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#dubarry – During their gruelling experiences throughout the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/9, the crew of the Irish entry, Green Dragon, had modified a 'workshop enhanced' version of Dubarry's existing performance sailing boot 'Fastnet' by adding a fairly crude, improvised integral gaiter. On their return to Galway, Green Dragon crew members Ian Walker, Neal McDonald and Damian Foxall, along with key onshore support personnel, met with the Dubarry Design and Engineering team led by Design Director Brian Geraghty. Their 'enhanced' boot was the subject of extensive examination and discussions that enabled Dubarry to garner a very detailed understanding of what sailors demand when working in the most extreme conditions imaginable. It was from these meetings with those that know, love and respect the ocean that the Crosshaven concept was conceived.

Crosshaven's most striking feature is the integral gaiter. It is made with a lightweight, high abrasion, water repellant fabric with an adjustable draw-cord collar that secures foul weather gear and prevents wash back. It also houses a drainage mesh for optimal water release and features high-visibility bands. It is thermally insulated, utilising a 350g GORE-TEX® Duratherm membrane for extra warmth and waterproofness, combined with a thermally-lined footbed, which provides the boot with full insulation. Reinforced toe and heel parts utilise Dubarry's unique D-Chassis System. This two-part foot support system is inspired by Formula 1 racing technology and uses a moulded RPU frame that minimizes heel pronation by adding extra support, protection and control.

Crosshaven also has finger pulls for easy foot entry and ExtraFit™ sizing. The inner leg is constructed of Dubarry's DryFast-DrySoft™ leathers and Cordura®. These features, combined with our award-winning NonSlip-NonMarking™ durable outsole, make this a very special, ultra high-performance sailing boot indeed.

Crosshaven has gone on to become the sailing boot of choice for top crews across the globe, including Team Telefonica and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in VOR 2011/12, and is currently at sea in the 2014/15 race on a number of boats including Team Brunel.

Published in Ocean Race
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#bootdusseldorf – The World's biggest yacht and watersports show is well on course for another successful showing ealry next year with boot Düsseldorf proving to be a safe haven in turbulent economic times. The yacht and watersports industry is concentrating its trade fair activities increasingly on the sector's international marketplace and filling the exhibition halls there. 1,650 exhibitors from over 50 countries will be premiering boats and presenting new products at the world's biggest yacht and watersports show from 19 to 27 January 2013. boot 2013 looks all set to pick up where its successful predecessor left off.

"We're well on course. In view of the tense situation on the international markets and particularly in southern Europe, all eyes of the industry are now on boot," says Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel, Director of boot Düsseldorf. "Numerous exhibitors want to book extra space. We are confident that the 17 boot halls will be filled pretty well to capacity and expect plenty of innovations and boat premieres and even a number of new arrivals from the international yacht scene."

The German boat and watersports market is currently "standing firm", according to the German Marine Federation (BVWW) in Cologne. It is proving to be in a much stronger state than its European neighbours, which applies particularly to the Mediterranean region strongly affected by the European debt crisis. boot Düsseldorf is benefiting from this scenario and has become the industry's premier choice.

Exhibitors are pinning their hopes on a continuation of German consumers' buying mood and on the roughly 50,000 foreign visitors with money to spend who travel to boot Düsseldorf from all over the world every year to find out all about the latest innovations in the boat and yacht sector.

International brand diversity

Roughly 40 per cent of those participating in boot 2013 will be coming from outside Germany. Some 650 foreign exhibitors from well over 50 countries are contributing to the highly international quality of what's on show at the trade fair centre. The biggest foreign contingent is the Netherlands with 140 exhibiting boatyards, equippers and service providers, followed by France and Italy each with 50 exhibitors, the United Kingdom with 30 and Austria 26.

International brand diversity is being bolstered by joint participations of leading boatbuilding nations. The UK, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Hungary have registered with joint stands.

Magnificent selection of sailing vessels

According to the BVWW, customers are currently showing a preference for value-retaining upmarket motor and sailing yachts. But there is also demand for trailerable motor boats. At boot 2013, the customer has a huge choice. In 11 exhibition halls, 440 exhibitors will be showing some 1700 boats and yachts of all sizes, ranging from canoes to large luxury yachts.

There is a magnificent selection of sailing boats under the boot 2013 umbrella. Over 150 international exhibitors will be presenting their premieres and further-developed products in Halls 16 and 17. Devotees of multihull vessels should make a detour to neighbouring Hall 15 where 15 exhibitors will be showing catamarans and trimarans of all sizes. The small but select segment of multihulls has come along very well in the last two years and is being given its own food & drink area at boot 2013, which will also offer space for meetings with customers and exchanges of information. On the Multihull Forum stage, the German association of multihull sailing boats Multihull Deutschland e.V. will be presenting information on sailing with catamarans and trimarans.

World market for motorised leisure boating

In the motor boat and motor yacht sector, Düsseldorf is offering almost everything that's available on the market, ranging from inflatable boats with outboard motors via open sports boats, day cruisers and cabin cruisers to large yachts. In a total of six halls, more than 250 boatyards, brokers and importers will be providing a representative overview of motorised leisure boating. Hall 4 is responding to the trend towards environment-friendly drives. On an area of 1600 square metres, boats with electric and hybrid drives will be on show at boot 2013. Steel yacht building, a Dutch speciality, is being jointly presented by a total of 20 exhibitors in Hall 15.

Run on refits

Everything one needs for and on boats – marine electronics, engines, accessories, functional clothing and marina equipment – can be found in Halls 11 and 12. The equipment market is in excellent shape. "Refit" is the buzz word, and there is currently strong interest in maintaining the value of existing boats. 350 international exhibitors are offering everything that's necessary and possible for smartening up boats and furnishing them more luxuriously.

Curtain up for large yachts

Hall 6 is the dazzling showcase for large, luxury yachts. For the big names in the world of large yachts – the likes of Ferretti, San Lorenzo, Princess and Riva – there's no alternative to boot Düsseldorf even in difficult times. With some 40 large yachts coupled with high-end boats and tenders plus a number of first-time and returning exhibitors, the standard of offering in large yacht Hall 6 has clearly stabilised. The new and established participants include such boatyards as Montefino, Marquis Yachts and Prestige. In the extra-large yacht sector, Sunseeker, Princess, Acico and Ferretti will be entering the stage with a broad array of models and novelties. The biggest yacht at boot 2013 is roughly 30 metres long and comes from the UK-based Princess boatyard.

To enhance brand diversity, boot is offering its customers the chance to present themselves at image stands. Leading boatyard exhibitors like Mangusta and Dominator from Italy and Gulcraft from the United Arab Emirates are seizing the opportunity. Computer-aided applications like augmented reality, with the aid of which exhibited items such as yacht models or images can be supplemented with virtual yacht animations via smartphone cameras, can be used in this form of "yachtless" presentation to supplement the existing range of information.

The blue motion lounge in Hall 6 is available to high-calibre customers from the industry as a business and shopping zone. It comes with high-quality catering, comfortably furnished areas for meetings with customers and negotiations, and shopping opportunities in exclusive boutiques. Exhibitors from the luxury retail trade will be present with jewellery, watches and exclusive interior decoration.

Excellently booked, as always, is Düsseldorf's Superyacht Show in Hall 7a. 100 exhibitors will be demonstrating their skills in the realisation of exclusive yachtbuilding projects, showing current plans and models at information stands and reporting on sector-specific services. The joint exhibitors here include Deutsche Yachten, Superyacht France and the Holland Yachting Group.

High level of bookings for diving

The world's biggest scuba diving show under the boot umbrella in Hall 3 is recording lively interest. Overall, some 350 exhibitors will be presenting diving equipment and diving destinations worldwide. Big-name exhibitors from the equipment sector like Aqua Lung are extending their presentations, and Mares is coming with its international diving centres to Düsseldorf. Visitors can expect marked growth in the offering of the trade and an abundance of exciting scuba diving destinations. On large joint stands, the Philippines, Maldives, Indonesia and Italy will be publicising their qualities as diving destinations. Small diving bases from Egypt are presenting themselves under the taucher.net umbrella.

Underwater photography now supplemented by the Watersports Photo and Video Center

The theme of underwater and outdoor photography in Hall 4 has developed very well. The Underwater Pixel World will be known as the Water Pixel World at boot 2013. This successfully established forum for underwater photography is now being supplemented by the Watersports Photo and Video Center with its brand-new action and outdoor cameras and will thus become the point of convergence for the entire leisure and sport photography world.

Experience 360° of watersports: 16 theme and adventure worlds

Under the motto "Experience 360° watersports", 16 theme and adventure worlds will await boot visitors next January. Those who practise watersports – anglers, surfers, kiters, divers, sailors paddlers or charterers – or wish to get to know a watersport will find their own special "world" at boot Düsseldorf.

This concept has been very well received. The numerous opportunities for trying out watersports in the exhibition halls attracted more young people and families to boot in the last three years.

boot 2013 will be offering international visitors this and more from 19 to 27 January daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Visitors can save time and money by purchasing boat admission tickets online. As a one-day ticket, the eTicket for adults costs EUR 14, EUR 4 less than over the counter. The two-day ticket is available for EUR 23. The ticket for a quick stroll through the exhibition centre – Monday to Friday from 3 pm – costs EUR 9 in the online shop. The tickets can be printed straight after purchase and used for free travel to and from the fair via the public transport network VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr). Tickets are available at www.boot.de.

Published in Marine Trade

Irish Olympic Sailing Team

Ireland has a proud representation in sailing at the Olympics dating back to 1948. Today there is a modern governing structure surrounding the selection of sailors the Olympic Regatta

Irish Olympic Sailing FAQs

Ireland’s representation in sailing at the Olympics dates back to 1948, when a team consisting of Jimmy Mooney (Firefly), Alf Delany and Hugh Allen (Swallow) competed in that year’s Summer Games in London (sailing off Torquay). Except for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Ireland has sent at least one sailor to every Summer Games since then.

  • 1948 – London (Torquay) — Firefly: Jimmy Mooney; Swallow: Alf Delany, Hugh Allen
  • 1952 – Helsinki — Finn: Alf Delany * 1956 – Melbourne — Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1960 – Rome — Flying Dutchman: Johnny Hooper, Peter Gray; Dragon: Jimmy Mooney, David Ryder, Robin Benson; Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1964 – Tokyo — Dragon: Eddie Kelliher, Harry Maguire, Rob Dalton; Finn: Johnny Hooper 
  • 1972 – Munich (Kiel) — Tempest: David Wilkins, Sean Whitaker; Dragon: Robin Hennessy, Harry Byrne, Owen Delany; Finn: Kevin McLaverty; Flying Dutchman: Harold Cudmore, Richard O’Shea
  • 1976 – Montreal (Kingston) — 470: Robert Dix, Peter Dix; Flying Dutchman: Barry O’Neill, Jamie Wilkinson; Tempest: David Wilkins, Derek Jago
  • 1980 – Moscow (Tallinn) — Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson (Silver medalists) * 1984 – Los Angeles — Finn: Bill O’Hara
  • 1988 – Seoul (Pusan) — Finn: Bill O’Hara; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; 470 (Women): Cathy MacAleavy, Aisling Byrne
  • 1992 – Barcelona — Europe: Denise Lyttle; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; Star: Mark Mansfield, Tom McWilliam
  • 1996 – Atlanta (Savannah) — Laser: Mark Lyttle; Europe: Aisling Bowman (Byrne); Finn: John Driscoll; Star: Mark Mansfield, David Burrows; 470 (Women): Denise Lyttle, Louise Cole; Soling: Marshall King, Dan O’Grady, Garrett Connolly
  • 2000 – Sydney — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, David O'Brien
  • 2004 – Athens — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, Killian Collins; 49er: Tom Fitzpatrick, Fraser Brown; 470: Gerald Owens, Ross Killian; Laser: Rory Fitzpatrick
  • 2008 – Beijing (Qingdao) — Star: Peter O’Leary, Stephen Milne; Finn: Tim Goodbody; Laser Radial: Ciara Peelo; 470: Gerald Owens, Phil Lawton
  • 2012 – London (Weymouth) — Star: Peter O’Leary, David Burrows; 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; Laser Radial: Annalise Murphy; Laser: James Espey; 470: Gerald Owens, Scott Flanigan
  • 2016 – Rio — Laser Radial (Women): Annalise Murphy (Silver medalist); 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; 49erFX: Andrea Brewster, Saskia Tidey; Laser: Finn Lynch; Paralympic Sonar: John Twomey, Ian Costello & Austin O’Carroll

Ireland has won two Olympics medals in sailing events, both silver: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson in the Flying Dutchman at Moscow 1980, and Annalise Murphy in the Laser Radial at Rio 2016.

The current team, as of December 2020, consists of Laser sailors Finn Lynch, Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon, 49er pairs Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle, and Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson, as well as Laser Radial sailors Annalise Murphy and Aoife Hopkins.

Irish Sailing is the National Governing Body for sailing in Ireland.

Irish Sailing’s Performance division is responsible for selecting and nurturing Olympic contenders as part of its Performance Pathway.

The Performance Pathway is Irish Sailing’s Olympic talent pipeline. The Performance Pathway counts over 70 sailors from 11 years up in its programme.The Performance Pathway is made up of Junior, Youth, Academy, Development and Olympic squads. It provides young, talented and ambitious Irish sailors with opportunities to move up through the ranks from an early age. With up to 100 young athletes training with the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway, every aspect of their performance is planned and closely monitored while strong relationships are simultaneously built with the sailors and their families

Rory Fitzpatrick is the head coach of Irish Sailing Performance. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and was an Athens 2004 Olympian in the Laser class.

The Performance Director of Irish Sailing is James O’Callaghan. Since 2006 James has been responsible for the development and delivery of athlete-focused, coach-led, performance-measured programmes across the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. A Business & Economics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he is a Level 3 Qualified Coach and Level 2 Coach Tutor. He has coached at five Olympic Games and numerous European and World Championship events across multiple Olympic classes. He is also a member of the Irish Sailing Foundation board.

Annalise Murphy is by far and away the biggest Irish sailing star. Her fourth in London 2012 when she came so agonisingly close to a bronze medal followed by her superb silver medal performance four years later at Rio won the hearts of Ireland. Murphy is aiming to go one better in Tokyo 2021. 

Under head coach Rory Fitzpatrick, the coaching staff consists of Laser Radial Academy coach Sean Evans, Olympic Laser coach Vasilij Zbogar and 49er team coach Matt McGovern.

The Irish Government provides funding to Irish Sailing. These funds are exclusively for the benefit of the Performance Pathway. However, this falls short of the amount required to fund the Performance Pathway in order to allow Ireland compete at the highest level. As a result the Performance Pathway programme currently receives around €850,000 per annum from Sport Ireland and €150,000 from sponsorship. A further €2 million per annum is needed to have a major impact at the highest level. The Irish Sailing Foundation was established to bridge the financial gap through securing philanthropic donations, corporate giving and sponsorship.

The vision of the Irish Sailing Foundation is to generate the required financial resources for Ireland to scale-up and execute its world-class sailing programme. Irish Sailing works tirelessly to promote sailing in Ireland and abroad and has been successful in securing funding of 1 million euro from Sport Ireland. However, to compete on a par with other nations, a further €2 million is required annually to realise the ambitions of our talented sailors. For this reason, the Irish Sailing Foundation was formed to seek philanthropic donations. Led by a Board of Directors and Head of Development Kathryn Grace, the foundation lads a campaign to bridge the financial gap to provide the Performance Pathway with the funds necessary to increase coaching hours, upgrade equipment and provide world class sport science support to a greater number of high-potential Irish sailors.

The Senior and Academy teams of the Performance Pathway are supported with the provision of a coach, vehicle, coach boat and boats. Even with this level of subsidy there is still a large financial burden on individual families due to travel costs, entry fees and accommodation. There are often compromises made on the amount of days a coach can be hired for and on many occasions it is necessary to opt out of major competitions outside Europe due to cost. Money raised by the Irish Sailing Foundation will go towards increased quality coaching time, world-class equipment, and subsiding entry fees and travel-related costs. It also goes towards broadening the base of talented sailors that can consider campaigning by removing financial hurdles, and the Performance HQ in Dublin to increase efficiency and reduce logistical issues.

The ethos of the Performance Pathway is progression. At each stage international performance benchmarks are utilised to ensure the sailors are meeting expectations set. The size of a sailor will generally dictate which boat they sail. The classes selected on the pathway have been identified as the best feeder classes for progression. Currently the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway consists of the following groups: * Pathway (U15) Optimist and Topper * Youth Academy (U19) Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and 420 * Development Academy (U23) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX * Team IRL (direct-funded athletes) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX

The Irish Sailing performance director produces a detailed annual budget for the programme which is presented to Sport Ireland, Irish Sailing and the Foundation for detailed discussion and analysis of the programme, where each item of expenditure is reviewed and approved. Each year, the performance director drafts a Performance Plan and Budget designed to meet the objectives of Irish Performance Sailing based on an annual review of the Pathway Programmes from Junior to Olympic level. The plan is then presented to the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) where it is independently assessed and the budget is agreed. The OSG closely monitors the delivery of the plan ensuring it meets the agreed strategy, is within budget and in line with operational plans. The performance director communicates on an ongoing basis with the OSG throughout the year, reporting formally on a quarterly basis.

Due to the specialised nature of Performance Sport, Irish Sailing established an expert sub-committee which is referred to as the Olympic Steering Group (OSG). The OSG is chaired by Patrick Coveney and its objective is centred around winning Olympic medals so it oversees the delivery of the Irish Sailing’s Performance plan.

At Junior level (U15) sailors learn not only to be a sailor but also an athlete. They develop the discipline required to keep a training log while undertaking fitness programmes, attending coaching sessions and travelling to competitions. During the winter Regional Squads take place and then in spring the National Squads are selected for Summer Competitions. As sailors move into Youth level (U19) there is an exhaustive selection matrix used when considering a sailor for entry into the Performance Academy. Completion of club training programmes, attendance at the performance seminars, physical suitability and also progress at Junior and Youth competitions are assessed and reviewed. Once invited in to the Performance Academy, sailors are given a six-month trial before a final decision is made on their selection. Sailors in the Academy are very closely monitored and engage in a very well planned out sailing, training and competition programme. There are also defined international benchmarks which these sailors are required to meet by a certain age. Biannual reviews are conducted transparently with the sailors so they know exactly where they are performing well and they are made aware of where they may need to improve before the next review.

©Afloat 2020

Tokyo 2021 Olympic Sailing

Olympic Sailing features a variety of craft, from dinghies and keelboats to windsurfing boards. The programme at Tokyo 2020 will include two events for both men and women, three for men only, two for women only and one for mixed crews:

Event Programme

RS:X - Windsurfer (Men/Women)
Laser - One Person Dinghy (Men)
Laser Radial - One Person Dinghy (Women)
Finn - One Person Dinghy (Heavyweight) (Men)
470 - Two Person Dinghy (Men/Women)
49er - Skiff (Men)
49er FX - Skiff (Women)
Nacra 17 Foiling - Mixed Multihull

The mixed Nacra 17 Foiling - Mixed Multihull and women-only 49er FX - Skiff, events were first staged at Rio 2016.

Each event consists of a series of races. Points in each race are awarded according to position: the winner gets one point, the second-placed finisher scores two, and so on. The final race is called the medal race, for which points are doubled. Following the medal race, the individual or crew with the fewest total points is declared the winner.

During races, boats navigate a course shaped like an enormous triangle, heading for the finish line after they contend with the wind from all three directions. They must pass marker buoys a certain number of times and in a predetermined order.

Sailing competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo are scheduled to take place from 27 July to 6 August at the Enoshima Yacht Harbour. 

Venues: Enoshima Yacht Harbor

No. of events: 10

Dates: 27 July – 6 August

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Dates

Following a one year postponement, sailing competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo are scheduled to take place from 23 July 2021 and run until the 8 August at the Enoshima Yacht Harbour. 

Venue: Enoshima Yacht Harbour

No. of events: 10

Dates: 23 July – 8 August 2021

Tokyo 2020 Irish Olympic Sailing Team

ANNALISE MURPHY, Laser Radial

Age 31. From Rathfarnham, Dublin.

Club: National Yacht Club

Full-time sailor

Silver medallist at the 2016 Olympic Games, Rio (Laser Radial class). Competed in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018. Represented Ireland at the London 2012 Olympics. Laser Radial European Champion in 2013.

ROBERT DICKSON, 49er (sails with Seán Waddilove)

Winner, U23 49er World Championships, September 2018, and 2018 Volvo/Afloat Irish Sailor of the Year

DOB: 6 March 1998, from Sutton, Co. Dublin. Age 23

Club: Howth Yacht Club

Currently studying: Sports Science and Health in DCU with a Sports Scholarship.

SEÁN WADDILOVE, 49er (sails with Robert Dickson)

Winner, U23 49er World Championships, September 2018, and recently awarded 2018 Volvo Afloat/Irish Sailor of the Year

DOB: 19 June 1997. From Skerries, Dublin

Age 24

Club: Skerries Sailing Club and Howth Yacht Club

Currently studying International Business and Languages and awarded sports scholarship at TU (Technology University)

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