Sovereigns Cup glory for O’Leary

THE Sovereigns Cup was lifted by Anthony O’Leary at Kinsale on Saturday after his Class Zero entry Antix was judged best of the 101-boat fleet for the series that featured a full range of conditions.

The Crosshaven owner-skipper delivered five race wins plus a second place to score one of the lowest points tallies across the five classes racing under IRC-handicap.

The Portcullis Trophy was awarded to the best performing boat under the ECHO handicap system and Kinsale’s own Dave Scott and the crew of Eos celebrated one of the most consistent series results with all race wins or second places scored despite the range of conditions.

A major new trophy was also awarded in memory of the late Michelle Dunne, a dedicated club and community volunteer. The South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club entry Xpletive, owned by Mike Crompton, was the inaugural winner of the Prix d’Elegance trophy presented by Michelle’s sister Carrie at the club on Saturday.

And the visiting New Zealand boat Black Fun collected their second travellers trophy in a week following their Dubarry award in Crosshaven the previous weekend in recognition of the longest distance possible for any visitor.

The Kiwis were competing in Class Three where the Quarter Tonne championship was being staged or even fought for as three leading contenders each could have landed the prize going into the final morning.

However, it was visiting entry Aguila owned by Rob Grey and featuing double Fastnet Race winner and Solent yachtinglegend Peter Morton on the crew that emerged victorious on Saturday after two emphatic race wins in the testing conditions.

Paying tribute to the winners, Irish class three national champion and defeated runner-up Neil Kennefick, co-owner of Tiger said:

“On the way out to the start they told us they were nervous; they hadn’t any wind instruments.” But the visitors’ had the edge in boatspeed and Eamonn Rohan’s Anchor Challenge from Kinsale remained in third place for the class.