Displaying items by tag: Irish Offshore Racing Academy

26th December 2021

New Offshore Racing Academy Providing Logistical Support, Campaign Advice & Sailing Coaching

Since our initial news about the launch of the Offshore Racing Academy, we thought it would be time for a quick update on our activities during the Christmas break.

We are delighted to announce the Academy has gone from strength to strength providing as per our aims, logistical support, campaign advice and sailing coaching to non-French sailors in the Figaro circuit in France.

Our team has grown with Joan Mulloy joining the Academy team to provide lots of support from her many years as preparateur and sailor in the Figaro circuit! We have also been working with Marcus Hutchinson who brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and advice to the Academy and its members! Equipment suppliers are also providing support to the Academy with Helly Hansen providing both Offshore and shoreside clothing for the team and members! North Sails Ireland with their team including Nigel, Shane and Prof are already supporting the Academy and its members!

As reported already, the Academy is looking forward to working with the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association in 2022. We will be providing training and support discussions in the early part of the year ahead of their busy season. We will continue to provide weather briefings after their success last year ahead of all the ISORA races and the lead up to the Round Ireland Yacht Race of 2022. The talks will be open to all skippers and more importantly crew to raise knowledge and awareness and therefore enjoyment for all boats and sailors in 2022.

The Academy has been down in France and back to the main Figaro hub of Port La Foret in northern Brittany. We have transported a Figaro cradle and moved our support van and trailer to France in late November. A quick return home and we have helped Conor Fogerty deliver his Figaro ‘Raw’ to Port La Foret to get it into the shed to prepare the boat for the 2022 Figaro circuit!

The Irish Offshore Racing Academy is providing logistical support to sailors

We then spent a few days coaching Matthew Beecher as he explores the possibility of the Figaro circuit into 2022. A brisk 25 knots from the west gave plenty of whoops and hollers with getting the boat up and riding on its foils at 16knots +! Finally, we then put all the boats to bed ahead of the Christmas break.

Conor Fogerty's Figaro ‘Raw’ at Port La Foret

Looking forward to 2022, we will be straight back out there running a training group for the Figaros in early January. We are also setting up weather and navigational briefings and classes to get Academy sailors up to speed before joining the main training groups later in the season.

Our other boat the Class40 is progressing well with the charter deal on a boat nearing the final stages. We hope to announce with main events this boat will compete in next year.

Lastly, we are developing a Figaro 3 trial week for those that might be interested in trying the boat out and seeing what all the fuss is about. This will be far more than a trial sail with a full weeks sailing, travel and tour of the main Fiagro hubs of Port La Foret and La Base in Lorient.

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Offshore wind

ESB know the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and delivering net zero. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind. ESB are working hard to develop offshore wind projects for the benefit of everyone across society in Ireland and the UK. This includes ongoing engagement with marine users and local communities so ESB can deliver these significant projects.

Offshore wind will play a major role globally in our fight against climate change. It will help to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with that from a clean, safe and secure renewable energy source. Ireland’s geographic location on the exposed edge of the Atlantic presents us with a significant opportunity to generate electricity from wind – both offshore and onshore.

Power from onshore wind farms currently provide over one-third of Ireland’s electricity needs. But, whilst its marine area is many times the size of its landmass, Ireland’s offshore wind potential is only starting to be realised. ESB have a coastline stretching over 3,000km but only one operational offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank, with a capacity of 25 MW. In contrast, Belgium’s coastline is only 63km long, but it has already developed more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind. In Great Britain, with a coastline four times the length of ours, offshore wind generation now equates to over 440 Arklow Banks, with an installed capacity of 11,0000 MW as of late 2021.

The Irish Government's target to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in our maritime area by 2030 is set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. It also has the objective to source 80% of Ireland’s electricity needs from renewables by the same year. In line with this, ESB is applying its professional and proven engineering expertise to the challenges set within the Climate Action Plan.

ESB are committed to playing a strong role in developing Ireland’s offshore wind potential for the benefit of the people of Ireland. This will be done in consultation with marine users and local communities, and with due care for the marine environment.