GRAND CANAL BASIN -DUBLIN

Waterways Ireland Inter-County Sailing Championship and Docklands Summer Festival 24, 25 and 26 June 2011

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners that as part of the Docklands Summer Festival, yacht racing will take place in the Grand Canal Basin from 09.00 hrs until 16.00hrs on Sun 26th June.

Course set up will take place between 10.00 hrs and 18hrs on Fri 24th while on Sat 25th, there will be a practice session from 13.00hrs until 19.00hrs.

In addition 'Come and Try It' activities including canoeing and paddle-boarding for novices will take place in the inner basin beside the Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre, from 10.00hrs until 18.00 on both days.

There will be restricted movement of vessels in the Grand Canal Basin during the events, lock operations will be suspended once the events have commenced.

Commercial operators in the Dock are requested to adhere to these restrictions and the planned routes and schedules for the duration of the event.

Boat owners presently in the Grand Canal Basin should comply with all reasonable instructions and guidance from event marshals.

Waterways Ireland thanks its customers for their cooperation in this matter

Charles Lawn
Lt Cdr (rtd)
Inspector of Navigation
22 Jun 2011.
Tel: 00 353 (0)90 6494232

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners that as part of the Docklands Summer Festival, yacht racing will take place in the Grand Canal Basin from 09.00 hrs until 16.00hrs on Sun 26th June.

On Sat 25th, there will be a practice session from 13.00hrs until 19.00hrs.

In addition 'Come and Try It' activities including canoeing and paddle-boarding for novices will take place in the inner basin beside the Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre, from 10.00hrs until 18.00 on both days.

There will be restricted movement of vessels in the Grand Canal Basin during the events, lock operations will be suspended once the events have commenced.

Commercial operators in the Dock are requested to adhere to these restrictions and the planned routes and schedules for the duration of the event.

Boat owners presently in the Grand Canal Basin should comply with all reasonable instructions and guidance from event marshals.

The Waterways Ireland Inter-Counties Sailing Championship 2011 is seeking more entries for the fresh water event taking place on June 26th in Dublin. So far six counties are entered but organiser Paul O'Riain is hoping to double that number for the inaugural event in three weeks time.

Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Down, Dublin, Derry, Fermanagh, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath Wexford and Wicklow.

This is an open invitaton to sailors, clubs and teams keen to do battle & represent their country, to contact the organisers about entering their team and county without delay as entry is limited to 20 county teams only for this inaugural event

The Deadline for entry is in ten days time, Friday 10th of June 2011.

For more information please contact the event director Paul Ó Riain at; +353 (0) 87 23 55 900

Waterways Ireland has been advised by Bord na Mona that an inspection will be undertaken of the rail bridge crossing the Shannon Navigation adjacent to the Shannonbridge power station using a mobile underbridge platform from the bridge deck.

The work will commence at 8 a.m on Tues June 7th and finish by 5 p.m. on Wed 8th Jun 2011.

To avoid any conflict with the mobile platform masters are instructed to use only the navigation span when it is indicated by the safety craft in attendance that it is safe to proceed.

The safety craft in attendance will fly a red flag, maintain a watch on Channel 16 marine VHF and exhibit an orange flashing light.

Masters are requested to note the advice of the safety marshals as to when it is safe to proceed through the bridge. It is hoped that disruption to river traffic will be minimal.

Further information may be had from Bord na Mona by contacting:
Ms Lisa Kealey
Civil Engineering Manager
Bord na Mona

Does your club want to represent your county in the Waterways Ireland Inter-Counties Sailing Championship 2011?

Now is your chance to race the ISA SailFleet J80s against other county teams for the honour of being crowned the inaugural Waterways Ireland Inter-County Sailing Champions for 2011.

Teams of 4/5 crew (to include at least 1 female) are invited to represent the different counties of Ireland in this novel event, taking place at Grand Canal Dock in Dublin on Sunday 26 June.

Submit your team's entry by 25 May and receive a 50% discount.

To find out more and to register please e-mail Paul at [email protected] or visit www.waterwaysracing.com for more details.

Waterways Ireland has released revised navigation guides to the inland waterways; the Shannon Erne Waterway and the Erne System as well as two free guides; the What's On Guide 2011 and Publications Catalogue.

The Shannon-Erne Waterways Charts have been updated to take account of the upgrade works that have taken place in recent years along the navigation. The revision of the navigation guides for Lough Erne have been facilitated by the survey work undertaken recently on the lakes by Waterways Ireland in joint partnership with OSNI. Staff from Operations and the Inspectorate have also been closely involved in the revisions. The price of the new guides remains unchanged.

The new inland waterways publications

The Whats On 2011 is a free guide to all the events taking place along the waterway corridors in 2011. The Publications Catalogue (free) highlights the publications Waterways Ireland has for sale and for free with Navigation, History and Activity sections covering a wide range of interests. A photographic book for Lough Erne has just been published and is also for sale through Waterways Ireland.
All the publications are available from the Waterways Ireland webshop www.shopwaterwaysireland.org or from retailers, hospitality outlets and Tourist Information Centres along the navigations.

The mighty Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, was once the commercial backbone of Ireland. Today the river and its lakes are a bustling, colourful navigation with busy harbours, peaceful bays, lively towns and fascinating heritage and historical sites – it is a treasure waiting to be discovered. For all the latest news on Inland Waterways click here.

The Lower Bann Navigation is a navigable river between Lough Neagh and Coleraine. For all the latest Inland Waterways news click here. With a fall of just 12.5 metres along its 60km length, there are just five locks, leaving open stretches of water which make it popular with watersports enthusiasts, anglers and cruisers. Careful zoning ensures that all activities are conducted with safety and enjoyment in mind.

The Grand Canal is one of Ireland's greatest engineering achievements. For all the latest Inland Waterways news click here. In the 18th century it was essential for industry; today it is just as important for leisure. From the cityscape of Dublin to the wide open spaces in the midlands, it remains a peaceful stretch of water enjoyed by walkers, boaters and anglers alike.

The Erne System comprises the unique island dotted expanses of the Upper Lough, the mountain fringed waters of the Lower Lough and, at its heart the island town of Enniskillen. For all the latest Inland Waterways news click here. It is a truly rural, unspoilt and tranquil leisure-oriented expanse, for boating enthusiasts as well as game & coarse anglers, and it offers opportunity for a variety of watersports.