Cork Harbour Combined League kicks off in style!
Last Friday saw the first race of the 2024 Cork Harbour Combined race. There were over 30 competing boats in total, the majority being from the Royal Cork, with 23 boats crossing the start line! What an amazing turnout for the first night of the league. We had a fabulous westerly breeze on a full tide, perfect conditions for the “Round the Island” race. It was a great spectacle from the shoreline and a remarkable success with the sailors. On the night, Annamarie and Denis Murphy’s “Nieulargo” was dominant in the Spinnaker class, winning both IRC and ECHO. In the White Sail class, Conor Hanlon’s “Lapwing” brought home first place in Echo with Kieran O’Brien and Fiorentina Stanciu’s “Magnet” winning White Sail IRC. Thanks to CSC for a great race and well done to all the boats and crew!
There are three more Fridays in this league, so I look forward to seeing you all again this Friday! The event is sponsored by Johanna Murphy and sons, Estate Agents and prizegiving for the league will be after the final race, on 28th June in Cobh.
We were also treated to a few Classic Boats competing on Friday night. Simon O’keefe’s 1908 “Lady Min”, as well as two new boats to the club – Kieran Collins’s 1974 Marieholm International Folk boat “IF”, and the latest addition to our fleet, Brendan Egan’s “Boekanier”, a 1918 U class design.
The first night of the June/July Friday night IHS league also kicked off on Friday night. This is a seven-race series, with a break in the middle for Volvo Cork Week. There were an amazing 19 boats racing, let’s keep this going! Caoimhe Foster came third in “Clodagh”, with Kieran O’Halloran’s “Stingray” coming second place. Conor Hanlon won the night on “Lapwing”.
The first night of the RCYC Summer Series June/July Thursday night racing was last Thursday. This is also a seven-race series, so with discards playing a pivotal role in the series, anything can happen! Another great turnout and on the night, Fiona Young’s “North Star” in SPIN IRC and ECHO. The McGrath family made a clean sweep, winning in White Sail IRC and ECHO in their Dehler 34, “BigMc”.
Well done to all skippers and crew, the daily prize winners and of course, our volunteers who give their time willingly every week to ensure we can all enjoy our sport. Thanks to Mike and Sean for always doing an excellent job on the results, our RO’s Peter Crowley and Dominic Losty from CSC and to Ann, Amy and all the staff for looking after us so well every evening!
Looking forward to seeing you on the water this week!
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