In a year when sailing will share the limelight with the other sports in the Olympics, the more leisurely and local aspects of the sport received some well-deserved coverage when RTE journalist Marie Louise O'Donnell was recently invited to try her hand at sailing by members of Sailing in Dublin Club.
Taking advantage of fine weather and mild wind, the reporter from Radio 1's Today with Sean O'Rourke show was brought on an evening cruise around Dublin Bay on the club's Sigma 33 ‘Obsession’. Marie Louise is known for her enthusiastic reporting and she was clearly bowled over by the experience as she gave a glowing report of her sail, including references as broad as Christopher Columbus, James Joyce and Dun Laoghaire's new Library. Regular skipper Linda French brought Obsession out into the Bay to give Marie Louise a closer look at a Dutch sail training vessel that was in Dublin for the riverfest and to look at boats racing as part of regular Thursday Dublin Bay Sailing Club race series.
In her radio package, Marie Louise described her experience in some detail including her introduction to knots and sheets and sailing terminology. But the experience of being on the water and of seeing Dublin from a different perspective seems to have impressed her the most. The journalist also had time to talk to the crew, comprising of well-seasoned SID members but also some newer members, who explained how they had benefited from joining the club.
Sailing in Dublin (SID) is currently engaged in a publicity drive to encourage more people to try the sport by sailing on one of the club owned boats; SID yachts include a Sigma 33, a Ruffian and the club cruiser, a Jeanneau Sun Odysessy. The club also has 4 Laser Vago dinghies and recently held several Try Sailing events on its keelboats and dinghies in conjunction with the Irish Sailing Association which was a great success.
The club's unique approach to sailing allows members to sail on a regular basis without the need to purchase their own boat, opening up a wide range of sailing opportunities at the fraction of the usual cost. You can listen to Marie Louise's report here and to arrange a guest sail to try out the club contact the SID Guest Liaison Officer at [email protected] or 085 8155 948