The SCORA 2012 programme returns to its more traditional format this season. The Jim Donegan Offshore Championship (IRC and ECHO) will be awarded to the Overall Winner of the series based on  ‘ALL IN’ results.  This competition will commence on May 31st with the Crosshaven-Milford Haven Race, an event that Martin Darrer has been working on non stop behind the scenes to organize.  The Championship will also consist of the Kinsale-Fastnet-Kinsale race on June 8th, the Gas Rigs Race on July 31st, Crosshaven-Schull August 3rd and Fastnet Race-Calves Week August 9th.

The SCORA League will include all races in the KYC Spring Series, the Cobh to Blackrock Race and all races in the RCYC Autumn Regatta.

Commodore Vinnie O’Shea is highly enthusiastic about the 2012 programme and urges a good turnout for a season that promises  excellent sailing with  such a variety of  courses and venues and hopefully wind and sun to be included  in abundance.

Welcome to the Royal Cork Cruising home page and what a year we have in store for you!
Traditional cruises, fun family day cruises, kids adventure days, beach barbeques, training sessions,
cruising dinners and introducing the “Royal Cork Skippers Club”, a monthly meeting open to all members
with guest speakers on topical issues.
There will be a strong focus on family involvement this year.
We are planning a number of short “Adventure days” where members kids can learn the basics of boat handling and navigation in a relaxed and fun environment.
Spike island, Ringabella and White Bay are all within easy reach.
Club caterer Anthony McCann has offered to travel with the club barbeque to whatever location we choose – all we need is the sunshine!
We are currently updating our database of members contact details and we would love to hear from you.
Send your e-mail or mobile number to “cruising@royalcork.com” and you will receive all the latest cruising info.
I am confident we have a programme that has something for everyone this season and I look forward to seeing you out on the water.
John Roche
Rear Admiral Cruising

2012 Cruising Committee

Congratulations to our own George Kenefick who has been awarded the title of Afloat/Irish Independent Sailor of the Year.

full story here

The 'Alan Massey' escorted by 'Miss Betty' off Roches Point. Picture Robert Bateman

The Royal Cork Yacht Club had a welcome visitor last night with the arrival of Baltimore’s new Tamar Class lifeboat, under Coxswain Kieran Cotter, and only the second such type of vessel to operate in Ireland.  The vessel RNLI 16-22 arrived in Kilmore Quay on Monday and carried out exercises off Ballycotton on Tuesday. The new lifeboat named the Alan Massey was largely funded through a legacy from Mrs. Dorothy  Massey  and has been named in memory of her late brother Alan.

RNLI Governor Peter Crowley in Sparetime took a group of visitors down to watch the exercises and other Royal Cork members went to Roches point to greet the welcome new arrival as darkness was falling.  She later berthed overnight at Royal Cork and is expected to arrive in Baltimore harbour later today where she is expected to receive a tumultuous welcome.  The local schoolchildren have been given a holiday and of course Baltimore is already en fete and packed to the gills with the Optimist IODAI training week with its usual entourage of Optimists, RIBS, families et al prolviding a huge boost for the area.

The new vessel will initially sit on a mooring but a special pod adjacent to the existing boat house is being constructed where she will eventually be able to lie beside the boat house.  At that stage the boat house will be converted for the inshore lifeboat.

It gives us great pleasure to announce that the Royal Cork Yacht Club has been awarded the title of a 5 Gold Anchor marina as well as an ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) Clean Marina.

The Royal Cork becomes the first Yacht Club in Ireland to be awarded this prestigious title. Ratings range from one to five gold anchors and for the Royal Cork to attain the maximum number of anchors on its first assessment is a fantastic achievement by all of the Club staff involved.

The Gold Anchor award scheme is a voluntary assessment programme focused on customer service and providing Quality Assured Berthing for any boat owner. The scheme is designed for the marina consumer by The Yacht Harbour Association with contribution from the RYA. With 23 years experience of Gold Anchor standards, this is a point of reference for all boat owners to make an informed decision on where to berth.

For more information about the Gold Anchor Scheme, visit The Yacht Harbour Association’s website, www.which-marina.com.

To sell at the Boat Jumble (trade pitch or “car boot”) pre booking is essential and restricted to marine related products and services. The booking form is on the Port of Cork website and must be completed before the day, in order to secure your place.

Check out Port of Cork for more details.

Summer at Schull. Picture Robert Bateman

Schull Harbour sailing Club have announced a major programme change to the 2012 Calves Week festival of sailing.

Responding to representations from  competitors for a shorter and less expensive alternative to the traditional event, spanning a two week period, the Schull based sailing programme will consist of a four day Calves Week Championships, running from Tuesday 7th to Friday 10th of August, with the usual mix of courses taking in the Fastnet Rock and many of Carberys Hundred Isles, together with laid courses in Roaringwater bay.

Daily prizegiving will take place on Main Street Schull where a nautical festival theme for the village is being organised by local businesses.

The traditional regattas on August Monday in Baltimore and the following Saturday and Sunday in Crookhaven and Schull will continue as stand alone events with their own courses and prizegivings being organised by the local sailing clubs.

The week will once again commence with the overnight Crosshaven/Schull race starting the activities on Friday August 3rd, while on Saturday morning August 4th the White Sail fleet will have an early start from Kinsale. Both of these races will form part of the new Scora Offshore Championships, together with the midweek Fastnet Race out of Schull.

Jamie Mcwilliam's Signal 8 Pictured on trials. Image J. McWilliam

Our well known ex pat sailor of Royal Cork Yacht Club  and Vice Commodore of the RORC,  Hong Kong based Jamie McWilliam of the well known McWilliam sail making family, has acquired a new build Ker 40 from the McConaghy Yard.  Naturally she will carry a full suit of U. K. Halsey sails now that Uncle Des (McWilliam) is the recently appointed World President of the Company.

Conversing on line with Jamie and enquiring as to his plans for this super boat he indicated he would very much like to be with us for Cork Week 2012 but cautioned, and I quote “bear in mind our appearance at Cork Week is by no means certain!  It is no trivial matter shipping from Hong and we’re in the process of figuring it all out now”.

On querying the origins of the boat’s name, Signal 8 the very interesting reply came as follows  “The name is based on the Typhoon warning signals in Hong Kong, which go 1-3-8-10.  1 is “It’s out there”  3 is “It’s coming”  8 is “Hurray! Work is cancelled!” and 10 is “Uh-Oh!!”

Should the recently mentioned possible appearance of the Mike Bartholmew South African but UK based Mills King 40 Tokoloshe materialize and together with Anthony O’Leary’s Antix and given that duo’s previous history, could we have the mother and father of a competition during Cork Week.  What a thought!!