When a Centenary arrives, most of those closely involved tend to focus on the history they’re celebrating, whether it’s a club or a boat class or whatever. Sometimes they become immersed in potentially challenging and even contentious projects like re-enactments, which the more snooty purists would tell us is “History for Those of Limited Attention Span and Small Imagination”.
But the 18ft Shannon One Designs didn’t get so successfully to their Centenary in 2022 by dwelling excessively on the past, as was revealed in the write up on their accolade as “Sailing Club of the Year 2022”, which they share with Lough Ree Yacht Club. On the contrary, they honoured the establishment of the new Irish Free State in their own foundation year of 1922 with enthusiastic involvement in the sailing events in Dublin Bay of the Tailteann Games in 1924 to celebrate the new nation, and were suitably rewarded by returning home with the Gold Medal to their great lakes along Ireland’s largest river.
Thus the Shannon ODs have not only adapted to change, from time to time they’ve actively shaped it, and they do this by living very actively in the present every bit as much they fondly recall their colourful past.
It’s entirely in keeping with this that one of the projects they have in hand for 2022 is what will eventually be a profusely-illustrated calendar for 2023, in which each monthly photograph will be from the matching month of 2022, showing this unique class’s way of life through the four seasons.
It is already under way with photo fans recording Shannon ODs in January in their widely varying winter quarters, which would make a book in itself. And the scope will widen as the year progresses, with the winners being initially publicised through this year on a monthly basis - a procedure which will emphasise the theme of living in the present while honouring the past.
