Water Wag Dinghy Builder Features on Cover of French Maritime Heritage Publication

17th May 2016

Le premier monotype - Cathy makes the cover of influential French Mag Chasse Maree

Leading French maritime heritage publication Chasse–Marée features Dublin Water Wag sailor and builder Cathy MacAleavey on its lastest front cover. In a full length feature article, the magazine features the history of the world's first dinghy ('le premier monotype') that has its origins at Shankill beach in Co. Dublin from 1886. Olympian MacAleavey, who recently exhibited a new build of the 13–foot craft at the RDS is photographed on the front cover at Jimmy Furey's workshop on the river Shannon at Roscomon.

Built in Mountplunkett, Roscommon over the past 18 months by Jimmy Furey and Cathy Mac Aleavey, Wag No. 45 has been named Mariposa (Spanish for butterfly) and was launched during the annual Waterwag Club Shannon regatta held at Lecarrow on Blackbrink Bay, Lough Ree on September last. This season, Mariposa joined the growing number of Waterwags being raced in Dun Laoghaire.

The over 100–year–old class is one of the most active dinghy classes racing in Dun Laoghaire, regularly attracting 20 and 30–boat fleets. Last season, another brand new boat, No.46 was launched and sailed at Dun Laoghaire.

Read more by WM Nixon: Ireland's Invisible Boat Builders

Published in Historic Boats

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