Crosshaven sailors were at the front of all fleets in last weeks Junior National Championships held in Lough Derg YC.

The Laser Radial fleet was particularly competitive with our top sailors competing at the highest level after coming home with great results from Lake Garda. The battle for the ISAF Junior place was intense with Robbie Gilmore of Strangford Lough nipping the spot from last years silver medallist Finn Lynch (NYC).

RCYC’s Seafra Gilfoyle sailed a great regatta and was in 3rd place going into the final day but was pushed down to 4th after a cruel OCS in the final race. Cian Byrne also finished a very solid 6th with Dermot Lyden 11th. This all bodes well as all the RCYC sailors have another 1-2 years in this age group.

Local Laser 4.7 interest included Richard Thompson 4th, Tom Mc Grath 8th with Eva Donworth 11th which were all great results in challenging conditions.

In the 420s a very close battle resulted in it all going down to the wire on the last day, with Howth’s Dickson/Wadilove leading RCYC’s Peter McCann/Arran Walsh. The Howth crew prevailed with McCann/Walsh in 2nd.

Patrick Crosbie & Gratten Roberts placed 4th with brothers Harry & David Whitaker in 5th. An extremely good showing of 3 Crosshaven boats in the top 5 for a resurgent local 420 fleet.

RCYCs Jil McGinley partnering Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain (KYC) beat off stiff competition to win the girls event (and 6th overall) and now have to go to the UK nationals to secure qualification for the girls slot at the ISAFs. Good luck girls!

Douglas Elmes and Jamie Tingle sailed a great regatta in their 1st outing together with a solid 13th.

In the Oppy Championship fleet Emily Whitaker came 3rd sailing a very good regatta with Conor Walsh in 7th Kate D’Arcy 9th and Aoife Byrne in 12th. The Oppy Trials fleet held their 1st leg in Lough Derg with excellent results for RCYC boats the 2nd leg will be in RCYC on the May weekend.

Well done to all!!

Last Friday a highly successful junior sailing season concluded with the Junior Laying Up and Pyewacket Trophy Award Night .
A large attendance of both sailors and parents from the Laser, Feva, 420 and Optimist classes enjoyed a marvellous evening celebrating the success of young Royal Cork sailors during the 2012 season.

Each of the dinghy  classes in turn presented various prizes to their successful sailors. Fun prizes were also presented to both children and adults. Frank Thompson looked spectacular in his pink all-in-one pyjamas. Various tokens of appreciation were also awarded during the evening for good services rendered in the season.

Rear Admiral Dinghies Darren O’Keeffe congratulated all the sailors and took the opportunity to thank all who provided time, expertise and resources to assist in club events and coaching during the season. A  particular note of thanks was expressed for the class captains and respective committees for their hard work during the season.

The climax of the evening was the award of the Pyewacket Trophy. Originally donated by Roy Disney, this magnificent trophy is awarded to the sailor who has achieved the best results during the season. With the success of Royal Cork sailors in 2012 this was always going to be a difficult, yet much anticipated decision, and the sailors under consideration for the award were as follows:

In the Optimist fleet the fabulous achievements of Dougie Elmes stood a long way out from the crowded Optimist fleet. 1st overall in Irish Optimist Nationals, 3rd British Optimist Nationals, 50th Optimist Worlds and winner of the  Renaissance Re Bermuda Cup Invitation event for national champions.

In the RS Feva fleet young Eoin Lyden had a great season finishing National Champion and, following qualification for the Junior Helmsman’s, finished a fantastic 2nd overall against stiff and much older opposition. 

For the 420 fleet Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts had an amazing season. The 420 pair were ISA Youth Nationals winners, 420 Nationals and rankings winners and qualified to represent Ireland in the ISAF Youth Worlds finishing a highly creditable 13th. Patrick also travelled to India and won a Laser 4.7 event while Grattan recovered from an injury that prevented him from sailing.

In the Laser fleet Seafra Guilfoyle and Cian Byrne both had fantastic success across Europe during the summer. Seafra was  6th U17  in the Youth Europeans Belgium, 1st  U17 in the Europa Cup, Germany and 4th  in the UK Inlands. Cian was 13th  U17 in the Youth Europeans, 2nd U17 Europa Cup, Germany, 2nd Europa Cup, Lake Garda.

From among the aforementioned brilliant sailors and achievements,  a winner and runner up had to be chosen. Following much deliberation, the 420 pairing of Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts were awarded the Pyewacket Trophy with Dougie Elmes a close runner up. Congratulation to the boys and to all of the successful sailors in each class.

With that the evening and the 2012 season drew to a close. Hopefully success will come again to Royal Cork sailors in 2013.

Thanks to Anne, Anthony and all the staff on the night for looking after the sailors and parents and helping to make this a great night for all. Thank you to Paul Keal for his photograph.

Over 30 junior laser sailors from across the country converged on the RCYC last week for ‘Laser Week’. The 3 day clinic featured Annalise Murphy and Prof O’Connell as lead coaches.  Annalise coached from the water with the teenagers, who were all delighted when she capsized on video – it happens to the best of them!

The week finished with a 2 day regatta. Well done to RCYC’s Nick Walsh who won in the Standard Rig.  Erica Ruigrok from Rush who won for the 4.7s with RCYC’s Thomas McGrath and Richard Thompson taking 2nd and 3rd respectively – well done lads.  The Radial section saw brothers Cian and Patrick Cahill from RSG claiming first and second and their fellow Dublin sailor Aoife Hopkins of Howth Yacht Club taking 3rd place.  A great week was had by all and thanks to Mark Whitaker and Nick Walsh for organising it.

For full results please click here: Laser Week Results.

There is a very full program of junior sailing all this week in the club and this regatta will be the culmination of the various activities and should be a great event.

Click here for Entry Form and then send your completed form to juniperhilluk@yahoo.co.uk

Note: to avoid a late entry fee you must send the completed entry form by Wed evening (Oct 31st)

The large fleet sailed together for the initial three races just south of Roches Point in ideal conditions with moderate SE winds. Principle Race Officer David O’Brien marshalled the fleet and ran the normal Optimist race course while also sending the 420s and 470s on their own outer trapezoid course.

A further race course for the 30 strong Optimist Regatta fleet was run in the harbour by OOD Grattan Roberts.

The Optimist Seniors are led after three races by Adam D’Arcy followed by Harry Durcan and Ronan Cournane – all of Royal Cork.  In the Junior Optimists local James McCann led overnight  followed closely by Loghlen Rickard and Peter Fagan – both of the National Yacht Club. The Regatta Fleet is led by Eve McMahon of Howth, with Gavin Lee from Galway Bay second and our own Ronan Walsh after a very good day lying third.

In the 420 class, Howth sailors Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove had the best day and have a good lead over locals Patrick Crosbie and Grattan Roberts who at the end of the first day had the new pairing of Harry and David Whitaker snapping at their heels.

The 470s are a rare sight at local regattas and it was great to see five boats race together with the 420s. Overnight leader was experienced pair Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy but just behind them was Douglas Elmes, current Optimist champion being guided and crewed by junior sailings local mentor Thomas Chaix.

To see some fantastic dinghy action come to the club today to see racing conclude

For results see

Optimist Senior Fleet

Optimist Junior Fleet

Optimist Regatta Fleet

420 Championship 

470 Championships