Royal Cork Autumn League – Starts with Summer Conditions

With an entry of over 40 boats, the Autumn League started on Sunday 28th September in a light and shifty conditions westerly. The club is very grateful for the support of its Official Partners, AIB, John Paul Construction and the Johnson & Perrott Motor Group.

Racing off Trabolgan, (with minimal tidal effects) it was possible for Race Officer, Richard Leonard (assisted by Sean Dunphy) to get racing stared for the 5 classes after a short postponement. This was a tricky affair with the wind disappearing for some and there was an element of snakes and ladders at times. However, all competitors managed to finish in a reasonable time.

As the last boats were finishing the first race, a nice breeze filled in from the south and the Race Officer reorientated the course in short order.

In spinnaker Class 1 IRC, Finbarr O'Regan's J109 "Artful Dodger" from Kinsale leads the fray under IRC with a first and a joint first followed by Paul & Deirdre Tinges X3 "Alpaca" and Pat Tanner's Castro ¾ Ton "Bateleur '88". Under Echo, the results were "Bateleur '88" followed by "Artful Dodger" and "Alpaca".

In spinnaker Class 2 IRC, Andrew Crosbie's Etchells "Knot on Call" won both races from Michael McCann's Etchells "Don't Dilly Dally" and David and James Dwyer's Farr ½ "Swuzzlebubble" in third. In Echo, Vice-Admiral Denis Byrne's "Grin & Bear It" leads (with a 2nd and a 1st) from "Knot on Call" and "Don't Dilly Dally".

Spinnaker Class 3 had a separate start and in IRC Fiona Young's Albin Express "North Star" leads on a countback from another Albin Express, "Obsession" with Conor Phelan's Farr ½ ton "Anchor Challenge" in third having won the first race. In Echo, "Obsession" leads from Derry & Patrick Good's Laser 28 "Summer Light" and "Anchor Challenge".

In non-Spinnaker 1 IRC, Alan Mulcahy's Ablin Express "Apache", from Kinsale, leads from Dan Murphy and James O'Mahoney's X99 "Anteex" with Andy Jenkin's S&S 34 "Morning After" in third. In Echo, "Anteex" leads from Frank & Celene McGrath's Dehler 34 "Big Mc" and Frank Caul & John Molloy's Grand Soleil 37 "Prince of Tides".

Non-Spinnaker 2 IRC was dominated by Kieran Collins's International Folkboat "If" with two bullets. Sailing on his own, he was followed by Rory McPhail's Impala 28 "White Knight" from Cove SC with two second places and Sean Hanley's HB31 "Luas" with two thirds. Under Echo, Mike Rider's Dehler 37 CR "Freya" leads on countback from "White Knight" with Conor Hanlon's Sun Odyssey 34.2 "Lapwing" in third.

This was the first day of a five-day event. Racing continues every Sunday until 26th October.