Hannon battles back and sails Plumbat to victory

THE mid-summer interlude in West Cork over for another year, racing is back to full swing along the coast and this weekend will be particularly hectic in Cork Harbour, with the Royal Cork holding its annual two-day At Home Regatta.

The RCYC last week held the third race of its HM Yachts August-September League with a 22-boat fleet having good close racing and lots of action on an in-harbour course with fresh breeze and glorious sunshine. There was fierce competition between Plumbat, Bedlam and Fast Buck in Echo and after many changes in the lead, Roy Hannon’s Plumbat fought back to win by 20 seconds from Pat Vaughan’s Bedlam. In IRC 1 there was no stopping Aidan McSweeney’s Felix while in IRC 2, Paul O’Shea continued his winning ways on Wicked.

The following day, the Crosshaven fleet raced its annual Naval Race, with the crew from the Waterman’s Next Senator picked up the Naval Artillery Trophy by winning overall in Echo. The RCYC Champagne Pursuit Race took part in strong breeze and blue skies, with Shauna O’Sullivan’s Ragtime winning from Aidan McSweeney’s Felix and the John and Fiona Murphy partnership on Fast Buck coming third.