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Are you Interested in Sailing or Buying a Sigma 33?

Experience a sail at our Open Morning on Sunday, 24th September 2017 at the Royal St. George Yacht Club

from  9.30–1.00 O’Clock

Followed by finger food in the Club afterwards

For more details call Paddy Maguire 087 2361916 or e- mail [email protected]

More details on the Sigma 33 class from the 2017 season below.

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta was for the Sigma 33 one design class the third major open Championship of 2017. The season stared in Tarbert, Scotland at the end of May, with the Scottish series with ten competitors and was won by “Mayrise” James Miller of Cove Sailing Club (CCC) with four wins from eight races.

The next event was in Helensburgh in Mid-June for the Class Championships which was won by “ Miss Behavin” Alan Lennox, Helensburgh Sailing Club. The 13–boat fleet completed eight of the ten planned races over the three days.

The Dun Laoghaire Regatta series had 19 entries including nine from the home waters and ten visitors from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, the Isle of Man and local boats from Arklow and Waterford. The nine race series was dominated the top six visiting boats. Most of them had competed in Tarbert and Helensburgh and benefited from the close racing at both events. It proved very difficult for local boats to break into the top six in any race. The racing was very competitive with places changing on all legs. The Dun Laoghaire Regatta series was won by Alan Harper & Kristy Robertson in “ Mayraise” The Irish Championship were run in conjunction with the regatta and won by Paul Prentice in “ Squawk” from the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.

Sigma33 Dublin Bay 1 0497Visiting Sigma 33 crews to Dublin Bay in July visiting crews were made up of young and experienced sailors, both men and women. Photo: Afloat.ie

The Sigma 33’s were the biggest one design keelboat class at the regatta and this added to the more enjoyable competition for competitors. The visiting crews comprised young and experienced sailors, both men and women. It’s on occasions like that that you think of how good Tim Goodbody was in that he was regularly in the top three in such regattas.

It wasn’t all racing and on the Friday night 120 of the fleet held a bicentennial Dinner in The Royal Irish Yacht Club. Prizes were presented to the winners of the day’s racing “ Mayrise” Alan Harper and Kristy Robertson CCC and “Rupert” Richard and Philip Lovegrove of the RStGYC. Thanks to Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, each boat was presented with a History of the Harbour.

The local fleet will recognise that they need to be more competitive as a fleet if they are to compete more successfully in this type of competitive regatta. There is a big incentive for the Class. In 2018, the Sigma 33 National Championships and Irish Championships will be held in Dun Laoghaire and 2019 is a Dun Laoghaire Regatta year. It is expected that similar entries to 2017 will compete each year. This also provides a great opportunity for young local sailors to acquire a Sigma 33 with a major event in local waters for each of the next two years and discover how successfully they could compete against the visitors and local sailors.

Sigma33 Dublin Bay 2 0485The Sigma 33 Fleet will hold a 'Sigma 33 Morning' on Sunday 24th September 2017 at 9.30am in The Royal St. George in Dun Laoghaire

As part of the recognition of the changes required to improve our competitiveness, the Sigma 33 Fleet will hold a 'Sigma 33 Morning' to enable anyone interested in buying or sailing on Sigma 33’s to sail on Sunday 24th September 2017 at 9.30am in The George. All are welcome to come down and to join us for finger food afterwards. If you wish to attend please confirm your attendance by contacting Sigma 33 Class Captain Paddy Maguire at [email protected]

Published in Sigma

#HYC - Howth Yacht Club has posted the Notice of Race and sailing instructions for the Lambay Race and Howth Regatta taking place this Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, this year’s Lambay Race will feature a special ‘ISORA class’ alongside the day race scheduled by the offshore sailing series this Saturday.

However, the ISORA fleet will continue from the Lambay finish mark in Howth towards Dublin Port to join the festivities at Dublin Riverfest.

As for the annual North Dublin regatta, the entry list stands at 62 boats as of this morning (Monday 29 May).

While the vast majority of entrants are cruisers both spinnaker and non-spinnaker, there are a few Puppeteers, Ruffian 23s and of course Howth 17s in the mix for the races, recently paid tribute by our own WM Nixon.

Published in Howth YC
Tagged under

#Rowing: Sanita Puspure was part of the top women’s crew at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. The Old Collegians rower took the honours in the Women’s Championship Eights, with a crew of the top scullers in the world, stroked by American Genevra Stone.

 Paul and Gary O’Donovan finished second in their final race, the Directors’ Challenge Men’s Quads. The Skibbereen men teamed up with John Collins and Jonathan Walton of Leander to form a crew which they called Crossing the Pond.

Head of the Charles River, Boston (Irish interest; selected results)

Saturday

Men

Championship Doubles: 8 P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan 17 min 39.742 seconds.

Women

Championships Doubles: 1 K Brennan, E Twigg 18:08.7, 2 M Lobnig, S Puspure 18:20.219.

Sunday (Provisional)

Men

Directors’ Challenge Quads: 2 Crossing the Pond (G O’Donovan, J Walton, J Collins, G O’Donovan) 16:30.304.

Women

Championship Eights: 1 Cambridge (S Puspure, M Knapkova, M Lobnig, J Gmelin, C Zeeman, E Twigg, K Brennan, G Stone; cox: E Driscoll) 16:30.368.

Published in Rowing

For many years now the 1898-founded Howth 17s have spun quite an event out of their annual “National Championship” writes W M Nixon. It may only be a weekend series for a vintage one-design class at its home port, but they make it a three-day event by starting with an evening race on the Friday. As for the mid-championship dinner on the Saturday night, that has assumed epic proportions. And at one stage they found their owners and crews were giving such dedication to a weekend that concludes with a monster prizegiving Sunday lunch that they cheerfully referred to it all as the Howth 17 Worlds, from which title they had to be gently dissuaded (over time) by the National Authority.

Whatever it’s called, it’s a remarkable celebration of down home sailing, so inevitably last year HYC’s then Honorary Sailing Secretary Emmet Dalton got to thinking that, as all the on-water and shoreside infrastructure was in place for a proper championship, surely it made sense to see if other classic One-Design classes would like to be involved as well?

Mermaid dinghy The Mermaids – seen here racing at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta - decided to make their National Championship 2016 part of the new Classic OD Regatta at Howth

The veteran Mermaid Class (which dates from 1932) didn’t merely rise to the bait. They swallowed it whole. And then they took some more, as they’re bringing their Mermaid Nationals 2016 to Howth from Thurday 4th to Sunday 7th August, thereby over-lapping the Howth 17 Championship from the Friday to Sunday.

The Mermaids are in fine form – as reported in Afloat.ie, they had an encouraging turnout of 18 boats for the recent Skerries Regatta. With the Mermaid contingent from Foynes planning on coming across country, and several times champion Jonathan O’Rourke of the National YC also emerging from Dublin Bay with his successful Tiller Girl, it will be an impressive fleet.

Howth 17 AuraReady to roll….Ian Malcolm’s 1898-vintage Howth 17 Aura kitted up in Howth for the journey up the M1 and participation in the RUYC 150th Anniversary Regatta on Belfast Lough. Photo: W M Nixon

Howth 17 yachtNot all the Howth 17s were road-trailed to Belfast Lough. The 1907-built Deilginis sailed there in two hops, with an overnight stop in Ardglass. Long-time Howth 17 veteran Nick Massey is seen here at the helm as Deilginis sweeps through Donaghadee Sound with a fair tide to enter Belfast Lough, and the GPS showing 8.2 knots over the ground. Photo: Davy Nixon

Howth 17 yachtOn Belfast Lough, the Howth 17s held a special race from Bangor to Carrickfergus where the first five boats of the class were built by John Hilditch in 1898, and they’re seen here arriving off Carrickfergus SC (founded 1866) with Aura (no 7) in the lead. Photo: Trish Nixon
This in turn has upped the ante for the ancient Howth 17s. Recently returned from starring in the Royal Ulster YC’s 150th Anniversary celebrations on Belfast Lough, back in Howth they’ve been determinedly getting every Howth 17 in existence into commission and sailing in time for the weekend of 5th to 7th August.

This scheme has included allocating the current newest boat – the class-owned Sheila which was built over several years at a number of locations – to the new HYC Vice Commodore for the season, and as he happens to be Emmet Dalton who also has a foiling International Moth, he’s having a busy year of it.

But while some of the Howth 17s are maintained to classic yacht standards, others are in something of state of limbo both as regards ownership and readiness for sea. However, the community spirit of the Howth 17s is a wonder to behold, and through 2016 the pace of voluntary work has accelerated with a team co-ordinated by Ian Malcolm implementing an action plan to get boats fitted out and into the water. Any time now, with Bobolink being launched, we’ll see all eighteen Howth 17s afloat and sailing in time for the championship.

Howth 17 AnitaTeam work. Ian Malcolm (centre) with his volunteers after the moth-balled Howth 17 Anita was launched last week after a fit-out in record time. Photo: W M Nixon

Howth 17 yachtWhen a Howth 17 is newly-launched, the first thing you do is check for leaks. Photo: W M Nixon
It will be a record for the class, but it will be a record which may well be beaten next year. Just this week Ian Malcolm – who already owns the 1898-vintage Aura – exchanged contracts and a deposit with Skol ar Mor in southern Brittany for a brand new Howth 17.

The people in the boat-building school at Skol ar Mor are no strangers to the Irish classic yacht scene, as last year they launched a new Water Wag, and before that they re-built the Dublin Bay 24 Periwinkle in immaculate style. So their take on a Howth 17 will be fascinating to behold.

But for now, attention is focusing ever more closely on what has become the inaugural Howth Classic One-Design Regatta from August 4th to 7th. With the Mermaids committed to bringing their own band for the Saturday night party, it will be quite something. And who knows, but next year it might entice other classes to get involved, leading on to even greater things.

Howth 17This winter, a new Howth 17 will be in build in Skol ar Mor in Brittany, but today – Wednesday July 27th – the 1907-built Bobolink has been getting a very swift fit-out to make sure a record fleet of eighteen Howth 17s is racing on August 5th. Photo: W M Nixon

Published in Historic Boats
Tagged under

#Rowing - The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta will be held on Sunday 31 July on a 400m stretch of the waterway immediately south of the town bridge.

​Hundreds of spectators and competitors are expected at the event, one of the final rowing events of the season, which is supported by Waterways Ireland through its sponsorship programme.

Events begin at 8am and will run till around 6pm. Craft wishing to make a through passage will be facilitated every two hours (approx) during the course of the regatta. Mooring restrictions will apply in Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate the regatta.

In the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course, access to the floating moorings will be restricted in the run-up to and during the event itself.

Only vessels of an overall length of 22ft/6.8m or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 July. Vessels berthed from Friday 29 July at 4pm will be required to remain in place until racing finishes on the Sunday evening.

The floating jetties will be closed off during this time and no vessels should approach as the entrance to the berths will be closed off and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course. Access to the floating jetties will be monitored from Monday 25 July.

Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area.

Further information can be had by contacting the Waterways Ireland inspectorate at +353 (0)87 985 2324 or North Shannon operations at +353 (0)71 96 50787.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: NUIG won a two-boat battle with Commercial in the men’s senior eights final at the inaugural Lough Rynn Regatta in Leitrim today. The young crew had just under two lengths to spare. Daire Lynch of Clonmel and Ronan Byrne of Shandon won the men’s senior double – a notable victory for this junior crew as they set out to prove their capacity to the Ireland selectors. Portora had an excellent day, with their club one eight being the best women’s crew. The regatta was a success and was run in spectacular conditions, with bright sunshine and calm water.

Lough Rynn Regatta, Saturday – Selected Results

 Men

Eight - Senior: NUIG A. Intermediate: Portora. Jun 18A: Portora. Jun 16: Portora. Jun 15: St Joseph’s. Masters: Commercial/Sligo/Tribesmen. Mixed Invitational: Portora A.

Four – Senior: NUIG A. Jun 18A, coxed: Pres, Cork A. Jun 16, coxed: Portora. Invitational: Galway D204.

Pair – Senior: Commercial A. Inter: Portora. Jun 18A: Clonmel.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club One, coxed: Neptune. Nov: Neptune B. Jun 18A: Three Castles. Jun 16: Commercial. Jun 15: St Joseph’s.

Double – Senior: Clonmel/Shandon (D Lynch, R Byrne). Club One: Sligo. Jun 18A: Commercial. Jun 16: Col Iognaid.

Single – Senior: Garda (D Kelly). Inter: Athlone (P Munnelly). Masters: Commercial (D Crowley). Jun 18A: Commercial (Beggan). Jun 16: Col Iognaid (M Ryder).

Women

Eight – Club One: Portora. Jun 18A: Portora. Jun 16: Col Iognaid.

Four – Inter, coxed: Portora. Club One, coxed: Commercial B. Jun 18A: Galway RC.  

Pair – Sen: Bann. Inter: Bann.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club One: Commercial. Nov: Neptune A. Jun 18A: Bann. Jun 16, coxed: Galway RC. Jun 15, coxed: Commercial A.

Double – Club One: Univ of Limerick A. Jun 18A: Bann. Jun 15: Commercial A.

Single – Sen: Three Castles (B Quinn). Inter: Garda (B Larsen). Jun 18A: Neptune (C Feerick). Jun 16: Col Iognaid (C Nic Dhonncha).  

Published in Rowing
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#PesaroRovigno - This year's Pesaro-Rovigno regatta in the Adriatic was marked by a serious collision between two competing boats at the weekend, as the photo above shows.

According to Liguria Nautica News, Michele Cinquepalmi's 83ft Maxi Chica Magnum was on a starboard tack and Kuka, the Sly 42 of Roberto Casadei, was on a port tack when they collided at the pre-start on one of the two scheduled races of the Italy-to-Croatia regatta.

It's not yet known how the boats came to cross paths but the damage to the much smaller Sly 42 was significant, and some of its crew were treated for minor injuries after the larger vessel's hull created a deep gash in its starboard side.

Liguria Nautica News has more on the story HERE.

And here's video from on board Kuka which appears to be from shortly before the collision:

Published in News Update

Plans to re–run August's abandoned Greystones Cruiser Regatta in October have changed slightly due to a conflict of dates with some sporting fixtures. While Sunday October 4 had been initially slated as the rescheduled date, organiser Daragh Cafferkey now says it will run on Saturday, October 3rd instead. 

'We have been asked to avoid a clash with Sunday's Ireland v Italy Rugby International and accordingly we have opted for Sat afternoon with hopefully enough time for boats to comfortably make it over in the morning', Cafferkey told Afloat.ie

The August event attracted over 150 boats.

'We have many trophies, winners jackets, wine and other awards that remain unclaimed and accordingly we will rerun two short races or one longer race on Saturday with a warning signal of 14.25'.

All entries for Aug 30th remain live for this event but the freebee vouchers for burgers or berths are gone but a 50% discount will apply at Greystones Harbour marina.

 

Published in Greystones Harbour

#ROWING: Portora Royal School lost to Gonzaga College High School by half a length in the fastest race so far in the Princess Elizabeth at Henley Royal Regatta. The Enniskillen crew gave a remarkable display, refusing to let the bigger American crew extend their early lead to clear water. The crews overlapped down the course, with Portora mounting repeated pushes. Gonzaga finished well under pressure and won in a time of six minutes 38 seconds.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Two (Irish interest)

Princess Elizabeth (Eights, Schoolboy): Gonzaga College High School, United States bt Portora Royal School ½ l, 6:38

Published in Rowing
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