2024 Volvo Cork Week - Day 3
by Volvo Cork Week 17 Jul 2024 11:20 PDT
15-19 July 2024
The Harbour Race at Volvo Cork Week 2024 © James Tomlinson
Volvo Cork Week ©James Tomlinson
Volvo Cork Week ©James Tomlinson
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The Harbour Race has always been an iconic, special occasion for Volvo Cork Week. On the third day of the regatta, well over one hundred boats, stretching half a mile along a single start line, raced in the world's second largest natural harbour.
Cork Harbour has been a working port and defensive hub for centuries with stunning views of Cobh, Spike Island and Haulbowline Island. The ten knot southerly gradient wind prevailed all day, but inside Cork Harbour, the magnificent fleet contended with wind shadows and complex currents. The Harbour Race is a tactical challenge in a multifaceted racing area.
Barry Cunningham's J/109 Chimaera (RCYC/RIYC) is putting in a phenomenal performance in IRC One with five race bullets. Chimaera not only won class today but was the overall winner under IRC for the Harbour Race. Barry has been coming to Cork Week since he was 15 years old.
"We are having an absolutely amazing week," commented Barry Cunningham. "We have spent a long time getting this crew together and getting the procedures right. The less mistakes you make, the more you gain. We are over half way through the week and we love it, because it's good competition, the best of the best are here."
The overall winner under ECHO for The Harbour Race was Royal Cork's Jones Family racing J/122 Jellybaby, which also won IRC Zero. Skipper Brian Jones has lost count of the number of times he has raced the celebrated Harbour Race.
"It must be at least 12 times. Get a clean start and then manage the tide," commented Brian Jones. "We were second to the first mark behind the Elliott 57 and the tide upwind on the way back is always a big deal, both for speed and lay line. We got on with it and held Blitz and the Cape 31s nicely; the race went very well for us; we are well-happy because the competition is massive in Class Zero."
In the 1720 European Championship, Aodhan Fitzgerald's Galway Bay team, racing After Midnight, won today's Harbour Race. Howth YC's The McBearla's racing Rope Dock Atara still leads the 1720 European Championship.
Half Tonner 2 Farr (RSC & BSC) was the class winner of The Harbour Race and leads IRC Two by just one point from Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble (RCYC). Royal Cork's Fiona Young with Albin Express North Star leads in IRC Three with a perfect four straight bullets.
In the Coastal Fleet racing under ECHO, National Yacht Club's Johnny Treanor racing J/112 ValenTina scored another two race wins today to extend their lead in the class to three points. In Non-Spinnaker One under ECHO Royal Cork boats hold the podium. Frank Caul racing Grand Soleil 37 Prince of Tides still leads the class, but by just one point from Dan Murphy's X-99 Anteex. Ian Hickey's Granada 38 Cavatina is in third and won today's Harbour Race, much to the delight of his Royal Cork YC crew.
The RS 21 fleet is being dominated by Liam & Keith Willis from the Royal Lymington YC in the UK having won six of the seven races sailed. Kenny Rumball's RS Ireland is second, just two points ahead of Nick Redding from Goring SC.
After racing at Volvo Cork Week, the Orchard Thieves Après Sail got the party going before the Daily Prize Giving, followed by live music from Phil Holbird and his band.
View full provisional results