2024 Volvo Cork Week - Day 4
by Volvo Cork Week 18 Jul 14:51 PDT
15-19 July 2024
On the penultimate day of Volvo Cork Week, class leaders are emerging for the series and the chat at the Royal Cork Yacht Club has centred around who is in the running for the Volvo Cup and the Kinsale Kettle.
The Volvo Cup is won by the best performing boat at Volvo Cork Week racing under IRC. The splendid Kinsale Kettle dates back to 1859 and has been won by many notable yachts through its long history. The Kinsale Kettle is awarded to the best overall performing boat at Volvo Cork Week, racing in any class.
Shrouded in a fine sea mist with light southerly breeze conditions on Day Four were far from perfect resulting in a few shake-ups on class leaderboards. Just one day of racing remains at Volvo Cork Week.
IRC Zero
Nick Burns & Andy Pidden's King 40 Blitz still leads in IRC Zero but a 4-9 scoreline today has pegged back the Royal Hong Kong YC team to a ten-point advantage. Michael Wilson's Cape 31 Shotgunn is still second in class but a 5-7 today was not ideal. The big climber was Lance Allen's J/122 Javelin with a 2-1, putting the Arklow SC team up to third and challenging for second.
"We sailed well in the first race and in the second we managed to see the top mark early and nailed the lay line, that made a big difference," commented Javelin's Main Sheet trimmer John Santy. "A big thank you to Lance (Allen) for inviting us to race at Volvo Cork Week. Most of us have been coming here for years; it has always been a cracking regatta."
1720 European Championship
The McBearla's Rope Dock Atara from Howth YC looks to have an unassailable 15 point lead. Kinsale YC's Mícheál Ó'Súilleabháin sailing Dutch Gold is second. Moving up to third is Aidan Lynch's Mo from the Baltimore SC.
RS21 One-Design Class
Liam & Keith Willis from the Royal Lymington YC in the UK are on a roll; firing off three more bullets today to all but clinch the class title. Kenny Rumball's RS Ireland is second having put another point of daylight on Nick Redding from Goring SC.
IRC One
John Maybury's J/109 Joker 2 from the Royal Irish YC had a perfect day, winning both of today's races to move within three points of class leader; Barry Cunningham's J/109 Chimaera (RIYC / RCYC). Matthew Chubb's First 35 First Light from the Royal Western YC is in third.
IRC Two
An almighty battle is running at the top of the class with the lead swapping hands for the title in every race. Boardman, Kelly and O'Leary's Half Tonner 2 Farr (RSC & BSC) leads by just one point after seven races. James Dwyer's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble (RCYC) is second by the narrowest of margins. The contest is likely to only be decided by the last race tomorrow. In third place is another Half Tonner, Miss Whiplash raced by Royal Cork's Ronan and John Downing.
IRC Three
There is no stopping Albin Express North Star which scored their seventh straight bullet. The Royal Cork YC boat is owned by Fiona Young with son Jack Young on the helm. Conor Twomey's First Class 8 Allig8r from the Royal St. George YC is in second place. Just two points behind in third is Conor Phelan's Royal Cork YC Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge.
Due to poor visibility, the race for the Coastal Fleet was abandoned today. Johnny Treanor's J/112 ValenTina from The National Yacht Club retains her perfect scoreline. Royal Cork's Paul and Deirdre Tingle racing X4 Alpaca are second, four points ahead of Denis Hewitt's Mills 30 Raptor from the Royal Irish YC.
Non-Spinnaker IRC One
Three boats from the Royal Cork lead the class. Frank Caul's Grand Soleil 37 Prince of Tides has a five point lead over Ian Hickey's Granada 38 Cavatina and Dan Murphy's X-99 Anteex. Cavatina is second by way of countback only, having equal nett points to Anteex.
Non-Spinnaker IRC Two
John Twomey's Blazer 23 Shilleagh from the Kinsale YC continued their winning form after IRC time correction, scoring their fourth straight bullet. Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache, also from Kinsale YC is in second place. Niall McPhillips' custom Etchells Guapa from the Royal Cork YC is in third.
"This regatta, like many we have all over Ireland have a fantastic variety of boats and sailors and it is especially encouraging to see so many young crew at Volvo Cork Week," commented John Twomey, skipper of Shilleagh and President of the Irish Sailing Association. " I am racing with my daughter and there are plenty of family boats here. Youth is the future of our sport. Also racing against classic boats such as Cork One-Design Jap is such a pleasure, especially as the crew race her so well."
Thursday's entertainment at the Royal Cork Yacht Club includes the Murphy's Stout Après Sail live Music, Cocktails & Happy Hour, the Volvo Cork Week John Paul Construction BBQ Bash and a live set from Phil Holbird and his band.
Tomorrow, Friday 19th July, marks the final day of racing at Volvo Cork Week 2024.
Event website: www.corkweek.ie
Full results: www.royalcork.com/Results/VolvoCorkWeek2024.htm