Displaying items by tag: South Coast Garda Sailing Club

7th October 2009

South Coast Garda Sailing Club

The Garda Siochana (Irish Police Force), Sailing Club was formed in October 1993 to promote sailing and all its benefits among members of the Force.

The Force now has two clubs – one on the South Coast and another on the East Coast, based in Dublin.

Membership of SCGSC is open to Garda and non-Garda members. If you would like to learn more about what we do please contact us.

SCGSC is the proud owner s of Explorer, a Beneteau 393, pictured above. SCGSC has previously owned a Westerly Konsort and a Jeanneau SunFizz.

The 2005 cruising programme included a number of cruises on the South West Coast and two aborted cruises to the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall. Even the foolhardy occasionally stay in port in bad weather.

In the racing front the club has competed in the Round Ireland and Cork Week races. Already in 2005 the club claims a 3rd place in the Cobh Regatta and third overall in the Cobh Sailing Club September League. We also achieved a notable 6th place in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League White Fleet. Well done everybody concerned.

In racing in 2006 the Club placed 3rd in White Fleet in the annual Blackrock Race, we have also competed in several of the Leagues hosted by Cobh Sailing Club during the summer with notable results.

We would welcome contact from other police force sailing clubs internationally.

Cruise bookings: [email protected]

(The above information and image courtesy of the South Coast Garda Sailing Club)

South Coast Garda Sailing Club, c/o Patrick Allen, Anglesea Street Garda Station, Cork. Tel: 087 278 6794, email: [email protected]

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour