What is the Irish Sailor of the Year Award?

The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards is a scheme designed by Afloat magazine to represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene.

When did the Irish Sailor of the Year Awards begin?

The Irish Sailor of the Year Awards began in 1996.

Who runs the Irish Sailor of the Year Awards?

The awards are administered by Afloat, Ireland's boating magazine.

Who are the past winners of the Irish Sailors of the Year Award?

1996 Mark Lyttle 1997 Tom Roche 1998 Tom Fitzpatrick & David McHugh 1999 Mark Mansfield 2000 David Burrows 2001 Maria Coleman 2002 Eric Lisson 2003 Noel Butler & Stephen Campion 2004 Eamonn Crosbie 2005 Paddy Barry & Jarlath Cunnane 2006 Justin Slattery 2007 Ger O'Rourke 2008 Damian Foxall 2009 Mark Mills 2010 Anthony O'Leary 2011 George Kenefick 2012 Annalise Murphy 2013 David Kenefick 2014 Anthony O'Leary 2015 Liam Shanahan 2016 Annalise Murphy 2017 Conor Fogerty 2018 Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove 2019 Paul O'Higgins

Is there a public vote in the Sailor of the Year Awards?

Yes. The boating public and maritime community can have their say to help guide judges in deciding who should be crowned Ireland's Sailor of the Year by using an Afloat online poll). The judges welcome the traditional huge level of public interest in helping them make their decision but firmly retain their right to make the ultimate decision for the final choice while taking voting trends into account. By voting for your favourite nominee, you are creating additional awareness of their nomination and highlighting their success.

Has anyone won the Irish Sailor of the Year Award more than once?

Anthony O'Leary of Crosshaven and Annalise Murphy of Dun Laoghaire are the only contenders to be Afloat.ie "Sailors of the Year" twice – himself in 2010 and 2014, and herself in 2012 and 2016

What type of achievements wins the Irish Sailor of the Year Award?

In its 25 year history, there have been wins for 15, offshore or IRC achievements, nine dinghy and one designs accomplishments and one for adventure sailing.

When is the Sailor of the Year Announced?

Annually, generally in January or February of the following year.

Any famous names involved?

In 2003 Her Royal Highness Princess Anne presented the Awards.

Lifeboats

14th September 2010

Lifeboat Assists Vessel with Engine Failure on Lough Derg

At 7.30pm tonight Lough RNLI Derg lifeboat towed a vessel to safety after it suffered engine failure. 15 minutes earlier the lifeboat was requested to launch to assist three persons in distress on board the 38ft motor cruiser. The lifeboat with helm Peter Clarke, Eleanor Hooker and Colin Knight on board, launched with into winds west north-west, Force 5, gusting 6 with rough seas. Visibility was initially good with fading light.

The lifeboat located the vessel in Youghal Bay, close to Ryan's Point, and was alongside at 19.35hrs. All passengers were safe and unharmed. They were wearing their lifejackets. The vessel had dropped anchor to prevent being itself being grounded, but the anchor was not holding and the vessel was rolling side-on to steep waves. Once a tow was set up, an RNLI crew member weighed anchor and the vessel and her passengers were taken to the safety of the public harbour in Garrykennedy.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 20.30hrs

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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12th September 2010

1720 with Broken Forestay Required Baltimore Lifeboat

A yacht suffering equipment damage and in danger of being dismasted prompted a call for assistance to the RNLI today.

The Schull based 1720 sportsboat had been participating in the Irish 1720 National Championships being run out of Baltimore Sailing Club, when the forestay snapped. According to the RNLI 'The boat with 5 persons onboard was in serious peril as the forestay is part of the rigging that holds the mast in place'.

Weather conditions at the time were challenging in the exposed waters near the Calf Islands in West Cork with force 5-6 winds and a 1.5 metre swell.

A race support boat held the stricken yacht head to wind, while the inshore lifeboat under the command of Kieran Collins made its way to the scene. The lifeboat crew of Ronan Sheehy and Micheal Cottrell then took the 1720 under tow and returned her to the safety of Schull Harbour.

Published in 1720

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31st August 2010

Bundoran RNLI Pushes the Boat Out

This Saturday (4 September 2010) Bundoran RNLI lifeboat crew will literally be pushing the boat out to raise funds for the life saving charity. They will be holding a boat push from Ballyshannon to Bundoran in Donegal and want people to turn out and cheer them on during their 9.5km push.

The boat push will start on Donegal Road in Ballyshannon at noon and members of the lifeboat crew will have buckets with them on the route for people to make a donation.

The fundraising drive comes as Bundoran RNLI recently received a new state of the art Atlantic 85 lifeboat. The new lifeboat can carry a fourth crewmember and has more room for casualties. It can also reach speeds of up to 35 knots in responding to an emergency.

Commenting on the fundraiser, lifeboat press officer Colm Hamrogue said, "The lifeboat crew wanted to do something a bit different to raise funds for the station. Many people have done a bed push but not too many people have done a boat push, which makes sense for a lifeboat station. Our volunteer crew count on the generous support of the public to ensure that the RNLI can continue to provide all year search and rescue coverage and we hope to get lots of support on Saturday."

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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31st August 2010

Swimming from Rathlin to Ballycastle for the RNLI

Gary Knox describes himself as a good pool swimmer so why is he swimming from Rathlin to Ballycastle next weekend (weather permitting).....It's all for the RNLI of course. Gary is so impressed by the volunteer commitment of the crews he decided to do the swim to raise funds for the Lifeboats.
Gary explained further 'The swim is from Rathlin to Ballycastle and is planned for the weekend of 4-5 September. I won't be wearing a wetsuit and the swim is approximately 7 miles. Water temperature will be approx. 12 degrees and the challenge isn't so much the distance as the large number of Lions Mane jellyfish which lie between Rathlin and Ballycastle and the very strong and treacherous currents which swirl around the island. I am doing the swim for RNLI in memory of my friend and training partner, Ciaran McGinn who completed the endurance swim in 2007 and raised funds for his charity, Ballycastle RNLI. Training has gone well and I've done a 15K open water swim, Portrush to Portstewart two-way and a swim from Ballycastle to Fairhead in preparation for the event. I've been stung by the jellies and got my body used to the chilly waters. The swim to Fairhead last weekend opened my eyes to the strong currents when I made no progress for 90 mins on way back to Ballycastle and had to jump out onto road and hitch a lift back into town! Hopefully the tides will be kinder to me on day of swim. I'll be accompanied by Portrush kayaker Andrew Bingham who will follow the rib and provide me with an energy drink every hour. In accordance with ILDSA rules, at no time will I be permitted to touch the boat or kayak. Donations can be made online at justgiving.com/gary-knox and there are collection boxes in the shops along the prom in Ballycastle. In the event of bad weather, swim will be rescheduled for mid Sept or October. The swim has a low success rate and is very dependent on conditions and tides on the day'
Gary who is a French teacher, 38, and swimming coach at CAI who took up sea swimming in 2008 and lives in Aghadowey. On Sunday he came down to meet the crew and tell them about the swim.
Judy Barr Lifeboat Press Officer said,
This is an amazing feat for anyone to attempt and we are delighted that Gary is raising funds for our volunteer crews and the Station who depends on donations to keep our two boats available for rescues at sea.'

Published in Sea Swim

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29th August 2010

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboats Assist Swamped Yacht

Both lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire RNLI station were launched this afternoon when a 20 foot yacht with two persons on board got into difficulty close to a rocky shoreline on Dublin Bay.

The incident occurred around 5pm when the Flying 15 keelboat became swamped by the choppy conditions in the area known as Scotman's Bay between Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove. A sea-angling boat, the Brandon Lisa and a local rigid inflatable (RIB) went to the assistance of the casualty.

Volunteer crews of both lifeboats were paged by the Irish Coastguard service's 'MRCC Dublin' at 5.08pm and launched 12 minutes later.

Arriving at the nearby scene, the two occupants were trying to drop the sails and secure their equipment. Both were wearing buoyancy aids and were
uninjured.

The inshore lifeboat assisted preparing the casualty vessel for towing by the RIB while the All-weather lifeboat 'Anna Livia' provided an escort to the inner-coal harbour in Dun Laoghaire where the boat was brought ashore.

IMGP0245

Both lifeboats from Dun Laoghaire RNLI's assisted two sailors in difficulty on Scotsman's Bay near Dun Laoghaire when their Flying 15 became swamped in fresh winds. A local RIB towed the boat to safety under escort from the lifeboats. Nobody was injured in the incident that occurred shortly after 5pm. Photo credit: Dun Laoghaire RNLI

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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26th August 2010

Sheep Rescued by RNLI

A lifeboat crew rescued a sheep and a seal pup in two separate incidents off Anglesey on the far side of the Irish Sea last week.
Moelfre RNLI lifeboat crew helped the sheep after it fell 20ft from cliffs onto an isolated island and became marooned for up to two days near Bull Bay. The full report from the Holyhead Mail is HERE.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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16th August 2010

Lifeboat Rescues Two Near Old Head of Kinsale

The Kinsale RNLI Lifeboat was launched at 5.15 pm on Sunday afternoon to go to the aid of a 17ft Mastercraft, with two passengers on board, which had lost power and was anchored one mile east off the Old Head of Kinsale.

Sunday was one of the busiest sailing days of the summer, with very crowded seas. The distressed craft did not have a radio on board. Their only means of contact with shore was a weak mobile phone signal. Thankfully conditions were flat and visibility good, so helmsman Temba Jere and crew members Mark Lewis and Ian Fitzgerald were able to locate the boat and tow it back to the safety of Kinsale Harbour within 40 minutes.

The RNLI offers a free SEA Check service to all boat users which will help you make sure you have all the right safety equipment on board. Call freefone 1800 789 589 and the RNLI team will be happy to advise you.

The Kinsale RNLI Lifeboat was launched at 5.15 pm on Sunday afternoon to go to the aid of a 17ft Mastercraft, with two passengers on board, which had lost power and was anchored one mile east off the Old Head of Kinsale.
Sunday was one of the busiest sailing days of the summer, with very crowded seas. The distressed craft did not have a radio on board. Their only means of contact with shore was a weak mobile phone signal. Thankfully conditions were flat and visibility good, so helmsman Temba Jere and crew members Mark Lewis and Ian Fitzgerald were able to locate the boat and tow it back to the safety of Kinsale Harbour within 40 minutes.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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9th August 2010

Tamar-Class Lifeboat Visits Irish Waters

The Tamar-class lifeboat is the latest in a series of high-tech craft within the RNLI lifeboat fleet and in use throughout the UK. The class is named after the River Tamar, Cornwall and like other lifeboats, they are named after large rivers, writes Jehan Ashmore.

To date 17 Tamar-class boats have been commissioned for the lifesaving institution. Some of the Tamar class fleet are constructed exclusively for the purposes of providing relief-duties across the extensive network of stations. One of these relief lifeboats, RNLB Frank and Ann Wilkinson (16-06) arrived at Dun Laoghaire on 17 July. The relief Tamar's transit took two-days to reach the harbour from the RNLI's headquarters based at Poole. The lifeboat called at Plymouth for bunkers and made an overnight stay at Penlee prior to arriving at Dun Laoghaire, where another fuel-stop was undertaken.

The craft carried-out training exercises in Dublin Bay, which included a couple of trainees from the Dun Laoghaire lifeboat crew. The Tamar class lifeboat was in Irish waters primarly to cater for other station crews within the divisional staff training programme. There are no Tamar-class lifeboats operating in Irish waters, at present, though the RNLI have plans to introduce the class.

Tamar

Tamar-class relief lifeboat RNLI Frank and Ann Wilkinson (16-06) nearing Dun Laoghaire. Photo © Jehan Ashmore/ShipSNAPS

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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7th August 2010

Cold Swimmer Rescued in Portrush Harbour

A teenager was rescued from Portrush Harbour after a very cold swim out to a moored boat to collect some fishing gear.

After swimming across the harbour to the moored boat the teenager called for help. Belfast Coastguard co-ordinated the rescue and sent the Portrush ILB Lifeboat and the Coleraine Coastguard Rescue team to the scene.

The Portrush lifeboat took the teenager from the boat to the pontoon where he received first aid from the Coastguard Rescue team before being transferred to hospital by ambulance.

Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager Alan Pritchard said:
"It may be summer but the sea is chilly and the cold can seriously affect swimmers.
"If you are going to take a dip please know you're limits and remember cold water shock can be dangerous, even if you're young and fit and think you're able."

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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5th August 2010

Fenit Lifeboat Recover Injured Woman from Great Blasket Island

At 03.41 this morning (Thursday 5 August 2010) Fenit RNLI lifeboat crew were requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a woman injured on the Great Blasket Island. The woman had fallen and sustained injuries to her leg and the Fenit RNLI all weather lifeboat was launched to recover her from the island and bring her ashore to Dingle to a waiting ambulance.

With no slipway or pier on the island and extremely shallow water at the landing point, the only way for the lifeboat crew to access the island was by launching the XP boat (a small inflatable boat carried onboard the lifeboat)

Four crew members went onto the island and made their way to the woman's house which was almost half a mile in and about 600 feet above sea level. The task was made more difficult due to the fact that the ground was extremely wet and slippery.

The woman was placed on a stretcher and carried back down the hill by the RNLI Fenit Lifeboat crew members. The stretcher was then placed across the xp boat and transferred to the lifeboat by the crew.

Commenting on the incident JP Brick of Fenit RNLI said, " This was a challenging callout for the lifeboat crew. The remote location made it difficult to access the island. The lifeboat crew needed to take a stretcher with them for the casualty and then return down the slippery terrain to the waiting XP boat. From there they travelled out to the waiting lifeboat and transferred the casualty onboard. This is where lifeboat crew training and equipment comes to the fore and the medivac was completed successfully."

On medical advice the casualty was brought to Dingle Marina where she was collected by ambulance and transferred to Tralee General Hospital