2010
was the
30th Anniversary of the 1st
Round Ireland,
building on the success of previous races and the Volvo RTW 2009 stopover in Galway
- an historic event for Irish Sailing. A Round Ireland Sail Fest
(Fri 18 - Sun 20 June) to compliment the
race preparations added a welcome level of fun and entertainment for all coming
down. There was
Free Music (Garda Band, American Drifters & Luan Parle etc) on the Quays for
each evening, 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.
Congratulations to Piet Vroon and his crew on Tonnerre de Breskens 3 on winning the
2010 Conway Media Round Ireland - (Piet was in hospital for most of
the race but followed the boats progress as they went round).
Video from
Ocean Spirit of Carlingford - Round Ireland 2008 - Eagleson Productions
The Round Ireland is Ireland's premier offshore yacht race, and the second
longest race in the Royal Ocean Racing Club calendar. The first
race took
place in 1980 with only thirteen boats. Since then, held biannually, the fleet has grown steadily, attracting a record 60 entrants from all over Ireland
and the British Isles in 1992.
There are four classes in IRC in which boats and their crews can compete,
including a Classic Class for the Michael Jones Trophy, classes for
Sigma, ISORA, IRM, a Team Prize. 2004 saw the launch of the "Two-handed
Class" which has introduced a new level of competition for the more extreme
sailor. In the past, boats competing have ranged
from an 84-footer former "round the world" maxi, to club boats one third
the size, with all shades in between. 2008 saw the largest yacht yet to
partake - ICAP Leopard, a 105ft racing machine entered by Mike Slade, and
favourable winds enabled them smash the old record by more than 10 hours. It
will take ideal conditions and another large yacht to better that - a challenge
worth taking on!
Konica Minolta off the head!
See more photos.
The bigger boats compete for top honours and for the race record, which is
held by Colm Barrington who skippered Jeep Cherokee to victory in 1998 in
a time of 76 hours 23 minutes and 57 seconds, breaking the
previous record
by a
massive eight hours. The 2004 winner was a 32' one off design built in Ireland
for Eamon Crosbie called Calyx Voice and Data ("Voodoo Chile")
and the 2006 Race was won by a previous winner, Eric Lissons' "Cavatina" (2002),
a Grenada 38 classic GRP yacht.
Conway Mediais a local Wicklow
Print and Design business which employs 18 staff and can cater for all your
printing and design requirements. Managing Director, Roy Conway and his family
have a long association with Wicklow Sailing Club and he has competed in a
number of Round Irelands himself. His company is also associated with the Round
Ireland Sail Fest and he is delighted to be helping to put Wicklow Town in the
National eye through his sponsorship. We are very grateful for his support.