It was ice on the rigging which put me off sailing in November and December. That was quite a few years ago, but as climate change has had its effects, those months have had different weather patterns and this year the November/December Cruiser League in Cork Harbour was well supported.
But racing in a cruiser is different to having your rear end very close to the water … as it can be in a Laser dinghy …So as the cold of January made itself known in a few bitter mornings this week across Cork Harbour, when frost glistened on cars and roads and patterned the covers of dinghies on the Sand Quay in my local village of Monkstown I admit to marvelling at the determination of those Laser sailors who have entered for the second year of the Winter League at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club.
What is the attraction of sailing at this time of year? Listen to the podcast with Charles Dwyer below:
That’s the Laser League organiser, Charles Dwyer at Monkstown Bay and he has an entry of 15 already which, he says “is getting close to the numbers they achieve in Howth’s Frostbites, surely we can beat the Dubs….!”
Saturday will tell, when the League starts and runs until the first of February…. First gun is definitely at 10,15 a.m. at a boat start close to the Sand Quay… and sailors will be back ashore by noon…. And Charles wants more boats…. €20 entry fee …..Showers and soup provided. “Just rock up on Saturday morning and join us at the Sand Quay in Monkstown…... “… That’s what he says…. As I said,….. I stopped frostbite sailing…. I’m prepared to leave it to the Lasers…. And I’m sure they’ll do it well..
