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Monday, 04 June 2012

Former Champion Lifts Mermaid Trophy

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Former Champion Lifts Mermaid Trophy

#MERMAID – Last weekend the weather did not dampen the spirits of the participants who took part in Munster Mermaid Championship's at Foynes Yacht Club to coincide with the Foynes Irish Coffee writes Gerry Ryan.

Thirteen boats travelled from the east coast from club's as Skerries, Rush and the National Yacht Club, where they enjoyed some good racing on the Shannon Estuary.

On Saturday two races took place east of Foynes Island in wet conditions, where a force 3 north-easterly breeze pertained for both races. Officer of the Day, Alan McEneff ensured that the 20 boats participating raced the Olympic triangular course for the event.

Race one was very keenly contested with national winner, Sam Shiels sailing Azeezy from Skerries ensuring some good racing skills in beating Vincent McCormack in Three Chevrons. Race two it was much the same picture with Shiels taking line honours and Jill with Paul Smith and Pat Mangan.

On Sunday the rain eased somewhat to give a force 3 breeze with a slight wind shift during racing, and a strong tide to contend with. The winner of this race was Frankie Browne sailing Cara II, but Sam Shiels received the Munster Mermaid Cup on Sunday.

Overall, the home boats did well, with Vincent McCormack on Three Chevrons finishing third on race one, and Darragh McCormack came middle of the fleet in 9th position on Argo.

Vincent McCormack on Three Chevron's won the Best Foynes boat, while James McCormack won the Silver fleet trophy, which was specially commissioned for the golden jubilee year.

At the presentation of prizes on Sunday, Alan McEneff stressed that the next major event will be the West Coast Cruiser Championships in July, and asked that all the Mermaid sailors would assist in the championship's.

Mermaid Class Captain, Darragh McCormack said: 'It was the most spectacular, and skilful racing for the Munster championship's to date, which is getting new entries as it progresses every year.

This coming weekend the first leg of the Estuary Bell will take place hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club in Kilrush. Two races are scheduled to take place on Saturday and one on Sunday. We wish the Foynes flotilla the very best in Kilrush this weekend. Notice of race etc., is on the club website.

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Shannon Estuary

The Shannon Estuary features 500km2 of navigable water running from Kerry Head and Loop Head as far as Limerick City, a distance of 100km. The Estuary is Ireland's premier deepwater port, routinely catering for ships up to 200,000 deadweight tonnage, with key ports at Limerick and Foynes. It is home to a number of large industries and employers, including ESB Moneypoint, Aughinish Alumina, Tarbert Power Station, Shannon Airport, NORA Fuel Reserve. Meanwhile, the Estuary supports a variety of economic uses but is also rich in natural resources, wildlife and ecosystems.

A 2012 State plan identifies 9 'Strategic Sites' on the Estuary, namely Moneypoint, Innismurry/Cahercon (Clare), Limerick Docks, Foynes Island, Foynes Port and adjoining lands, Askeaton Industrial Estate, Aughinish Island, (Limerick), Tarbert Power Station and Ballylongford Landbank (Kerry).

For the most part, these sites are zoned for 'Marine-Related Industry' with Askeaton zoned for 'Industry' and Limerick Docks zoned for 'Mixed Use'. In some cases, the zonings confirm existing large scale developments but additional lands for expansion and some new sites are also identified.

The SIFP identifies Moneypoint and Tarbert Power Stations as 'Key Energy Sites' in addition to Ballylongford Landbank, the site of the permitted liquefied natural gas (LNG) Project. The Plan identifies Kilconly point, Carrig Island, Tarbert Bay (Kerry) and Moneypoint (Clare) as opportunity sites for renewable energy, with opportunities for servicing offshore renewable energy developments also identified.

There is a similar approach to fishing and aquaculture with 8 separate opportunity sites identified on the Estuary, including designated Shell Fish Waters at Poulnasherry Bay and Carrigaholt Bay in County Clare. Other areas of opportunity include Rinevella Bay, Killimer and Clonderlaw Bay in Clare, Carrig Island in Kerry, and Greenish Island and Long Rock in Limerick.

The Plan recognises the tourism potential of the Estuary and includes objectives to further develop the Cruise Ship industry, while it highlights the potential of the Islands on the Fergus Estuary. Meanwhile, the strategy features objectives relating to aviation and supports the future development of Shannon Airport, including acknowledging the importance of the 2000-acre land bank zoned for aviation uses in the new Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan 2012-2018.