Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Royal Irish Yacht Club

John Maybury and the Joker II crew became J109 National Champions for the fifth time on Dublin Bay this afternoon with a clear win in the two-day, six-race North Sails Ireland sponsored championships. 

Maybury secured the title at the Royal Irish Yacht Club with a five-point margin over RIYC club mate Andrew Craig's Chimaera in second place in the ten-boat fleet.

The Royal Irish helm took the advantage early yesterday winning all three races on the opening day in decidedly light and fickle conditions,  a performance that virtually sealed the title there and then. 

"We had our set up just right on Saturday and sailed out of our skins", Maybury told Afloat. 

John Maybury's Joker II crew on her way to overall victory for the fifth time in the Irish J109 National Championships on Dublin BayJohn Maybury's Joker II crew on thier way to overall victory for the fifth time in the Irish J109 National Championships on Dublin Bay

Conditions for the final two races on Sunday were much improved and the event concluded in a ten-knot northwesterly breeze. 

Although Maybury could not hold on to his clean scoresheet his (5.0), 2.0 and 4.0, Joker II's remaining scores were more than enough to clinch it.

It brings to five, the number of times Maybury has lifted the trophy previously also winning in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2019.

Richard Colwell and John Murphy's Outrajeous from Howth Yacht Club finished third on a tie-break with Chimaera on the same 14 points. 

Andrew Craig's Chimaera clinched second overall in a final race winAndrew Craig's Chimaera clinched second overall with a final race win

J109 National Championships 2021 Overall

  1. Joker 2 1206 RIYC John Maybury 1.0 1.0 1.0 (5.0) 2.0 4.0 14.0 9.0
  2. Chimeara 2160 RIYC Andrew Craig (6.0) 4.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 1.0 20.0 14.0
  3. Outrajeous 19109 HYC Richard Colwell/ John Murphy 2.0 2.0 4.0 (6.0) 4.0 2.0 20.0 14.0
  4. Storm 1141 RSC/HYC Kelly Family 3.0 5.0 8.0 1.0 1.0 (9.0) 27.0 18.0
  5. White Mischief 1242 RIYC Richard Goodbody (8.0) 3.0 5.0 2.0 8.0 5.0 31.0 23.0
  6. Jellybaby 9609 RCYC Jones Family 5.0 6.0 6.0 (7.0) 7.0 3.0 34.0 27.0
  7. Jalapeno 5109 NYC Barrington/O Reilly/ O Sullivan/ Rosique 4.0 7.0 (9.0) 3.0 9.0 6.0 38.0 29.0
  8. Artful Dodjer 1713 KYC Finbarr O Regan 9.0 9.0 7.0 (10.0) 5.0 7.0 47.0 37.0
  9. Ruth 1383 NYC Shanahan Family 7.0 (10.0) 3.0 9.0 10.0 10.0 49.0 39.0
  10. Dear Prudence 1095 RIYC Jay Bourke (11.0 RET) 8.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 8.0 51.0 40.0

Full results are here

Richard Colwell and John Murphy's Outrajeous finished third overall Richard Colwell and John Murphy's Outrajeous from Howth finished third overall  

Published in J109

Three wins from three races in light and fickle conditions on Dublin Bay give the host club's John Maybury a clear lead in the J/109 National Championships 2021 at the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

Maybury's Joker II, a past class champion, is five points clear of Richard Colwell and John Murphy's Outrajeous from Howth Yacht Club on eight points. 

Third in the ten boat fleet on 12 points is Andrew Craig's Chimaera also of the host club. 

Racing continues on Sunday and more light winds are forecast.

J109 Nationals Overall after 3 races sailed

  1. Joker 2 1206 RIYC John Maybury 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 3.0
  2. Outrajeous 19109 HYC Richard Colwell/ John Murphy 2.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 8.0
  3. Chimeara 2160 RIYC Andrew Craig 6.0 4.0 2.0 12.0 12.0
  4. Storm 1141 RSC/HYC Kelly Family 3.0 5.0 8.0 16.0 16.0
  5. White Mischief 1242 RIYC Richard Goodbody 9.0 3.0 5.0 17.0 17.0
  6. Jellybaby 9609 RCYC Jones Family 5.0 6.0 6.0 17.0 17.0
  7. Jalapeno 5109 NYC Barrington/O Reilly/ O Sullivan/ Rosique 4.0 7.0 9.0 20.0 20.0
  8. Ruth 1383 NYC Shanahan Family 8.0 10.0 3.0 21.0 21.0
  9. Dear Prudence 1095 RIYC Jay Bourke 7.0 8.0 10.0 25.0 25.0
  10. Artful Dodjer 1713 KYC Finbarr O Regan 10.0 9.0 7.0 26.0 26.0

*Results are provisional as of 17:15 on September 18, 2021

Published in J109

One of the photos released in connection with tomorrow (Friday) evening’s Royal Irish YC 190th Anniversary Pursuit Race is a story in itself. For although it looks like a close finish to a Dublin Bay regatta race around 150 years ago, with the decorative flags on the mark boat the evidence for a special event, in fact, there’s only one racing yacht in the entire image. She’s the trim white-sailed sailed cutter setting a low rig, as her topmast has been housed for a rugged beat in from the Kish, where the wind was probably near gale force.

But the other four boats under sail are working craft going about their business. The one on the distant left with distinctly grey sails and a large number on her mainsail is the Dublin Pilot Cutter, while the other three are fishing boats from the Ringsend fleet, with the two in the foreground well-laden with a fresh catch from the southeastern grounds. So their race is deadly serious - it’s for the prize share of the market, which is so keenly sought that the cutter sweeping close past the committee boat with fine disdain has sent up her topsail, and the two of them are going like the clappers.

It boggles the mind to imagine what the atmosphere must have been like as they charged neck-and-neck up the Liffey and into Ringsend with its waiting fish-buyers on the rough quayside. It’s most unlikely you’d have heard anyone saying: “After you…….”

Published in Royal Irish Yacht Club
Tagged under

The Royal Irish Yacht Club annual pursuit race, tomorrow evening Friday 10th September, will celebrate the 190th anniversary of the historic Club’s foundation in 1831 at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

This, says the Club Commodore Pat Shannon, will be a fitting way to end its 190th season and to mark the beginning of a return to normality for the club.

The RIYC fleet will be joined by the Dublin Bay 21s which will be helmed for the occasion by the Club’s Flag Officers Commodore Shannon, Vice Commodore Jerry Dowling and Rear Commodore Sailing Joe Conway.

In addition, the Dublin Bay 21s will remain at the RIYC pontoon on Saturday for members to view firsthand.

As well as the Don Richardson Perpetual Trophy, traditionally awarded to the overall winner, Commodore Pat Shannon has given a commemorative trophy for the race which is open to all RIYC members.

Shoreside, there will be Après Sail options and entertainment available on the deck and terrace afterwards.

Published in Royal Irish Yacht Club
Tagged under

Howth Yacht Club's 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin topped the nine boat fleet to win the 2021 Sigma 33 Irish Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The HYC crew beat former class champion Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht Club by three points with visitors occupying the top three places overall after five races sailed and one discard.

Third overall was Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald).

Up to seven clubs were represented in the nine boat fleet bringing visitors from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Belfast Lough to Dunmore East Harbour on the south coast to Dublin Bay.

Results are here.

Prof O'Connell of North Sails Ireland shot the vid below of Insider sailing upwind.

Sigma 33 Irish champions - 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin Photo: Mark MackeySigma 33 Irish champions - 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin Photo: Mark Mackey

Second overall - Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht ClubSecond overall - Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht Club Photo: Mark Mackey

Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald)Third overall - Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald) Photo: Mark Mackey

Published in Sigma

Visitors occupy the top three places overall after three races sailed at the 2021 Sigma 33 Irish Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Howth Yacht Club's 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin leads the nine boat fleet by three points from Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald) on seven points. 

Third is former class champion Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht Club.

Up to seven clubs are represented in the nine boat fleet bringing visitors from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Belfast Lough to Dunmore East Harbour on the south coast to Dublin Bay.

Results are here.

Racing continues today.

Published in Sigma

Consistent sailing with two race wins and five results in the top three gave the Beneteau 211 National Championships title to Peter Carroll's Yikes! at the Royal Irish Yacht Club this afternoon. 

 John Downey's B211 Capilano closed the gap by a point in today's final two races on Yikes to finish just one point adrift in second overall on seven points.

15-20 knot south easterly breezes proved to be testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet in a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

John Downey's CapilanoJohn Downey's B211 Capilano

Third in the 11-boat fleet was Andrew Bradley's Chinook on 13 points. 

Andrew Bradley's ChinookAndrew Bradley's B211 Chinook

Results are here

Beneteau 211 National Championships Photo Gallery

Published in Beneteau 211

Six straight wins handed the SB20 Eastern Championships title to Ted crew, Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll at the Royal Irish Yacht Club this afternoon. 

15-20 knot south easterly breezes proved to be testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet in a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

In the fight for second place overall, the National Yacht Club's Philip, Simon and Paul Doran leapfrogged Royal Cork's Mel Collins and Aidan Mac Sweeny in Gold Digger (in second place overnight) and Royal Irish's Ger Dempsey and Chris Nolan on the final day to take second by a single point from Dempsey who took third overall.

As regular Afloat readers will know, the Irish SB20 fleet is gearing up for next year's world championships on Dublin Bay, a year earlier than originally planned.

It's a change that also sees the Irish hosted World Championships switching venues at Dun Laoghaire. The event now moves from the National Yacht Club to the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which is hosting this weekend's Eastern Championships as part of its world's build-up.

Results are here.

SB20 Easterns Photo Gallery

Published in SB20

The host club dominates the 2021 Beneteau 211 National Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club after the first three races sailed off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

With a 2,1,1 scored so far RIYC's Peter Carroll helming Yikes has a three-point margin over clubmate John Downey's Capilano on seven points.

Royal Irish commodore Pat Shannon, sailing Beeswing, is lying third on 13 points in the 11-boat fleet.

A start of a 2021 Beneteau 211 National Championships race at Dun LaoghaireA start of a 2021 Beneteau 211 National Championships race at Dun Laoghaire

Dublin Bay presented 12 to 18-knot breezes from the southeast with a mist and fine drizzle.

Testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet were completed with a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

Racing continues on Sunday. 

Results are here.

Published in Royal Irish Yacht Club

Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll lead the 2021 SB20 East Coast Championships by eight points after three races sailed off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Dublin Bay presented 12 to 18-knot breezes from the southeast with a mist and fine drizzle.

Testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet were completed with a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll lead the 2021 SB20 East Coast ChampionshipsMichael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll lead the 2021 SB20 East Coast Championships off Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat

The Dublin trio is well clear of Royal Cork's Mel Collins and Aidan Mac Sweeny in Gold Digger who is just one point ahead of Royal Irish's Ger Dempsey and Chris Nolan in third place on 12 points.

As regular Afloat readers will know, the Irish SB20 fleet is gearing up for next year's world championships on Dublin Bay, a year earlier than originally planned.

It's a change that also sees the Irish hosted World Championships switching venues at Dun Laoghaire. The event now moves from the National Yacht Club to the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which is hosting this weekend's Eastern Championships as part of its world's build-up.

Racing continues on Sunday. 

Results are here.

Published in SB20
Page 4 of 17

Ireland's offshore islands

Around 30 of Ireland's offshore islands are inhabited and hold a wealth of cultural heritage.

A central Government objective is to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the islands.

Irish offshore islands FAQs

Technically, it is Ireland itself, as the third largest island in Europe.

Ireland is surrounded by approximately 80 islands of significant size, of which only about 20 are inhabited.

Achill island is the largest of the Irish isles with a coastline of almost 80 miles and has a population of 2,569.

The smallest inhabited offshore island is Inishfree, off Donegal.

The total voting population in the Republic's inhabited islands is just over 2,600 people, according to the Department of Housing.

Starting with west Cork, and giving voting register numbers as of 2020, here you go - Bere island (177), Cape Clear island (131),Dursey island (6), Hare island (29), Whiddy island (26), Long island, Schull (16), Sherkin island (95). The Galway islands are Inis Mór (675), Inis Meáin (148), Inis Oírr (210), Inishbofin (183). The Donegal islands are Arranmore (513), Gola (30), Inishboffin (63), Inishfree (4), Tory (140). The Mayo islands, apart from Achill which is connected by a bridge, are Clare island (116), Inishbiggle (25) and Inishturk (52).

No, the Gaeltacht islands are the Donegal islands, three of the four Galway islands (Inishbofin, like Clifden, is English-speaking primarily), and Cape Clear or Oileán Chléire in west Cork.

Lack of a pier was one of the main factors in the evacuation of a number of islands, the best known being the Blasket islands off Kerry, which were evacuated in November 1953. There are now three cottages available to rent on the Great Blasket island.

In the early 20th century, scholars visited the Great Blasket to learn Irish and to collect folklore and they encouraged the islanders to record their life stories in their native tongue. The three best known island books are An tOileánach (The Islandman) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig by Peig Sayers, and Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. Former taoiseach Charles J Haughey also kept a residence on his island, Inishvickillaune, which is one of the smaller and less accessible Blasket islands.

Charles J Haughey, as above, or late Beatle musician, John Lennon. Lennon bought Dorinish island in Clew Bay, south Mayo, in 1967 for a reported £1,700 sterling. Vendor was Westport Harbour Board which had used it for marine pilots. Lennon reportedly planned to spend his retirement there, and The Guardian newspaper quoted local estate agent Andrew Crowley as saying he was "besotted with the place by all accounts". He did lodge a planning application for a house, but never built on the 19 acres. He offered it to Sid Rawle, founder of the Digger Action Movement and known as the "King of the Hippies". Rawle and 30 others lived there until 1972 when their tents were burned by an oil lamp. Lennon and Yoko Ono visited it once more before his death in 1980. Ono sold the island for £30,000 in 1984, and it is widely reported that she donated the proceeds of the sale to an Irish orphanage

 

Yes, Rathlin island, off Co Antrim's Causeway Coast, is Ireland's most northerly inhabited island. As a special area of conservation, it is home to tens of thousands of sea birds, including puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots. It is known for its Rathlin golden hare. It is almost famous for the fact that Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, retreated after being defeated by the English at Perth and hid in a sea cave where he was so inspired by a spider's tenacity that he returned to defeat his enemy.

No. The Aran islands have a regular ferry and plane service, with ferries from Ros-a-Mhíl, south Connemara all year round and from Doolin, Co Clare in the tourist season. The plane service flies from Indreabhán to all three islands. Inishbofin is connected by ferry from Cleggan, Co Galway, while Clare island and Inishturk are connected from Roonagh pier, outside Louisburgh. The Donegal islands of Arranmore and Tory island also have ferry services, as has Bere island, Cape Clear and Sherkin off Cork. How are the island transport services financed? The Government subsidises transport services to and from the islands. The Irish Coast Guard carries out medical evacuations, as to the RNLI lifeboats. Former Fianna Fáíl minister Éamon Ó Cuív is widely credited with improving transport services to and from offshore islands, earning his department the nickname "Craggy island".

Craggy Island is an bleak, isolated community located of the west coast, inhabited by Irish, a Chinese community and one Maori. Three priests and housekeeper Mrs Doyle live in a parochial house There is a pub, a very small golf course, a McDonald's fast food restaurant and a Chinatown... Actually, that is all fiction. Craggy island is a figment of the imagination of the Father Ted series writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, for the highly successful Channel 4 television series, and the Georgian style parochial house on the "island" is actually Glenquin House in Co Clare.

Yes, that is of the Plassey, a freighter which was washed up on Inis Oírr in bad weather in 1960.

There are some small privately owned islands,and islands like Inishlyre in Co Mayo with only a small number of residents providing their own transport. Several Connemara islands such as Turbot and Inishturk South have a growing summer population, with some residents extending their stay during Covid-19. Turbot island off Eyrephort is one such example – the island, which was first spotted by Alcock and Brown as they approached Ireland during their epic transatlantic flight in 1919, was evacuated in 1978, four years after three of its fishermen drowned on the way home from watching an All Ireland final in Clifden. However, it is slowly being repopulated

Responsibility for the islands was taking over by the Department of Rural and Community Development . It was previously with the Gaeltacht section in the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

It is a periodic bone of contention, as Ireland does not have the same approach to its islands as Norway, which believes in right of access. However, many improvements were made during Fianna Fáíl Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív's time as minister. The Irish Island Federation, Comdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, represents island issues at national and international level.

The 12 offshore islands with registered voters have long argued that having to cast their vote early puts them at a disadvantage – especially as improved transport links mean that ballot boxes can be transported to the mainland in most weather conditions, bar the winter months. Legislation allowing them to vote on the same day as the rest of the State wasn't passed in time for the February 2020 general election.

Yes, but check tide tables ! Omey island off north Connemara is accessible at low tide and also runs a summer race meeting on the strand. In Sligo, 14 pillars mark the way to Coney island – one of several islands bearing this name off the Irish coast.

Cape Clear or Oileán Chléire is the country's most southerly inhabited island, eight miles off the west Cork coast, and within sight of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse, also known as the "teardrop of Ireland".
Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast, which has a monastic site dating from the 6th century. It is accessible by boat – prebooking essential – from Portmagee, Co Kerry. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was not open to visitors in 2020.
All islands have bird life, but puffins and gannets and kittiwakes are synonymous with Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. Rathlin island off Antrim and Cape Clear off west Cork have bird observatories. The Saltee islands off the Wexford coast are privately owned by the O'Neill family, but day visitors are permitted access to the Great Saltee during certain hours. The Saltees have gannets, gulls, puffins and Manx shearwaters.
Vikings used Dublin as a European slaving capital, and one of their bases was on Dalkey island, which can be viewed from Killiney's Vico road. Boat trips available from Coliemore harbour in Dalkey. Birdwatch Ireland has set up nestboxes here for roseate terns. Keep an eye out also for feral goats.
Plenty! There are regular boat trips in summer to Inchagoill island on Lough Corrib, while the best known Irish inshore island might be the lake isle of Innisfree on Sligo's Lough Gill, immortalised by WB Yeats in his poem of the same name. Roscommon's Lough Key has several islands, the most prominent being the privately-owned Castle Island. Trinity island is more accessible to the public - it was once occupied by Cistercian monks from Boyle Abbey.

©Afloat 2020