The final day of racing in the annual Cork Dry Gin Calves Week Regatta produced another sparkling and competitive day, with an ample 15 – 20 knot westerly bringing the 76 boat strong fleet around in fine style. Race Officer Neil Prendiville set varied courses for the fleets and was able to use the islands of Roaringwater Bay as set “marks” for the various fleets.
After a little jostling, mostly good natured at the start, the various classes in the fleet were sent on a reach to the Calf Islands and windward to Goat Island, with the smaller boats finishing following a brisk 2 mile spinnaker run down Long Island sound to Schull Harbour. The larger Class 0/1 completed a further loop around the Calf Islands before finishing in glorious sunshine back in the harbour.
Colman Garvey on True Penance (RCYC) made the most of the conditions to win the race and secure the overall league win in IRC Class 0/1, ahead of Conor Doyle in Freya (Kinsale YC) and Rob McConnell in Fools Gold (Waterford Harbour SC) Royal Irish’s Frank Whelan on Another Adventure took the Echo honours on the day, but it wasn’t enough to dislodge Meridian from their league win, ahead of Freya and the Schull Community College Sailing Club Tripp 40, Infinity, with a 14 year old future star, Noah McCarthy Fisher on the helm and his brother Isaac on the foredeck.
In Class 2 IRC, Dexterity from Foynes YC (McEneff/Madden/Hobbs) again had another win, which was enough to scoop the league ahead of local rival Big Deal (Derek Dillon, Foynes YC) and RCYC based Sunfast 32, Bad Company (Frank Desmond). Big Deal was also second in the Echo handicap, with Derek Dillon’s Dehler 34 coming in behind his brother Ernie’s slightly larger Silk Breeze.
Judy McGrath (RCYC) sailed a great race to secure the IRC Class 3 win for her Impala but Cobh boat, Muskateer (Billy Burke/Danny McCarthy) took Class 3 IRC league honours, ahead of Jimmy Nyhan on Outrigger (RCYC) and Gary Fort’s J24, Jaguar from Tralee Bay third in IRC. Nothing could catch Padraig O Donovan on Chameleon (KYC) who stormed away Echo Class 3 this year.
Local Boat, Shelly D, Mick McCarthy, again won Class 4 IRC and the overall prize. Local boat Tete a Tete with Ted Buckley at the helm won the Class 4 Echo, bringing him to second place overall in the league behind first time UK participant Andraxi (Chris North).
In IRC Whitesail 1, Act 2’s win with Tom Roche helming (RIYC) wasn’t enough to prevent Samba securing the overall win. Ger Hayes’ Y-dream was confirmed as the third day’s winner which secured him third place overall. In Whitesail 2, Ashanta (Tom McCarthy) took IRC honours. Local boat Chatterbox (Martin Lane) took the day’s top place in Echo, with local rival Peter Morehead on Giggles (SHSC) securing the overall win.
