SAILING: Adding to widespread international accolades for their successful circumnavigation of the Arctic Polar ice-cap, Paddy Barry and Jarlath Cunnane were declared the Cork Dry Gin Sailors of the Year this week. Their adventure began in June, 2001, when their new boat named Northabout sailed away from Westport.
When she finally returned to Westport in October, 2005, Northabout had become the first boat to circumnavigate the world on the east-west route, north of the Arctic Circle, getting through the ice in the demanding Northwest Passage beyond Canada and the even more challenging Northeast Passage beyond Siberia.
The winners represented a large team effort but also faced off numerous contenders for the title that celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
Among the selection was British Virgin Islander Finian Maynard, who has consistently broken his own world speed sailing record each year since 2003 at the French windsurfing venue of Les Saintes Maries and currently is the fastest sailor in the world with an official speed of 48.7 knots. He also set a world record for speed over one nautical mile of 39.97 knots in Walvis Bay, Namibia, in October.
A special International Award was made to Jean Philippe Chomette whose CityJet Solune set a Round Ireland passage record this time last year which marked the start of a number of circumnavigation attempts.
While captain Mick Liddy succeeded in breaking the solo record time, it was in turn broken by Belgian sailor Michel Klienjans just weeks later. Both were nominees for the overall title.
Kleinjans' record and the subsequent notice from the Department of the Marine reminding mariners of their legal duty to maintain a proper look-out at all times formed the basis for the National YC to withdraw its observer status for such record attempts. However, the latest issue of Afloat magazine contains interesting suggestions that could yet mean more record attempts are possible.
Other big-boat sailors featured aplenty in the awards shortlist including Colm Barrington, Tim Costello and Eamonn Conneely whose yachts Flying Glove, Tiamat and Patches, respectively, swept the boards at Skandia Cowes Week in an all-Irish rout of the iconic British event.
Meanwhile, Patches is off to a good start in the new season at the Transpac 52 World Series in Miami this week. So far, the Galway yacht is counting four wins from six races and holds a seven-point lead. A 24-hour race to the Bahamas and back started last night while a short offshore is also planned for tomorrow. Two short races will complete the series on Sunday.
2005 AWARD WINNERS
Finian Maynard (Dun Laoghaire); Maire Breathnach (Dungarvan); Peter Killen (Malahide); Rachel MacManus (Dalkey); Tim Costello (Dun Laoghaire); Noel Butler (Galway); Jean Philippe Chomette (France - International Award); Anthony O'Leary (Crosshaven); Eamonn Conneely (Co Galway); Colm Barrington (Dun Laoghaire); Eric Lisson (Novahull, Co Cork); Ross Kearney (Belfast); Adam McCullough (Belfast); David Crosbie (Co Dublin); Mick Liddy (Co Dublin); Jarlath Cunnane (Westport); Paddy Barry (Monkstown, Dublin); Michel Kleinjans (Belgium); Brian Craig (Dun Laoghaire).
