Sovereign’s Cup 2027
23rd – 26th June 2027
Our Great Sponsors
Kinsale Yacht Club names Michael O’Sullivan and Anthony O’Leary for Sovereign’s Cup 2027
Kinsale Yacht Club has confirmed the dates for the 2027 Sovereign's Cup and named the team that will lead it. The regatta will be sailed from Wednesday June 23rd to Saturday 26th, June 2027, with Michael O'Sullivan returning as Race Director and Anthony O'Leary again taking charge of racing as Principal Race Officer. It will be the 17th running of an event first sailed in 1995. Michael was the Director of the 2025 regatta. Anthony has been on both sides of the fence at this event. He set the [...]
Sovereign’s Cup was the brainchild of Denis Kiely in the early 1990s. At the time the thought was that a regatta in the off year to Cork Week would make for a good event. Pat Pyne was also very much involved – as was another club stalwart John Godkin. The idea took hold however. Research was conducted and it was discovered that the ‘Sovereign of Kinsale’ used to put up a trophy for a sailing race in the late 1700s or early 1800s. It was felt appropriate that the proposed event would be named Sovereign’s Cup. Most people think it’s called after the Sovereign Rocks east of the harbour mouth, and why not? The original trophy being unavailable, or perhaps being a myth, resulted in a new one having to be found. Cork Dry Gin and Brown Thomas entered the breach and commissioned a special Waterford Glass “Sovereign’s Cup” for the inaugural event in 1995. Another trophy called the “Portcullis” was made at the same time to be presented to the winner under the CHS handicap the winner under the CHS handicap system which was gaining momentum. The Portcullis Trophy was based on the tradition of using a Portcullis in the KYC Burgee which celebrates the area’s history.
Sovereign’s Cup was the brainchild of Denis Kiely in the early 1990s. At the time the thought was that a regatta in the off year to Cork Week would make for a good event. Pat Pyne was also very much involved – as was another club stalwart John Godkin. The idea took hold however. Research was conducted and it was discovered that the ‘Sovereign of Kinsale’ used to put up a trophy for a sailing race in the late 1700s or early 1800s. It was felt appropriate that the proposed event would be named Sovereign’s Cup. Most people think it’s called after the Sovereign Rocks east of the harbour mouth, and why not? The original trophy being unavailable, or perhaps being a myth, resulted in a new one having to be found. Cork Dry Gin and Brown Thomas entered the breach and commissioned a special Waterford Glass “Sovereign’s Cup” for the inaugural event in 1995. Another trophy called the “Portcullis” was made at the same time to be presented to the winner under the CHS handicap the winner under the CHS handicap system which was gaining momentum. The Portcullis Trophy was based on the tradition of using a Portcullis in the KYC Burgee which celebrates the area’s history.
