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Royal Cork's 'Nieulargo' Wins Kinsale-Fastnet SCORA Race

1st August 2020
Annamarie Fegan is presented with the KYC Fastnet Trophy by Rear Commodore Tony Scannell. Scroll down for the prizegiving slideshow Annamarie Fegan is presented with the KYC Fastnet Trophy by Rear Commodore Tony Scannell. Scroll down for the prizegiving slideshow Credit: Bob Bateman

Royal Cork's Denis Murphy and Annamarie Fegan sailing Nieulargo were the winners of the IRC All In Fleet in Kinsale Yacht Club's Fastnet SCORA Race sponsored by UK Sailmakers Ireland.

The Grand Soleil 40 crew that included former All Ireland Sailing champion Nin O'Leary and 2004 Olympian Killian Collins were winners of KYC's will Fastnet Trophy awarded to the yacht with the lowest corrected time on IRC rating.

The crew of the Grand Soleil 40 crew Nieulargo from Kinsale Yacht ClubOnboard the winning Grand Soleil 40

Second overall was the race organiser Finbarr O Regan of the host club for his performance in the Elan 333, Artful Dodger.

Third was another Elan 333 Stephen Lysaght Reavra Too also of the host club.

Tom Roche's Meridian Crew return to the Kinsale dock afte the race. Among the Meridian crew (pictured right) is Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, DSM, the current Chief of Staff of Ireland's Defence Forces Photo: Bob BatemanTom Roche (pictured centre in green top) and the Meridian Crew return to the Kinsale dock after the race. Among the Meridian crew (pictured right) is Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, DSM, the current Chief of Staff of Ireland's Defence Forces Photo: Bob Bateman 

Racing began on Friday evening at 6.30 pm and the nine boat fleet raced through the night over the 100-mile course. 

As Afloat reported previously, Nieulargo was first out of the harbour after the start and one of the first to return just after mid-day.

Reaching home under spinnaker along the Kinsale coast Photo: Bob BatemanReaching home under spinnaker along the Kinsale coast Photo: Bob Bateman 

Winds were westerly and averaged 10-knots.

Prizes were presented in IRC and ECHO. Full results are here

KYC adds: Glorious conditions greeted the nine Cork & Dublin boats that came to the start line for the McWilliam Sailmakers sponsored annual Kinsale-Fastnet race. While the present Covid conditions may have affected the numbers those that turned out were well campaigned ensuring a very competitive event. The race was a fantastic tactical challenge working the tides in and out of the bays with a beat to the rock & run home. The sail to the rock was a fantastic offshore experience with a full moon, shoals of dolphins and even a meteorite shower to entertain the crews.

Meridian rounded the rock in first place with Nieulargo hot on her heels but the AIS positions & quick calculations showed Artful Dodger & Cinnamon Girl were proving difficult to shake off. The run home was nearly direct downwind bar the reach from the Old Head to the finish which didn’t suit the new Sunfast 3330 but both Niulagro & Artful Dodger relished those conditions. While Meridian took line honours and Nuilargo came home second it was impossible to know who was going to win the IRC Fastnet Trophy with all boats bringing home fresh breeze.

Prize giving was on the club balcony with Denis Murphy’s Grand Soleil 40 Nuilargo taking the Fastnet trophy after nineteen hours IRC racing by a mere three minutes from Finbarr O Regan’s Elan 333 Artful Dodger who won the newly presented Ocean trophy. Cian McCarthys Cinnamon Girl took the Echo trophy.

Slideshow of KYC Fastnet Race below by Bob Bateman

Published in Kinsale, SCORA

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Kinsale Yacht Club located in Kinsale, County Cork lies just 120 nautical miles from Wales, 240 from North West France and only 500 from the Galician Coast of North Spain.

Kinsale Yacht Club is only a few minutes walk from every shop, hotel, pub and restaurant in Ireland’s gourmet capital but most significantly it is only 30 km by road from Cork, Ireland’s second city, and between the two lies one the region’s main assets - Cork International Airport - with its daily links to many European capitals.

Club members, of which there are more than 600, race Cruisers, One Design Keelboats and Dinghies.

The club runs inshore and offshore races, has an active cruising scene, a powerboat section and most significantly for any real club, a strong and dynamic junior training programme.

Beyond the club’s own marina is the club house itself and the dinghy park. Within the clubhouse are changing rooms, bar and restaurant all with full wheelchair access. The club’s full-time secretariat, steward and marina manager are there to look after sailing visitors and members alike in a relaxed, informal and fun environment.

The club welcomes new members and has always got room on its members’ yachts for new comers to the sport.