Summer Afloat 2016

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE afloatmagazine

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US Printed and published in Ireland by: Baily Publications Ltd., PO Box 12561 Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland. t: +353 (1) 284 6161 e: info@afloat.ie w: www.afloat.ie Distributed by: N. Ireland – WNS/ Menzies/Easons. R of Ireland – Newspread/ Easons and Newsbros.

Scotland/Wales – Menzies. Isle of Man – G.E. White Produced by sailors for sailors Managing Editor David O’Brien david@afloat.ie) Contributing Editor William Nixon Sub-editor Willie Pembroke Design Colin McEndoo: (colin@afloat.ie) Contributors Jehan Ashmore • Bob and Claire Bateman • David Branigan • Georgina Campbell • Des Burke-Kennedy • Dag Pike • Gill Mills • Fiacc O Brolchain • Markham Nolan • Elaine Taylor • Bob Hobby • Dermot Russell • Tom MacSweeney • Shay Fennelly • Graham Smith • Tony Jones • Simon Everett

Contents 6 Irish Sailing Association News

Sailing's busy season and 'bright future' is outlined by President David Lovegrove

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News

New Irish Cruising Club directions, Legal challenge against Carlingford Ferry, Scottish economy benefits

from marine tourism billions, Burglary at Lahinch surfing school, €1m repair works to piers in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Irish National Sailing School expands fleet at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Western Marine of Dalkey relocates after 48 years at Bulloch Harbour, Sligo Bay RNLI’s new Inshore Atlantic 85 Lifeboat named and lots more

20 Dubarry Nautical Crossword

A nautical crossword with a great boating prize of Dubarry deck shoes

22

Inland Waters News

Summer 2016 24 Racing Round up

Winter wins in the Caribbean for Fogerty and O'Coineen, team racing heads west plus all the dinghy racing news for the summer season ahead

30

Volvo Cork Week

Home victories at Crosshaven

32 ICRA Nationals Swings and Roundabouts in Howth

36

Volvo Round Ireland

A race of four coasts, four fleets and four seasons

43 Brokerage Services Boats for sale and marine services

48 Soundings

Royal Cork's eternal youth

A new buoy system on Lough Erne

Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher.

Advertisements designed

by Baily Publications Ltd to appear in Afloat magazine are protected

by Irish copyright law.

Copyright Baily Publications Ltd. 2016

Cover: SB20 winners of the Royal Irish Regatta Justin Burke, Henrik Olerud & Ed Cook of the National Yacht Club. Photo: David O'Brien This page: Superyacht Grace E made quite an impact at Kinsale Yacht Club Marina in early July.

NEXT ISSUE Autumn Afloat PUBLISHED: Mid October COPY DEADLINE: Last week of September

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

The future of sailing is bright In one of our quarterly reviews, ISA President David Lovegrove shares his views on the incredible “spring” into 2016 and the effect Try Sailing is having on participation A key goal of the ISA is to attract more people into sailing. The “Try Sailing” initiative which was launched in late 2015 is a fundamental part of the ISA’s programme to encourage more people to get involved in sailing and I am very pleased to report that it has been embraced by Clubs and Centres all around the country.

Try Sailing is exactly what it says. It provides opportunities to get out on the water and experience sailing for yourself, and 2016 has seen a fantastic increase, with 80% of clubs organising open days and taster sessions aimed to make sailing more accessible to newcomers.

Along with these open days, there are schools programmes, support from Local Sport Partnerships, “Women on the Water” programmes and numerous new initiatives nationwide.

One new programme to give new Try Sailors the chance to enter a high adrenalin event and try cruiser racing, is the new initiative of the ISA Try Sailing Invitational Challenge which ran during Volvo Cork Week with Royal Cork Yacht Club using 1720s.

There is no better ambassador for sailing than a sailor. So next time you go out on the water, invite a friend, relation or neighbour to get on board and “Try Sailing”. Just imagine if every one of us converted one person to becoming a sailor this year!

All of this activity takes place against the backdrop of this being an Olympic year and

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the profile of our elite sailors performing in Rio will give our sport added impetus over the summer months and will act as a beacon, particularly for young people.

We have a very exciting team representing Ireland and competing in five disciplines including John Twomey, Ian Costello and Austin O’Carroll in the Sonar class at the Paralympics. This will be John’s 11th Paralympic appearance and we are honoured that he has been selected as the Paralympic flag bearer during the opening ceremony.

Annalise Murphy gave an incredible performance in Weymouth in 2012 and will be representing Ireland in the Women’s Laser Radial fleet again this year. Men’s skiff sailors Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern will be in the 49er fleet, their second Olympic campaign, and they will be looking to push past their 14th place achieved in Olympics 2012, especially considering their recent great results. First timers to Olympic games performance are the impressive duo Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey with the 49erFX and, of course, the youngest helm to represent Ireland, Finn Lynch at 20 years old, will be sailing in the Laser Standard Men’s fleet. It is marvellous to have such a balance of gender and experience representing Ireland this year. Their hard work and dedication over these past four years to gain qualification for Rio is an inspiration. 66% of this team are graduates from the ISA Academy programme, which continues to help our young sailors improve their

Team For Rio(L-R) Matt McGovern (49er), Annalise Murphy (Laser Radial), Saskia Tidey (49erFX), Finn Lynch (Laser Standard) and Ryan Seaton (49er) Photo: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

performance sailing skills.

So, I hope you will all join me in getting behind our sailors and giving them your full support as they enter the lions’ den. On behalf of the ISA, I wish them every success – go Ireland.

Racing and “Crewpoint” (promoted to help bring skippers and crew together nationally) and new crew opportunities made available through Try Sailing Try Crewing, should all help to rejuvenate this sector.

Is it all this inspirational activity, favourable sunshine or a change in the world economy that has so many sailors coming out of hibernation this spring and travelling to events? The Volvo Round Ireland Race had a huge increase in boats entering this year, as well as a selection of truly impressive vessels. I was particularly delighted to see a number of Irish Cruising Schools enter the event, introducing novice sailors to offshore racing.

If all this talk of racing on our horizon has you exhausted then the ISA has a new coastal cruising routes guide to help you decide where to escape for a leisurely sail. This guide will give ideas on where you may like to anchor up, fill up or venture ashore, all given by local experienced sailors and edited by Norman Kean of the Cruising Policy Group.

Cruising sailors will also be pleased to hear there are plans afoot to bring a Cruising Conference to Cork in early 2017.

The ISA recently renewed its long–standing agreement with the Irish Cruiser Racing Association and agreed a plan to support one another in a campaign to develop Cruiser Racing in Ireland.

ECHO and IRC handicap fees are being reinvested into the development of Cruiser

We are entering a very exciting period for Irish sailing and we can look forward to a very positive summer of competitive and leisure sailing. Enjoy the sailing, and hopefully the weather, and I’ll catch up with you all again shortly.

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE The race is on to recover Round Ireland record breaker MusandamOman Sail Photo: Afloat.ie

Musandam-Oman Sail capsize At press time there was no explanation of why Musandam-Oman Sail capsized off Newfoundland while racing the Transat Quebec-St Malo on Sunday 17 July.

Ireland’s Damian Foxall joined the team tasked with recovering the Round Ireland record-breaking MOD70 trimaran, whose crew were transferred safely to shore after the incident.

Kinsale couple rounds world Paraic O'Maolriada and Myra Reid returned to their home port Kinsale on 16 July after an epic six-year voyage around the world. The trip wasn't without its wild moments - such as a Force 9 storm just days after setting off - but Myra says the best part "was being home".

Big Boats on tour More than 15 heritage barges – the Big Boats – toured the Shannon Blueway, Lough Allen and the North Shannon from Saturday 23 July till Saturday 6 August, retracing the old coal route from the Arigna mines along the Lough Allen Canal, with stops for festivities in Drumshanbo and Leitrim village.

NEWSINBRIEF Humpback whale breaches Whale watchers in Cork and Kerry were treated to the sight of humpback whales breaching in spectacular fashion in early June. The marine giants were sighted in two separate spots on 4 June, off Baltimore in West Cork and Fenit in Co Kerry - kicking off a new summer cetacean-spotting season.

Coastguard chopper record Two call–outs on St Stephen's Day brought the Irish Coast Guard's annual helicopter mission total to the 1,000 mark for the first time since the service began in 1991. Sligo's Rescue 118 airlifted a young boy with leg injuries, while Shannon's Rescue 115 flew an Aran Islands pregnancy medevac.

Divers challenge dumping Divers’ groups are seeking judicial review over an EPA licence for dredge spoil dumping in Dublin Bay awarded two years before a Special Area of Conservation was declared between Rockabill to Dalkey Island.

The Irish Underwater Council opposes Dublin Port's plans to dredge shipping lanes under the original permit.

New bass bag limit Pending new legislation based on EU rules for recreational bass fishing, Inland Fisheries Ireland restricted such fishing to catch-and-release till 30 June, after which a onefish bag limit will apply till year's end. It forms part of emergency measures intended to address declining bass stocks across northern Europe.

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWSINBRIEF

The Phoenix departing Drogheda Photo: Matthew Byrne

New cruising directions The 14th edition of the ICC’s Sailing Directions for the South & West Coasts is now available, with new additions including Achill Island and Belmullet. No serious cruiser sets out without this tried and trusted guide, first compiled

by Harry Donegan in 1930.

Buy from the Afloat shop: tinyurl.com/saildir

Carlingford ferry challenged Carlingford Lough car ferry proposals face legal opposition from campaigners who argue a new terminal would spoil the area's natural beauty. Activists lodged papers in Belfast High Court in March requesting a judicial review of the project green-lit last year, citing claims that permission for pontoon piledriving was improperly given.

Drogheda hails maritime Huge numbers thronged the Irish Maritime Festival in Drogheda Port this July for events as varied as the Boyne Swim and battles between pantomime pirates and vikings. But the tall ships stole the show, from the popular Customs Cutters to the wildlife research yacht Celtic Mist and star visitor The Phoenix.

A five star cruise ship as a flotel such as the SunBorn flotel in Canary Wharf, London (above) is envisaged for Dun Laoghaire Photo: Sunborn

Scotland's marine boon Marine tourism is worth €4.7bn annually to Scotland's economy, according to a recent survey that also shows over a third of that spend is on water-based activities from sailing to angling to wildlife watching. Businesses in the sector said they were optimistic about growth over the next five years.

Ireland 'not maritime' Ireland is an island nation, but not yet a maritime nation – that was the message from Capt James Robinson, formerly of the Naval Service, as he opened the Irish Maritime Forum's conference at Ringaskiddy on 2 April. The one-day conference examined the influence of sea power on the 1916 rebellion.

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'Flotel' for DL? Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is seeking expressions of interest to operate a five-star cruise liner or equivalent as a floating hotel or 'flotel' in the South Dublin harbour, along the lines of the SunBorn in London's Canary Wharf or Amsterdam's Botel, in the absence of the now-shuttered Stena ferry.

Foyle Clipper festival Foyleside was in festive mode with the arrival of the Clipper Round the World fleet in mid July - among them the home entry Derry~Londonderry~Doire, which was in the frame for a podium place for the next leg to Den Helder in the Netherlands before the final sprint to London.

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

IN BRIEF NEWS Three Irish Ships Sail In Company Waterford Sail Training Bursary Scheme underway The Waterford Sail Training Tall Ship Bursary Scheme is currently in full flow under the overall administration of Sail Training Ireland, with seventeen young people, including fourteen from Waterford, sailing into the Port of Waterford on Friday July 29th, some of them aboard local vessel Brian Ború (the only gaff-rigged Sail Training Vessel in Ireland) skippered by local Tall Ship Captain Liam Keating. The Naval Yacht Creidne will also be there on her first voyage for non-naval trainees since 2009/2010, while the Naval Yacht Tailte sailed in company with the other two, her crew including five young Naval Reservists (four from Waterford) skippered by Waterford Councillor Eddie Mulligan.

In all, a total of 22 young people have been on the three vessels for the six day voyage from Cork to Waterford.

DL Harbour transfer

The Brian Boru, Creidne and Tailte will sailing together into Waterford for ceremonies marking the successful Waterford Sail Training Bursary Scheme

Fair winds and spinnaker set for trainees aboard Creidne

Transport Minister Shane Ross has confirmed that operation of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is still designated for transfer to Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council, though questions over its "ownership and future model" remain. Minister Ross said the "ongoing challenge for the port ... may even involve the sale of some non-strategic assets."

Double award for Wicklow RNLI Two members of Wicklow Lifeboat Station have received awards from the RNLI in recognition of their dedication and service over the years.

Des Davitt and Dave O'Leary received awards from the RNLI in recognition of their service over the years

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWSINBRIEF Clipper wants skippers The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is seeking 12 skippers to lead its crews for the 2017-18 edition.

Applicants will need an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate and 30,000 miles offshore experience on big boats, as well as excellent leadership skills. As race winner Eric Holden says, "full dedication" is required.

Chopper profits rocket Profits at CHC Ireland, the company contracted to provide the Irish Coast Guard's helicopter rescue service, are nearly eight times greater than in 2014.

The firm's latest accounts show that turnover jumped by 24% to €52m in the tax year ending April 2015, for a profit of €3.4m.

Surf school burglary Lahinch Surf Experience appealed to the public after various items were stolen from a van outside its premises in late March.

Forty pairs of Alder Edge boots and 10 O'Neill wetsuits were taken in the burglary. Anyone offered these items for sale should contact them or Ennistymon Garda Station.

DL harbour repairs Repair works costing €1m began at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in April. The works, which were expected to have minimal impact for pier walkers, involve repair of storm damage to the East Pier and maintenance of the small cruise ship berth at Carlisle Pier, from where only small cruise ships can berth.

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This Island Nation by Tom MacSweeney

Searching for the Rankin dinghy A gunboat, a revered Cork Harbour dinghy and a renowned Cobh boat-building family are connected through the name ‘Helga,’ which this season will again sail the harbour’s waters The revival of the Rankin Dinghy Fleet is a story embracing the name of the Royal Navy’s gunboat which fired on Liberty Hall in Dublin during the Easter Rising in 1916.

The gunboat ‘Helga’ followed that action when supporting British Forces against the IRA in the War of Independence. In a change of sides, she was acquired by the emergent Irish Free State Government, to be then used against anti-Treaty Forces in the Civil War and later become the Irish State’s first fisheries protection vessel.

It is a legendary part of Irish maritime history and, uniquely, David Rankin who lived with his wife in Cobh on the edge of Cork Harbour, crewed on it under both administrations. One of their sons, Eric, went to England where he became a skilled woodworker with Fairey Marine on the Hamble building boats. He returned to Cobh and built what are regarded as the legendary Rankin dinghies. He named the first of those ‘Helga,’ which was sailed around Cork Harbour. His brother, David, worked with him and the Rankins became so popular that a fleet of them raced in the harbour, starting from the Town Slip in Cobh on Wednesday nights.

As has happened with other dinghy fleets, interest declined, though some enthusiasts maintained their boats. The Rankin Dinghy Group has revived the fleet and recovered the original ‘Helga’ dinghy.

Maurice Kidney is one of the revival leaders: “Helga was one of three prototype carvelconstructed boats designed and built by Eric Rankin. Also working with him in the late 1950s was Eddie Twomey. The moulded clinker-type boat that became the much admired Rankin Dinghy was a development from these boats. There is great satisfaction that the Rankin ‘Helga,’ is returning to Cork Harbour to re-join the revived and growing Rankin Dinghy Class.”

The boat was discovered in Kinsale and bought by Eoin and Eithne O'Connell.

Eithne is a daughter of Eddie Twomey.

Courtesy of Mary Kidney, photograph shows

Helga, Maurice Kidney, Mick Brennan, Eamon Twomey, Eithne O'Connell and Colm O'Connell

MickBrennan of Kinsale handing over ‘Helga’ to Eamon Twomey of Cobh, son of builder Eddie, with Eithne and Colm O’Connell and Maurice Kidney. ‘Helga’ was Eric Rankin’s boat and Eddie Twomey’s Rankin was called ‘Fiona.’

A meeting of Rankin enthusiasts in Cobh identified up to 33 boats as having been built.

“There could be many more,” according to Conor English who, with Maurice Kidney, is the combined driving force of the revival.

Other uses for Rankins have been identified in addition to sailing, where they and derivatives were used as tenders and for fishing.

“The search goes on to locate as many of them as possible,” says Conor. “The response has been very encouraging and we have heard of Rankins in several parts of the country.”

The ‘Rankin Dinghy Class’ has been set up on Facebook to promote the revival and will list events scheduled this season. Anybody with information on the whereabouts of Rankins in any condition is asked to contact Maurice Kidney on phone 086 3225424 or Conor English phone 086 3531122.

They will be taking part in Cove Sailing Club’s At Home and in the Cobh Regatta in August.

Listen to more about the Rankin dinghy with Tom MacSweeney on the podcast here: http://goo.gl/zLKcb7

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWSINBRIEF New shipwreck finds Two shipwrecks have been discovered in Connemara in areas known for smugglers in centuries past. The remains of an 18thcentury vessel were found at Cuan Chaisín, while a 19th-century wreck was located inshore from the Spanish Armada's Falco Blanco Mediano near the birthplace of notorious smuggler George O'Malley.

Sligo lifeboat named Sligo Bay RNLI held a special ceremony in April to officially name its new Atlantic 85 lifeboat in honour of Sheila & Dennis Tongue. The Devon-viaBirmingham couple left a generous legacy to the lifesaving charity as an appreciation for their local lifeboat crew's work in Exmouth.

DAILY ENEWS All that remained of the much-loved and superbly-restored 26ft Pegasus at Rinville in Galway Bay Photo: Gearoid Walsh

Classic boat explodes Two years of work were lost after an attempt to boil a kettle led to a gas explosion aboard the restored South Coast One–Design Pegasus at the Galway Bay Sailing Club moorings on 9 April. One of the two sailors on board was hospitalised for burns but his injuries were not serious.

Rosslare salutes lifeboatman Rosslare RNLI crew and supporters gathered to wish Tony Kehoe a happy retirement. Kehoe spent 42 years volunteering with the RNLI as well as working as a fleet mechanic for a decade.

"Back when I first joined, there was one set of kit for the crew," he recalled at a reception in his honour.

Lifeboat for Youghal Youghal RNLI's new Atlantic 85 lifeboat is now on service after the East Cork station took delivery of the vessel on 11 April. The boat was funded by a legacy from the late Gwenda Bull from Brighton, and named Gordon and Phil in honour of her parents.

Maritime law courses

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Belfast's Royal visit Longtime cruising enthusiast Princess Anne was an honoured guest this April at the Royal Ulster YC, which along with Carrickfergus SC is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The Princess Royal was presented with a copy of 19th-century nautical account Letters from High Latitudes by Lord Dufferin, whose family seat is Clandeboye near Bangor.

Brothers' rowing gold Paul and Gary O’Donovan took gold for Ireland at the European Rowing Championships in Brandenburg.

Germany on 8 May. The brothers executed the perfect plan in the final of the lightweight double sculls, fending off the challenge of Germany and favourites Norway, who had to settle for bronze.

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UCC's School of Law has launched new Master's programmes in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and in Marine and Maritime Law. The new degrees reflect ongoing research carried within UCC and key partners including the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC).

RUYC Historian Ed Wheeler with his wife Jan in a lighter moment with the Royal visitor

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWS

IN IN BRIEF BRIEF

Michael Creed TD

Galway wind turbines The Marine Institute hopes to install three wind turbines in Galway Bay for an offshore renewable energy trial. The turbines, with a maximum height of 35m, would be installed at intervals times at the ocean energy test site off Spiddal, along with a prototype offshore power station over 37 hectares.

Western Marine relocates After 48 years at Bulloch Harbour, Western Marine closed its waterfront showroom in April before relocating to a new premises.

The Dalkey-based chandlery is celebrating 50 years in business this year, and MD Hogan Magee confirms the showroom will "not be moving very far".

New marine minister Michael Creed has succeeded Simon Coveney as Marine Minister as of this past May. The Cork TD and Macroom native also takes on agriculture and food as part of his ministerial portfolio.

Meanwhile, Naval Service matters have passed from Housing Minister Coveney to new Defence Minister and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Ian Venner

Sailing school expands The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School has expanded its staff and fleet in anticipation of a busy summer season. New acquisitions include sit-on and double kayaks and a range of dinghies across the Laser, Topper, Topaz and Optimist classes, as well as three rescue boats and a 6.5m RIB.

Port spoil concerns Dublin Bay divers have called for the withdrawal of Dublin Port's permit to dump 'dredge spoil' off the Burford Bank, which lies within the Bay's Special Area of Conservation. The Irish Underwater Council said the EPA permit was issued before designation of the SAC from Rockabill to Dalkey Island.

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Claire Bateman The death recently of Claire Bateman of Cork has deprived the world of Irish sailing and her own community of one of the kindest, most decent, obliging and quietly yet infectiously enthusiastic people, someone who put far more into our sport and the world of boats than she took from it.

evocative photography. They were a marvellous team, and Claire’s generosity of spirit in giving freely of her time and talents way over and above any call of duty did much to tell the broader world what was going on in Cork sailing, thereby contributing greatly to the expansion of boating in all its forms.

Boats and the people around them were one of Claire Bateman’s great personal interests and pleasures, and her many contributions to Afloat.ie were always inspiring to receive. Yet somehow she also found the time to be a whole-hearted WINTER VALET wife, mother, grandmother, SERVICE and partnership supporter 01 280Robert 4286 in his of herTel: husband uniquely dedicated and gifted Email: sails@downersails.ie www.downersails.ie approach to photography of all kinds, particularly on the water.

The unique joint giving of their talents for the greater good of sailing saw Robert and Claire Bateman being made Honorary Members of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, a tangible and very well-earned recognition of the extremely high regard in which they have been held by the sailing community for many years.

SAILS

Claire gallantly took on the task of providing the words to go with the pictures, and became so adept at recording the Cork Harbour scene afloat that her narratives became every bit as important as Robert’s

SAILS AND

Crosshaven helm joins RNLI council Crosshaven RNLI confirms that crew helm Ian Venner has been appointed to the RNLI Council for Ireland as one of its 15 members.

Venner, an accountant by profession and a keen powerboater, has been a member of the crew since the Cork Harbour lifeboat station was re-established in 2000.

CHANDLERY The late Claire Bateman with Commandant CroftonIan Avenue Travers fromLaoghaire Kinsale Dun in March at the launch Co. Dublin of Volvo Cork Week 01LE 280 4286 2016 Tel: aboard Roisin in Cork Harbour. This was onesails@downersails.ie of Claire’s Email: last assignments for Afloat.ie Photo: Robert Bateman

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWSINBRIEF SAR mission milestone The Irish Coast Guard has reached the significant milestone of 10,000 flight hours from more than 3,100 missions across its fleet of Sikorsky S92 search and rescue helicopters stationed at Sligo, Waterford, Shannon and Dublin. State-of-the-art upgrades such as auto-hover have also led to improved safety.

Dry dock closes Dublin Graving Docks Ltd has closed with the loss of 26 jobs as Dublin Port plans to infill the site as part of its Alexandra Basin redevelopment. What was Ireland's largest dry dock had its last customer in the 90m cargo shop Arklow Fame, which sailed out on 27 April.

The Cot is finished. Some of the building team, from left to right – Tommy McMahon, Rowing Club Belturbet – Seamus Connelly, Cavan Men’s Shed – Jonny Brown, Cavan Men’s Shed – Kevin Brady, Cavan Men’s Shed – George Morrissey, Belturbet Community Association, Historian, Author and member of Lough Erne Heritage – Bert Robinson, member of Lough Erne Heritage – Michael Lee, Cavan Men’s Shed – Fred Ternan, Lough Erne Heritage. Photo: Lough Erne Heritage

Erne's maritime heritage A community effort to preserve Fermanagh's long-standing boatbuilding tradition has seen the construction of two Lough Erne Cots, with an aim to reviving the Victorian-era cot races on the lough. The next step for Lough Erne Heritage is to connect with historical boatbuilding groups across Ireland.

Killybegs harbour works

Galway blocks slipway Galway Harbour Company has blocked open access to a slipway in Galway Docks weeks after the Buncrana tragedy in which five members of the same family died when their car slipped into Lough Swilly. Local users have slammed the move to restricted appointment-only opening for being made without consultation.

Breaking News Daily Irish boating news on www. afloat.ie

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A jack-up barge is part of the marine plant equipment used to complete works at the Small Craft Harbour at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre

Marine piling is expected to be completed by late July in Killybegs in the third phase of works on the small craft harbour. Steel tubular piles and floating breakwater pontoons are being installed and integrated with the previous two phases of pontoon works

by ABCO Marine at the fishery harbour centre.

Sailing instructor Kenny Rumball of INSS

Racing hurts sailing?

"A fine balance between competition and enjoyment" makes sailing fun, but "focussing too much on competition can be a barrier" says Kenny Rumball of the Irish National Sailing School on the contrast between his courses and those offered by the ISA. More on Tom McSweeney's This Island Nation podcast at tinyurl.com/sailtrain

NEWSINBRIEF Irish classics awarded

Greystones Sailing Club Commodore David Nixon (centre), Vice Commodore Daragh Cafferky, Minister Simon Harris TD and Councillor Derek Mitchell at June's official clubhouse opening Photo: Alan Leddy

Greystones opening rally Greystones Sailing Club saw the opening of its new harbourside clubhouse on Friday 13 May ahead of its hosting of the Cruising Association of Ireland AGM and start-ofseason rally. The official ribbon cutting of the multi-function premises took place more recently on Sunday 19 June.

Buoyancy aids rules

Mermaid gets makeover The beginning of a beautiful friendship – top men Chris Moore of Dublin Bay SC (left) and Philip Sherry of Sherry Fitzgerald at yesterday’s launch of the new sponsorship. Photo: Brendan Fogarty

Sherry Fitz supports DBSC Sherry FitzGerald estate agents signed on as title sponsor of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club for a three-year-deal ahead of the 2016 summer season that started in late April. The first week of sailing also saw the debut of the new Mixed Sportsboat class with the Green Fleet.

Water Wag cover story Leading French maritime heritage publication Chasse–Marée featured Dublin Water Wag sailor and builder Cathy MacAleavey with new Roscommon build Wag No 45 on the front cover of its May issue. The magazine detailed the history of the world's first dinghy and its Irish origins in a feature-length article.

Le premier monotype - Cathy makes the cover of influential French Mag Chasse Maree

Classic yachts and traditional boats with close Irish links figured prominently among the prizewinners at April's International Classic Boat Awards in London. Tern, a 37ft Belfast Lough OneDesign, was runner-up for Restoration of the Year, while Crookhaven project Kioni won the Spirit of Tradition award for yachts under 40ft.

The Dublin Bay Mermaids unveiled their new class logo in May after a busy period of overhauling their image, with a new website and social media set-up in the works. This is the first time the class has had an official logo, which has been warmly received by members.

Boat owners, masters and users have been reminded of the legal requirements in relation to the wearing and carrying of lifejackets and buoyancy aids, the penalties arising from non-compliance, as well as advice on the selection and maintenance of personal flotation devices, or PFDs. Full details at tinyurl.com/ lifepfd

Dunmore East pontoon A new 60m visitor's pontoon has been installed in Dunmore East, northwest of the old lighthouse.

Scheduled to open on 1 July, the new facility is of the same high standard as the new small fishing craft pontoon, with dedicated disabled access among its features, recently completed in Howth.

70 years of 14s IDRA 14 sailors at Clontarf, Sutton and the DBSC are joining in activities on and off the water to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the class in 2016. The birthday season events culminate with a gala dinner this autumn at Royal St George YC, which hosted the first IDRA 14 race.

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWS

IN BRIEF

John Ryan chopped six hours off the established Round Ireland powerboat record time

Maybird's May Day mayday Blame a faulty seal on a bleed screw that led to engine troubles on the recently restored 43ft ketch Maybird.

It necessitated a Mayday call on May Day to the local RNLI in Arklow ahead of the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race, where she finished among the retirees in the cruiser class.

Powerboat record smashed

Team Hibernia has smashed the round-Ireland powerboat record, taking six hours off the 2009 time with their 13h54m24s high-speed voyage.

Were it not for fog and a patch of bad weather, skipper John Ryan believes he could have shaved a further 45 minutes off the seven-year record.

Cork hosts yacht giant Cork Harbour welcomed the world’s largest privately owned yacht in mid–May. Owned by US media executive Barry Diller, the Eos is a 94m three-masted Bermuda rigged schooner named after the ancient Greek goddess of the dawn. Not far behind her was the 55m Perini Navi superyacht Galileo G.

Watchdog eyes trawlers More than 2,745 trawler inspections were carried out in 2015, with 10 vessels detained by the Naval Service for breaching rules, according to the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The low level of non-compliance "reflects the genuine effort" by many fishermen to comply with new regulations, said SFPA chair Susan Steele.

Dredge plans info needed The EPA has requested more details as it assesses Dublin Port's plans to dump 10m tonnes of "seabed material" in the Irish Sea off Howth as part of its channel dredging to ready for next-generation cruise liner traffic. Some 700 submissions have been made, most in opposition to the plans.

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One wild ride

With the sun out, and the tide in, Youghal looks to be an ideal location for the easy installation of a marina….Photo: W M Nixon

After 36 days at sea, Gary 'Ted' Sargent passed his final headland at Baltimore on 24 June to near the end of his 'One Wild Ride' solo voyage clockwise around Ireland. The Dublin singlehanded Laser sailor set off from Schull on 14 May to raise funds for Childvision.

Gary Sargent back In Schull after rounding Ireland on a Laser dinghy. Photo: Tom MacSweeney

Stay safe afloat Vessel operator error is the greatest cause of incidents on the water, accounting for over half of claims according to insurers Allianz. The good news is many incidents are potentially avoidable, by carefully planning all voyages, carrying approved safety equipment and knowing your boat - that goes for the crew, too

Drogheda welcomes cruisers The Irish Cruising Club Rally to Drogheda was the first in 41 years

Drogheda Port Company welcomed the Irish Cruising Club Rally to Boyneside for the first time in 41 years over the June bank holiday weekend.

The club's contingent of 17 yachts and 60 visitors arrived from all parts of Ireland, with the captain of each vessel gifted a specially designed port emblem burgee.

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

NEWSINBRIEF IMOCA 60 abandoned Enda O'Coineen – solo round the world

Enda for the Vendée Sailing veteran Enda O'Coineen will skipper Ireland's first singlehanded non–stop roundthe-world race entry this November. The 60-yearold Galway Bay and RIYC sailor will enter the Vendée Globe in the same IMOCA 60 monohull he raced to third place in a transatlantic qualifier last winter.

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Venture Cup trials in Cork Harbour

Venture Cup cancelled Organisers cited 'acute cash-flow problems' for the cancellation of the much-hyped Venture Cup round-Ireland powerboat race just 25 days before its scheduled start. Refunds were being issued to the 25 international teams lined up for what was billed as the 'world’s longest, toughest and most prestigious powerboat race'.

Dalkey 'rock' surprise After a bumpy season for some DBSC sailors in Muglins Sound, the mysterious appearance of a new rock off Dalkey Island was a cause for concern in early May. But not to worry, as the outcrop was merely a fibreglass replica deployed by a film crew from nearby Coliemore Harbour.

A yacht abandoned in May's Transat Bakerly may yet end up in Irish waters after her skipper was rescued by a passing container ship.

Richard Tolkein has since withdrawn from November's Vendée Globe after being forced to abandon his yacht 44, last spotted in early June near the Azores with severe damage.

Cruiser racing support The ICRA and the ISA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the two associations to work closely together on cruiser racing efforts. Initiatives such as the ICRA's crew training 'Crewpoint' resource will be developed further to give crew and boats an easier path to matching up race opportunities.

Bray strategic plan

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The new Dublin Bay 'rock' pictured off Dalkey

Moves are being made to boost Bray Harbour to the level of nearby Greystones and others in Co Wicklow though locals caution that a lasting solution to serious silting issues, promised as part of a new strategic plan for the county's closest harbour to Dublin, is a long way from happening.

Dublin lifeboat honours Five lifeboat volunteers from Howth and Skerries in North Dublin were recognised with Gold Badges at the RNLI's Annual Presentation of Awards recently. Among them was the late Rosemary O'Neil, a fundraiser for Howth RNLI, who died just days before the ceremony at Dublin's Guinness Storehouse on 17 June.

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

WIN A PAIR OF DUBES!...

Win a pair of Dubarry Commodore X LT or Sailmaker X LT deck shoes in our Nautical Crossword 1

Swim dangers near boating traffic

Open water swim dangers Open water swimmers should be aware of the dangers inherent in training around boating traffic. Waterways Ireland reminds that a swimmer wearing hi-viz headgear will always be a small target to see from a boat, particularly if the surface is choppy or visibility is affected, such as by glare from the water

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Afloat magazine in association with Dubarry brings you a nautical crossword. Complete the crossword, cut it out and send it to Dubarry/Afloat crossword, PO Box 12561, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Entries to be received no later than Friday 23rd September 2016 and entries must be on official entry form (below). The first correct entry out of the hat will receive a pair of Dubarry shoes.

Irish Jeanneau dealer MGM Boats has announced details of the marque's latest yacht, the Jeanneau 51. Intended as an entry cross–over from the regular Sun Odyssey line, the new Jeanneau 51 design draws on the popular 54 model with announced in June a large cockpit and luxurious interior in its master and VIP cabins.

Dolan seeks sponsor for new campaign

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Tom Dolan could be the first Irishman to podium in the Championnat de France. After a mediocre 2015, the Meath sailor has chalked up victories in the Atlantic mini-circuit to climb the rankings, and aims for the front in the Les Sables-Azores race to build his case for the 2017 Mini Transat.

Employees, relatives and friends of Baily Publications and Dubarry are ineligible for this competition.

Across 1. Bread skims around as one leaves the ship. (10) 6. Skidded to find the Pole some cover. (4) 10. Pick-me-up made by the Tin Co. (5) 11. Sail here and make the Corrib County howl. (6,3) 12. Will one hear hostile noises from the small iceberg? (7) 15. Echelon for an egg producer? (5) 17. The Spanish bachelor kept Napoleon here. (4) 18. Amphibians - exceptionally fine tasting, suitable for starters. (4) 19. Some coffee from Mayo? Tea? (5) 21. Playthings bound for where they will be sold. (7) 23. Right - is Kerry potentially dangerous? (5) 24. It is verifiable that a hundred left the cease-fire. (4) 25. Ache to see Father at home. (4) 26. When waterlogged, the article was Hydrogen. (5) 28. A prize can waste away. (7) 33. Such tact, taking a scroll to the outskirts of the city! (9) 34. Mooted a dire development. (5) 35. Part of the bottle that helps you keep your head? (4) 36. Philanthropic version of a noble event. (10) Name

Tel No’s.:

The winner of our Spring Issue Crossword is:

Donal Walsh of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Down 1. Fruit found in the calendar. (4) 2. Assertion literally upset such Spanish ladies. (9) 3. With a coat, a cardinal gets the bird. (5) 4. Some turn to fish for sport. (5) 5. Seaweed encountered in snorkel production. (4) 7. How to get a tennis shot by the foyer. (5) 8. A dead merry mixture for one whose mind is elsewhere. (10) 9. Note, plasma mixture can be a source of illumination. (3,4) 13. Company symbol depicting a ship's diary with love. (4) 14. Somehow, one retains a Greek drink. (7) 16. Is a green beard needed to avail of an open-air pub facility? (4,6) 20. This draught animal may scatter the orchestra. (9) 21. Will Tony hop about when he gets the wind up? (7) 22. Above, five hundred leave a Channel port. (4) 27. At heart, one has picked jelly. (5) 29. Herb has identified a pair of pronouns. (5) 30. Some protagonists may been seen here in New Zealand. (5) 31. Dublin theatre with five bars? (4) 32. Prepare to publish a new diet. (4)

Address

Shoe size:

Gordius / Afloat No. 165 Spring Solution Across 1. Venus flytrap 7. I do 9. Wept 10. Rodent 11. Cava 14. Began 15.

Locks 16. Hate 18. Argot 21. Terse 22. Horde 23. Radar 24. Elbe 25. Chalk 26.

Dryad 29. Icon 33. Mother 34. Poll 36. Peg 37. Air-sea rescue Down 1. Vie 2.

Nuts 3. Sure 4. Ledge 5. Tanya 6. Pita 8. On an even keel 9. Will o’ the wisp 12. Scarab 13. Aster 14. Bland 17. Airman 19. Gored 20. Thick 27. Roots 28.

Athea 30. Olga 31. Erie 32. Epic 35. Lee

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

New craft launch season A range of power and sailcraft displayed

by MGM Boats at Dun Laoghaire marina

Dun Laoghaire Marina, MGM Boats and Frank Keane BMW teamed up to celebrate the start of the 2016 boating season in mid–May. The showcase of some of the capital's 'finest' boats and cars included a range of new and used boats like the impressive Lagoon catamaran and Jeanneau power craft.

Officials rap lobstermen Reports of propellers entangled in the ropes of marker buoys for shellfish pots has prompted an advisory to lobstermen and other pot fishers to be mindful of 'other users of the sea'.

Among concerns are that unsuitable floats are being used that offer poor visibility or

Angler Graham Smith took more than three hours to land the shark. See video below.RTE/ Facebook

Kayaker catches shark An angling kayaker captured on camera his 'epic tussle' to catch and release a shark off Malin Head on 18 June.

Graham Smith battled for more than three hours to land the 136kg porbeagle shark, a species that typically reaches 2.5m and went 'above and beyond' any he caught before.

could be mistaken for floating debris.

Mariners who spot any Marker Buoys/ Ropes (or any other object) in the water deemed to represent a danger to navigation should communicate information to other vessels in the area and to the Irish Coast Guard.

Dublin Port trade soars The Dublin Port Company paid an â‚Ź11m dividend to the State for 2015 as trade and profits surge. It marks a 24% increase on the previous year, and caps a three-year period that's seen imports and exports grow 17.3% overall - besting even the Celtic Tiger period performance.

NEXT ISSUE N D I R E L A

AUTUMN News

All the latest news, people and events from around the coast

Rio review

Olympic sailing review

Topper Worlds Ballyholme review

Radial Worlds

How we won Youth Silver

Irish Marina focus

Over 70 pontoons and marinas around our coast

Good Old Gaffers Classic boats in Howth

Prepare for Winter

Don't miss our winterisation guide

Plus all our regulars - Irish Sailing Association News - Coastal Notes - Inland Waters News - Racing Round up - Dubarry Nautical Crossword - Soundings AUTUMN Afloat PUBLISHED: Mid October COPY DEADLINE: Last week of September contents may vary

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

Lough Erne buoy mooring

Dolan is IWAI president John Dolan was elected president of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland at its recent AGM in Tullamore. A big proponent of tourism development on the Grand Canal and broadening the IWAI's ethos, Dolan succeeds the 17th president Carmel Meegan, and he is succeeded as vice president

by Alan Kelly.

Portumna harbour reopens

German Tourists Marc and Melinda with Waterways Ireland Director John Boyle on Manor House Marine's Noble Challenger.

18 new mooring buoys installed for visitors Boaters in Upper and Lower Lough Erne now have the option of tying up at any of 18 new mooring buoys installed as an alternative to dropping anchor or mooring at a jetty. Waterways Ireland described the new facility as offering "new experiences" for

visitors to the Co Fermanagh lakelands.

To moor up, a vessel should approach the yellow mooring buoy slowly from downwind.

Using a boat hook, lift up the pick-up buoy and attached rope out of the water to reach

Shannon– Erne Blueway launched Minister Heather Humphreys joined broadcaster and fitness expert Karl Henry in Ballyconnell to launch the Shannon-Erne Blueway this past May. The 70km water trail, with more than 17km of walking and cycling routes, runs from Leitrim village to Belturbet in Co Cavan and adds to a growing national network.

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a steel ring. The forward mooring rope should be passed through the steel ring and tied securely from a deck cleat or other strong boat fixing. Users are advised to wear a lifejacket.

White water opportunities on the Shannon Erne Blueway with members of Cavan Canoe Club and fitness guru Karl Henry, Cathoirleach Paddy Smith, Minister Heather Humphreys and Garret Mc Grath of Waterways Ireland

Portumna's Castle Harbour re–opened to vessels over the June bank holiday following extensive renovations. Mooring capacity has now doubled along with upgraded berths and a re–paved quay, while works on an onshore service block, camper van facilities, car parking and a new access road will continue till September.

'Young Journalist' winners Bernard Sweeney from St Patrick's Boys NS in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim was winner of the 2016 Waterways Ireland Young Journalists Schools Competition for his article about one man's creative way to get through a flood at Shannon Harbour.

Runner up was Orla Connolly from Runnamoat National School in Co Roscommon.

New season, new rules Waterways Ireland announced the end of winter mooring on the Shannon-Erne Waterway in late March with the return of the five-day rule. Intended to keep free mooring available at harbours, marinas and jetties throughout the country, boats may only moor at one location for up to five days.

BLUEWAY.....

DO IT YOUR WAY!

JOIN THE EXPERIENCE IN 2016!

Do it your way and create your unique Blueway Experience!

Whether you’re into paddling, walking, cycling, or simply hooked on the outdoors, make yours a trip to remember!

Visit www.bluewaysireland.org

#BluewayDoItYourWay

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

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GP14 WORLDS WINNER, SOLENT CHAMPS, 1720 Euros, MERMAIDS, FIFTEENS YELLOW SPINNY plus all the dinghy & KEELBOAT racing news for the summer season SO FAR

Wicklow's GP14 champs Greystones SC saluted their first world champions as Shane MacCarthy and Andy Davis won the GP14 Worlds in Barbados on 4 April. They're also the first champs from the Republic, following previous Irish wins for Larne's Fekkles Brothers in 1991 and Ballyholme's Bill Whisker and Jimmy McKee in 1975.

Shane MacCarthy and Andy Davis from Greystones Sailing Club are the new GP14 World Champions Photo: GP14 class

Greystones Feva fever Royal St George U19 pair Henry Start and Morgan Devine won the RS Feva Nationals at Greystones on 20 July. Second-place U14s Eddie and Kevin Farrell from Llandudno SC finished on the same points, while another RStGYC pair, Jamie Matthews and Adam Rochford, came third among a fleet more than triple that of 2015.

RS Feva racing at Greystones Sailing Club attracted a fleet of 38– boats, a big improvement on 2015 Photo: RSFeva/Facebook

Seaton & McGovern deliver Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern won 49er gold in a thrilling final at the Princess Sofia Regatta on the Bay of Palma on 2 April. The result was a big endorsement for the Ballyholme pair in their Rio 2016 preparations, especially in fending off Olympic champs Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen.

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

Irish among Solent champs

Gonzaga wins Leinsters

Nicholas O'Leary (Royal Cork) and James Hynes (Malahide) were aboard Yes!, Adam Gosling's brand new JPK 10.80, which finished joint winner - with French A35 Dunkerque - of the RORC IRCs on the Solent on 26 June. Antix, Jump Juice and Justin Slattery – on Girls on Film – were also in the fleet.

Gonzaga bested Kilkenny in a final that went down to the wire at the Leinster Schools Team Racing Championships, hosted by the Royal St George on 29 March. It marked the second Leinster Schools Trophy for the South Dublin school, who also qualified for the Irish Schools Team Racing Championships in Schull.

Winner of IRC Two and joint 2016 RORC IRC National Championship trophy: Adam Gosling's JPK 10.80, Yes! Photo: Rick Tomlinson

DCU in Collegiate Cup

Martin Byrne (left), with crew Adam Winkelmann (centre) and Donal Small at the Edinburgh Cup. Photo: Fiona Brown

Irish Dragons finish strong

Dublin University Sailing Club – AKA Trinity Sailing – will represent Ireland at the Laser Performance Collegiate Cup on Lake Garda from 23-27 August.

London 2012 Olympian Scott Flanigan, Lucy Bolger, Dan Gill, Lindsey Watters, Mark Bolger, Maeve Lavelle, Dan O’Beirne, and Charlotte Bowen comprise the team that will race in Z420 dinghies.

Previous winner Martin Byrne finished fourth while Neil Hegarty was fifth to mark a strong showing by the Royal St George in the 2016 Dragon Edinburgh Cup this July. Lawrie Smith's Alfie took the top honours off Abersoch in a 35-strong fleet that featured five Irish Dragons.

Cork Oppys rule Ulsters

Easter win for Jump Juice

Malahide YC hosted the Optimist Ulsters in early July, where Cork juniors shone among the 120 competitors in mixed conditions on Broadmeadow Water. Royal Cork's Harry Pritchard pipped clubmate Harry Twomey by 3 points to the Senior Gold title, while Michael Crosbie and Justin Lucas headed up the Junior Gold fleet.

Royal Cork's Conor Phelanskippered Ker 37 Jump Juice won the class two fleet of RORC's Easter Challenge on the Solent in dramatic fashion. Sunny and benign conditions gave way to a squall that struck half the fleet with 40-knot gusts, resulting in two manoverboard incidents.

Royal Cork Moth sailor David Kenefick competed at Foiling Week on Italy's Lake Garda Photo: Martina Orsini

Model Malta Open Howth Yacht Club's Stephen Kay finished an honourable 23rd out of 42 boats with his Britpop design at the IOM Malta Open for model boats from 17-20 March.

A whopping eight skippers filled out the top 10, proving that national fleet's dominance on the European model racing circuit.

Testing Moth Worlds waters Royal Cork's David Kenefick recently finished a week's foiling on Italy's Lake Garda, host venue of next year's Moth Worlds. "I'm happy as I've only been racing the Moth a few months," said the Crosshaven sailor of his first full regatta, where he finished 19th out of 43.

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

Howth youth's Oppy honours Senior fleet honours at the Optimist Leinsters went to 15–year–old Harry Bell of Howth YC, four points clear of Kinsale's Micheal O'Suilleabhain. In Junior fleet action at the Royal St George, Michael Crosbie (Royal Cork) was the winner, while Jessica Riordan of the host club topped the Regatta fleet.

Royal Cork's Johnny Durcan was the Laser Radial division winner at the National Yacht Club

Durcan tops Leinster Lasers Royal Cork's Johnny Durcan led Irish hopes going into the Laser Radial Boys Worlds on Dublin Bay in late July after taking the Leinster Laser title at the National YC a week previously by an eightpoint margin – and that's despite not finishing the first race of the weekend.

Sportsboat Cup to T-Bone

Salute to offshore skippers

Consistency was the key to seeing Clive O'Shea and Tom Durcan's T-Bone crowned 2016 Sportsboat Cup Champion at Howth YC on 29 May. The Crosshaven team topped the 12-boat 1720 fleet with two race wins, never posting below fourth, to take away the Romaine Cagney Bowl.

Phantom wins Dragon tiebreak Royal St George Dragons Phantom (Neil Hegarty) and Jaguar Sailing Team (Martin Byrne and Adam Winkelmann) shared equal points at the top of the leaderboard at the East Coast Championships on 28-29 May. But Phantom clinched the title by virtue of three first-place finishes at the Royal Irish YC.

Rostrevor hosts IDRA 14s The heat was on in Rostrevor over the June bank holiday weekend for the 21st gathering of IDRA 14s on Carlingford Lough. Alan Henry and Simon Revill of Sutton Dinghy Club claimed first place, while Charles Sargent and granddaughter Caoimhe Fleming also of Sutton took home the Warrenpoint Trophy on handicap.

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Lightning, Emircedes and Boomerang were among the 1980s ISORA racers celebrated at a gala dinner in the National YC on 29 April organised by Anita Begley, who raced on the late Brendan Briscoe's Avanti. It's hoped that the dinner might become an annual event for all past ISORA skippers.

Former ISORA sailors at the National Yacht Club were: Barry O’Donovan (Avanti), Peter Cullen (Eliminator), Liam Shanahan Snr (Lightning), Michael Horgan (Emircedes), Vincent Farrell (Humphrey Go Kart)

Galway Bay claims WIORA John Collins' Ibaraki from Galway Bay SC was overall winner of the 2016 WIORA after a six-race series at Kilrush Marina. Thirty boats competed in three classes in the event's 40th anniversary, including Yannick Lemonnier's Galway Flyer, Darragh McCormack's Maximus and Tom Murray's Kerry Sloop.

The WIORA prizegiving at the Haven, Kilrush with John Collins's Ibaraki crew lifting the overall trophy. Photo: WIORA/Facebook

Simon Brien on board “KIN” (RNIYC) along with his daughter Tiffaney and Oli Loughead had a very impressive five wins

Belfast Lough keeps Elite Holywood man Simon Brien on KIN (RNIYC) fended off competition from Stephen Polly, Solent sailor Mike McIntyre and his own brother Mark to claim the RS Elite National title at Carrickfergus SC on 20 July.

The weekend served as a warm-up for the UK Nationals at Strangford Lough the following week.

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Howth's chilly Warmer

1720 Antix skippered by Anthony O'Leary

The 2016 Spring Warmer series came to a chilly conclusion at Howth YC on 16 April with temperatures just above freezing. But a 16-knot breeze and sunshine made it bearable for the Cruiser, J24 and SB20 classes - won by Lambay Rules, Howth’s K25 team and Two Men and Their Monkey respectively.

Offshore adds double-handers Antix claims Euro title Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary and crew on Antix reclaimed their 1720 Europeans crown at the Royal St George on 18 June. Cork boats secured the top three places on Dublin Bay, with Antix joined by Neil Hogan's Mica (Baltimore SC) and Padraig Byrne's Zing (Monkstown Bay SC).

Tight racing for the SB20 fleet at their first spreader mark in race 6 on Carlingford Lough in County Louth Photo: Mark Slater‎/Carlingford Sailing Club

'Yellow jersey' spinnaker The Mitsubishi Motors-sponsored Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen fleet has introduced a new initiative for the 2016 Dublin Bay Sailing Club racing season.

With a nod to the Tour de France, the lead boat in the DBSC series will fly an eye-catching 'yellow jersey' spinnaker donated by the fleet sponsor.

Ruby Blue takes Carlingford Aidan O'Connell, John Driscoll and Andrew Vaughan on Ruby Blue were the winners of the inaugural SB20 visit to Carlingford SC in late April. The Royal St George boat finished eight points clear of second-place Sin Bin on Carlingford Lough in the first regional event of the 2016 season.

ISORA has introduced short-handed sailing to the offshore game this season, recognising Irish achievements in the discipline at events such as the Round Britain and Ireland Race and the 2015 Middle Sea Race. The new double-handed class is open to any boat sailed doublehanded for any of the ISORA races.

Ruth's early ISORA lead Defending ISORA champion Ruth took the season's first coastal IRC handicap race on 22 April – but not without a protest for redress after a finish-line issue off Wicklow.

Liam Shanahan's J/109 was followed by Peter Hall's Adelie in second overall and David Simpson’s Albeiro in the Silver Class.

Mirror dinghy racing on Sligo Bay under Ben Bulben Photo: Sligo Yacht Club/Facebook

Fastest Ulster Fireballs Mirror Westerns in Sligo Lough Ree YC's Caoilin Croasdell and Alexander Farrell were the overall and gold fleet winners of the Mirror Westerns at Sligo YC in late April.

Oisin MacAllister and Rory MacAllister of the Royal Cork came second, while silver winners were Oscar Langan of Sutton Dinghy Club and Lughaidh Croasdell of Lough Ree. F o r

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Strong Northerly winds and fast race turnarounds made for a speedy Ulster Fireballs event at the Royal North of Ireland YC in May. Noel Butler and Stephen Oram dominated the weekend with five wins out of six, followed by the Clancy brothers and Niall McGrotty and Neil Cramer in third. t o

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Top 10 for Durcan

Not all plain sailing on the second day of the Munster Mermaid Championships on the Shannon Estuary Photo: FYC

A ninth-place finish for Johnny Durcan of the Royal Cork and Baltimore SC was the top result from Ireland's Laser youth sailors at the Laser Europa Cup's regatta in Hyeres on 12 April. Seven Irish made the gold fleet cut in a strong week for our youths overall.

Innocence tops Munster Mermaids

Tonners shaping up

Innocence and crew Darragh McCormack, Cathal McMahon and Mark McCormack made up for a poor Sunday start after a strong lead on day one of the Mermaid Munsters at Foynes YC over the June bank holiday weekend, getting plenty of wind on their side to climb to fourth place and secure the title.

Dave Cullen's old Half Tonner King One had a big refit under her new Howth owners ahead of a full-on season for Irish Half Tonners and Quarter Tonners alike. Cullen's new steed Checkmate will join King One and others at the Half Ton Cup in Falmouth in August.

ISORA's new boats, sponsor The J109's ISORA dominance could be challenged by several new boats – such as Kuba Szymanski’s 40.7, Grant Kinsman’s Sigma 400 and Robert Floate’s Sydney 36 – in 2016's four-race coastal series, which has a new sponsor in Viking Marine alongside overall title sponsor Avery Crest.

Chasing dolphins in an ISORA Race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire on board Daragh Cafferkey's A35 Another Adventure

The team included the following Irish sailors Laura Dillon (helm), Karena Knaggs, Katie Dwyer, Ali Clarke, Trisha Daly, Jennifer Toettcher and Audrey Adamson. They were sailing on Louise Makin and Chris Jones’s J/111, Journeymaker II. In addition to the Irish ladies, the team included the owner and navigator, Louise Makin, Julia Salt, Susie Moore and Andrea Miz. Photo: Chris Jones

Keelboat ladies win UK Open Irish women came up trumps at the Dubarry UK Women's Open Keelboat Championships at Hamble River Sailing Club from 4-5 June. Karena Knaggs, Katie Dwyer, Ali Clarke, Trisha Daly, Jennifer Toettcher, Audrey Adamson and helm Laura Dillon sailed on Louise Makin and Chris Jones’s J/111 Journeymaker II.

ISORA's virtual start Windless conditions and strong spring tides led ISORA to start 3 June's race from Dublin to the Isle of Man

by Virtual Race Management. The groundbreaking move, which saw a 'silent start' seven miles offshore at Kish Bank, could be prompt revolution in race management, particularly in adverse conditions.

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From the tracker – just after the start of ISORA Race Five

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Laser Master champ crowned Royal Cork's Nick Walsh beat DBSC's Dan O'Connell on the tiebreak rule to win the Irish Laser Masters at the National YC in May. This year the fleet was buoyed by many new faces and a fledgling radial fleet, both of which bode well for the future.

CIT in Student World Cup Cork IT won the IUSA Student Yachting Nationals at Howth Yacht Club on 8 April by a single point - their first victory in five years competing at the event. The win also qualified the team to represent Ireland at the Student Yachting Worlds in La Rochelle, France this November.

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RS Elite racing in Strangford at the UK Nationals

Strangford hosts Elites

The RS fleets enjoyed superb sailing on Dublin Bay in late April with their season-opening Easterns at the Royal St George.

The RS200 title went to Marty O’Leary and Rachel Williamson, while Gareth Flanagan and David Fletcher won the RS400, and Henry Start and Morgan Devine took the RS Feva honours.

Hayling Island's Foudafafa were crowned champions at the 2016 UK RS Elite Nationals on Strangford Lough on 24 July after four–day contest of ups and downs in the wind department. Jono Brown's Aeolus placed second while best local boat Storm (Royal Ulster YC) was third in a close contest.

Mermaids rule Skerries The weekend of 23-24 July saw a fantastic turnout of 18 Mermaids for the annual Skerries Regatta – a taster before the Nationals in Howth from 4-7 August. Highly competitive racing had the leaderboard changing constantly, but first place overall went to local boat Azezzy helmed by Sam Shiels

Simon Cully and Libby Tierney race upwind at the GP14 Leinsters

GP14 pair's unbroken run July's GP14 Leinsters at Sutton Dinghy Club was full of twists and turns, with conditions to severely test. Shane McCarthy and Damian Bracken coped admirably to maintain their unbroken run on the circuit this season. The fleet co–hosted the event with Sutton Dinghy Club's co–hosting of the Mirror Nationals.

Foxall breaks record Damian Foxall shattered a long-standing US record in April when his MOD 70 Orion finished the Newport to Ensenada Race in 5h17m26s - smashing the late Steve Fossett's 1998 time by more than 89 minutes.

Dubliner's David Gorman & Chris Doorly retained the Flying Fifteen title at Cushendall

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Rory Fitzpatrick of the National YC was undisputed king of the Irish Moth Tour following April's Moth Inlands on Lough Ree's inner lakes. Royal Cork's David Kenefick did well to take second on 21 points from Rio-selected Annalise Murphy, who finished five points behind in third overall.

Team CH Marine's Micheal O'Suileabhain from Kinsale YC was second overall at the Optimist Braassemermeer Easter Regatta in Holland on 27 March, an event cut short by the arrival of Storm Katie. Just two points separated the top three, with the Kinsale youngster pitted against two top local sailors.

David Gorman and Chris Doorly defended their Irish Flying Fifteen title amid contrasting weather at Cushendall SC. Three race wins from six gave the National YC pair a clear lead in the 21-strong fleet.

Second were clubmates Ian Mathews and Keith Poole, with Strangford Lough's Hammy Baker and Charlie Horder third.

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Kinsale's Oppy podium

Flying 15 champs defend

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

CORK WEEK

Main photo: Eric De Turckheim's Archambault A13 'Teasing Machine' came to Volvo Cork week with a slew of wins on the European Race Track and was winner of Class Zero in the Harbour race

Cork Week's home victory Royal Cork's Paul Gibbons and his Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge won a closely fought race in the inaugural IRC European Championship to bring this year's Volvo Cork Week to a close. In other action, Defence Forces B on Joker 2 won the Beaufort Cup, while Antix took the IRC Zero title. Photos by Bob Bateman.

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coastal notes

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE Photos by Bob Bateman

Rockabill Jay Colville's First 40 Forty Licks from East Down YC in IRC chasing Conor Phelan's Jump juice

Beaufort Cup Competitors Endgame (Crosshaven RNLI) to weather of the X43 X–hale (Sea Fisheries Protection Authority)

Paul Gibbons' Anchor Challenge with Mark Mansfield calling tactics counted six wins and two seconds to capture the IRC European title and also winner IRC 4.

Biggest boat at the regatta the TP52 Gladiator

Charlie Frize's Mills 36 Prime Suspect makes a great start and took the Hugh Coveney Trophy for first on IRC in the Harbour race

The Harbour race

HYC Harmony (Johnny Swan) also counted six firsts and two seconds and won IRC 3

Anthony O'Leary was winner of IRC Class Zero

Tony Acklands Dark Angel, winner of IRC 2, Paul Gibbons of Anchor Challenge receiving the IRC European Championship Trophy from RORC Commodore Michael Boyd Photo: Tim Wright

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ICRA NATIONALS

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS AT ICRA NATIONALS In the weird summer weather of 2016, the ICRA Nats at Howth from June 10th to 12th served up perplexingly light breezes which sometimes barely provided viable competitive conditions, so maybe the real winners were the race officer teams who completed a proper programme for the hundredplus boats despite the haze sometimes threatening to become mist or even fog.

By W M Nixon

Rule 1 of the Old Salts’ Book of Racing Lore is that, for a series, you put together a good set of steady results. Avoid flashes of gambled stardust one day, and crabgrass stuff the next. Keep the head down and keep the points down too. Rule 2 of the OSBRL underlines the point by emphasising something along the lines of not being utterly brilliant in the first afternoon’s two races. For if you do, you’re a marked boat thereafter.

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So on Friday we saw some potential stars clearly emerge early, folk such as J/109 newby Tim Goodbody with White Mischief, and the Evans brothers with their Half Tonner The Big Picture. But with eleven J/109s making up half of Class 2, White Mischief was a marked boat for the best day’s racing on the Saturday, when the fleet found some stronger breezes at sea, and even a little sunshine, while ashore the elusive orb was often shrouded in mist.

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Do you really think we’ll manage this?

Closing in on the pin in a Division 1 start

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ICRA NATIONALS

In the impersonal world of racing to the handicaps of the IRC, there’s no getting away from one totally outstanding performance, a performance which fulfilled both rules of the OSBRL. On Friday, John Maybury’s J/109 Joker 2, from the RIYC in Dun Laoghaire with the not inconsiderable talents of Olympian Mark Mansfield of Cork in the crew, put in what we now recognize to have been a very neat holding performance. In the 22 boats of Division 1 – the most numerous class - Joker was sixth and second on the first day. Not at all spectacular, but she was there or thereabouts as other boats headed one of the championship’s most competitive divisions.

Tumbling down the size scale, in Division 3 the Quarter Tonners of the Royal Irish YC were out in strength in an extremely closelyfought series in which Royal Cork’s Paul Gibbons’ Farr 79 Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge managed to snatch third overall with two RIYC boats ahead of her and one immediately astern, the winner being Cartoon (Ken Lawless & Sybil McCormack) with the ever-lovely Quest (Barry Cunningham & Jonathan It’s good to be discarding Skerritt) in second. Half a a third, but an interesting dozen of the reviving J/24 Class performance was turned in by raced in this division, and best the runner-up, Stephen Quinn’s of them was Flor O’Driscoll J/97 Lambay Rules, as she’d with Hard on Port, who was a list of 5,2,1, 2,4,5. This was fifth overall. just part of a very busy season for the little Lambay Rules, as The Quarter Tonner Division 4 was once again Quest, ICRA Champion she was fresh home from being Then on Saturday, after a problem numbers-wise, in 2014, was second in in the frame in the Scottish class in 2016. recording another sixth in the and Patrick O’Neill’s E Boat Series, and was then to go first race, Joker 2 seemed to OctopussE of the host club on to figure well in the Volvo find her mojo, that mojo which was best of the two competing.

Round Ireland Race 2016. Third made her class champion As for Division 5 and 6, the place in Division 2 went to John in 2015 at Kinsale. Perhaps non-spinnaker classes, they Swan’s re-vamped Half Tonner they’d simply been keeping it were re-born as the Corinthian Harmony after a ding-dong in storage on Friday, knowing Classes, and in Division A with The Big Picture, while fifth they’d need it more on non-spinnaker, IRC saw went to Ross McDonald’s X332 Saturday. Whatever the story, the three Elan 333s utterly Equinox. they romped through Saturday dominant to take the first with a winning consistency of three places overall, with Colm Well above the rough and performance while other boats Bermingham’s Bite the Bullet tumble of Class 2, the – to put it mildly – fluctuated (HYC) the dominator of the aristocrats of Class 0 made more than somewhat. dominants, as she won with a Another J/109, Ruth (Shanahan up in quality what they lacked clean sheet, second going to in quantity, but as there were family NYC) took third while David Sargent’s Indulgence, For that last Saturday race, only half a dozen of them, the Colin Byrne’s XP 33 Bon also HYC, with DMYC’s Paul and Sunday’s single race for points margins could never Tully getting third with White Division 1, saw Joker 2 notching Exemple (RIYC) was first of be large, and though Conor the non-Js in fourth, with Rob Lotus. two wins. Clearly her crew Phelan’s now-classic Ker 36.7 McConnell’s A 35 Fool’s Gold had got the measure of the Jump Juice from Crosshaven waters of Fingal, for it gave her from Dunmore East fifth. But Stephen Quinn’s J/97 Lambay you get some idea of the scale had three wins in five races, Jay Rules took a second in Division an absurd lead of 14.5 points Colville’s First 40 Licks from 2 in the ICRA Nats of Joker’s achievement when over the runner-up, which you realize that Storm was only East Down YC in Strangford was another J/109, Pat Kelly’s Lough was always right there half a point ahead of the next Storm, which in theory was to take second just one point right at home, as they list Rush three boats, which were all astern, while third slot went tied on 31 points and needed a SC as their club even though countback to sort the placings. to the Scottish XP38i Roxstar they keep the boat in Howth.

(Finlay & Anderson, Clyde Cr C).

Division 2 was the next most numerous with 15 boats, and here they managed six races Joker II (John with a discard kicking in. It is of Maybury) course the class for the classic successsfully defended her class Half Tonners, so inevitably one national title Howth YC was dominant to an almost embarrassing extent.

Early leader The Big Picture (Michael & Richard Evans) had slipped down the rankings as the curtain came down, she finished fourth overall, but after a sneeze in the first race on Day 1, Dave Cullen’s Checkmate XV got her act together and logged a final scoreline of 2,1,3,3,1,2.

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ICRA NATIONALS

Division B had it very close on IRC between Harry Byrne’s Jeanneau Sunrise Alphida and Windsor & Steffi’s Club Shamrock Demelza, with Alphida taking it this time round, while third slot went to John Roberts’s veteran Doug Peterson-designed Contention 33 Poppy from Whitehaven in Cumbria.

The Progressive ECHO results speak for themselves. In the end, there’s an element of “something for everyone in the audience” about it, and it certainly results in some sailors who have seldom found themselves in the limelight Class Three winner Cartoon (Ken Lawless & Sybil McCormack) being up there in the Winner’s Enclosure to receive their prizes along with people whose names are usually to be found So despite the lack of wind strength, and despite the fact only at the sharper end of the But while the serious meat of that the sun only tended to the racing in the ICRA Nationals top classes. appear with any power late in 2016 was inevitably under IRC, the day when the crew were there was a complete parallel In other words, it adds greatly already lorrying with marked universe out there on the race to the sense of community exuberance into the après course with ICRA numberthroughout the fleet, and with cruncher Denis Kiely’s famous sailors from all parts of Ireland sailing, we had a whole new raft of National Champions, the Progressive ECHO system and from across the Irish ICRA Nationals 2016 were done being administered at Howth by Sea mixing it at Howth, there and dusted to the eloquentlyDenis’s right-hand man Peadar was no doubting the warmth expressed satisfaction of ICRA Murphy. and strength of that sense of Commodore Simon McGibney community. of Foynes, and attention could Under Progressive ECHO, a swing neatly on time to the boat’s rating is revised after The ICRA Championship is Volvo Round Ireland Race. every race in the series on the a fascinating stew of the basis that all boats finished dead equal in the race just completed. It works best with a series, and you’ll hear the usual complaints of sandbagging when it is used in other ways. But what it does do is keep up the interest of every crew right to the end of the series, and a more sophisticated take on it has emerged, as top IRC crews now look on Progressive ECHO as a useful tool to tell them how they’re really doing from race to race, when IRC can be a bit of a blunt instrument.

local and the national, and sometimes the international.

The selected venue club will try to put on its best show, but inevitably with an event which is only totally engrossing to the participants, you have to spread the net wide through local contacts to get helpful sponsorship support. In Howth, those who stepped up to the plate were lead sponsors McPeake Auctioneers supported by the tourism initiative Dublin – a Breath of Fresh Air, shoemakers Dubarry of Ireland, and WD40.

In the circumstances, surely no-one would begrudge Howth Yacht Club the quiet satisfaction of knowing that they ended the series as winners of both team prizes?

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ICRA NATS 2016

OVERALL RESULTS IRC Class 0: 1st Jump Juice (Ker 36.7, Conor Phelan, Royal Cork YC) 7.5pts; 2nd Licks (First 40, Jay Colville, East Down YC) 8.5; 3rd Roxstar (XP3i, Finlay & Anderson, Clyde Cruising C) 16.

Class 1: 1st Joker 2 (J/109, John Maybury, Royal Irish YC) 16; 2nd Storm (J/109, Pat Kelly, RSC/HYC) 30.5; 3rd Ruth (J/109, Shanahan family, NYC) 31; 4th Bon Exemple (XP33, Colin Byrne, RIYC) 31; 5th Fool’s Gold (A 35, Rob McConnell, Waterford Harbour SC) 31.

Class 2: 1st Checkmate XV (Mod Half Ton, Dave Cullen, HYC) 9; 2nd Lambay Rules (J/97, Stephen Quinn, HYC) 14; 3rd Harmony (Half Ton, John Swann, HYC) 19.5; 4th The Big Picture (Half Ton, Michael & Richard Evans, HYC) 20.

Class 3: 1st Cartoon (Quarter Tonner, Ken Lawless & Sybil McCormack RIYC) 12; 2nd Quest (Quarter Tonner, Barry Cunningham & Jonathan Skerritt, RIYC) 13.2; 3rd Anchor Challenge (Quarter Tonner Paul Gibbons, Royal Cork YC) 13.5; 4th Cri Cri (Quarter Tonner, Paul Colton, RIYC); 5th Hard on Port (J/24, Flor O’Driscoll, RStGYV/HYC) 18.

Class 4: 1st OctopussE (E-Boat, Patrick O’Neill, HYC) 5; 2nd Asterix (Sonata, Boushell, Counihan & Meredith, Dun Laoghaire MYC) 9.

Class 5: 1st Bite the Bullet (Elan 33, Colm Bermingham, HYC) 3; 2nd Indulgence (Elan 33, David Sargent, HYC, 3rd White Lotus (Elan 33, Paul Tuly, DLMYC) 10

Dave Cullen’s Classic Half Ton World Champion Checkmate XV found form to win her class at the ICRA Nats.

Class 6: 1st Alphida of Howth (Sunrise 34, Harry Byrne HYC) 4; 2nd Demelza (Club Shamrock, Windsor & Steffi, HYC) 5; 3rd Poppy (Contention 33, John Roberts, Whitehaven SA) 10.

IRC NATS 2016 OVERALL RESULTS ECHO

Div 0: 1st Roxstar 13; 2nd Jump Juice 13.5; 3rd Licks 15.5.

Div 1: 1st Joker 2 30; 2nd Ruth 45; 3rd Bon Exemple 45.5 Div 2: 1st Checkmate XV 22.5; 2nd Equinox (X 332, Ross McDonald, HYC) 25.5; 3rd Harmony 26 Div 3: 1st Cri Cri 25.5; 2nd Anchor Challenge 26.5; 3rd Maximus (J/24, Darragh McCormick, Foynes YC) 27 Div 4: 1st OctoussE 9; 2nd Asterix 10; 3rd Challenger (Julien, Paul Rossiter, HYC) 12

Off to a flying start. Tim & Richard Goodbody’s first major campaign with their new J/109 White Mischief saw them in top form in the first two races of the ICRA Nats at Howth in Class 1, in which eleven J/109s competed

Our boats are packed, and we’re ready to go…..Paul Gibbons’ Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge from Crosshaven (left) and Simon McGibney’s J/24 Gala Racing from Foynes, on the trailers and about to head for home from Howth after another ICRA National Championship.

Div 5: 1st Tsunami (First 40.7, Vincent Farrell, NYC) 8; 2nd Indulgence 9; 3rd Splashdance (Dufour 40, Howard McMullen HYC) 10.

Div 6: 1st Demelza 7; 2nd Poppy 8; 3rd Out & About (First 38, Terry McCoy, HYC/SSC 9.

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VOLVO ROUND IRELAND RACE 2016 AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

Just outside a two–day elapsed time, George David's Rambler looked every inch a winner in her debut Round Ireland Race. Photo: Afloat.ie

A CIRCUIT OF FOUR FLEETS, FOUR COASTS & FOUR SEASONS

By W M Nixon 36

ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

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How to Make a Start in a Big Boat L essons 1 to 7

At 704 miles long, with a course along coastlines of almost infinite variety, the Round Ireland Race was always a complex event for post-race analysis even when fleets amounted to only three dozen or so. But for 2016 in the first year of sponsorship by Volvo Car Ireland, the number of starters soared to 63. And the inclusion of multi-hulls for the first time since the initial pre-RORC race of 1980 added further depth to the eclectic nature of a fleet which was already an impressive array, ranging from small craft like a J/97, a First 31.7 and a Sunfast 3200, to one of the current superstars of world sailing, George David’s Juan K-designed canting-keeled Rambler 88.

After each biennial staging of this central event in Ireand’s sailing kaleidoscope, something new has always turned up to add to the sailing

history books. But the Volvo Round Ireland Race 2016 is in a special league of its own, so much so that far from just adding something to the history books, it probably deserves a book of its own.

In fact, you could write a textbook about the fantastic start in which Rambler 88 gave a Masterclass in discerning emerging gaps as they appeared in a melee of sometimes confused smaller boats with the race beginning against a moderate southerly and an already strong favorable ebb. Despite her huge beam, Rambler came cleanly through to a peach of a start right on the committee vessel LE Aisling, bettered only by Eric de Turckheim’s A13 Teasing Machine, while smaller craft which thought they’d done better found they’d been OCS, which led to a slow and painful return against a strengthening ebb to re-start.

The Round Ireland 2016 start line showing a busy committee boat end. There was a southerly 10–knot breeze with a two knot tide pushing boats over the line The nearer you were to the start of the Volvo Round Ireland Race 2016 , the more amazing it all seemed (main pic) Yet it was difficult to see clearly what was happening as Teasing Machine and the mighty Rambler 88 came slicing through gaps which hadn’t even existed ten seconds earlier. Seen from a distance (below), it still looked both utterly marvellous – and totally scary. Photos: W M Nixon 37

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ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

In the first beat from Wicklow Head down to the Tuskar Rock, very few boats tended to the east, and it certainly didn’t pay off. The monohull which tacked furthest east was Chris & Patanne Power Smith’s J/122 Aurelia (RStGYC), but she then put in a good showing in the long beat along the south coast and got herself back in the hunt, although off the north and east coasts things didn’t go quite so well, but in the end she placed 3rd in IRC 2 and 18th in IRC overall.

While the bulk of the fleet were still struggling against foul tides down the Wexford coast with Eric de Turckheim’s splendid Teasing Machine showing how to make a proper job of tide-dodging hyper-close inshore of the Wexford banks – something which put her ahead of the “real” fleet for the rest of the race - out ahead, the biggies were splitting into their two parts of this fleet of four parts.

Although the reckoning was that conditions might just fall the right way for a new record, the three MOD 70s first had to find a breeze to raise them above the paltry 12 knots which they occasionally fell back to as they came on starboard out past the Coningbeg Light.

Thus Musandam-Oman, Phaedo and Concise went way to the south for what in due course would be more than enough wind. As they were so close to each other in performance, they sailed as a pack, so there was an element of covering as much as strategy in this.

But in these early stages it was Ned Collier Wakefield aboard Team Concise who was making the pace, with Phaedo next in line, while Musandam seemed to find it difficult to obtain quite the same speed.

Perhaps Irish sailing superstar Damian Foxall aboard Musadnam was slightly over-awed by it all,

Mark Mansfield steering Dave Cullen's J109 Euro Car Parks, the IRC3 winners. Photo: Afloat. ie 38

as he hadn’t been aboard Musandam when she set the new open Round Ireland record back in May 2015, and in an interview before the race, he revealed that he and Justin Slattery – who was on Lloyd Thornburg’s Phaedo - were both Round Ireland virgins. They’ve been so busy building their international careers in other parts of the world that racing round their home island had never come up on the radar.

Whatever the reason, it was Concise which was least fazed by the challenge, she stayed closely in the lead, and after they’d tacked and started ripping up the west coast in the rising sou’west winds of Sunday, it was Concise which recorded the MOD 70’s best speed of 41.56 knots. But as they admitted afterwards, they weren’t right on the edge when they hit that mega-speed in a growing Atlantic swell – they were beyond it.

After her glorious start ten minutes ahead of the MOD 70s, Rambler was going so well in the moderate southerly that she was past Arklow before the trimarans came through, but soon they’d disappeared ahead, and thus for the reminder of the race Rambler 88 was entirely on her own, thereby providing Part 2 of our four part round Ireland fleet.

Although she’d been holding the IRC overall lead for a while, at various stages she’d dropped back as smaller craft got clear of foul tides.

But once she was past the Fastnet and beginning to build her speed up the west coast in rising breezes, she was soon featuring among the front runners on all counts.

The Yellowbrick tracker for the Volvo Round Ireland Race 2016 wraps Ireland in its web. TriLogic went furthest east after the start, the three MOD 70s went furthest south off the south coast and furthest west off the west coast, Rambler 88 went furthest northwest, and Pegasus of Northumberland went to the Isle of Man but came back to cross tacks yet again with Teasing Machine, this time at Skerries as the Machine came south from Dundalk Bay.

ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

The coolest stage for an awards ceremony…..George David’s Rambler 88 comes astern close in off the Wicklow pierheads immediately after finishing in a new record time to claim mono-hull line honours, the monohull round Ireland open record, the Volvo Round Ireland Race mono-hull record, and – eventually – 1st Overall IRC in the Volvo Round Ireland Race 2016. Just stepped aboard amongst Rambler’s rugged crew are Theo Phelan and David Ryan of Wicklow SC with a jeroboam of Astoria. After this informal yet effective ceremony, when Rambler 88 sailed north back to Dun Laoghaire she took a group of Wicklow schoolchildren with her for the sail of a lifetime Photo: David Branigan

"With the leading big boats zapping up the west coast on Sunday as south to sou’west winds continued to freshen, records were once again top of the agenda. But this was all of academic interest to the main part of the fleet bashing its way along the south coast"

The first hint of light in the east in the sky as the MOD 70 Musandam-Oman closes in on the Wicklow finish for a last-minute takeover of the line honours lead on the water, after her sister-ship Team Concise had led for most of the race. Photo: Mark Lloyd

If anything, the weather felt almost Autumnal off the west coast. It had seemed slightly spring-like as warmer weather spread in while the leading big boats were far at sea seeking breezes off the south coast. And there was decent sunshine while the larger boats of the fleet were shuttling from Dun Laoghaire down to Wicklow on the Saturday morning for the start.

But on the Thursday night in Dun Laoghaire when it was open house at the Royal Irish YC to meet the heavy hitters, a local weather anomaly was giving a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, which had been winter by anyone’s standards.

With the leading big boats zapping up the west coast on Sunday as south to sou’west winds continued to freshen, records were once again top of the agenda. But this was all of academic interest to the main part of the fleet bashing its way along the south coast, for as Sunday went on, conditions became increasingly rugged, with some boats experiencing gale force gusts in “unspeakable seas”. Yet it was not without its local oddities – for a period on Sunday afternoon, there was very little wind indeed in an area close in on the entrance to Cork Harbour, and the spread of breeze was so uneven that the tracker revealed some boats taking rather desperate gambles to try and find steadier conditions.

One boat which did notably well during this stage was Dave Cullen’s J/109 Euro Car Parks. With Corkmen Mark Mansfield and Maurice “The Prof” O’Connell calling the shots, they gave a masterful demonstration of how to work the bays slugging west beyond the Old Head of Kinsale.

“Working the bays” doesn’t necessarily always pay off, and in fact it didn’t work so well for other boats near Euro Car Parks. So clearly an important factor in the successful use of this ploy is to have a boat which is out-sailing everyone else in any case, and it was

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

noticeable by this stage that Euro Car Parks had worked out a formidable lead on all the other J/109s, while she herself was in hot pursuit of Paul O’Higgins new JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI, racing with the noted talents of Mark Pettit and Brian Mathews on board.

As Sunday evening and night went on, the Fastnet became increasingly difficult to get past as the area of steadier fresher breeze moved to the north. Thus while bigger boats such as Alan Hannon’s Reichel-Pugh 45 was making hay up past the Blaskets with a performance which suggested that she was going better and better as her Lough Swilly YC crew became accustomed to her ways, back down the line off the mouths of the great rias of the southwest, the wind was at times all over the place.

Euro Car Parks was one which suffered, headed off into the land south of Dursey Sound, and forced to tack seaward in maddenngly lumpy sailing conditions.

By this time, Rockabill VI was showing she was a very slippy performer, and the long run up the west coast was brilliantly sailed by her talented crew, so much so that by Tory Island she’d opened out a lead of 40 miles on Euro Car Parks, and looked unassailable.

But for others even thinking about Tory Island was still way off the radar, as many boats reckoned they’d taken a ferocious battering through the latter part of Sunday, and there were retirals at all levels of the fleet. Meanwhile away to the east the oldest boat in the race, Darryl Hughes’s 1937 Tyrell of Arklow 43ft gaff ketch Maybird was making only very slow progress and she’d sustained damage aloft and to sails. So she went into Dunmore East and kept the crew strictly on board and out of contact with the shore while they made repairs and then - most gallantly - they put to sea again, but retired into Baltimore just as they were about to free sheets when engine problems were discovered.

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

VOLVO ROUND IRELAND RACE 2016

ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

Rockabill VI – a new JPK 10.80 design to Ireland under skipper Paul O'Higgins. Photo: Afloat.ie

Maybird’s slow-moving vintage existence was a world away from the great dramas at the head of the fleet, where the three MOD 70s were streaking along towards reducing the circuit to a frantic dash of little more than a day and a half, and these record finishes at Wicklow were to play out through the dawn on Monday.

Everything was getting nail-bitingly tense, and south of Greystones, Phaedo and Concise were slowing markedly.

Michael Boyd's 44.7 Lisa

So long as there’s breeze, your ordinary North Channel fair or foul tides aren’t the major consideration for the MOD 70s it’s the presence of wind which is the primary consideration.

Sunday evening found the trio shaping themselves into the North Channel and fetching through with all still close together and Concise still just leading. But from the South Rock on, it was hard on the wind or beating to get the 90 miles to Wicklow. Musandam was still trailing the other two, so she took a brief slant towards Dundalk Bay and then went on to starboard to pace with them about two miles further westward, bringing her in closer to Howth Head than Concise or Phaedo, and putting her in a better breeze as the wind started to play tricks in the dark of the small hours of Monday off Bray.

Everything was getting nailbitingly tense, and south of Greystones, Phaedo and Concise were slowing markedly. So Musandam came up from astern and took a bit of an offing, finding better breeze only a short distance offshore which carried her right to the line at Wicklow to finish ahead and created an absurd new record of 1 day 14 hours and 37 minutes, with Phaedo 3 six minutes astern, and Concise – which had so gallantly led for most of the race – coming in another minute later.

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Follow that, as they say. But somehow Rambler 88 managed to outdo the drama, as she did the final stage from Rathlin Island to Wicklow in just part of the one span of daylight on Monday. But by the time she came calling in the North Channel, the wind was temporarily veering and thus she was able to lay the whole way down the Irish Sea to the finish, travelling at full chat as she came in to the line.

While a mono-hull record within two days was no longer possible as she’d sailed 790 miles in all thanks to that long tack to the south in search of better breeze through Saturday night and Sunday morning, nevertheless she still made an almighty dent in every other mono-hull record by finishing in a time of 2 days 2 hours 24 minute and 9 seconds.

There was still some bite to the winds, but even in a poor summer the fact that the sou’west to west breeze had now been blowing moderate to strong and more for upwards of three days was increasing the likelihood of calm patches, and a general falling away in wind strength.

So gradually the crazy notion took hold that not only would the popular Rambler 88 be lauded as the new all-out mono-hull record holder, but she might even manage to win the race on corrected time too. Certainly the holes in the wind now began to appear with increasing frequency, and none more so than for Rockabill VI as she rounded Inishtrahull, the most northerly point of the course, on Tuesday, where she and the handful of other boats in her locality came to a complete windless halt for three hours.

ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

Yet boats close to the east were still bustling busily towards Rathlin Island, while boats close to the west were trundling merrily in from Tory. But after the episodes of winter and spring and autumn, Rockabill was experiencing a brief bit of summer she could have well done without. Finally she got going again, yet by this time Euro Car Parks had sliced a huge 20 miles out of Rockabill’s 40 mile lead, and thereafter it was Euro Car Parks ahead in IRC 3 on corrected time.

In other classes, solid performances and reliability in strong winds had been rewarded, and in IR2 the beautifully-prepared Cornish-based Swan 47 Sarabande (Rob Mabley) had a lead she held to the finish, while in IRC 4 we were witnessing one of the great performances in the race, with Patrice Carpentier’s Sunfast 3200 GROUPE V tenaciously staying in front throughout, quite a showing as she was also leading the two-handed division.

As the race drew to a close through Wednesday and Thursday for this main part of the fleet, other consistent performances were being rewarded.

Eric de Turckheim’s Teasing Machine was both consistent and brilliant, and on Wednsday tacking down the southern part of the North Channel, she was neck and neck with Ross Hobson’s twohanded canting-keeled Open 50 Pegasus of Northumberland.

But while Pegasus elected to continue on starboard right over to the Isle of Man, Teasing Machine’s crew took a completely different choice, they went right to the southwest, and then tacked to curve across Dundalk Bay close past Clogher Head until the two boats met again at Rockabill, following which they paced together down to Wicklow where a bit of slick tacking saw Teasing

AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

Machine finish ahead. But by this time it was akin to bearbaiting, as the crew of the big Pegasus were boggleeyed with exhaustion.

Teasing Machine’s time put her behind Rambler 88 on corrected, so the crazy dream was becoming reality, but that is in no way to detract from the de Turckheim crew’s performance. It was a superb playing of the hand they’d been dealt. They were comfortably ahead of Class 1 and 2, and soon out of sight on the determined little battlers of Classes 3 and 4, who until then had been snapping at their heels.

Meanwhile, between the big’ uns well finished, and the little’ uns still battling far at sea, there were several Steady Eddy performances whose reward was on its way, and none more so than for RORC Commodore Michael Boyd of the Royal Irish YC. His First 44.7 Lisa was always there or thereabouts, and on Wednesday evening she was off Dublin Bay as the tide turned foul, but she kept beating on steadily towards Wicklow and got finished before midnight with the bonus of a local breeze, and was immediately sitting pretty at second in Class I well ahead of Katsu in third, and looking good for third overall behind Rambler and Teasing Machine.

But that third overall needed a bit of waiting, as the Class 3 front-runners of Euro Car Parks and Rockabill VI were still in with a chance, while Class 4’s GROUPE V and Stephen Quinn’s gallant little J/97 Lambay Rules were also in contention. But it was not to be. The minutes slipped away, the hours ticked by, and in the end over a course of 704 miles it was waterline length which counted as a fading breeze and much windward work saw the little ‘uns lose out.

But my word, they had one impressive race amongst themselves.

Top of the class - a notable performance by the sailing school crew from the INSS in Dun Laoghaire. Photo: Afloat.ie

Congratulations Euro Car Parks

C l a s s t h r ee w i n n e r

The only Irish class winner of the Volvo Round Ireland Race

Euro Car Parks (Ireland) Ltd

ECP House, Unit 9, Swords Business Park, Swords, Co Dublin

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

ROUND IRELAND YACHT RACE

Midnight encounter. Race organiser Theo Phelan with RORC Commodore Michael Boyd after the latter had brought the First 44.7 Lisa across the Wicklow finish line to take third overall. Photo: David Branigan

Volvo Round Ireland Race 2016 Results Multi-Hull 50+: 1st Musandam-Oman Sail (MOD 70, Sidney Gavignet, France & Oman) 1day 14hrs 37mins 7secs; 2nd Phaedo 3 (Lloyd Thornburg, USA) 1:14:43:5; 3rd Concise 10 (Ned Collier Wakefield, UK) 1:14:44:29.

IRC CK: 1st (& 1st Overall) Rambler 88 (Juan K 88, George David, USA) Elapsed Time 2:2:24:9; Corrected Time 3:20:5:7.

2nd Pegasus of Northumberland (Open 50, Ross Hobson, UK) ET 3:19:53:6; CT 5:17:55:10.

IRC 1: 1st (& 2nd OA) Teasing Machine (A 13, Eric de Turckheim, France) ET 3:19:2:54: CT 4:10:26:8. 2nd (& 3rd OA) Lisa (First 44.7, Michael Boyd, Ireland) ET 4:10:38:31; CT 4:21:24:46. 3rd (& 4th OA (Katsu, Reichel Pugh 45, Alan Hannon, N. Ireland) ET 3:23:0:0. CT 4:21:53:42.

The essential post-race de-briefing – the crews of Euro Car Parks and Rockabill VI, leaders in Class 3, get together in Wicklow SC on Thursday afternoon after five days of racing against each other round Ireland. Photo: W M Nixon

It wasn’t until the Friday that Rambler was finally confirmed as overall winner, with Teasing Machine second and Lisa third, a remarkable achievement for a production First 44.7. As for Class winners, they were (1) Teasing Machine, (2) Sarabande, (3) Euro Car Parks, and (4) GROUPE V, though GROUPE V lost her twohanded class lead to Belgian Michel Kleinjans’ Open 40 Roaring Forty 2, which was another steady performer.

circuit of an island set in an exposed location on the lee side of the Atlantic Ocean. And in following this race it was particularly encouraging to see the improving performances of certain boats as their relatively novice crews get to grips with the challenge they’ve taken on.

Needless to say, it was also a case of the Old Dog for the Long Road, and Ian Hickey’s Granada 38 Cavatina – a winner in times past was again in the frame at the finish in Class 4.

In all, it was a wonderful race, a magnificent event from which any keen sailor can take much of interest and even more of entertainment and excitement. All credit to Wicklow Sailing Club’s Theo Phelan and his team, who have kept this event going through the thin times, and have been ready and waiting to see it come to a new flowering with sponsorship from Volvo Car Ireland.

Notably outstanding was the Irish National Sailing School’s Reflex 38 Lynx from Dun Laoghaire, skippered

by Kenneth Rumball. She was always in competition, but as the race went on she seemed more in competition than ever, until at the finish she clocked in at fourth among all those hotshots in Class 3, close astern of Conor Fogerty’s Sunfast 3600 Bam at third, and placed tenth overall in fleet. The crew of Lynx had experienced an excellent if sometimes rugged lesson in offshore racing which made it own special contribution to a great sporting event.

But all the background organisation would have been meaningless without a fleet of boats and their crews game to take on the 704-mile

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IRC 2: 1st Sarabande (Swan 47, Rob Mably UK) ET 5:1:34:15; CT 5:7:46:15. 2nd Team Fujitsu (J/111, Army Sailing Association, UK) ET 4:21:44:51. CT 5:8:41:53 3rd Aurelia (J/122, Chris & Patanne Power Smith, Ireland) ET 5:0:13:4; CT 5:9:28:28 IRC 3: 1st (and 5th OA) Euro Car Parks Storm (J/109, Dave Cullen, Ireland) ET 4:22:55:27; CT 5:0:35:21; 2nd (and 8th OA) Rockabill VI (JPK 10.80, Paul O’Higgins, Ireland) ET 4:22:5:40; CT 5:3:17:26. 3rd (and 9th OA) Bam (Sunfast 3600, Conor Fogerty, Ireland) ET 5:1:0:15; CT 5:5:21:37 IRC 4: 1st (and 7th OA) GROUPE 5 (Sunfast 3200, Patrice Carpentier, France) ET 5:3:50:15; CT: 5:3:13:6. 2nd Cavatina (Granada 38, Ian Hickey, Ireland) ET 5:16:36:11; CT 5:6:46:3. 3rd Lambay Rules (J/97, Stephen Quinn, Ireland) ET 5:12:47:34; CT 5:9:12:27 IRC Two-Handed: 1st (and 6th OA) Roaring Forty 2 (Open 40, Michel Kleinjans, Belgium) ET 3:22:43:45; CT 5:2:0;40; 2nd GROUPE 5 (Sunfast 3200, Patrice Carpentier, France ET 5:3:50:15; CT 5:3:13:6. 3rd Just Plain Krazy (JPK 10.10, Stephen Hills, UK) ET 5:5:15:38; CT 5:6:15:46 Class 40: 1st Roaring Forty 2 (Michael Kleinjans, Belgium) 3:22:43:45; 2nd Colombre XL (Massimo Jurls, Italy) 3:23:29:37; 3rd Concise 2 (Tony Lawson, UK) 4:1:45:59.

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AFLOAT 2016 SUMMER ISSUE

Soundings WITH WM NIXON

ROYAL CORK’S ETERNAL YOUTH PRE-DATES MOST SAILING HISTORY There was a time when most histories of sailing were based on the idea that yachting as we know it didn’t really begin until 1815, when the final defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo provided peaceful seas off Europe to allow recreational sailing to develop into what ultimately became many forms, involving boats and rigs of all types.

It’s a process which continues today. But while the change in circumstances in 1815 was undoubtedly a major force in accelerating the development of the sport, anyone in Cork will be only too happy to tell you that by the time of Waterloo, the Water Club of the Harbour of Cork had been in existence for all of 95 years.

It became the Royal Cork Yacht Club in 1830 when sailing was being restructured at national level, and it was always enumerated as Club No 1 in the official listings, even if the Royal Yacht Squadron tended to be listed above it. Yet if you were at the opening party of Volvo Cork Week at the Royal Cork in Crosshaven on the evening of Sunday July 10th, you could have been forgiven for thinking that this was a happening being organised by

Peaceful times for warriors.

The Defence Forces with Joker 2 on their way to winning the Fastnet Race in the new Beaufort Cup series in Volvo Cork Week. Photo: Tim Wright

the newest club on the block.

The fact is the Royal Cork is not merely ageless – it is eternally young. In this era of outdoor festivals, they’re ahead of the curve in having world-standard sound systems which provide a welcome and easily-audible intimacy for speakers, enabling them to put through an informative programme of crisp speeches in comfortable time as the party buzz built steadily among the gathered multitude, whose friendly attention was duly rewarded by the arrival of a sunny evening.

occasion was taken to launch the Beaufort Cup in all its official glory, and there were more naval and other military attaches present than you’d see at many a National Day parade.

But far from parading military might, the Beaufort Cup is all about comradely sailing competition.

And not just between people in the armed forces, but between agencies of all kinds – lifesaving, fisheries supervision, port inspection or whatever – where I suppose the only common denominator is that at some stage the people involved might wear a uniform.

The fact is the Royal Cork is not merely ageless – it is eternally young. In this era of outdoor festivals, they’re ahead of the curve

The atmosphere was of one great big happy family gathering. And if this seemed to be a family with many members holding high military rank with decorations to match, it’s because the

The trophy commemorates Meath-born Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (17741857) whose achievements in hydrography and marine science were many. The idea of commemorating him in this way certainly captured the

Volvo Cork Week imagination, with people readily making their boats available to agency crews who did not have access to craft of their own.

The spirit of it all was exemplified by the first boat to the Fastnet Rock in the Beaufort’s long opening race being Conor Doyle of Kinsale’s X442 Freya crewed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, while the overall winner of this special Fastnet race on corrected time was John Maybury of Dun Laoghaire’s champion J/109 Joker 2, sailed by an Irish Defence Forces crew skippered by Commandant Barry Byrne.

Some histories can evoke happy memories. And with the prospect of the Royal Cork YC’s 300th Anniversary in 2020 coming steadily down the line, the good news is that there was across-the-board political representation at a high level at the Crosshaven events on Sunday July 10th. So much so, indeed, that it’s reasonable to expect that whatever government is in power in 2020, there’ll be proper official support for the celebration of this unique Tricentenary for an ever-young club.

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