Sailing Section

     Its time for boatowners to start dusting off the cobwebs and check those to-do lists compiled during the summer. As usual, first sighting of Jimmy Kearon in the new look boat park was early February so we know the rest of us should be making an appearance shortly. Please remember to protect the surface of the boat park if painting, anti-fouling or working with oil etc. Prior to lift in as promised, we hope to have another Boatowners meeting on Fri Apr 27th at 8.30pm, following a Sailing Committee meeting at 7.30pm.

    Our major event in 2007 is the South East Cruiser Regatta and all hands will be required to assist, where practical. Can any members /friends help with sponsorship - let Charlie or John Johnson know please.

    The unsettled weather has played havoc with our Frostbite dinghy sailing, but we will persevere and keep the fingers crossed for fair winds.

    Our Portmadoc trip has been changed to the mid weekend in July - owners will be looking for crew, if you can arrange the time off.

      ISORA returns to Wicklow on the May Bank Holiday - the Dun Laoghaire to Wicklow Race is scheduled for Sun 6th May. They have a new family/cruiser oriented class called CORA to encourage less competitive sailors to participate. All details to be found on the ISORA website. Sadie Phelan is our rep and does great work for the Irish side of this well established organisation.

   ISA Youth Nationals, RCYC, Crosshaven Apr 10th to 13th - www.sailing.ie

Our Junior Rugger Buggers

    On Rugby matters, we pass on our congratulations to our Junior members, 8 of whom are involved on the Wicklow RFC U16 squad who won the  All Ireland Final v Galwegians RFC U-16 on a tight scoreline of 17 - 15, last Sunday 11th March at Naas RFC, for the first time ever for a Co Wicklow rugby side.  Wicklow played against the the very strong wind in the 1st half and were trailing 10 - 7  following a try by Charlie Butterworth. Coming up to half-time, a lucky blockdown led to a scrambled try, which meant they had an 8 point deficit to overcome in the second half. With the forwards playing well and outhalf Niall Earls controlling play, they worked hard to get their openings against a determined Galway side and were rewarded with a converted try and penalty to edge them in front. The last 10 minutes were very tense but they held out to record an historic win. With a huge and vocal support at Naas, they well deserved their hour of glory and we hope to help the squad celebrate their win in the Club soon.

   Our young heroes include, Charlie Butterworth, Shane du Moulin, Eddie Downes, Jonathon Flood, Sean Doyle, Garrett Kinnane, Niall Roche and Fiachra Fallon ver Bruggan.

150 years of RNLI in Wicklow

  While Grace Darling might not have been here to set the ball rolling, dedicated seamen and townspeople have manned the station in Wicklow since 1857, giving assistance to seafarers in trouble when called upon, often putting themselves in great peril. Our present station is a modern complex, with 1 of only 2 remaining slipway launched boats and an Inshore D-Class (due for replacement in Feb).

  We in WSC are doing our bit to help them commemorate this milestone by assisting with some fundraising activity. Phils Table Quiz on Sat 3rd March was a wonderful success with 20 tables taking part, generating €900 for their coffers. The quiz was won by Henrik Heckmanns team with a wonderful score of 91/100, but due to an error on your correspondents part, credit was given to the wrong team - mea culpa. Well done Henrik and thanks also to all the club members who made the effort to take part or help out. Saltee Dog and Crazy Horse did the honours.

  It coincided with the Total Lunar Eclipse, which proved to be a fabulous spectacle with clear skies and a pleasant evening enhancing the occasion, as well as Irene Winters Looney Juice.. See Mike Hogans composite photo of the event below.

     On the water, we would hope to run a 1 day event, possibly on the August Bank Holiday Monday incorporating a Man Overboard compulsory drill for all boats, to help gather more funds for the RNLI. As sailors, we are very aware of the importance of this very important voluntary service - David O Gormans family had need of them in 2006. 

     The new D-Class, Sheringham Shantymen, arrived on station in February and will be officailly named later in 2007.

Recent Club News

   Sheilas Romantic meal (ably assisted by Eileen Mary Mc Kenna) was a roaring success with diners drooling on the Creme au pomme d'amour soupe, L' Escalope de porc au creme entree et la Meringue Rose de la Coeur. The dessert was described thus "Light as a lovers touch, pretty as a picture and sweet as a fist embrace, immerse yourself in this heart shaped meringue adorned with fresh strawberries, cream and enhanced with a fresh fruit coulis." They silver haired minstrels provided the post prandial entertainment.

   The match of the millennium, the arrival of the Auld Enemy at the home of our beloved GAA on Feb 24th, brought a sizeable number of fans to the club to keep Fred under control and what a feast of total rugby the boys in green treated us to, with 43-13 the largest winning margin ever over England. Catherine O Sullivan cooked up a wonderfully delicious meal of Ham, spuds and veg followed by apple crumble - yum - and all for a tenner. Of course, with a large crowd, the forecast kitty was a tidy sum and the winner was a renowned judge of Rugby form, none other than our esteemed Harbour Master, Capt. John Barlow.

ISA News Items

     If you wish to check out current or old news items from the Irish Sailing Association, follow this link http://www.sailing.ie/inside/default.asp?pageId=50

    The ISA AGM will be held on April 14th 2007 at 5pm in Poolbeg Yacht Club.

     Currently, the ISA is engaged in a long running battle with the Dept of Transport (yes - not Marine) over Passenger Boat Regulations they are trying to apply to Training Vessels (Power and Sail) under the Cruising Scheme, which if implemented will shut down 50% of the ISA accredited schools and seriously compromise training and safety for the sailing public.

Condolences

   We hear with regret of the death of former member Evelyn Jones, after a long illness bravely borne, and we pass on our condolences to her husband Fred, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. May she rest in peace.

   We pass on our condolences to Johnny Flynn on the recent death of his mother in her 90's, in Scotland. May she rest in peace.

    Recent member, Ansis Dimiters, is currently on the first leg of the return trip with skipper Michael Holland and crew of Celtic Spirit (72' ketch) after exploring the Antarctic and southern waters of South America. Check out their log for photos and details of various adventures experienced - http://www.arctic2antarctic.com . Your humble correspondent hopes to join them soon in their endeavours off the coast of South America for 3 weeks (Uruguay, Brazil - Rio etc), all going well, to check out conditions for any possible future trips our members might want to undertake! Its a tough call but someone has to do the dirty work.

Rugby goes offshore to Italy 1.30pm on March 17th - food supplied

For more information - check the calendar and above

Toastmasters meet every 2nd Thursday (1,3,5?)

Space Inside Arts night 8pm Weds 4th Apr

Bridge Mon pm and Fri am weekly

More events in the pipeline

- fashion show

- themed evening etc

Please play your part and be involved - can you run an event?

     With our Clubhouse slowly but surely getting an internal facelift (see photo above), it is now a very attractive and welcoming environment for members to socialise in - please utilise it..

     Your Social Committee (headed by Anne Neiland and David O Gorman) are working hard to keep the Club open over the winter months, we need your support. Every member should try to attend at least one function a month – you will benefit your club and yourself by making the effort.

    In the New Year, we hope to encourage all boatowners (and crews) to get involved in running events – quizzes, fashion shows, cheese and wine, meals, talk shows, debates etc etc. Other non-sailing members are also encouraged to assist/get involved. Don't forget us if you have a celebration in your family, work or socially - let Gerry or Kerry know.

2007 Memberships

   Membership Subscription letters should have gone out to all existing members by now and Yuri would appreciate prompt payment as well as your co-operation in filling in your details and returning it all to him in the envelope provided. After the 2006 Levy and Round Ireland, we have now rectified our finances somewhat, but as our Treasurer John Hughes keeps reminding us, it is getting harder to make ends meet and keeping the Club doors open all year is becoming an uphill battle. This is your resource and it is important that we all pull together to keep the club available as a social gathering place throughout the long winter of inactivity.

Tide Tables

  Tide Table booklets are now available for Wicklow Harbour and can be purchased at the bar for €2 each.

  e-mail him at kevindesmond@eircom.net - walkers should always bring suitable clothing and footwear with a packed lunch/snacks always letting someone know their plans.

   Roles for the 2007 club year have been allocated and all committee members will set up sub-committees as appropriate to involve as many members as possible in the running of the club - please volunteer if you feel you would like to contribute.

    Would our members like to be able to read abridged reports of meetings in a members private site? Replies or other views/opinions/information to the editor please.

2006 Cruiser Prize Giving

    A little later than planned, the 2006 prizegiving event was held on 7th Jan 2007, with a very large turnout of sailors on the night. Commodore John Johnson thanked all involved and made special mention of the input by John Harte, Val Foley and Gerry Nolan and had great praise for the large numbers of juniors present in the room who were very active during the season.

   The trophies were well spread throughout the fleet, with Gerry and Angela Nolans "Cracker" best overall. Most improved was Paul Carr/Eamon Roche "Gaelic Knight" and the Best Achievement went to Dennis Noonan and his Round Ireland team. The most anticipated trophy of the night, the Osiris Orifice (for the Pillocks Pot notable events) had several nominees - David O Gorman, John Harte and Charlie Kavanagh but the dubious honour in the end went to John Johnson for a less than textbook cast off from Bilbos' mooring during the season.

  The catering for the night and slideshow were provided by the crews of Cracker and Calypso, with Battileur bringing up the rearguard with musical entertainment, making it a most enjoyable start to the New Year..