Kinsale Yacht Club has elected Mike Walsh as Commodore. Walsh, a former director of KYC's biennial Sovereign's Cup takes over the helm from outgoing flag officer Dave Sullivan. 

In a big year on the water for Kinsale, the West Cork club will stage the Squib National Championships in June and the Dragon Gold Cup in September. Read Afloat's preview here

KYC's new Vice Commodore is Matthias Hellstern.  The Rear Commodore (House) is Susan Horgan. Rear Commodore (Marina) is Anthony Scannell and Rear Commodore (Membership) is Maeve Cotter.

Six sailing cruisers raced for the Gunsmoke Bell on St.Stephen’s Day at Kinsale Yacht Club in the annual event sponsored by Sam Cohen.

The winner was Stephen Lysaght’s Reavra Too, with Michael Carroll’s Chancer second and Sam Cohen himself sailing Gunsmoke II into third place.

Kinsale Yacht Club’s October Whitesail series concluded with three yachts in a tie for the top places in the ECHO fleet writes Tom MacSweeney

Valfreya (Leonard/Riome), Justus (Dan Buckley) and Godot (John Godkin) all finished on 11 points. After one discard was allowed over the five-race series, when the tie-breaker was brought into play, the Sigma 33 Valfreya, got first place with the J/109 Justus second and the Dufour 44/Godot third.

There was also a tie in the IRC fleet but here John Godkin’s Godot was the clear winner on 6 points overall. The tie was between Dan Buckley’s Justus and the Carroll Brother’s Elan, Chancer, both finishing on 8 points. It favoured Justus which got second place with Elan third.

J109 Justus Photo: Bob Bateman

Ireland was outclassed as British boats took the podium places at the International 2.4mR one-person keelboat Irish Open Championships at Kinsale Yacht Club today.

Megan Pascoe, a past World and European champion in the class, dominated the four-race event with four straight wins and was followed by Katherine Hedley with four seconds. Brian Harding was third.  The top Irish sailor was John Patrick in sixth place overall.

Five UK visitors travelled to Kinsale for the championships.

With Saturday's racing washed out as Afloat reported here, the pressure was on to complete all racing today in the ten-boat fleet.

It is the first time the event was held on the south coast with last year's championships held on Carlingford Lough. 

Sunday dawned with a flat calm but racing soon got underway with London 2012 Olympic Race Officer Jack Roy in charge.

Races were each of 40 minutes duration in the 10-knot winds from the northwest.

At the first start, the wind took a big shift moving from NW more into the north and so Roy abandoned that start to allow the course be moved.

Results are here.

The boat is primarily used for racing and the class holds highly competitive national events in many countries. In some countries, it features mainly as a class for sailors with a disability.

The 2.4mR is ideal for adapted sailing since the sailor does not move in the boat, and everything is adjustable from right in front of the sailor. Both hand-steering and foot-steering are possible.

Scroll down for photo gallery by Bob Bateman

Top Irish sailor John Patrick against the backdrop of Charles Fort

Adam Billany

Katherine HadleySunlight and shadows

Adam Billany

Katherine Hadley

Adam Billany

Georgina Griffin

Patrick Hassett

Winner Megan Pascoe

Brian Harding and Adam Billamy

Gina Griffin

A group of GBR visitors with Donal Hickey

Sailability Leader in Kinsale Donal HickeyThe Race team Jack and Rosemary Roy, Commodore David O’Sullivan and Mel McIlwaite

There is a sentence that is banned in every lifeboat station. That sentence is ‘It sure has been quiet round here.’ Because, as sure as eggs ‘is eggs, the Gods will start a passenger liner sinking at the mouth of your harbour writes Dave O'Sullivan.

Our sport is littered with, fingers crossed, piseogs. And in this light, many sailors treat RNLI fundraisers as a kind of cosmic insurance. The more I pay, the less chance I will get to meet these people in their full professional capacity. Or, God forbid, if I do need them then I will get special attention.

So Kinsale Yacht Club came out in force last night to have a great race, a great party and pay an instalment on the cosmic insurance.

Susan Draper (sponsor) with Dave O’Sullivan (KYC Commodore) and Julie Silverberg (Freya) Photo: Elma O’Sullivan

Twenty yachts turned up on the start line to join race officers Ruth Ennis and Donal Hayes. It is always difficult to set a course that will satisfy both an Xp50 and a squib but the winds were kind and the seas were flat and the race officers set a testing course that got the fleet home before dark. Freya led from the start and the main nip and tuck battles happened mid-fleet. Y Dream, Artful Dodger and Siboney were all biting at each other. No Notions, Runaway Bus and Shillelagh had another battle royale in the middle and, in the end, it was always going to be difficult to guess how the handicaps would impact.

Continuing the good karma of the evening the results were well deserved and popular. Freya was unbeatable, followed by John Stallard’s Siboney and Patrick Beckett’s Miss Charlie.

The main ‘finances’ of the evening followed, and a tough crowd was well managed by an ‘on form’ Commodore for the annual auction. He entertained, barracked and cajoled an increasingly willing audience to part with the maximum amount of cash. There were great bargains to be had although there will be some sore heads this morning wondering why they have a discount voucher for ballroom dancing in their blazer pocket. The club Treasurer was particularly generous and will cut quite a dash in his new Fascinator Hat.

When the accountants finished their bean counting this morning it was revealed that the event raised more than €8,000! A number of people put in huge work but this amount exceeded the most optimistic estimates.

The event is known as the Spalpeen Trophy and is run in memory of Billy Draper, a long-time member and friend of Kinsale Yacht Club. Billy would have approved of last night, a night to be proud.

Results here

Over 250 people with physical, sensory, intellectual and learning disabilities took part each day in a “splashingly” good weekend at the third annual Watersports Inclusion Games in Kinsale writes Treasa Cox

This year’s participants tried out more sports than ever before, with an expanded range including sailing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, rowing, surfing, water skiing and powerboating all on offer. The Games took place at Kinsale Yacht Club in Co Cork on 24th-25th August.

The Watersports Inclusion Games are an award-winning event organised by Irish Sailing with partners from across the watersports sector, that enable people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums to take to the water to participate in a wide range of water activities.

First-time participant Callum O’Mahony from Douglas, Cork, came to the Games with Enable Ireland. He went on a powerboat ride and said “it was great – we went so fast. I definitely want to come back again next time”.

One parent commented: “our daughter has autism. Today we watched her attempt kayaking, paddle boarding, and even skipper a yacht. The atmosphere was beyond inclusive, it restored our faith in humanity”.

Participants ranged in age from pre-teens to seniors and came from across the country. Some are repeat attendees, and some were first timers. The activities were tailored to each participant’s level and ability – so no two experiences were the same.

There were wheelchairs on Stand-Up Paddle Boards, visually impaired participants waterskiing in Kinsale Harbour, thrilling fast-boat rides, and all sorts of sailing.
Organiser Johanne Murphy said: “Irish Sailing promotes sailing as a ‘sport for all, a sport for life’. We believe in inclusion and the elimination of barriers to accessing sport, so that sailing and other watersports can be more readily available to the one in seven (13.5%*) of people in Ireland who have a disability.” (*2016 Census)

The organisers of the Games wanted to let people of all abilities know that there are multiple watersports available to them, and to encourage more people from all backgrounds to get involved and out on the water regardless of ability. They aim to highlight that any barriers faced by people with disabilities can be eliminated.

There are social, health and wellness benefits associated with sailing and all watersports. These include improved muscle strength and endurance, improved cardiovascular fitness and increased agility, enhanced spatial awareness, greater mental wellness through the balancing of serotonin levels and the lowering of stress levels, improved concentration and the forging of positive relationships.

Harry Hermon, CEO of Irish Sailing, added: “This is the third year of the Watersports Inclusion Games and they’re successful because of the many different strands that come together behind a single purpose, to get everyone afloat enjoying and benefitting from watersports. There are at least 11 different organisations involved in the Games – and at least 200 volunteers. Together we want to raise the profile of the Games so that everyone around the country becomes aware that sailing and other watersports are accessible to them, no matter what their circumstances”.

A pursuit race can be a fun thing. Instead of all boats starting together, the goal is for all boats to finish together. So, the slow boats head off first and the fastest last writes Dave O'Sullivan, Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club.

The 40 footers chase the Class 2s, who chase the Dragons who chase the Squibs and, with the witchcraft of mathematics, all boats reach the line at the same time.

A lot of Race Office fingers are crossed.

Bang on the start of the race and the wind changes 180 degrees and we now have a Leeward/Windward course instead of the intended. A potential disaster but the wind steadied and a near-perfect race ensued. A lot of sighs of relief. 

The 1720, number 1601

But, of course, we will remember none of this. We will remember a glorious day of silver seas, blue skies and white puffy clouds. We will remember a beautiful beat to the Bulman Buoy and long spinnaker runs up and down the harbour. We will remember that Bobby Nash & Co. in 1601 had a faultless performance and were the undisputed victors on the day.

Godot - John Godkin & Co

TBD - Matthews Jacob Good

We will remember the generous (seriously generous) sponsorship of the Bulman bar that involves tying up after the race to trays of gourmet seafood and ice buckets full of Heineken. That really is an ‘only in Kinsale’ moment.

And the Race Officers (Mike Walsh & Donal Hayes) will remember their joy when they realised the happenstance of winning boat (1601) reaching the finish line one minute after 4 o’clock.

Results -

1st 1601 - Bobby Nash & Co
2nd TBD - Matthews Jacob Good
3rd Godot - John Godkin & Co

If it’s the first Friday in June then it’s the Bertoletti Trophy Race which is held annually at Kinsale Yacht Club in memory of our esteemed former steward Mario Bertoletti who welcomed one and all to our Club for many years.

The forecasted strong North winds blew and the full tide was at 2100 HRS to get everybody home on time. The sun came out and our Race Officers Denis Kieran and Mary Stanley got the fourteen boat fleet off to a clean downwind start. Spinnakers were flown by the brave to the first mark which came up all too quickly. A long reach to Sandy Cove turned into a fetch at the end with the wind bending off the land. After rounding to port, a quick gybe brought Centre Point on the bow giving the bigger boats a chance to strut their stuff in the ever increasing winds. A long tough beat back into Charles Fort via Bulman satisfied all, both big and small, as the wind stayed very fresh until the fleet had completed the course.

Back in the clubhouse, all 76 participants were on tenterhooks until the computer, wheezing in the back room, produced the results.

1. Flora (Squib) B. Nash & D. Ross
2. Valfreys (Sigma 33) D. Riome
3. Godot (Dufour 44) J. Godkin
4. Cirrus (Elan 31) G. & M. Campbell (Shorthanded)

The Bertoletti Race is the first of four “all in” races held on Friday evenings during the season.

The overall winners will receive the Matthews Trophy.

Full results on KYC.ie

A Kinsale Yacht Club crew is reported safe after being rescued 80 miles off the coast of northwest Spain last night.

The Cork yacht 'Loa Zour', a Bavaria 40 type, under skipper Ger Grant departed Kinsale bound for La Coruna on June Bank Holiday Monday but appears ran into difficulties and were rescued by Galician Search and rescue teams last night.

KYC Commodore Dave O'Sullivan says he is relieved to hear this morning that all five crew are safe and he understands that they spent the night ashore in a Spanish hotel.

O'Sullivan described the crew and skipper as 'very experienced' and that they have 'extensive cruising experience'. He also said the boat was 'very well equipped' for such a voyage.

Northwest Spain has been experiencing strong winds during Storm Miguel.

With the Kinsale Yacht Club Fastnet Race safety inspection (WS Cat 3 with Liferaft) and last minute, adjustments complete, the ten boat fleet lined up for a 1400 HRS start last Saturday writes Dave O'Sullivan. It was a tough beat into a 24-knot breeze tacking in and out of the bays along the West Cork coastline to an all but invisible Fastnet Rock shrouded in mist.

Conor Doyle's Freya rounded at 2330 HRS with EOS next at 0102 HRS followed by Finbarr O’Regan's Artful Dodger at 0215 HRS.

The offwind leg back to Kinsale involved many gybes as boats sought the advantage by playing the angles and dodging the westbound tide.

Freya finished at 0604 HRS followed by EOS at 0750 HRS and Artful Dodger at 0912 HRS. Waterford visitor the Albin Ballad Seven Whistler sailed brilliantly and finished at 1136 HRS.

Kinsale Marina was a sleepy place on Sunday afternoon with all the worn out sailors catching up on lost sleep.

The results, announced Wednesday evening after sailing, are as follows -

1. EOS (C. McCarthy) KYC - Minihan Trophy
2. Seven Whistler (R. Wubben) WHSC - Fastnet Trophy (for Visitors)
3. 3. Artful Dodger (C. O’Regan) KYC
4. Cara (F. Doyle) RCYC
5. Freya (C. Doyle) KYC
6. Flyover (D. Marchant) WHSC
7. Siboney (J. Stallard) KYC
8. Chancer (R.Carroll) KYC
9. Blue Oyster (D. Coleman) SHSC 
10.  Reavra Too (S. Lysaght) KYC