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Displaying items by tag: Dinghies

23rd February 2020

Adults Sail Dinghies Too

I learned my sailing crewing aboard a National 18 in Cork Harbour. That opportunity came through an adult sailing course because it was in my late 20s that I gained access to the sport.

Back then was not a time when getting into sailing was as easy as it is today. From crewing I bought a new Mirror dinghy and then a Vagabond, because it was the dominant dinghy fleet at the time in the club I joined - Monkstown Bay SC. At one stage there was a fleet of 30 of these 12ft. dinghies, which didn’t carry a spinnaker like the Mirror, but which was more attractive for me – because Vagabonds were raced by parents and their children. It was a great class. Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, crewed for each other. The class had so many boats it qualified to have annual ‘national championships’ under then Irish Sailing Association regulations.

So adults sailed dinghies too!

But, gradually, ageing affected the Vagabond fleet, parents got older, younger and often better sailors took over in the natural evolution of things. The fleet continued to thrive until those youngsters moved on, getting jobs, moving away from the village and, gradually, the fleet died out.

Some of those young sailors went onto cruisers, others were lost to the sport, underlining a discussion which has followed my Podcast two weeks ago on the Irish Cruiser Racing Association’s Under 25 scheme, to encourage young sailors to get into cruisers as they come to an age when dinghies may no longer be their choice.

National 18 sailing Cork HarbourNational 18 dinghy sailing in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

But, of course, there are adults who sail dinghies too. The National 18 fleet, where I learned to sail, is thriving in Cork Harbour. There are adults crews and fleets of Mermaids. Dublin Bay and Foynes are places I’ve reported about them. There are adult-crewed and active fleets of Wayfarers, Albacores, Lasers and others at various clubs and even, as has been pointed out to me, adults sailing Mirrors. Then there are other ‘open’ and ‘keel’ boats, the 1720s and 505s, Squibs and others, that are not cruisers, so there are other opportunities for young sailors to stay active in the sport.

"My underlying point is that adults sail dinghies too – so this is also an avenue for youngsters to remain in the sport …"

I was discussing this with Brian Raftery of ICRA whom I interviewed about the Under 25 cruiser racing programme to keep young people in sailing which he is leading. Listen to Brian Raftery here. He is a member of Sligo Yacht Club which has a very active GP fleet, a boat in which adults also sail in several clubs. “There are twenty GP14s in the dinghy park, 10-12 racing each week making up less than half of the club’s adult sailors. Nationally the GP is the biggest adult dinghy fleet in the country with about 40 boats at its National Championships every year,” he told me and added that the GP's have been successful in getting younger sailors into their fleet.

He said that he would “love to see someone take on the Under 25 area within dinghies.”

That is a good point. Why not?

As dinghy classes tend to operate somewhat in isolation in the sense of the various clubs where they are active, rather than the wider ambience of national cruiser organisation, it may be harder to develop a national/cross/class dinghy U25 approach.

My underlying point this week is that adults sail dinghies too – so this is also an avenue for youngsters to remain in the sport …

The important thing is to – KEEP ON SAILING.

• More on the Podcast below

Published in Tom MacSweeney
Tagged under

A new business launched by a well-known sailor on the Water Wags scene uses upcycled sails to create quirky travel washbags.

Prisca Bags is the brainchild of Amanda Chambers, who repurposes old fabric from many different sources into a variety of bags for multiple uses.

One of the latest additions to her range using dinghy and spinnaker sail fabric, turned into “squashable, washable” travel bags.

Making the perfect gift for a spring getaway to a loved one — or yourself! — Prisca Bags are now available from the Dun Laoghaire Pharmacy on Upper George’s Street and other local retailers.

Viking Marine is among those congratulating Amanda, known for sailing the Water Wag Freddie as well as Spirit in the White Sails class, on her new ‘green’ venture.

The chandlery at The Pavilion in Dun Laoghaire is also putting out a shout for old dinghy and spinnaker sails as Amanda is working on upcycled props for the store.

Contact Amanda on Facebook HERE.

Published in Viking Marine

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 28 JUNE 2016

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 2. Powder Monkey (C Moore)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Pamafe (M Costello), 2. Isolde (B Mulqueen & J Martin), 3. Ventuno (R Fogarty)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 2. No Name (S Oram), 3. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. Incubus (C Power/M Barry), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. No Name (S Oram)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenroan (T O'Sullivan), 3. Glenshane (P Hogan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Chaos (Pam McKay)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

Laser Race 1- 1. D Maloney (LDYC), 2. E Delap (DMYC), 3. John Marmelstein (RSGYC)

Laser Race 2- 1. D Maloney (LDYC), 2. E Delap (DMYC), 3. Gary O'Hare (RSGYC)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Richard Tate (), 2. Des Fortune (Finn)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Different Drummer (D Tonge), 2. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al)

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for Tuesday, 21st June 2016 

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Powder Monkey (C Moore), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Ventuno (R Fogarty), 2. Wynward (W McCormack), 3. Pamafe (M Costello)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenshane (P Hogan), 3. Glenroan (T O'Sullivan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

Laser Race 1- 1. E Delap (DMYC), 2. P Cahill (RSGYC), 3. Paul Keane (RIYC)

Laser Race 2- 1. Sean Craig (RSGYC), 2. Gary O'Hare (RSGYC), 3. Theo Lyttle (RSGYC)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Richard Tate (), 2. S Gordienok (Laser Vago), 3. P Ter Host (Laser Vago)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. Richard Tate (), 2. S Gordienok (Laser Vago), 3. P Ter Host (Laser Vago)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al), 3. Ruff N Ready (Brian Uniacke)

 

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 14 JUNE 2016

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

FIREBALL - 1. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Slipstream (Julie Ascoop), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

Laser - 1. E Delap (DMYC), 2. D Maloney (LDYC), 3. C O'Leary ()

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P Smith/P Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS - 1. Richard Tate (), 2. Des Fortune (Finn)

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Tuesday, 7th June 2016

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Borraine (D Butler), 2. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Pamafe (M Costello), 2. Asterix (Boushel/Meredith/Counihan), 3. Maranda (M Kelly)

FIREBALL - 1. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 2. No Name (S Oram), 3. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna)

FIREBALL - 1. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 2. No Name (S Oram), 3. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenroan (T O'Sullivan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

Laser - 1. Gary O'Hare (RSGYC), 2. John Marmelstein (RSGYC), 3. Ross O'Leary ()

Laser Race 2- 1. Ross O'Leary (), 2. John Marmelstein (RSGYC), 3. Michael McCormack ()

MERMAID - 1. Jill (P Smith/P Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Jill (P Smith/P Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Different Drummer (D Tonge)

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Tuesday, 31st MAY 2016

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Bendemeer (L Casey & D Power)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Grasshopper II (K & J Glynn), 2. Maranda (M Kelly), 3. Papytoo (M Walsh/F Guilfoyle)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 2. No Name (S Oram), 3. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 3. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth)

GLEN - 1. Glenariff (Adrian Lee), 2. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 3. Glenshane (P Hogan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne), 3. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

Laser Race 1- 1. D O'Connell (NYC), 2. Paul Keane (RIYC), 3. Sean Craig (RSGYC)

Laser Race 2- 1. D O'Connell (NYC), 2. Ross O'Leary (), 3. P Cahill (RSGYC)

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Jill (P Smith/P Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

MERMAID Race 1- 1. Jill (P Smith/P Mangan), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 2. Richard Tate (), 3. S Gordienok (Laser Vago)

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. Richard Tate (), 2. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 3. P Ter Host (Laser Vago)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al), 3. Different Drummer (D Tonge)

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Tuesday, 24th MAY 2016

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Wynward (W McCormack), 2. Capilano (S Soran), 3. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall)

FIREBALL - 1. No Name (S Oram), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Slipstream (Julie Ascoop), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)

Laser - 1. Paul Keane (RIYC), 2. E Delap (DMYC), 3. D Maloney (RSGYC)

PY CLASS - 1. Hugh Sheehy (OK Dinghy), 2. Tom Murphy (K1), 3. S Gordienok (Laser Vago)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Different Drummer (D Tonge), 2. Ruff Diamond (D.Byrne et al), 3. Ruff Justice (B Dobson)

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Results for Tuesday, 17 MAY 2016

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 2. Kernach (Eoin O'Driscoll)

CRUISERS 3 Tuesday - 1. Pamafe (M Costello), 2. Jiminy Cricket (M Tyndall), 3. Maranda (M Kelly)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 2. No Name (S Oram), 3. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. Clandog Millionaire (C Clancy), 2. Blind Squirrel (Frank Miller), 3. No Name (S Oram)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenariff (Adrian Lee), 3. Glencoe (Rose Mary Craig et al)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dart (Pierre Long), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 3. Diane (B Murphy)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Diane (B Murphy)

Laser Race 2- 1. Paul Keane (RIYC), 2. E Delap (DMYC), 3. P Cahill (RSGYC)

Laser Race 1- 1. Paul Keane (RIYC), 2. E Delap (DMYC), 3. P Cahill (RSGYC)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Different Drummer (D Tonge), 2. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 3. Ruff N Ready (Brian Uniacke)

Published in DBSC

#dbsc – At five minutes past one, the INSS Sailors competing in the DMYC Frostbites as part of the INSS Race Training Programme, were rigging their boats on the Coal Harbour Slipway, raring to go in a big breeze writes Kenneth Rumball. However it was not to be, the DMYC Frostbites race committee took the understandable decision that strong winds and swell from the Northerly wind in the harbour made attempting racing too difficult.

The trainees were disappointed, according to our race coach Alexander Rumball who was accompanying them in his RS400. So it was decided, Magnos and Laser IIs were put away in favour of Laser Picos with reefed sails. One of the Irish National Sailing Club members launched his Laser, accompanied by an INSS instructor in a school radial. With Alexander's RS400 included, there were the makings of a fleet large enough to get some racing done.

A triangle was set with the weather mark near the top of the West Pier, which according to the sailor's reports was a challenge to get around cleanly in the swell. On the start line we were joined by three more RS400's, a couple of Lasers and a Solo dinghy. The INSS support RIB acted as committee boat and two races were held. Unfortunately we aren't able to publish results as the Race Officer for the day doubled as safety boat driver and was called on to give a hand to a Laser which had dropped its rig during a capsize. While the rig was successfully put back up, the safety boat didn't quite make it back to be a committee boat in time to record the finishers.

No one seemed to mind though, everyone was just glad to be out on the water and enjoying the challenge the conditions posed. Our racing programme trainees were delighted with the chance to practice in stronger winds, and we were equally as happy to be able to provide the course, flags and a few horns so that the Dun Laoghaire dinghy sailors who braved the weather could join in too.

Published in Dublin Bay
Tagged under
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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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