Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Dublin Bay Old Gaffers

So many boat events are scheduled in Ireland for this weekend that the powers-that-be should maybe take notice, and make it into the Bank Holiday that everyone seems to think it is. The official one at the beginning of May is too early, and has never really taken off, as many people just leave Ireland altogether and fly south for the sun, which is no help for any Irish organisation.

Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association and hospitable Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club in Ringsend are past masters at making folk in from the sea very welcome indeed, and the poster more than hints at the entertainment being lined up along the Liffey for three days hence and beyond.

Dublin Bay Classic & Traditional Boats Focus This Weekend Is At Poolbeg In Dublin Port

Published in Dublin Bay Old Gaffers

Although the beautiful Lough Corrib is one of the most important features of County Galway and has played a key role in the life and transport in the West since time immemorial, it is not connected to Ireland's main inland waterways system network based around the Shannon, Erne and Barrow.

As Afloat reported previously, this has always added to a certain air of mystery to the large and handsome western lake, but Karl Brady, Senior Archaeologist with the Underwater Unit of the Heritage, has been researching it in detail over many years, and some of his and his team's most remarkable discoveries will be revealed in a Dublin Bay Old Gaffers' Association. "All Are Welcome" lecture this Thursday, April 18th at 8.0pm in the usual venue, Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club.

The talk in aid of the RNLI will take place at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on April 18th at 8 p.m., and all are welcomeThe talk in aid of the RNLI will take place at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on April 18th at 8 p.m., and all are welcome

Published in Dublin Bay Old Gaffers

Logboats and craft dating from 2,500 BC to the 11th century on Galway’s Corrib is the theme of a lecture by State archaeologist Karl Brady to the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers' Association later this month.

Brady is a senior archaeologist with the State’s Underwater Archaeology Unit and has worked on many discoveries in Irish inland and coastal waters over some years, including cannon recovered from Spanish Armada wrecks.

Viking axes and Bronze Age spearheads are among the items found, along with vessel remains, after a hydrographic survey of Lough Corrib in which he was involved.

The talk in aid of the RNLI will take place at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on April 18th at 8 p.m., and all are welcome.

The talk in aid of the RNLI will take place at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on April 18th at 8 p.m., and all are welcomeThe talk in aid of the RNLI will take place at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on April 18th at 8 p.m., and all are welcome

Published in Dublin Bay Old Gaffers

RORC Fastnet Race

This race is both a blue riband international yachting fixture and a biennial offshore pilgrimage that attracts crews from all walks of life:- from aspiring sailors to professional crews; all ages and all professions. Some are racing for charity, others for a personal challenge.

For the world's top professional sailors, it is a 'must-do' race. For some, it will be their first-ever race, and for others, something they have competed in for over 50 years! The race attracts the most diverse fleet of yachts, from beautiful classic yachts to some of the fastest racing machines on the planet – and everything in between.

The testing course passes eight famous landmarks along the route: The Needles, Portland Bill, Start Point, the Lizard, Land’s End, the Fastnet Rock, Bishop’s Rock off the Scillies and Plymouth breakwater (now Cherbourg for 2021 and 2023). After the start in Cowes, the fleet heads westward down The Solent, before exiting into the English Channel at Hurst Castle. The finish for 2021 is in Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland.

  • The leg across the Celtic Sea to (and from) the Fastnet Rock is known to be unpredictable and challenging. The competitors are exposed to fast-moving Atlantic weather systems and the fleet often encounter tough conditions
  • Flawless decision-making, determination and total commitment are the essential requirements. Crews have to manage and anticipate the changing tidal and meteorological conditions imposed by the complex course
  • The symbol of the race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast of Ireland. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland, the Rock marks an evocative turning point in the challenging race
  • Once sailors reach the Fastnet Rock, they are well over halfway to the finish in Cherbourg.

Fastnet Race - FAQs

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, UK on Sunday 8th August 2021.

The next two editions of the race in 2021 and 2023 will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the head of the Normandy peninsula, France

Over 300. A record fleet is once again anticipated for the world's largest offshore yacht race.

The international fleet attracts both enthusiastic amateur, the seasoned offshore racer, as well as out-and-out professionals from all corners of the world.

Boats of all shapes, sizes and age take part in this historic race, from 9m-34m (30-110ft) – and everything in between.

The Fastnet Race multihull course record is: 1 day 4 hours 2 minutes and 26 seconds (2019, Ultim Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier)

The Fastnet Race monohull course record is: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing).

David and Peter Askew's American VO70 Wizard won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race, claiming the Fastnet Challenge Cup for 1st in IRC Overall.

Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001.

The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

The winner of the first Fastnet Race was the former pilot cutter Jolie Brise, a boat that is still sailing today.

Cork sailor Henry P F Donegan (1870-1940), who gave his total support for the Fastnet Race from its inception in 1925 and competed in the inaugural race in his 43ft cutter Gull from Cork.

Ireland has won the Fastnet Race twice. In 1987 the Dubois 40 Irish Independent won the Fastnet Race overall for the first time and then in 2007 – all of twenty years after Irish Independent’s win – Ireland secured the overall win again this time thanks to Ger O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 Chieftain from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in Kilrush.

©Afloat 2020

Fastnet Race 2023 Date

The 2023 50th Rolex Fastnet Race will start on Saturday, 22nd July 2023

.

At A Glance – Fastnet Race

  • The world's largest offshore yacht race
  • The biennial race is 695 nautical miles - Cowes, Fastnet Rock, Cherbourg
  • A fleet of over 400 yachts regularly will take part
  • The international fleet is made up of over 26 countries
  • Multihull course record: 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes (2011, Banque Populaire V)
  • Monohull course record: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi)
  • Largest IRC Rated boat is the 100ft (30.48m) Scallywag 100 (HKG)
  • Some of the Smallest boats in the fleet are 30 footers
  • Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001
  • The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

Featured Sailing School

INSS sidebutton

Featured Clubs

dbsc mainbutton
Howth Yacht Club
Kinsale Yacht Club
National Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Irish Yacht club
Royal Saint George Yacht Club

Featured Brokers

leinster sidebutton

Featured Webcams

Featured Associations

ISA sidebutton
ICRA
isora sidebutton

Featured Marinas

dlmarina sidebutton

Featured Chandleries

CHMarine Afloat logo
https://afloat.ie/resources/marine-industry-news/viking-marine

Featured Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Blogs

W M Nixon - Sailing on Saturday
podcast sidebutton
BSB sidebutton
wavelengths sidebutton
 

Please show your support for Afloat by donating