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Displaying items by tag: Erne System

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Fermanagh’s annual Classic Fishing Festival will take place on Lough Erne from this Sunday 28 April to Friday 3 May.

Inland waterways users are advised that the Castle/Museums and Henry Street jetties in Enniskillen and the Tom’s Island jetty on Lower Lough Erne will be closed during the angling competition.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the downstream section of the Henry Street Floating Jetty in Enniskillen will be closed from this Sunday 21 to next Friday 26 April.

This closure is to accommodate the Mini Mahon’s Festival angling event.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it regrets any inconvenience that this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that the Upper Lough Erne Predator Challenger boat pike angling competition will take place this Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April.

The event will take place from the Share Centre Activity Centre on Upper Lough Erne, with around 50 boats taking part from 9am to 5pm each day.

Waterways users are reminded that the slipways at Corradillar and Derryadd will be busy with fishing boats launching for event.

Masters are requested to keep wash to a minimum when passing fishing vessels, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the St Patrick’s Illuminated Flotilla will take place in Enniskillen this Saturday evening 16 March.

The event runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting at the Killyhevlin Hotel and passsing through Enniskillen to the Round ‘O’.

There will be around 40 vessels taking part in the event. The Enniskillen Castle/Museums jetty will be closed for the event, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Water-based activities will also take place at the Lakeland Forum area in Broadmeadow on St Patrick’s Day (Sunday 17 March).

Boat trips, canoeing, water bikes and other activities will be taking place in the area. Masters of vessels should keep their wash to a minimum when passing the area of the activities.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that a section of the navigation channel will be closed between the Killyhevlin Hotel and the Ardhowen for NIE works on the overhead power lines on Tuesday 5 March from 10am to 4pm.

Masters of vessels are advised to adhere to all signage and direction of safety boats, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Erne Eights Head of the River rowing race will take place this Saturday 2 March.

The event will start upstream of the Killyhevlin Hotel and will race through to Enniskillen Royal Boat Club.

Rowing boats and craft will be on the water from 9am to 5pm. There will be around 80 rowing crews participating in the event. The downstream sections of the Round ‘O’ jetty will be closed for the duration.

Masters of vessels should adhere to all instructions given by race marshals on the day and keep the race course clear, especially during racing.

Masters of vessels are also asked to keep wash to minimum when passing rowing crews and race marshals, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Henry Street Jetties in Enniskillen will be closed this Friday 23 to Saturday 24 February.

This is to accommodate the annual Fishing Tackle and Bait angling open weekend taking place in the Co Fermanagh town, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that piling works have commenced adjacent to the East Jetty at Devenish Island on Lower Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh.

This work is to facilitate an extension of the existing jetty with completion anticipated by end of March. During the extension work, access will be maintained to the existing jetty so far as reasonably practical.

Masters of vessels are advised to adhere to all signage and direction of safety boats, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland wishes to inform masters of vessels and waterway users on Lower Lough Erne in the Erne System that the East Jetty on Devenish Island will be closed from Wednesday 15 November for a period of around six weeks.

The closure period is to facilitate an upgrade to the existing jetty, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in the Enniskillen area that the power bollards at the Round ‘O’ and Carrybridge will be isolated on Wednesday 8 November for the winter period.

Power will be reconnected at the start of the 2024 boating season, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways
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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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