Other sailing news
Pat and Olivia Murphy on their yacht Aldebaran, returned to Wicklow on August 21st, 9 years after their last visit, having travelled around the world in the meantime. John Johnson made a presentation of a Club tie in recognition of their epic voyage and welcomed them home (Howth is base).
Other International news - the Mark Mills (Wicklow based) designed 68' Allegre won line honours in the the Rolex Malta YC Mid Sea Race - 3 other Round Ireland entrants also competed - Whisper, Lee Overlay Partners and Legally Blonde (79 entries). Any hope that Rolex would add the Round Ireland to its stable of races (assuming BMW move on) and maybe create a super league for points scored across the various races?
Sailing Tragedies
The weekend of 13/14 Sep will live long in the memory of sailors along the East coast. On Sat 13th, a member of Greystones SC, Michael Lee, suffered a heart attack while recovering his dinghy after a club race and died. The following day, a member of the crew of Alanna from Poolbeg Y&BC returning from a visit to Wicklow, Ken Jones went overboard as a result of a bang from the spinnaker pole and failed to respond to CPR after 40 minutes in the water. May they rest in peace and Wicklow Sailing Club would like to pass on our condolences to their families and fellow members.
Asgard II R.I.P.
Many Wicklow sailors will empathise with our own Brian Sinnott and all the good people associated with our wonderful Sail Training Ship Asgard II on its untimely demise in the Bay of Biscay - "9/11 2008" - lets hope the will power to reinstate her will find favour with the powers that be. It was always a joy to see her in Wicklow Harbour and many is the crew that enjoyed a good night in WSC. She also was our official Round Ireland start boat on at least one occasion. May she rest in peace.
Mater Matelots
26 Mater Hospital staff - pharmacists and technicians - took part in a teambuilding day at WSC on Sat 23rd of August. Tony Gillespie, John Harte, Thomas Lynch and Yuri McKenna kindly skippered novices out on Ruffians where they enjoyed testing conditions yet managed to finish a demanding "tacking time trial". The other half of the Mater group where able to take in the sights from aboard John Hughes' Rebellion which he had kindly sailed down for the event. In the afternoon roles were reversed, before the event finished with a knot-tying session, flag reading at speed and a challenging nautical table quiz ("Which are the circumnavigator's three capes?"...) After a dinner in the Round Ireland Room and an enthusiastic use of the bar facilities a hire bus brought the group back to Dublin - only for four of the group to showing on the following race day eager to crew. The day was enjoyed by all. Well done Trish and Henrik for your novel day of entertainment.
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2009
Check out this link for further details - www.dlregatta.org - 9-12 July 2009 - online entry available November 2008.
Ballers are becalmed
Junior Training
Our very popular and successful J.T. programme had another bumper bunch of c.65 trainees in 2008 and for those keen followers of our local rag, the Wicklow People, were not shy on the publicity front. Well done to our organisers, Sean, Phillo, Richard, Fiona and their parents committee.
South East Regatta in Arklow
Well, it may be a shrinking event but Wicklow still holds the key to overall success - another successful raid on Arklow by our Class 2 Fleet - well done guys 'n gals. Yet again we bring home (and retain) the South East Overall Club Trophy. See ISA snippet of info - http://www.sailing.ie/news/newsDetails.asp?id=2312
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Kerrie was holding the fort with visitors from all points of the compass, including 10 boats from Skerries SC - the bar takings were probably better than those achieved in Arklow. Another major vote of thanks to our ever dependable and friendly Bar Manageress on a busy Bank Holiday weekend. Will our new Wicklow Sailing Regatta come into being in 2009 to compliment Irelands' longest continuously running Festival? Move over South East Regatta - watch this space!
WSC Schullers
A tradition started back 15 years or so ago has become a fixture on the summer calendar for our Junior sailors and their parents - yes, its the Schull Schools International Regatta. Yet again, Garret Kinnane has flown the flag for WSC, getting 3rd place in the Gold Fleet - well done to all who made the journey - you do your club proud.
Wayfarer Easterns
WSC played host to another
set of visiting sailors over the weekend 26/27 July 2008 - the
Wayfarer Eastern championship. Unfortunately only 5 boats took part - we
provided prizes, an OOD, Barry O Sullivan ably assisted by Peter Shearer
and others - we didn't make money but honoured our end of the bargain.
Check out this link for more info. -
http://www.sailing.ie/news/newsDetails.asp?id=2309 Lets hope the Fireballs prove to be more successful.
ISA News
CALLING ALL CRUISING CAPTAINS
One key topic arises time and time again –
What is the ISA doing for those who go cruising? As a first step we
would like build a list of Cruising Captains around the country. We want
to know what you are currently up to in cruising matters – both sail and
motor.
We would also like to build a list of Cruising Captains around the
country. Does your organisation hold cruising events? Email us by return
and let us know if your club does or doesn’t? Email your Cruising
Captain’s details to Jennie
isanews@sailing.ie
If you don’t have a Cruising Captain, why not appoint one?
2009 ISA AWARDS
The ISA are looking for YOUR suggestions to expand our awards
ceremony for 2009. What / Who would you like the ISA to acknowledge in
boating in Ireland? We have our ideas but we need yours!
Contact Jennie with your ideas:
isanews@sailing.ie
SEAGO ISSUES LIFEJACKET SAFETY WARNING
Seago Yachting of Hailsham, Sussex, has issued a safety warning for its
Seago 150 and 175 Newton lifejackets, including the Junior Lifejackets.
Seago says these jackets may have a defect that could result in serious
injury.
http://www.sailing.ie/news/newsDetails.asp?id=2216
ISA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2009
Burlington Hotel: 7th & 8th March 2009
ISA
NEWSLETTER
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will take 30 seconds, click on this link:
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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
Upcoming Events
Any ideas for Social Events in 2008/9 welcome
Lift Out Dinner Sat 18th Oct
BMW Round Ireland Prizegiving Nov 1st Grand Hotel
Space Inside - Arts Group - Tues 4th Nov
Ireland v Canada Sat 8th Nov 17.15
WSC Prizegiving 8th November
RNLI Annual Luncheon Sun 9th Nov
Accounts Preview with John Hughes Thurs 13th Nov
Table Quiz - Special Needs Children - Fri 14th Nov
Ireland v New Zealand Sat 15th Nov 17.15
Celtic Spirit Antarctic Adventure Talk/slides Sat 15th Nov
Ireland v Argentina Sat 22nd Nov 14.45
Kevin, Derek and Frank of No Tomorrow "fame" Sat 22nd Nov
WSC Annual General Meeting Fri 28th Nov
WSC Annual Club Dinner Sat 29th Nov
Please play your part and be involved - can you run an event?
Don't forget us if you have a celebration in your family, work or socially - let Sean or Kerry know. Catherine Malone is helping out with Entertainments - can you assist her efforts?
WSC Walkers - are you out there?
Its that time of year again - central heating is on, evenings are short and thoughts turn to the hills for some exercise. Kevin Desmond, our Chief Sherpa, would love to hear from interested parties to join him on relaxing walks in the Wicklow Hills. Contact him on 0404 67556 or this email link
Navigation Courses
Frank Jackson is running a Yachtmaster Offshore night class (Thursday pms) in Newpark Night School, Blackrock - contact the school direct on 01 2883725 - reasonable prior experience is desirable.
Charlie Kavanagh is running a Yachtmaster Coastal night class in East Glendalough School, Wicklow on Tues nights, starting 7th Oct at 7.30. Contact 087 2394379 - some previous experience recommended. More details.
Portmadoc claims another
Thanks to the bad weather of the 2008 summer, our good friends from Madoc YC, Terry and Sheena Birch, were holed up in Wicklow Harbour for 10 days at the beginning of September and were assisted in getting their Moody 347 "Sheena" back to base by Charlie Kavanagh and Peter Shearer, who broke his Irish Sea/Portmadoc duck on the return voyage (welcome to the club) - in flat calm conditions overnight on Sun/Mon 7/8 Aug - was this the only "club" visit to our twinned neighbours?
On matters cruising, Zuga and Siamsa have been active up and down the Irish Sea - Carlingford, Poolbeg and Caernarvon amongst some of their destinations in 2008, despite the weather. Well done Jim and James and your motley crews.
Extraordinary General Meeting
Following on the fallout from our newly decorated Clubhouse and certain members concerns regarding various issues relating to same, an EGM was held on Thursday 11th Sep at 8.30pm to air all matters. Strong feelings from some members regarding the budget and breakdown of costs dominated proceedings. It was agreed that mistakes were made, esp. in relation to the MDF covering on the wall but the Committee had done the best possible job under time pressure between sitting tenants vacating and the start of the Round Ireland. The issue of the colour scheme also generated some debate as did the laminated floor. It is hoped that the redecoration will proceed once the new plaster has dried. A full breakdown of costs will be furnished at the AGM.
Thanks for your support
A quick word of thanks from David Gillespie, to all who sponsored him in the recent King Of Greystones Triathlon which was in aid of The Alzheimers Society and Aware. A special word of mention to Kerry who did the donkey work of collecting the dosh. Well done David.
Official Berth for Stravaiger
Having endured problems earlier this year with securing a river berth, now that a berth has been officially allocated (alongside Poilin opp. Hopkins), it is incumbent on all WSC boatowners to allow Stravaiger free access to/from its designated berth for customer convenience. Apart from North Easterlies, this berth should be left available for the use of South East Cruising School.
National Sports Capital Funding
Dept. of Transport Ships Registration Consultation
Any boat owners or intending boat owners should take a look at the Departments consultation document which is destined to be law in the not too distant future. It will affect all vessels greater than 7m LOA (and some below) and will pose technical and financial difficulties no doubt for owners in trying to comply with various aspects of their requirements. For older boats, how many will have Builders Certificates? If you have any queries or views on the issues raised in the document, raise them asap with the mandarins in the Department. Where has our Dept. of Marine gone to? Check it out here http://www.vesselregister.ie/english
Sea Stallion of Glendalough
Despite some setbacks and inclement weather, Sea Stallion arrived on schedule 9th Aug in Roskilde, where a massive welcome home awaited them. Read about their Wicklow visit If you get the chance, you might voice your disappointment at the coverage given to this historic visit (1000 years since the last one) by the Wicklow People.
Next WSC Committee meeting:-
Friday 26th Sept 2008 8.30pm
With the EGM over and several issues to be dealt with, your Committee is now winding down and hopefully will leave a clean bill of health for the incoming team after the AGM in November. Another successful Round Ireland, clubhouse renovations and new lucrative tenants all make 2008 a positive year for WSC - maybe sailing will rise up in the priorities next year.