SAILING NEWS:THE AXING of Coiste an Asgard, the State sail training programme, has been met with dismay by marine bodies pledged yesterday to form a united voice and push for its reinstatement in spite of the fact the State's only sail training vessel remains wrecked on the sea-bed off France, over one year since its mysterious sinking.
Coiste an Asgard, the state body responsible for sail training in Ireland, was abolished as part of Wednesday’s Budget, a cut that will produce a saving of €800,000 a year.
Although not a huge surprise as the closure was ear-marked in the McCarthy report this summer, the move nevertheless symbolises the end of the line for a 30-year-old national sail training programme. For many in the marine sector, losing Asgard was bad enough but losing the entire programme quite another.
Yesterday, the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) chief Harry Hermon called for the establishment of a new “marine alliance”. “The abolition of the Asgard II may well be the ‘last nail in the coffin’ of the marine leisure sector unless marine bodies pull together,” he said.
The ISA plan was supported last night by the Irish Marine Federation (IMF) who expressed disappointment with the decision to cut the programme despite repeated assurances from Government in the last 12 months that it would continue. “To achieve a cost saving of €800,000, the Government has failed to recognise the very significant benefits the sail training scheme brought to this country”, said IMF director Mark McAuley.
The Government had maintained that Coiste an Asgard was finalising plans for a replacement steel vessel but last night the Department of Defence said it “regretted that funds are not currently available to acquire a replacement vessel for Asgard II”.
The insurance sum of €3.8 million received for Asgard II has been transferred to the Department of Finance as Extra Exchequer Receipts.
The Department of Defence also confirmed that there are no plans to provide State sail training cruises in 2010. Plans to use the refurbished Creidne vessel this season will not proceed as it is not a suitable replacement vessel for Asgard II. “It has a capacity for only eight trainees and is not capable of providing a full sail training experience,” according to a spokeswoman.
In Wicklow, 16 entries are signed up for next year’s Round Ireland Race, the unprecedented level of interest six months out is an indication that next year’s 30th anniversary event will be a bumper affair. Wicklow Sailing Club launched the 2010 race last night at a reception in Wicklow Gaol last week.
Wins in Sail Brisbane and Sail Melbourne confirm that the National YC’s Annalise Murphy remains a favourite in the Women’s Laser Radial division of Australia’s top regatta, Sail Melbourne next week. It is significant too because it is confirmation that the 19-year-old’s international summer form continues.
In July, she became the first Irish sailor to win a Europa Cup Laser event in 13 years.
Murphy, the longest-standing member of the ISA youth Academy, topped out a 76-boat Radial fleet in the Netherlands venue of Hoorn to win by just three points.
