SAILING NEWS:IRELAND'S PLETHORA of marine safety legislation is posing a significant threat to the future of boating in the country, including yacht racing, according to the Irish Sailing Association (ISA).
Boat users are already breaking the law in Dun Laoghaire, one of the biggest centres of activity in the country provides for fines of €1,905 for offences under rules intended to enhance beach safety.
However, bylaws also ban craft inside 300 metres from the shore anywhere in the council’s area, including popular areas such as Dalkey Island that are unsuited to swimming or have no beaches.
The ISA has compiled a list of local authorities which have introduced or are in the process of drafting restrictive legislation. Twelve have either banned or restricted fast power-craft, but, crucially, some effectively extend restrictions to any type of craft that has engine-power.
This would include almost every type of sailing boat, racing or cruising, with the exception of dinghies and some one-design day-boats.
In Dun Laoghaire, jet-skis are banned in the area between 10am and 7.30pm and users must possess a €50 annual licence to launch from designated locations during these times. Other local authorities have similar rules governing all types of craft.
Galway is at draft-stage with bylaws, while only Mayo and Cork have no bylaws, with the latter opting for local management arrangements as part of a coordinated approach to marine leisure activities.
Many of the bylaws are intended to guard against reckless jet-ski users, but the ISA believes poor drafting and lack of understanding by the authorities is leading to uncertainty to the future of boating activity.
“We’re struggling, to be honest,” said ISA chief executive Harry Hermon. “It’s a significant threat to the future of boating activity. We’re trying to work with 33 local authorities, some of whom are willing but many are not and seem intent on banning as the easiest solution.”
Hermon considers a total ban to be inappropriate as there are benefits where proper measures can be put in place. He cites North Wales as an example that uses voluntary compliance and self-regulation.
“Banning doesn’t work as it simply moves the problem somewhere else,” he said. “We have no problem where the rules are appropriate, but we lack a set of national guidelines. Confusion leads to inadvertent lack of compliance.”
Meanwhile, with just over two weeks remaining to the start of the Round Ireland Race on Sunday, June 20th, Wicklow Sailing Club has announced the Conway Media Group as the official sponsors of the event.
Entries have reached 30 boats so far, with event director Denis Noonan predicting 35 boats for the start.
