Conway Media Round Ireland

   The 2010 Conway Media Round Ireland Yacht Race was officially launched in Wicklow Town Hall on Mon 24th May to a packed house. Roy Conway spoke glowingly of the value of the Race to the town of Wicklow and was delighted to be able to play his part in making the event happen. The Round Ireland SailFest is also being sponsored by Conway Media and it was also officially launched on the night. All in all, it promises to make for a very entertaining weekend in Wicklow and hopefully we will enjoy a mini Galway type event for everyone to benefit from.

    Listen to the Pat Kenny Show Round Ireland and Festival interviews on Weds 26th May - http://www.rte.ie/radio/podcast/radio1.html - scroll down to Today with Pat Kenny and search for Round Ireland link.

Civils Dinner 2010

  

  During the last weekend of May, the members of  the Civil Engineers Sailing Society held their 23rd Annual  Dinner at Wicklow Sailing Club. With a BBQ and informal gathering on Friday evening and then a Formal Dinner for 40 persons on Saturday evening, the House Committee and Volunteer Club Members had their work 'cut out'. We are extremely grateful to all those involved for making this event such a success. The Dinner especially was to a very high standard and enjoyed by all the guests.  WSC is famous for it's hospitality and this weekend enforced that point. Thanks once again to, the Commodore, House Committee, Volunteer Members and not least to 'the barmaid with the most flexible watch', Kerry, for another memorable visit to a special club.

Peter Rowland - see letter from Tom Jessop to Peter re Civils

ISORA 2010

   Wicklow SC will finish an ISORA Race (Round Ireland Qualifier) over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Peter Ryan, who will be skippering Tsunami in the Round Ireland, has asked us to remind everyone that there will be 3 ISORA races to give crew a chance to get qualifying passages.  With an entry of 28 boats, this will be a dress rehearsal for testing our berthing skills for the Round Ireland with boats up to 58' in length. Also, with up to 200 sailors on board, it should test our catering/coping skills for our house facilities. Lets hope the weather behaves. Check website here.

WSC 60th Birthday Party

  Our latest event on Sat 15th May 8.30pm to celebrate our 60 years as a club was timed to coincide with the 60th birthdays in May of fellow members Sadie Phelan, Frank Murphy and Frank Jackson. There were some nibbles and  music for our members to help enjoy a convivial evening celebrating our big birthday. We had a good turnout despite it also being lift in day and a very enjoyable evening was had by all.

Round Ireland 2010

 

   Sponsorship details to follow official launch Monday 24th May.

   Dennis Noonan, our well respected Race Organiser,   put out the call to all members to attend an Information Meeting in WSC on Friday 7th May at 8.30pm. Anyone who has helped in the past or might like to make a contribution this year, are encouraged to come down. There are lots of areas where various talents can be utilised - berthing, liaising with sailors, providing services, entertainments, dinghy sailing, helping with bar, house, catering, parking, club access and assisting race office before and during race. We need members to give of their free time to help make this event a success.

   Facebook - we now have a Round Ireland Yacht Race page on Facebook and you might like to add your support by becoming a "friend". See News blog - Blind sailor to do 2 Handed race. Entries are still at about 8 but there is a lot of interest out there and we are confident we will have around 50 boats on the start line. There are a few Youth challenge boats, 3 or 4 Sailing School likely entries as well as our own Pride of Wicklow all planning campaigns. The Quiz in the club on 16th April organised by Kevin Desmond raised c.€400 for the PoW campaign - another one is scheduled for Fri 14th May.

Round Ireland Sail Fest

   Plans are progressing well for a Town Festival to add an extra buzz to the event (Fr1 18th-Sun 20th) - it is called the Round Ireland Sail Fest - Come on down to Wicklow Town.  There is a very active Committee under Pascal Burke and your WSC representatives are Charlie Kavanagh and Mick Nolan, with club members Fiona Downes and David O Gorman representing other groups.  So far, we have arranged Free Music (Garda Band, American Drifters & Luan Parle etc) on the Quays for each evening, the Gaol will host the Sailors Party, a Mardi Gras ball, Wicklows Finest Food, Fashion and Flowers, a Period Pageant (4 shows), Classic Cars, Fireworks, kids bits, music in the pubs and loads of other attractive events to entertain visitors and locals alike. We will be playing our part by arranging music around the club, putting on sailing, model and jet ski etc type activity as well as the Big One on Sunday.

   You can help by donating to the SailFest Auction in St Pats GAA on Sat 8th May - see website for details. Come along on the day and support a worthy cause - there could be bargains galore. Another way you can help is to purchase a SailFest Lotto ticket (€80 - €20x4 months), be in for 120 lines each week and possibly share in a big jackpot - tickets from SailFest committee members.

Lift In

   Our Annual Lift-in has fallen foul our new chain being delayed by a train strike in France and the date is subject to work on the moorings being completed - hopefully Sun 2nd or Mon 3rd will see them taking to the water.  Owners are reminded to pay on the day and all should get a WSC receipt for their payment. As there is quite a lot of debris from the winter storms, any help with brushes and wheel barrows would be appreciated after the boats are out.

Powerboat Courses

   If you wish to get either a basic L1 or L2 Cert or the more advanced Safety Cert, check here for details of upcoming courses.

 Junior Training

   Our Junior Training subcommittee are making plans for this years programme. It is hoped to start in mid July and to run it on similar lines to 2009. New JTC members Sandra Fitzgerald and Roisin Hennessy will be representing parents interests. First meeting of the 2010 committee took place on Fri 19th Mar in WSC.