SAILING NEWS:UNFINISHED BUSINESS on the Solent two years ago has taken Royal Cork sailors as far as Florida, USA, this week in an effort to gain advantage for this year's Commodore's Cup, a trophy that continues to elude Ireland.
Crosshaven skippers Dave Dwyer and Anthony O’Leary, racing a new Summit 35 design, scored two seconds yesterday at Key West Race week in a boat that might yet suit their Commodore’s Cup ambition.
After a series of near misses in the Commodore’s Cup, there were many reasons why 2008 would have been appropriate timing for an Irish win in Cowes. It wasn’t to be but participation in Key West is proof Ireland still has the will to win the cup.
After first being jilted by the French and then by the English, the Irish could be forgiven for giving up but Ireland now have eight months to plot its final capture. It’s a measure of that resolve that two Irish campaigns are already forming, buoyed up by the fact that in the closing stages last July Ireland White held the lead.
Team Royal Cork Yacht club in Key West regatta is a combination crew from Dwyer’s Mariner’s Cove and O’Leary’s Ker 39. They are using the Key West event to start a 2010 campaign that will culminate on the Solent.
In a bid for early UK entries Cork Week launched its regatta details at last week’s London Boat show. In a message to competitors, Admiral Mike McCarthy stressed the length’s Royal Cork is going to extend a warm welcome. Entry fees have been discounted and free berthing is offered to early arrivals. The club revealed yesterday Crosshaven will see a “big-boat bonanza” in July.
Niklas Zennström’s 72-foot Rán has signed up and will be skippered by Briton Tim Powell. Ran, the Fastnet winner, is heading for Antigua Race Week in April then on to the Newport Bermuda race and from there to Cork. Up to five IRC modified TP52s will also be in Cork, say RCYC.
The launch of the Scottish Series 2010 also took place in London. Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson joined organisers the Clyde Cruising Club to celebrate their centenary year and support the launch of Scotland’s largest yachting regatta that has a popular Irish following.
The National YC’s Annalise Murphy lifted The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Month Award for her performances last month. winning in the Sail Brisbane and Sail Sydney regattas followed by a fourth-place in the women’s Laser Radial division of Australia’s top regatta, Sail Melbourne.
These performances are set to advance the 19 year-old from her 40th place in the next world rankings published in February.
Fáilte Ireland has launched a competition for aquatic tourism and invites entries from coastal, lake or riverside tourism destinations in Ireland which demonstrate an innovative approach to aquatic tourism. Closing date for entries is February 25th.
Dún Laoghaire marina is doing its bit to attract visitors next season with a year-long offer to entice boats out of their home marinas along the east coast of Ireland and across the Irish Sea. In addition to reducing visitor rates for the season, Dún Laoghaire is running a frequent visitor scheme, offering repeat short-term visitors discounted berthing from April 1st, 2010 to March 31st, 2011.
Alliance Française in Dublin is presenting an evening called “Solo Sailing Races in France” and Paul Ó Riain will be talking about his experiences in the Figaro single-handed race on February 4th at 7.45pm.
