SAILING:AFTER FIVE races in the Netherlands's Olympic classes regatta, Annalise Murphy leads a youthful Irish challenge in the Laser radial class, the latest indicator of form for the London Olympics.
Yesterday afternoon racing was cancelled at the regatta when winds dropped below five knots at Medemblik, but not before the 19-year-old Dun Laoghaire sailor took second in a light-air race five. She lies 14th in a fleet of 37.
Belfast Lough’s Tiffany Brien is four places behind in 18th.
Ireland has two 49er teams on the Ijsslemeer. Former 470 pair Ger Owens and Ross Killian lie 46th, four places behind Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern. Finn sailor Ross Hamilton is 51st of 61, and Barry McCartin and Thomas Chaix are 77th of 81 in the 470 class.
There is still no further word on the formation of a second Irish Commodores Cup team, even though an announcement was expected immediately after last week’s Irish cruiser racing association’s (ICRA) national championships.
All that insiders will now say is that there is still a chance three boats could come together to form a second team but as time passes by so does the opportunity to mount a credible challenge in just eight weeks for a cup that has always evaded us.
Dublin Bay critics were left confounded by how the notoriously fickle venue offered up such magic conditions against an inauspicious forecast last weekend.
Although the weather may be taking most of the credit for last weekend, the record entry to the Dun Laoghaire event was down to much more than the timely arrival of May’s sea breezes.
In what might be regarded as a textbook example of how the ICRA event might be run, it should be remembered that organising it started a year ago. The 120-boat event was promoted well in advance throughout Ireland and Britain by the Royal St George regatta team. Twenty-two clubs were represented from Ireland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, bringing over 50 visiting boats to the bay.
This increased participation was brought about by attractive packages for visitors and communicated well to potential owners. The package included affordable accommodation, free lift-in and recovery of boats. It included trailer storage and berthing provided all for €125.
The use of club committee vessels from Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), Royal Irish YC and Howth YC ensured that full programmes were completed for all divisions, operating over three separate race courses.
It was a significant development to see the bay’s waterfront clubs working together in this way.
In other Dublin Bay news, Wednesday evening marked the first in a series of rules talks by national race judge Gordon Davies to the country’s largest racing club, DBSC.
The rules clinics are an important summer initiative to improve rule observance in club racing. It ties in with new courses implemented this year by the club to divide the massive, 300-boat fleet, especially on Thursdays.
Next Wednesday’s clinic deals with “When boats meet”. The talks are at the Royal St George YC at 8pm. All are welcome.
Fine weather reduced the GP14 dinghy class Purcell trophy to a single day’s racing last Sunday at Blessington SC, but the four short and sharp races found favour among the 26-boat fleet. Newcomers Clive Goodwin and Howard Davies were winners, Cathal Sheridan and David Cooke second and Peter and Jacqui Smith third.
The first opening of the river Liffey’s Samuel Beckett bridge to accommodate a flotilla of craft, dressed overall, will be the highlight of a river festival organised by the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association (DBOGA) in the capital this weekend.
The Old Gaffers are expecting craft from across the Irish Sea to join local craft for a parade of sail tomorrow (Saturday) from 2pm.
The DBOGA’s special guest for the weekend will be noted shipwright John Kearon, who leads the small team completing the conservation of Asgard I that is headed for display in the National Museum at Collins Barracks.
Kearon has honoured the association with a special Asgard trophy made from original Asgard timbers.
