A 24-hour sail raised over €2,000 for the Ocean Cleanup organised by DCU and DIT sailing teams in Malahide Yacht Club.
The event called ‘DCU x DIT 24hr Sail’ consisted of the same two Topaz boats crewed by teams of two sailed from 5pm on 25th October to 5pm the next day.
"The event has gone from strength to strength each year” said Aaron Jones, Captain of the DCU Sailing Team, “the addition of DIT this year was a huge benefit to the cause and definitely helped us smash our goal of €1,500”.
“By joining the college’s together it greatly helped advertise the event and helped spread awareness to such an important issue facing out generation” said Louis Tate member of DIT Sailing who helped organise the event.
A huge network of support and shift work meant the same two boats were on the water for 24 hours while other land and water activities took place. Talks were given to junior and senior members of MYC on our sailor’s experiences including the Round Ireland Race, Olympic Sailing and team racing.
With winds reaching close to 30 knots at times, safety was always a priority, especially during the night time sailing. Certain measures were taken to ensure this including the decision to hold the event in Malahide’s closed estuary.
“I know the estuary inside out where you can sail safe, where you can stand and the fact it’s enclosed so if an issue arises you won’t get lost and can sail towards land in any direction you go” said Colm Roche, recent DCU graduate and instructor at MYC.
The boats were also equipped with a VHF each, PDFs, hi-visibility jackets, appropriate weather gear, lights and were constantly accompanied by a team on a powerboat.
The event finished with a raffle with prizes from some of the sponsors including Camille, SuperValu, Jamie Knox and DCU Surf N’Sail.
While the success of the event comes down to those in DCU and DIT organising it and those involved on the day, Colm Roche also feels it’s important to recognise his club’s contribution “when a club gives you so much you want to give something back”.
The event raised €2,294 through online and on the day donations but you can still donate to the Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation developing technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. It is estimated they will clean up half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 5 years.
You can donate through this link here
