After the high winds of Saturday’s opening day of the Royal Cork Yacht Club 'At Home' in Crosshaven, the second day made for a welcome change, with a flat sea and less wind.

Between cruisers and dinghies, the RCYC had 80 boats racing over the weekend in their annual ‘At Home’ regatta in Cork Harbour.

Saturday’s high winds and choppy waters made a testing day for cruisers and dinghies. Cruisers raced between the outer and inner harbours, registering up to 22 knots of wind gusts.

In the two races on Saturday, some boats reefed mainsails to manage the conditions. Others flew spinnakers, with a few challenging incidents.

In the cruiser classes, IRC Spin Division was won by Fiona Young’s ‘North Star.’

The IRC Spinnaker Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home Regatta' was won by Fiona Young’s Albin Express ‘North Star' Photo: Bob Bateman

Michael McCann’s ‘Don’t Dilly Dally’ second. David Dwyer’s ‘Swuzzlebubble’ third.

Michael McCann’s Etchells 22 ‘Don’t Dilly Dally’ competing in the IRC Spinnaker Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home Regatta' Photo: Bob Bateman

Ria Lyden’s ‘Ellida’ won ECHO Spin with North Star second and ‘T Bone’ (Tom Durcan/Clive O’Shea) third.

Ria Lyden’s X332 ‘Ellida’ won the ECHO Spinnaker Division of Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home Regatta' Photo: Bob Bateman

Whitesail Division 1 IRC winner was Ian Hickey’s ‘Cavatina.’ Kieran O’Brien’s ‘Magnet’ second. ‘BigMc’ (McGrath Family) third. ‘Cavatina’ also won the ECHO handicap, with Mike Ryder’s ‘Freya’ second and ‘BigMc’ third.

Kieran O’Brien’s ‘Magnet’ was second in Whitesail Division 1 IRC of Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home Regatta' Photo: Bob Bateman

Whitesail Division 2 winner in both IRC and ECHO was the MacSweeney Family’s ‘Scribbler’. Second in the ECHO handicap was Rob Foster’s ‘Clodagh’ and third was Eugene O’Loughlin’s ‘Kerensa’.

In the dinghy fleets, the Laser ‘passage race’ from Blackrock to Crosshaven on Saturday was a tough challenge for the single-handers. The ILCA 6 winner was Joe O’Sullivan, with Robert Jeffreys second and Eve McCarthy third. Laser 4 fleet winner was Craig O’Neill, with Liam Duggan second and Tommy Hiras third. The ILCA 7 winner was Richard McGlade. Liam Duggan won ILCA 4 in Sunday's racing, with Craig O’Neill second and Eve McCarthy third.

Fast sailing in a 29er dinghy during Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home Regatta' Photo: Bob Bateman

Fevas raced from Monkstown to Crosshaven on Sunday, won by Cathal and Ruadhan Jackson, second Harry Coole and Chris Granby, and third Aifric Barry and Florence Dennehy.

Racing on the Curlane Bank, the Toppers winner was Lucy Moynan, second Kate Dean and third Ruby Foley. Optimists Class winner was Hugh O’Neill, second Charlie McKibben and third Ayda Bruen.

The crew of the National 18 Ball 'n' Chain is hit by a gust going downwind during Royal Cork Yacht Club's 'At Home Regatta' Photo: Bob Bateman

National 18s Class was won by Charles Dwyer and crew sailing ‘Nacho Boat’. Second ‘ Aquadisiacs,’ Colin Chapman and crew. Third ‘Peaky Blinders,’ Ronan Walsh and crew.

Bob Bateman's RCYC 'At Home 2023' Photo Gallery (Day One)

The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) has announced a different format for dinghy racing in their upcoming ‘At Home’ Regatta on Saturday. In a statement released by Rear Admiral Dinghies, Maurice Collins explained that “racing will involve most fleets racing from Blackrock or Monkstown to the RCYC at Crosshaven.” 

The event, which promises a great weekend of competitive racing and fun, will see Lasers (ILCAs), 29ers and Class 2 dinghies race from Blackrock with a First Gun timed for 1330. Meanwhile, Toppers, Optimists and Class 1 Mixed Dinghies will race from Monkstown, with a First Gun scheduled for 1430. The National 18 Class will race on the Curlane Bank, where racing for all classes on Sunday will be held in the Cuskinny area, starting with a First Gun at 1155. 

According to the RCYC, dinghy entry forms must be completed and are available on the club’s website. The relevant Class Captains will also discuss arrangements for boats to get to Blackrock/Monkstown. 

In addition to the dinghy racing, there will also be cruiser racing on both Saturday and Sunday, with two races scheduled for Saturday and one on Sunday, all starting at 1155. The event is open to visiting clubs to participate, with the Class divisions for the At Home “decided by the Race Committee, with results in IRC and ECHO and prizes dependent on the number of entries and class divisions.” 

To enter the ‘At Home’ Regatta, an entry form must be completed on the RCYC website. The event will also have a variety of onshore entertainment and events. 

The RCYC ‘At Home’ Regatta promises to be a thrilling and enjoyable event for all participants and spectators alike.

Cork Harbour saw challenging conditions during the last race of the July Cruiser Whitesail League at the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Friday evening.

With wind speeds gusting over 22 knots, only four yachts were able to race, and only two of the scheduled four races for the league could be held during the month due to weather conditions.

The previous evening, conditions were more favourable, and 12 yachts raced in the Thursday league Whitesail Class, with five taking part in the spinnaker division.

Desmond/Ivers/Keane's Bad Company took first place in Spinnaker IRC, followed by Ria Lyden's Ellida in second place and Jones Family's Jelly Baby in third. Ellida finished first under ECHO handicap, with Bad Company coming in second and Frank Doyle's Cara in third place.

In the Whitesail IRC category, Kieran O'Brien's Magnet took first place, followed by Pat Vaughan's Aramis in second and Ian Hickey's Cavatina in third. Under the ECHO handicap, Aramis was the winner, with Cavatina in second place and McGrath Family's Big Mc in third.

In the Whitesail Friday category, Liam O'Keeffe's Orion emerged as the winner under the club's IHS Division. Scribbler, belonging to the MacSweeney family, came in second place, with Darragh McCarthy's Mach 2 in third place.

The challenging weather conditions made for a tough race, but the yachts and their crews persevered, making for an exciting competition.

There was a home success in a breezy conclusion to the 2023 Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club on Friday afternoon, when Ireland took gold and silver in the smaller 4.2 rig division, while the main rig title went to Great Britain.

Friday's three back-to-back races confirmed Britain's Alex Jones of Parkstone Yacht Club as the 2023 Topper 5.3 World Champion at Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Jones had established a winning point cushion of 12 points over six races (with two race wins) and extended this on the final day to ten points with a last-race victory in Cork Harbour.

2023 Topper 5.3 World Champion Alex Jones of Parkstone Yacht Club (centre) with Ruoque Su of China second (left) and Rory Clow third. Photo: Bob Bateman

Jones's teammate Rory Clow of Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club, who had moved up to second overall going into Friday's races, was overtaken by Ruoque Su of China for the silver medal. Clow took bronze after nine races sailed in the 98-boat fleet.

The best of the Irish in the 5.3 rig was consistent Luke Simpson of County Antrim Yacht Club, who finished sixth.

Ireland's Whyte is Topper 4.2 World Champion

In the smaller 4.2 rig fleet, Fifteen-year-old Rory Whyte from Waterford Harbour and Royal Cork Yacht Club recovered from an OCS in race one in a three-race final series to win the 4.2 World Championship Trophy. Second, was his clubmate Andrew O'Neill with Che Liu of China in Bronze.

Fifteen-year-old Rory Whyte from Waterford Harbour and Royal Cork Yacht Club is presented with the 4.2 World Championship Trophy by Cork County Mayor Frank O'Flynn. Second, was his clubmate Andrew O'Neill (left) with Che Liu of China in Bronze Photo: Bob Bateman

Topper World Championships 5.3 Gold Fleet Racing (Friday) and Prizegiving at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

4.2 results below and 5.3 results here

After three qualification races sailed at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club, the top three slots in the 5.3 fleets are all filled by Irish sailors, with Craig O'Neill from the host club having the best of the day.

Caoimhe Corkery from Kinsale YC and Royal Cork YC holds second, and Conor Kelly lies third overall.

Near-perfect conditions greeted the fleets for the first day of racing in Cork Harbour. After the heavy showers of Sunday evening, the sun made a welcome return, accompanied by a northerly westerly breeze that varied from 5 – 12 knots throughout the day.

250 participants from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Malta, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Brazil are racing in the Topper world Championships at Royal Cork, with entrants aged between eight years old to their teens Photo: Bob Bateman

Race 1 for the Topper 5.3 fleet of 198 boats, split by flights into two starts, got away smoothly in 9-12 knots, which then dropped towards the windward mark for the yellow and blue flight race.

First to round coming out of the right-hand side of the beat was Cameron McDaid (GBR, Largs SC), with a 30m lead ahead of the bunch, from which Gemma Brady (IRL, National YC & LDYC) reached over the top of the group on the leg to Mark 2, and into second place. Cameron’s lead was worn down on the second upwind of the trapezoid course as Sam Brown (GBR, Burghfield SC) climbed to second, but Gemma Brady held on well to take 4th.

In the red/white flight race, Caoimhe Corkery (IRL, Royal Cork YC) used her local knowledge of the harbour to her advantage to take the win, as the tide built against the sailors upwind, making it slow going as the wind dropped at the windward mark to 5 knots.

In Race 2, the wind was back to 12 knots, Will Brown, (GBR, Island Barn SC) rounded first, ahead of IRL Conor Kelly and Ian Ma, (HKG), finishing in that order.

After three races, the top three slots in the 5.3 fleets are all filled by Irish sailors, with Craig O'Neill from the host club having the best of the day, with a very consistent 3,1,2 scoreline, ahead of Caoimhe Corkery on 19 points after she slipped to 17th in the third race, tied on points with Connor Kelly in 3rd.

Rory Whyte from Ballyholme nailed the day with an impressive 2,1,1, score in the 60-boat 4.2 division Photo: Bob Bateman

Topper World Championships Day One Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Over on the Topper 4.2 course, Rory Whyte, (IRL) nailed the day with an impressive 2,1,1, score, leading the 60-boat fleet from Shirley Ma, (CHN, Vanhang Sailing) and Victor Montgomery (GBR)

Topper 5.3 results are below and 4.2 are here

A Sunday afternoon downpour might have delayed it, but the 2023 Topper Dinghy World Championships Opening Ceremony and Competitors Parade was a colourful sight (despite no pipe band rain due to the rain) as it passed through Crosshaven village in Cork Harbour.

Royal Cork Yacht Club hosts 250 participants from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Malta, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Brazil for this year's competition this week, with entrants aged eight years to their teens.

Taking place at 6 pm on Sunday, the competitors – at the biggest ever championships – meandered their way with national flags along the road from Royal Cork Yacht Club to Crosshaven House, where the Opening Ceremony was held.

Competitors were officially welcomed for five full days of racing from Monday morning, with the prize-giving ceremony taking place this Friday evening, July 28th.

Speaking at the opening ceremony were Royal Cork Yacht Club Admiral Kieran O'Connell, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney and Cork County Councillor Audrey Buckley, along with Topper International representatives.

Royal Cork Hosted Topper Worlds Opening Ceremony Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

For the second week in succession, severe weather caused the cancellation of Friday night whitesail racing at Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Thursday’s racing went ahead. North Star (Fiona Young) won Spinnaker IRC.

Bad Company (Desmond/Ivers/Keane) won in ECHO.

Magnet (Kieran O’Brien) won Whitesail in both divisions.

Southwest winds up to 20 knots will get today's Quarter Ton Cup off to a swift start at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour.

Four UK visitors are led by the 2021 winner and last week's Dun Laoghaire Regatta 'Volvo Boat of the Week winner', Protis, skippered by Ian Southworth of Hamble River Sailing Club.

The eight-race, three-day Cork competition will be the first time the Cup has been sailed in the modern era outside Cowes. Admittedly, only 11 are competing, but it's still a quality fleet with some top sailors seeking victory.

Southworth made swift work of Dun Laoghaire's IRC Three class last Sunday on the east coast, winning seven races on the trot, so he can be considered warmed up and ready to go.

Irish entries, including Conor Phelan's Anchor Challenge, who won Class Three at June's Sovereign's Cup in style, is racing with Ireland's four-time Olympic keelboat helmsman Mark Mansfield aboard.

Kieran Dorgan's Illegal (second last week in Dun Laoghaire Regatta's Class Three) and Martin Mahon's Snoopy (third) will likely be the main Irish threats to Protis.

Conor Phelan's Anchor Challenge from Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Another interesting addition to the local foray, however, will be Panic, with both 2004 Olympian Killian Collins and Ireland's top 505 ace Alex Barry aboard.

The event comes to the Irish south coast from the Solent for the first time since the Cup was resurrected 18 years ago.

Martin Mahon's Snoopy from Courtown Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman

The Quarter Ton Cup is awarded to the World Quarter Ton class championships winners between 1968 and 1997 and for the Quarter Ton Classic Revival from 2005 to the present. The fleet’s main centre is on the Solent.

Kieran Dorgan's Illegal competing at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Cork Harbour's Class Three continues to strengthen with the arrival of several Quarter Tonners in the last two seasons.

Overall, the fleet includes some authentic classic designs, including an Albin Express, various Quarter Tonners, a Bolero, vintage J24s, an HB31 and a Trapper 250. 

Quarter Tonner Panic arrived from Northern Ireland, Illegal came from Cowes, as Afloat reported previously, and Anchor Challenge, a championship-winning boat (that has had three previous Cork owners) returned to the harbour in 2022. 

Michael McCann’s Etchells ‘Don’t Dilly Dally’ topped the RCYC cruisers Thursday evening June league in Spinnaker IRC Division on a total of six points, having had a first, second and third placing in three of the four races. Padraig Byrne’s 1720, ‘Zing’, placed second on eight points, and Frank Doyle’s J112,’ Cara’, was third on twelve.

Under ECHO handicap, ‘Cara’ topped the June racing with 5 points, Ria Lyden’s X332 ‘Ellida’ and Padraig Byrne tied in second on ten points. In Whitesails IRC racing, the McJenkins Family topped the league in their S&S 34.’Morning After,’ on six points.

Pat Vaughan’s ‘Aramis,’ a Contessa 33, was second on nine and Kieran O’Brien’s MG335, ‘Magnet,’ third on ten.

Batt O’Leary’s Jeanneau 36i, ‘Sweet Dreams,’ was first in Whitesail ECHO handicap on six points, with Paul O’Shea’s ‘Elegance,’ a Sun Odyssey 36i, second on seven and Aramis third on eight. The Friday evening whitesail league had five races, which were sailed under the club’s own handicap system. Two yachts finished at the top on 14 points – ‘22’ (Danny Rock) and ‘Phaeton’ (Clive Doherty). ‘22’ had one first, so was placed first. Ronan Twomey’s Rosmarina was third on 16 points.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club cancelled its regular Thursday night league racing this week and called members to a meeting instead to discuss an incident between some boats in the racing fleet on the previous week’s Thursday and a tanker entering the harbour.

The Admiral of the RCYC at Crosshaven, Kieran O’Connell, said the action decided upon by the Executive Committee of the club was taken to ensure that the message of safety in racing was clearly understood by all involved and that Skippers of yachts must realise that they are ultimately responsible for their decisions during racing.

Admiral of the RCYC at Crosshaven, Kieran O’Connell Photo: Bob Bateman

There was a big turn-out at the meeting which heard from Cork Harbour Master, Capt. Paul O’Regan and Cork Pilot Tony Mulcahy, who was on the tanker, how tugs accompanying the vessel were used to assist it in reducing speed after several warning sounds made by the tanker when it neared the fleet, which was spread across the shipping channel were not responded to.

A photo from a social media post dated May 19th showing yachts, a ship and an accompanying tug in Cork Harbour Photo: via Facebook

A new system for race control is being agreed by the club with the Port of Cork.

Admiral of the RCYC, Kieran O’Connell, is my Podcast guest this week discussing the incident and the lessons to be learned from it for racing crews and skippers.

Listen to the Podcast below.