sailing Club, said that club is continuing to pursue the completion of the marina. “The Committee are working to resolve the situation and wish to support sailing/boating activities in any way it can. We are fully committed to getting the club through the current situation, the marina completed and to continue with sailing/boating in the coming years. The centenary anniversary of the club is due to happen next year and our aim is to have the marina in place for the people of Cobh.”

“Everyone is working together to ensure that sailing continues and develops. That is what we all want for the harbour and for Cobh. Concentrating on that is what the Great Island Sailing Club will be doing,” said the Great Island SC Commodore, Johanna Murphy. “Things are progressing after the difficulties which arose, which it was necessary to resolve to ensure the continuance of sailing activities.”

Meetings were held over the past few months to resolve the situation, when members expressed concern that sailing activities were being affected by the demands of developing the marina.

The outcome is a decision to form the new club, to which cruiser and dinghy sailing is moving, while Cove Sailing Club continues in existence, with its focus on the marina. Cove SC is making its resources of support boats and dinghies available to the new club.

Developing a marina is a challenging and financially demanding business. The plans of Cove SC were hit when an expected and, it is understood, promised financial support grant from the public body, SECAD, did not materialise. The Port of Cork, which encountered public opposition to its own plans for major development at Ringaskiddy amidst concerns, particularly at Monkstown, for its possible impact on sailing, expressed objection concerns about the Cove SC marina plans, apparently because of its own expansion of cruise line berth facilities at Cobh.

A formal launch is planned in May, with a programme for both cruiser and dinghy sailing and the continuance of junior training.

The new club will be involved in joint sailing with the Royal Cork YC and Monkstown Bay SC, the Naval sailing Squadron and Eddie English’s Sail Cork, according to Johanna Murphy.

• Podcast below

Cove Sailing Club launched its programme for the season with confirmation of joint cruiser racing to be sailed with neighbouring Monkstown Bay SC in an attempt by both clubs to boost cruiser participation in Cork Harbour writes Tom MacSweeney.

Cove SC Commodore Joanna Radley and Monkstown Bay’s Cruiser Class Captain Henry Jefferies said that the development had been discussed for some time and that both clubs would continue to have their own dedicated events, while also combining racing which would be held alternately at Cobh and Monkstown. Both clubs had experienced declining fleet numbers over recent seasons and this was a determined attempt to reverse the trend.

Royal Cork Yacht Club’s Rear Admiral for Keelboats, Kieran O’Connell, who was present welcomed the development and said that the RCYC would look forward to the possibility of joining in next season when all three clubs could strengthen cruiser racing.

Cove Sailing Club Commodore Joanna Radley, Monkstown Bay Cruiser Class Capt Henry Jefferies and Cove Sailing Secretary Pat Coakley at the Announcement of the Joint Racing programme

“This is a wonderful harbour, with great opportunities for sailing, of which every opportunity should be taken,” is the approach being taken by the clubs. The joint Cove/MBSC events will concentrate on whitesail, which is the focus of Monkstown Bay SC cruisers. Cove includes spinnakers in its racing events.

The agreed approach, as previously reported by Afloat.ie will start with both clubs joining forces for the first time on Sunday May 21, starting together on the Cove SC line and again the following Saturday, May 27 On Saturday, June 3, the June Bank Holiday Weekend both clubs will race in Monkstown. The clubs will gather together again in Cobh on four Fridays in June – 9, 16, 23 and 30. A race to Kinsale, which will also be a ‘feeder’ for the Sovereign’s Cup there, is planned on Saturday, June 17. For boats not taking part in the Cup series, there will be a race back to Cork Harbour the following day.

Kieran O'Connell RCYC Rear Admiral Keelboats – looks forward to the possibility of joining in next season when all three Cork Harbour clubs could strengthen cruiser racing

In July Monkstown will hold its ‘At Home Regatta’ on Saturday, July 8, which SCORA, the South Coast Offshore Racing Association, is expected to support and on Saturdays, July 15, 22, 29, Cove will join MBSC in racing at Monkstown. On Sunday, July 23 racing will be in Cove. On Saturday, September 2, the Ballinacurra Race will start from Cove and finish in East Ferry. Saturday, September 9, is the date scheduled for the annual Cobh-to-Blackrock Race and there are joint MBSC and Cove SC events planned on Saturdays September 16, 23 and 30.

“Hopefully, this inter-club initiative will boost cruiser racing in Cork Harbour,” officers of both clubs said.

At the launch in the Quays bar and restaurant on the Cobh waterfront, Cove Sailing Secretary, Pat Coakley, announced an extensive sailing programme for both the club’s dinghy and cruiser fleets. Saturday sailing will include a dedicated training schedule, outlined by Michelle Gray Mooney.

Maurice Kidney outlining the Rankin Dinghy Revival at the Cove Sailing Club Launch

Maurice Kidney detailed the revival of the Rankins, the historic dinghy associated with Cove SC. On Saturday, May 20, the Rankins are planning a gathering in Cobh and Crosshaven for Ida Hadley, the sister of boat builders Eric and Dave Rankin, who built these wonderful Cork harbour dinghies from the late 50s to the 80s.

Monkstown Bay and Cove Sailing Clubs have agreed a joint cruiser racing programme for this season which will set a new course in Cork harbour sailing, writes Afloat's Tom MacSweeney in the Evening Echo.

The neighbouring clubs have been in discussion for some time with the aim of engaging in joint racing. Like clubs around the country, it has been proving difficult to maintain cruiser racing, so getting together for inter-club racing is a way forward in strengthening interest in the sport.

Monkstown Bay SC cruisers concentrate on white sail racing while Cove has both white sail and spinnaker classes.

Both have agreed a series of inter-club white sail events, when cruisers from both will race together. They will also run their own club sailing programmes, so this could be the ‘best of both worlds’ for the sailors. It is a positive development, one to be welcomed in bringing clubs in Cork Harbour together.

While there may be some adjustments to the schedule as the season progresses, which can invariably happen with the best-laid plans, the agreed approach involves both clubs joining forces on Sunday May 21 and Saturday, May 27, starting together on the Cove SC line. Monkstown will, in the same month run its own weekly Thursday night league. Cove will launch its sailing programme with a formal announcement of the season’s plans on May 5.

On Saturday, June 3, the June Bank Holiday Weekend both clubs will race in Monkstown which will also be the Sea Hennessy Trophy for Monkstown boats, to honour that village’s much-revered sailor, the late Charlie Hennessy. The clubs will gather together again in Cobh on four Fridays in June – 9, 16, 23 and 30. A race to Kinsale, which will also be a ‘feeder’ for the Sovereign’s Cup there, is planned on Saturday, June 17. For boats not racing in the Cup series, this will be an overnight occasion, with a race back to Cork Harbour the following day.

In July Monkstown will hold its ‘At Home Regatta’ on Saturday, July 8, which SCORA, the South Coast Offshore Racing Association, is expected to support and on Saturdays, July 15, 22, 29, Cove will join MBSC in racing at Monkstown. On Sunday, July 23 racing will be in Cove.

August is generally the month when boats head West for holiday cruising, so no joint racing is planned, but they will gather again in September. On Saturday, September 2, the Ballinacurra Race will start from Cove and finish in East Ferry. Saturday, September 9, is the date scheduled for the annual Cobh-to-Blackrock Race and there are joint MBSC and Cove SC events planned on Saturdays September 16, 23 and 30.

Hopefully, this inter-club initiative will boost cruiser racing in Cork Harbour.

Cove Sailing Club's own Beneteau First 36.7 Altair was the class one winner of yesterday's annual Cobh to Blackrock race writes Bob Bateman. The Cork Harbour fixture that was postponed due to bad weather a fortnight week ago set sail in light westerly winds yesterday with a good turnout of all sorts of cruisers and dinghies that included some local Rankin dinghy entries. 

The course was upriver from the start line at Cobh to the finish line at Blackrock Castle.

Cove Sailing Club Commodore Aidan Mc Aleavey, with support from the Naval Squadron's Soubrette from Haulbowline acting as comittee boat, sent the fleet off with a flooding tide and a beat up to Whitepoint then a reach onwards to Marino Point. 

The dinghy fleet started first then the white sail division followed by traditional craft with racing classes 1,2,3 last to start.

Second in class one was Ria Lyden's X332 Ellida with Paul Tingle's X34 Alpaca from Royal Cork third.

George Radley's Half tonner Cortegada was the class two winner. The race is part of CSC September League. Full results are here