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Displaying items by tag: Waterways Ireland

Waterways Ireland advises that the Carlow Regatta rowing event will take place on Sunday 2 June on the Barrow Navigation.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the event and obey safety boat instructions.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal between Leixlip and Maynooth that cycleway upgrade works have recently restarted along this stretch of the canal in Co Kildare.

These works will require periodic closures of the canal towpaths in the area over the upcoming period. Signage giving more details of ongoing and upcoming closures will be erected at applicable sites along the route when appropriate.

Navigation passage will generally continue to be possible throughout works though some additional restrictions may apply, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Upgrade works recently commenced at the Dublin city end of the canal, between the North Strand and Phibsborough, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Barrow Navigation that Levitstown lifting bridge in Co Kildare is closed with immediate effect (as of Friday 17 May) to facilitate maintenance works.

It is anticipated that the bridge will be closed until Friday 24 May. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it will issue an update for boaters in due course.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and users of the Shannon Navigation that that the Spencer Harbour public jetty and amenity area, and the areas of Lough Allen immediately upstream and downstream of the harbour, will be closed from Monday 20 to Friday 24 May due to planned site preparation works for the construction of the new slipway.

The cross-border body of Ireland’s inland waterways 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 on the Barrow Navigation that events will be taking place on the waterway in Carlow town over the next two weekends.

The Kerala House Boat Race will take place this Sunday 19 May.

And the National Series for sprint distance swimming is scheduled for Sunday 26 May. This event will have 10 kayaks on the water for swimmers’ safety as well as a Civil Defence boat.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the events and obey all safety boat instructions, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on the Grand Canal that the 14th Lock at Devonshire Bridge in Co Kildare has been closed with immediate effect.

Navigation through the lock is not possible at this time. Further notices in relation to this closure will be issued as required.

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 and owners of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that water levels in all areas north of Lough Ree are now at Ordinary Summer Level.

Water levels on the Shannon Navigation south of Lough Ree are approaching Ordinary Summer Level.

Levels are expected to continue to lower in the coming weeks, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Masters of vessels, particularly those with deep drafts, are advised to navigate with additional caution and to remain within the navigation at all times.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on the Grand Canal that the 30th Lock at Ballincloughin Bridge, west of Tullamore in Co Offaly, will be closed for maintenance from Monday 13 May to Saturday 18 May.

Navigation through the lock will not be possible during this time, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland wishes advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Office of Public Works’ hydrometric section is holding a water flow measurement regatta next Wednesday 15 May.

The event will take place from 8am to 3pm for a distance of 200 metres from the floating pontoon located at the Red Bridge on the River Inny near Ballymahon in Co Longford.

Masters of Vessels and users of the Inny River are requested to proceed with additional caution during the event, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin city between Locks 1 and 5 (North Strand Road to Phibsborough) that cycleway upgrade works have recently commenced on this stretch of the canal.

This work will require closures of the canal towpaths in the area over the upcoming period throughout the year, in order to facilitate the upgrading works. Diversion signage will be erected on site where applicable.

Any effects on planned navigation passage will be advised but navigation passage will continue to be possible to arrange during works, though some additional restrictions may apply.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways will issue further updates if appropriate, and says it thanks its users for their understanding in this matter.

Published in Inland Waterways
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Round Ireland Yacht Race Information

The Round Ireland Yacht Race is Ireland's classic offshore yacht race starts from Wicklow Sailing Club (WSC) and is organised jointly with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and the Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC). This page details the very latest updates from the 2008 race onwards including the race schedule, yacht entries and the all-important race updates from around the 704-mile course. Keep up to date with the Round Ireland Yacht Race here on this one handy reference page.

2020 Round Ireland Race

The 2020 race, the 21st edition, was the first race to be rescheduled then cancelled.

Following Government restrictions over COVID-19, a decision on the whether or not the 2020 race can be held was made on April 9 2020 to reschedule the race to Saturday, August 22nd. On July 27th, the race was regrettably cancelled due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19.

Because of COVID-19, the race had to have a virtual launch party at the Royal Irish Yacht Club for its 21st edition

In spite of the pandemic, however, a record entry was in prospect for 2020 with 50 boats entered with four weeks to go to the race start. The race was also going big on size and variety to make good on a pre-race prediction that the fleet could reach 60. An Irish offshore selection trial also looked set to be a component part of the 2020 race.

The rescheduling of the race to a news date emphasises the race's national significance, according to Afloat here

FAQs

704 nautical miles, 810 miles or 1304 kilometres

3171 kilometres is the estimate of Ireland's coastline by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland.

SSE Renewables are the sponsors of the 2020 Round Ireland Race.

Wicklow Sailing Club in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club in London and The Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dublin.

Off Wicklow Harbour on Saturday, August 22nd 2020

Monohulls 1300 hrs and Multihulls 13.10 hrs

Leave Ireland and all its islands (excluding Rockall) to starboard.

It depends on the boat. The elapsed record time for the race is under 40 hours but most boats take five or six days to complete the course.

The Race Tracker is https://afloat.ie/sail/events/round-ireland/item/25789-round-ireland-yacht-race-tracker-2016-here.

The idea of a race around Ireland began in 1975 with a double-handed race starting and finishing in Bangor organised by Ballyholme Yacht Club with stopovers in Crosshaven and Killybegs. That race only had four entries. In 1980 Michael Jones put forward the idea of a non-stop race and was held in that year from Wicklow Sailing Club. Sixteen pioneers entered that race with Brian Coad’s Raasay of Melfort returning home after six days at sea to win the inaugural race. Read the first Round Ireland Yacht Race 1980 Sailing Instructions here

 

The Round Ireland race record of 38 h 37 min 7 s is held by MOD-70 trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail and was set in June 2016.

George David’s Rambler 88 (USA) holds the fastest monohull race time of two days two hours 24 minutes and 9 seconds set in the 2016 race.

William Power's 45ft Olivia undertook a round Ireland cruise in September 1860

 

Richard Hayes completed his solo epic round Ireland voyage in September 2018 in a 14-foot Laser dinghy. The voyage had seen him log a total of 1,324 sea miles (2,452 kilometres) in 54 sailing days. in 1961, the Belfast Lough Waverly Durward crewed by Kevin and Colm MacLaverty and Mick Clarke went around Ireland in three-and-a-half weeks becoming the smallest keelboat ever to go round. While neither of these achievements occurred as part of the race they are part of Round Ireland sailing history

© Afloat 2020