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Sailability Kinsale and Donal Hickey are Cork Sports Partnership Award Finalists

26th November 2023
Some of the Sailability Kinsale sailors afloat with KYC promoter Donal Hickey on the slipway at Kinsale Harbour this summer
Some of the Sailability Kinsale sailors afloat with KYC promoter Donal Hickey on the slipway at Kinsale Harbour this summer Credit: Bob Bateman

Kinsale Yacht Club's commitment to promoting inclusiveness in sailing has been recognised with nominations for the annual Cork's Sports Partnership awards.

Sailability Kinsale and KYC promoter Donal Hickey have both been nominated as finalists in the 'active community' section of Wednesday's awards.

Sailability Kinsale and KYC promoter Donal Hickey have both been nominated as finalists in the 'active community' section of Wednesday's awards.Sailability Kinsale and KYC promoter Donal Hickey have both been nominated as finalists in the 'active community' section of Wednesday's awards

As regular Afloat readers know, in June the West Cork club welcomed the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte, to launch its new Sailability fleet of access dinghies and a new Whaly Safety boat.

Sailability Ireland is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation to encourage wider participation and has provided the resources to purchase specially adapted boats.

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte, with Kinsale Yacht Club's Sailability promoter Donal Hickey Photo: Bob BatemanMinister of State at the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte, with Kinsale Yacht Club's Sailability promoter Donal Hickey at the launch of the new fleet in June  Photo: Bob Bateman

Listen to Tom Macsweeney's 2019 podcast here and see photos from June's Sailability launch at KYC by Bob Bateman here

Published in Kinsale
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Kinsale Yacht Club located in Kinsale, County Cork lies just 120 nautical miles from Wales, 240 from North West France and only 500 from the Galician Coast of North Spain.

Kinsale Yacht Club is only a few minutes walk from every shop, hotel, pub and restaurant in Ireland’s gourmet capital but most significantly it is only 30 km by road from Cork, Ireland’s second city, and between the two lies one the region’s main assets - Cork International Airport - with its daily links to many European capitals.

Club members, of which there are more than 600, race Cruisers, One Design Keelboats and Dinghies.

The club runs inshore and offshore races, has an active cruising scene, a powerboat section and most significantly for any real club, a strong and dynamic junior training programme.

Beyond the club’s own marina is the club house itself and the dinghy park. Within the clubhouse are changing rooms, bar and restaurant all with full wheelchair access. The club’s full-time secretariat, steward and marina manager are there to look after sailing visitors and members alike in a relaxed, informal and fun environment.

The club welcomes new members and has always got room on its members’ yachts for new comers to the sport.