The Women's Open Keelboat Championship (WOKC) will be returning to Hamble for its 11th edition in June 2019.

This year the event hosted once again by Hamble River Sailing Club, is being held on the weekend of 1st & 2nd June 2019. The volunteer team which organises WOKC is delighted that Dubarry has agreed to return as title sponsor, having been a generous supporter of the championships since their inception in 2008 and having been the title sponsor for the last 7 events. Participants in the Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championships will have the opportunity to win much admired Dubarry items, which will be available as prizes for class winners and in the overall Championship.

Long-standing supporter and competitor Laura Dillon from Howth Yacht Club commented, “I am delighted to be participating in another WOKC. Every year, this is a great event and I am really looking forward to the Magenta Project coaching on Friday, 31st May and WOKC on 1 and 2 June. WOKC continues to go from strength to strength both in terms of the number of boats, size of boats, number of ladies racing and the standard of the competition continues to increase, which is fantastic! I have participated for over 5 years now and I look forward to the regatta annually. Thanks so much to Dubarry for their continued support and hopefully we can continue to grow WOKC and encourage as many female sailors as possible to participate in 2019 and beyond!”

Entries open on Thursday 28th of March and early entry is advised to take advantage of the Earlybird booking fee of £75, available until 17:00 on Friday 17th May. After that date, the entry fee will increase to £95. Boat entry is available from HRSC either online or via the admin team on 02380 452070.

Lifestyle brand Dubarry is renowned amongst the sailing fraternity across the globe for its continuous innovation in design, performance and comfort.

Racer, a high-performance Aquasport sailing shoe, demonstrates this dedication with its lightweight upper, constructed using high-frequency technology, fusing a breathable highly abrasive Ripstop material with PU; this results in a more durable, lightweight and flexible shoe because less stitching is needed. The secure lacing system provides improved foot stability.

Dubarry’s award-winning NonSlip-NonMarking™ rubber outsole provides traction, with its unique water dispersion channel system, preventing aquaplaning. The EVA midsole provides flexibility and comfort, whilst the removable footbed gives further cushioning and support. Heel pronation is minimised thanks to the Dubarry D-Chassis™ system, which offers extra support, protection and control.

In addition to Dubarry’s signature Port and Starboard flash detail, further distinctive Dubarry branding and accents give Racer a stylish, sporty edge.

Racer is available in White, Red and Carbon.

The Women's Open Keelboat Championship will be returning to Hamble for its 10th anniversary edition in June 2018.

This year the event, hosted once again by Hamble River Sailing Club, is being held on the weekend of 2-3rd June 2018. The volunteer team which organises WOKC is delighted that Dubarry has agreed to return as title sponsor, having been a generous supporter of the championships since their inception in 2008 and having been the title sponsor for the last 7 events. This means there will be some fantastic Dubarry prizes up for grabs yet again.

“The Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championships is an event that Dubarry has been involved with for the past 7 years. The camaraderie both on and off the water drives the growth and popularity of this event each year and we thoroughly enjoy sponsoring this wonderfully talented group of sailors. The WOKC event is now bigger than ever due to its excellent organisation, complimented by eager participants and organisers and Dubarry is delighted to be associated with this event and wish everyone a successful and enjoyable weekend on the water” said Marketing Director, Michael Walsh.

The organisers are looking forward to offering two days of fun and competitive racing on the water along with some great social events ashore with funds being raised for the event’s two charities Breast Cancer Care and the Hamble Lifeboat. The racing format will focus on IRC racing and, after last year’s record entry of 20 boats and the return of the J80 class, we are anticipating that the 10th anniversary edition will be the biggest and best yet.

"We are thrilled that Dubarry have once again agreed to be our title sponsor", commented Jen Smyth, one of the organisers of the Dubarry Women's Open Keelboat Championship 2018. "With their continued support we have seen entries increase steadily and we hope that this 10th anniversary edition will see even more ladies on the water. It's a pleasure to be working with the team from HRSC again and we are all looking forward to putting on a competitive regatta and a top notch party for all the teams and supporters."

Entries are now open and early entry is advised to take advantage of the earlybird booking fee of £75, available until 17:00 on Friday 25 May. After that date, entry fee will increase to £95. Boat entry is available from HRSC either online or via the admin team on 02380 452070.

If you would like further details, please contact the WOKC organising team on [email protected] or check out the website here

Ireland's Dubarry is the go-to brand for sailing boots amongst the seafaring fraternity across the globe, successfully combining the finest performance materials with specially developed technologies and design features. Dubarry has updated its original award-winning, unisex, performance sailing boot, Shamrock.

Crafted from the highest quality pull-up leather, which has been treated to a DryFast-DrySoft® water resistant finish, combined with hard wearing Cordura®, Shamrock is waterproof and breathable, thanks to its GORE-TEX® lining.

The duo compound PU and rubber sole is directly injection moulded onto the upper. Moulded rubber branding is inserted into the centre band on the boot leg and Shamrock is finished with a rust-proof metal Broga trim.

Shamrock features an elastic gusset on the back of the boot to cater for the average and over average calf measurement with ease. But Shamrock is also available in ExtraFit™ for users with a wider calf, in addition to an extra width fitting, with easier access for those with higher insteps.

Available in Navy/Brown and sizes EU 32 - 48

Dubarry of Ireland is the official supplier to Team Brunel and Team Scallywag in the 2017–18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, providing  high performance offshore footwear to the crews.

The Irish sailing boots have been developed over a number of decades bringing important design details from Formula one racing tyres to provide the ultimate outsole grip for offshore sailing footwear.

Leather is combined with GORE-TEX® technology to offer protection in the most demanding of environments. The involvement by Dubarry with VOR teams continues a long proud history of association with this race since the early Whitbread days.

Dubarry's Crosshaven boot

Built for the ocean, say Dubarry, the Crosshaven Boot is designed for high performance when facing the most challenging of elements. Crosshaven’s most striking feature is the integral gaiter, which is made with a lightweight, high abrasion, water repellant fabric and adjustable draw-cord collar that secures foul weather gear and prevents wash back.

It also houses a drainage mesh for optimal water release and features high-visibility bands. It is thermally insulated, utilising a 350g GORE-TEX® Duratherm membrane for extra warmth and waterproofness, combined with a thermally-lined footbed, which provides the boot with full insulation. Reinforced toe and heel parts utilise Dubarry’s unique D-Chassis System.

This two-part foot support system uses a moulded RPU frame that minimizes heel pronation by adding extra support, protection and control. Crosshaven also has finger pulls for easy foot entry and ExtraFit™ sizing.

In Ireland, Dubarry Crosshaven is available from leading chandleries including Viking Marine and CH Marine

Dubarry of Ireland will be returning for the fifth year as title sponsor of the Women’s Open Keelboat Championships.
The Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championships is an all-female keelboat regatta taking place in the Solent on 4-5 June 2016 and the organisers believe it is the only event of its kind in the UK.
Dubarry take inspiration from the rugged Wild Atlantic Coast and Galway’s great sailing heritage to create the highest quality leather footwear, deck shoes and sailing boots as well as a range of clothing, leather goods and accessories. Participants in the Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championships will have the opportunity to win much admired Dubarry items, which will be available as prizes for class winners and in the overall Championship.
“The Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championships is an event that we thoroughly enjoy being involved with, both on and off the water. The superb location and excellent organisation is complemented by eager participants with a great sense of camaraderie, making this such a great event for us to be associated with” said Marketing Director, Michael Walsh.
WOKC aims to provide high quality racing amongst female sailors whilst also offering an environment that is encouraging to female sailors newly entering the competitive side of the sport.
Jen Smyth from the WOKC organising team adds, “We are extremely grateful to Dubarry for their continued support, which enables this regatta to continue. The event is great fun, and although we compete passionately on the water the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. We actively encourage newcomers to join us, so if you are a female skipper or boat owner, please get in touch to find out more.”
Hosted at Hamble River Sailing Club (HRSC), the regatta format focuses on IRC racing with a recommended rating of 0.88 to 1.101, split into suitable classes. One Design Classes will also be catered for if there are sufficient entries. For those with an available boat, but no current IRC certificate, the RORC Rating Office will issue a Limited Validity certificate for single event rating.
The popular Frocks & Flip-flops party takes place after racing on the evening of Saturday 4 June. Lady racers, their supporters and friends can let down their hair and raise some valuable funds for charities.
Entries are now open and early entry is advised to take advantage of the earlybird booking fee of £70, available until 17:00 on Friday 27 May. After that date, entry fee will increase to £90.

#dubarry – During their gruelling experiences throughout the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/9, the crew of the Irish entry, Green Dragon, had modified a 'workshop enhanced' version of Dubarry's existing performance sailing boot 'Fastnet' by adding a fairly crude, improvised integral gaiter. On their return to Galway, Green Dragon crew members Ian Walker, Neal McDonald and Damian Foxall, along with key onshore support personnel, met with the Dubarry Design and Engineering team led by Design Director Brian Geraghty. Their 'enhanced' boot was the subject of extensive examination and discussions that enabled Dubarry to garner a very detailed understanding of what sailors demand when working in the most extreme conditions imaginable. It was from these meetings with those that know, love and respect the ocean that the Crosshaven concept was conceived.

Crosshaven's most striking feature is the integral gaiter. It is made with a lightweight, high abrasion, water repellant fabric with an adjustable draw-cord collar that secures foul weather gear and prevents wash back. It also houses a drainage mesh for optimal water release and features high-visibility bands. It is thermally insulated, utilising a 350g GORE-TEX® Duratherm membrane for extra warmth and waterproofness, combined with a thermally-lined footbed, which provides the boot with full insulation. Reinforced toe and heel parts utilise Dubarry's unique D-Chassis System. This two-part foot support system is inspired by Formula 1 racing technology and uses a moulded RPU frame that minimizes heel pronation by adding extra support, protection and control.

Crosshaven also has finger pulls for easy foot entry and ExtraFit™ sizing. The inner leg is constructed of Dubarry's DryFast-DrySoft™ leathers and Cordura®. These features, combined with our award-winning NonSlip-NonMarking™ durable outsole, make this a very special, ultra high-performance sailing boot indeed.

Crosshaven has gone on to become the sailing boot of choice for top crews across the globe, including Team Telefonica and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in VOR 2011/12, and is currently at sea in the 2014/15 race on a number of boats including Team Brunel.

#MARKETPLACE - "Dog eat dog" competition on the high street prompted Dubarry's managing director to reposition the shoe company as a supplier of premium boating clothing and footwear, as The Irish Times reports.

Eamonn Fagan explains how he saw an opportunity 30 years ago to break the traditional autumn/winter collection cycle by launching a new spring/summer line with boating in mind.

Enter the company's signature Admiral deck shoe, which has since become the firm's biggest seller, with a loyal following among sailors and landlubbers alike.

Since then the company has rolled with the changing tides, such as outsourcing its manufacturing ahead of the curve, which has protected it somewhat from the damage wrought by the economic downturn: profits last year were on the up, thanks to overseas sales, and no jobs have been lost in the recession.

Moreover, it continues to launch new designs, such as the Sligo deck shoe, and also branched into clothing in 2005 with a nautical range that now accounts for around 30% of sales.

“One of the more unusual things about Dubarry is that we largely ignore cost when designing a new product,” says Fagan. “Our view is that if the product is right, we will reap the rewards over time."

It's expected that some of these rewards will be reaped shortly when Dubarry opens a flagship store on Dublin's College Green.

The Irish Times has much more on the story HERE.

Shoe manufacturer Dubarry saw a 44 per cent increase in overseas sales last year, The Irish Times reports.

The firm, which is a long-time supporter of sailing in Ireland, reported pretax profits of €1.95 million on revenue that topped the €20 million mark, an increase of more than €4 million on the previous year.

Though shoe sales are on the decline in Ireland, growth in export markets - and the success of Dubarry's new clothing range – has more than offset any domestic losses, said marketing director Michael Walsh.

Dubarry was recently title sponsor of the Fireball World Championships at Sligo Yacht Club last month.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

53 Degrees North, Ireland's Outdoor Adventure Stores with branches already at Carrickmines and Blanchardstown - caters to Climbing, Hillwalking, Biking, Camping, Hiking, and of course watersports including Kayaking, Sailing, Surfing and Swimming.

Western Marine, Ireland's Largest Marine Distributors, was established in 1966 and is based at Bulloch Harbour since 1968. Western Marine caters to all marine markets, from sailing and motorboating to commercial workboats, and specialises in inflatable boats and RIBs as well as a huge range of marine equipment, lifesaving equipment etc.

Commenting on the new store, Western Marine's MD, Hogan Magee said "We're very enthusiastic about this venture - 53 Degrees North carry a full range of clothing, footwear and equipment from value for money through to top end premium quality products and that fits very well with our own philosophy of providing of premium quality at affordable prices.

The two ranges are complimentary, with very little product overlap, and the result is a truly comprehensive watersports display that we think is unparalleled anywhere in Ireland".

53 Degrees North MD Alan McFarlane said "We're really excited about this. Western Marine has a superb reputation in all marine markets, and the combination of the Western Marine and 53 Degrees North brands will give us both a wonderful opportunity to grow our businesses.The huge range of watersports gear which we offer now has a waterside home, and a whole new customer base. With free car parking spaces available in the adjacent boatyard, shopping with 53 Degrees North at Western Marine could not be easier"

Among the huge range of brands now available under one roof are worldwide leaders including Zodiac inflatable boats and RIBs, Teleflex steerings and engine controls, Skipper and Besto lifejackets & buoyancy aids, Icom VHFs, Gleistein yacht ropes, McMurdo EPIRBs, Harken, Lewmar, Garmin GPS, Pains Wessex Flares, Musto, Helly-Hansen and Henri-Lloyd sailing clothing, Dubarry marine footwear, O'Neill wetsuits, Oakley eyewear, surfboards by Cortez, and kayaks by Islander and Wilderness.

The new store is open 7 days a week throughout the Summer, with opening hours 9am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, and 1pm to 6pm on Sunday