It seems the sailing world has “recovered from recovering from the pandemic lockdowns”, as the world’s year-round programme of major events – particularly high-profile offshore challenges – swings back into top gear. Not that some of these events didn’t somehow continue in certain places, but because of differing restrictions in different countries, some entries were precluded from travelling to participate in other jurisdictions, a situation that inevitably caused friction.

But memories of any unpleasantness are fading as new events try to find their place on the international stage. Yet with some international majors already through their Centenary, it takes a lot of doing, and then some, to establish your new place in the sun among the existing pillars of the fixtures list.

THE “FAMOUS FIVE” RACE TO AUCKLAND

Thus, there was some excitement a couple of months ago when the new Sydney-Auckland Race was announced by Australia’s Royal Prince Alfred YC, partly to find a worthy use for the club’s historic and prized Lipton Cup. But although something like twenty boats filed expressions of interest, when the 1,300-mile race started this morning in Sydney Harbour, the entry was just five boats.

Once upon a time, she was Eamonn Conneely’s TP52 Patches. But now she is Mike Martin’s Frantic, and she sails today in the new Trans-Tasman Sydney-Auckland race

It seems that as far as the Australian sailors and their public are concerned, their limited portion of sailing interest is consumed by the annual Sydney-Hobart Race at Christmas, the yearly betting-dominated battles of the Sydney Harbour 18 footers, and occasionally the America’s Cup if there’s Australian involvement.

And from a practical angle, you can see that where Sydney-Hobart Race participation can take less than a week all in, racing to the distant wilds of New Zealand – always an iffy business for an Australian in any case – is much more time-consuming when you add in having to get your boat back again across the temperamental Tasman Sea.

CLONTARF INVOLVEMENT

But as former Clontarf sailor Trevor Smyth – brother of Nicky and Pete, who are currently cutting the mustard with the Dun Laoghaire fleets – is racing to Auckland on Mick Martin’s TP52 Frantic, we have a specific interest in the outcome, increased if anything by the fact that Frantic was formerly Eamon Conneelly’s multi-successful Patches.

By the time they get to Auckland, Valetta in Malta will be a-buzz with the buildup to the Rolex Middle Sea Race, starting in a fortnight’s time With an entry of 109 boats with Conor Doyle’s 50ft Freya from Kinsale involved again after ORC success last year, and including some serious maxis, it’s holding up well.

That’s even though the 2021 staging of this annual classic is still a matter of some disgruntlement, as the prizes list was amended when the Maltese Coastguard came down heavily against the latter half of the fleet being permitted to even try to finish in Grand Harbour when a forecast severe northeasterly gale threatened to make the entrance extra-hazardous.

Maxis and Super-Maxis racing out of the entrance to Valetta Harbour. The threat of a severe nor’easterly in 2021 made this entrance potentially hazardous, and the Middle Sea Race times had to be adjusted to accommodate non-finishing boats

The subsequent re-jigging of the times deprived Tom Kneen’s JPK 11.80 Sunrise of a remarkable double – first overall in both the 2021 Fastnet and the 2021 Middle Sea – but right now the thoughts of the organisers should be inclining towards a very different problem.

MIDDLE SEA RACE HEADING FOR TROUBLED WATERS?

For the most southerly turning point in the Middle Sea Race is the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. Until the Middle Sea Race brought this very special outpost of European civilisation centre stage, many of us only knew of Lampedusa as the ancestral home of Guiseppe Tomasini di Lampedusa, author of that magnificent novel The Leopard - reading it at least a couple of times helped many of us to get through the lockdowns.

But now for much of the world, Lampedusa is synonymous with some of the worst tragedies of the Mediterranean refugee crisis. The very thought of a yacht race. with a fleet including superyachts, using it as no more than a mark of their race-course makes for dreadful optics. Yet what else are the organisers to do? In times past, getting over those later stages to Lampedusa and back up to Malta has seen the race won and lost.

A recently-issued image of the course for the 606-mile Rolex Middle Sea Race, with Lampedusa the most southerly turning point, but somehow Africa has disappeared

So it simply wouldn’t be the Middle Sea Race without this now-tragic little place being a major turning mark of the time-honoured course. Thus the Royal Malta faces an unenviable quandary, as they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t, caught between those who think that Lampedusa should be left out this time round as a mark of respect, and those who reckon that it’s in human nature that life must go on.

HAVE OFFSHORE RACERS TUNNEL VISION?

For many offshore racers are decidedly tough-thinking and ultra-focused types, who see a coastline only as somewhere to be raced along, rather than as places where people’s existences are lived out in all their sometimes tragic complexity.

Thus when the important marina offices at Falmouth Harbour in Antigua burnt down the other day just as the Caribbean sailing season is gearing up to swing into its busiest season, the powers-that-be wasted no time in assuring everybody that this local disaster would have no adverse effect on the annual staging of the RORC Caribbean 600 Race in February. So that’s all right then.

Antigua Yacht Club Marina offices burned down last Monday night

Starting pressures in the RORC Caribbean 600 Race, with crowded English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard in the background. The race will proceed in February 2024 despite the marina building at Falmouth Harbour next door being burnt down

GOOD NEWS FROM GREYSTONES

On a more cheerful note, the news that Pamela Lee of Greystones (though now based in France) has secured sponsorship from DFDS and Brittany Ferries for a two-handed Open 40 entry in the Transat Jacques Vabre from Le Havre to Martinique on October 29th scores high in many ways. She’s the first Irish female skipper to make the breakthrough, and she does so from a position of increasing strength, as the record two-handed Round Ireland time of 3 days 19 hours 41 minutes she set in October 2020 with Catherine Hunt in the Figaro 3 Iarracht Maigenta looks better and better with every passing month.

Pamela Lee (right) and shipmate Tiphaine Raganeau celebrate racing success aboard their Open 40

We’ll still be digesting the outcome of the Jacques Vabre when the Sydney-Hobart Race gets going on December 26th, a welcome relief from the Yuletide smother. As ever, Irish interest will first focus on which boat - if any - our own ex-Pat sailing superstar Gordon Maguire is racing. It’s particularly intriguing, as he raced this year’s Fastnet in Sean Langman of Sydney’s gaff-rigged Maluka, and got onto the podium in Class IV. But his exceptional talents would make him welcome in most boats in the healthy turnout.

Maluka launching into Cork Harbour, on her way to competing in the Fastnet Race 2023 with Sean Langman and Gordon Maguire leading the crew

2024 SHAPING UP TO BE SAILING’S “SUPERYEAR”

Thus there’s plenty of major sailing to carry us into 2024, but getting through 2024 with proper attention to every aspect of sailing is going to take some doing, as it’s filled with starred global events. European venues are particularly busy, as the 2024 Sailing Olympics are at Marseille in France from 28th July to 8th August, while just along the coast at Barcelona, they’re making a real meal of the 37th America’s Cup, as its various permutations will see action afloat from August 22nd until October 20th.

Olympic qualifier Finn Lynch at home in the ILCA 7. This weekend he’s a marked man racing Mermaids at Foynes in the Championship of Champions

For the Olympics, Finn Lynch has already secured his place for Ireland in the ILCA 7 class, which makes him something of a marked man in the multi-class Championship of Champions being raced in Mermaids at Foynes this weekend. But it will be edge-of-seat testing on the international stage for Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove to see if they can grab a final place in the 49ers, with the tension usually being maintained right into April.

INCREASING LATE SEASON PRESSURE ON DUN LAOGHAIRE

All of this taking place elsewhere should leave us with a relatively relaxed established programme in Ireland, but recent announcements show that it might be anything but relaxed. We’ll have the Round Ireland Race from Wicklow on Saturday, 22nd June, and then Volvo Cork Week from July 15th to 19th to leave a useful gap to get on further west for Calves Week in Schull which – if tradition is followed – should be from Tuesday, August 6th to Friday, August 9th.

The inaugural Key Yachting J Cup Ireland in August 2023, with forty boats in all, was the successful introduction of a new event

But there’ll be little relaxation among the organising classes after that, as the ICRA Nationals 2024 are scheduled for the Royal Irish Yacht Club on the weekend of August 30th-September 1st, the Key Yachting J-Cup Ireland 2024 is at the same host club on September 7-8th, and then on 10th to 15th September the IRC Europeans 2024 descend on Dun Laoghaire, an event which has the potential to be very big indeed.

THE YEAR WHEN IRELAND WAS REJECTED

We shall see. At least it’s a bit different from 1972, when the escalation of the Troubles in the north led to the RORC abruptly cancelling the scheduled RORC Cowes to Cork Race, and staging a Cowes to Santander Race instead.

Denis Doyle’s Robert Clark-designed and Crosshaven-built “White Moonduster” racing in the 1969 Fastnet. Three years later, she was obliged to race to Spain when Cork had been originally intended

This was more than brutal for Denis Doyle, as he was a flag officer of both the RORC and the Royal Cork. But as ever the gentleman, he raced his 47ft white Moonduster with good grace to Spain with the RORC fleet, and as usual Mary went on ahead to greet her husband and his crew when they reached the Real Club Maritimo de Santander.

Sure enough, there she was, fragrant and bright and cheerful as ever in her best summer frock. But she wasn’t waving a greeting from the club balcony. On the contrary, she was standing beside its still-smoking ruins, as the Basque separatists had seen fit to blow it up.

“Mary Doyle” called the skipper of Moonduster as the boat glided in engineless elegance towards the allotted berth. “Mary Doyle, I know you were very annoyed about them racing to Spain instead of Cork. But is that not going a bit too far?”

The Real Club Maritimo in Santander. The club was founded in 1927, but this clubhouse dates from the 1970s

Dún Laoghaire Harbour has marked a significant milestone as it welcomed its 100,000th cruise passenger, Melinda Berk from New York, who arrived on the Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship.

To celebrate the occasion, Melinda was presented with a hamper of gifts, including a beautifully crafted wooden replica of the harbour. She was warmly greeted by Councillor Denis O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Team.

Melinda Berk from New York is welcomed to Dún Laoghaire Harbour as the 100,000th cruise liner passenger by Councillor Denis O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

The cruise industry is a significant contributor to the Irish economy, providing between €50-70 million per year, with €10-15m per year going to local economies, such as Dún Laoghaire. The Harbour has been working hard to maximize the benefit of cruise ship visits to the local area. Efforts have included extensive branding, a dedicated tourism office catering specifically to cruise ship passengers, and partnerships with the local business community and the DLR Chamber of Commerce.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour has welcomed 65 cruise ships in the current year alone, with an additional 20 expected in the coming weeks, bringing the total to 85 for the 2023 season. This marks a significant increase of 20 ships from last year, and nearly 100 ships are expected in 2024. Councillor Denis O’Callaghan said, "It is important that we showcase our local attractions to these visitors."

Frank Curran, CEO of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said, "The team at Dún Laoghaire Harbour is committed to continuing their efforts to enhance the experience for cruise ship passengers and to drive economic growth in the region. With its breathtaking natural scenery and cultural heritage, Dún Laoghaire offers an unforgettable experience for all who visit."

A group of swimmers were rescued by Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI this morning near Dalkey Island on Dublin Bay.

The crew was on a training exercise in the station’s inshore lifeboat when they were alerted to an incident unfolding at Dalkey Island. The swimmers had become separated from their main group, and upon reaching shore, became concerned for their friends who had not returned.

A passing Dive Support RIB was flagged down and alerted the Coast Guard, who promptly tasked Dun Laoghaire’s inshore lifeboat. All swimmers were accounted for, and the remaining swimmers were brought safely ashore and assessed by ambulance crews.

This was the first callout for volunteer crew member Andrew Sykes, who had recently passed out as a Helm at Dun Laoghaire RNLI for the station’s Inshore lifeboat. Andrew joined the station at the age of 18 and has worked his way up to the senior position of lifeboat Helm after six years on the lifeboat crew.

Dun Laoghaire RNLI Deputy Launch Authority Dara Totterdell urged all swimmers to keep safety in mind, advising them to know the area they are swimming in, watch the tides and the sea state, have an agreed plan, and know their limits. The RNLI’s Float to Live campaign recommends anyone in difficulty to float on their back if in trouble and never hesitate to call for help.

“We would encourage anyone planning a water-based activity to be wary of sea temperatures and to wear a wetsuit as hypothermia can set in within minutes,” Totterdell said. “If you see someone who may be in trouble in the water, raise the alarm immediately and call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. Time is always of the essence in these situations.”

The volunteer lifeboat crew of Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI has been kept busy over the past week, responding to ten calls for assistance from the Dublin Bay area.

The Coast Guard sought the help of the Inshore and All Weather lifeboats for incidents ranging from stricken craft to people in distress on the water.

The crew responded to calls from both the lifeboat station and their homes and businesses, launching in less than nine minutes to attend to the emergencies. The variety of callouts included broken down boats, fuel shortages, entangled sails, stranded fishermen, and walkers cut off by the tide at Sandymount strand. The crew provided assistance to the casualties and ensured their safe return to shore.

Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Ed Totterdell expressed his appreciation for the dedication of the volunteer crew. "Behind every call out, no matter how minor or major, is a person in difficulty and unsure of what to do to get themselves to safety. We have a fantastic team of volunteers here who train for every type of call out and will look after people when something goes wrong on the water."

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI inshore lifeboat

As summer weather continues, Totterdell reminds water enthusiasts to prepare for emergencies with basic safety measures. He advises ensuring the seaworthiness of boats and engines, having enough fuel for the trip, wearing lifejackets or flotation devices, and informing someone on shore of their plans. He also encourages carrying a means of communication, such as a VHF radio, and knowing how to dial 999 or 112 to reach the Coast Guard.

Rescue services rescued a man from off Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Sunday afternoon (August 13th).

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 116, Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI, the local Coastguard unit, and nearby pleasure craft were all involved in rescuing a man 'treading water' in Scotsman's Bay. 

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 116 - operating over Dun Laoghaire in the search and rescue of a man in the water in the south of Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

After a search that began at Sandycove Point and the Forty Foot Bathing Place, local yachts and Rescue 116 located the man in the middle of Scotsman's Bay, who was retrieved from the water by Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI's inshore lifeboat.

The lifeboat requested an ambulance to meet it on its return to the Harbour with the casualty.

New ship fender installation is underway at Dun Laoghaire Harbour's Carlisle Pier. 

The installation of nine new fenders supported on tubular piles will increase the capacity and flexibility of the quay for berthing a range of vessels which moor at the Harbour.

These visitors to 'berth number three' include Navy ships, cruise liners, wind farm service and research vessels, beam trawlers and visiting superyachts. 

The project requires the demolition and removal of three existing concrete buttresses and steel fender collars. 

It is a busy time for upgrading the 200-year-old harbour as the fender installation occurs as separate €2m works are underway to the revetement at the back of town's East Pier.

The works follow extensive repairs since 2018, when Storm Emma caused serious damage to the East Pier.

Due to strong winds, Sunday's (July 2) classic boat/yacht parade at Dun Laoghaire Harbour was cancelled this afternoon.

This event was arranged in association with Dun Laoghaire's Coastival Festival, a week-long series of events and activities that culminates in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Sailing classes that were planning to participate included iconic Dublin designs - Water Wags, Dublin Bay 21s, IDRA 14s, Mermaids, and Glens.

Event organiser Hal Sisk says the parade will be rescheduled.

Other inaugural Coastival events did survive today's strong gusts, including the kite flying festival to the east of the harbour on Newstownswmith Green, where expert kiters gave workshops on kite aerodynamics and design.

A Kite Zone featuring stunt kites, large static kites and tournaments hosted by Francois and the Pure Magic team. During the Coastival event at Dun Laoghaire, master kite flyers demonstrated their skills and creations 

A €2M repair project to Dun Laoghaire's East Pier Revetment (the concrete slope behind the East Pier) commenced on 19th June, and works there will continue for approximately 16 weeks.

As Afloat reported previously, this important repair scheme to the 200-year-old harbour is funded by the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme 2022-2023.

Access to the revetment behind the pier will be closed off from the Bandstand to the Lighthouse Battery throughout this project.

The €2M repair project to Dun Laoghaire's East Pier focuses on the Revetment or the concrete slope behind the East Pier

The works follow extensive repairs since 2018, when Storm Emma caused serious damage to the East Pier.

Also pictured by Afloat in 2018 was damage to the stonework of the town's West Pier roundheads. There are growing fears that this surface damage may indicate further damage undermining the structure of the pier roundhead.

The current works are being undertaken by Mayo-based Cunnigham Civil and Marine, who have carried out extensive work on Ireland's islands and lighthouses.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI had a late call from the Irish Coast Guard last night, Monday (19 June) to assist four people on a small boat with engine trouble, close to Carlisle Pier.

The volunteer crew were alerted at 10.11pm by the Irish Coast Guard that one of the four occupants onboard the craft had swum to shore to raise the alarm that the engine had failed and that the craft was drifting. A volunteer crew at Dun Laoghaire RNLI had just completed a routine evening training session on the inshore lifeboat minutes earlier and were on hand to assist within minutes. As well as the casualty who swam ashore, two other calls for assistance came from members of the public who witnessed the scene unfold.

The inshore lifeboat helmed by Alan Keville, launched back into the calm weather conditions; reaching the boat within minutes, the crew saw that the vessel’s engine had failed.

The lifeboat crew observed that the three remaining people onboard were safe and well. The crew quickly assessed the situation before deciding to establish a tow line and bring the boat and occupants to the safety of Coal Harbour and ashore.

Speaking following the call out, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Helm Alan Keville said: ‘Those on the vessel did the right thing by wearing lifejackets. We would encourage anyone planning a trip to sea to always have a means of communication with you such as a VHF radio or a mobile phone and if you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.

‘As we continue to enjoy the summer weather, we would remind everyone that basic preparation leads to heightened safety in an emergency. Always ensure your boat and engine are seaworthy and that you have enough fuel for your trip. Always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity and let someone on the shore know where you are going and when you are due back.’

 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has launched a digital event brochure for its inaugural Coastival Festival that coincides with Ireland's largest sailing regatta, the VDLR, from July 6th.

The flipbook contains the full programme for the eight-day event and is viewable below.

Scroll down for a flipbook of event for the DLR Coastival Festival

As regular Afloat readers know, the waterfront VDLR regatta has a massive entry of 300 boats coming from across the Irish Sea area for racing in 22 different classes.

Now the town is running Coastival 2023 to celebrate 'everything it loves about Dún Laoghaire' but especially the borough's 200-year-old harbour.

The new week-long festival from July 1-9 includes family fun each day both on land and water.

Coastival 2023 also has a full live music and comedy programme for 'Coastival Nights'.

Events include:

• Maritime movies on the green,
• Live music, including KILA, Jerry Fish, Mack Fleetwood and much more,
• Comedy club with Dave McSavage and Dublin Improv,
• Boat cruises and boat trips,
• Family fun day at the dlr LexIcon Library,
• Free sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding,
• Summer of heritage events and much more!

Check out the Coastival Festival digital event brochure below

dlrcoco COASTIVAL