MUNSTER SAILING - and the Royal Cork Yacht Club in particular - has been honoured by two awards schemes that recognise both sporting and organisational achievement.
The RCYC played host this week to the Irish Sailing Association's annual general meeting where the announcements were made to a packed clubhouse.
The annual Mitsubishi Motors Club of the Year award was presented to the RCYC for the third time in 18 years.
While the presentation was made in recognition of the club's running of the biennial Cork Week, it also recognised the various achievements of its sailors.
"The Royal Cork is a byword for the efficient staging of major events and for hospitality towards visiting sailors," said the chairman of the judging panel.
Meanwhile, the ISA's Neil Murphy also made his annual awards. He also included the RCYC, cited for `services to the sport of sailing' and its reputation as the most dynamic club in the country for the broad range of activities covered. These include its dinghy sailing development, the 1720 one-design, junior and senior sailing successes and of course, their organisation of Ford Cork Week.
Also included in the honours list were: Tom Roche for success in international competition on the Mumm 36 circuit and for being selected for the United States Admiral's Cup. Team this year.
The Irish Cruising Club was highlighted in the cruising area for their organisation of a 160-boat flotilla on the south coast last summer which contributed £650,000 to the various ports visited.
Sailmaker John McWilliam was honoured for his success in offshore sailing. Last year he won two important British regattas as well as a second place at the big event in his home waters in July, each time in a different boat.
Laura Dillon took the Irish youth sailor award for the second year running for her bronze medal at the Youth. Worlds and for the first female win of the ISA Church & General Helmsman Championship.
And as the recipients of both awards schemes celebrated late into Saturday night, a young Cork sailor was approaching the Lizard point off Cornwall with his 15 crewmates after a history making transatlantic crossing.
Justin Slattery (26) from Fermoy was sailing with Ludde Ingvall on the maxi yacht Nicorette.
The American schooner Atlantic's 92-year-old record of 12 days, four hours and one minute for the crossing from New York was their target and they managed to improve this by 14 hours, 38 minutes and 50 seconds to set a new world monohull sailing record. The voyage took them into iceberg country where they experienced 50 knot plus winds and a record-threatening torn mainsail.
