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There were concentrated faces last night in Cork Harbour where the Royal Cork fleet had a windy evening of racing in the Union Chandlery June League.

Brian Heffernan's Dufour 365 Aisling was first in the in White Sail division. Class 3 went to Jimmy Nyhan and Maritta Buwalda in their Quarter Tonner Outrigger. Class 2 winners were Paul and Deirdre Tingle's First 31.7 "Alpaca" and in Class one the honours went to Robert O'Leary in his modified 1720 Antix Beag.

Concentration this morning now turns to the first race of the ICRA National Championships being held in Crosshaven.

The wind was southwesterly at about 20 knots gusting to 30. Race officers set an excellent course (No.70). It was a clean start at the top of the tide, with a beat to the cage.

Those that kept to the south made the right call. It was then a run to No.7 where we gybed and headed for No.13 Some were brave enough to carry spinnakers with some interesting results both good and not so good. A number of Irish Naval ships at anchor off Spike Island.

After No.13 the fleet had a fetch back to No.9 and then a beat back to Cage. With the tide now ebbing it paid to go down the middle. We rounded Cage once again with a run back to No.7 more spinnakers up this time. After rounding No.7 the fleet had a nice beat home.


Published in Royal Cork YC
7th June 2011

Rita Wins Howth 17 Race

HOWTH YACHT CLUB. TUE + SAT SERIES 2 (RACE) 07/06/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Rita Curley/Lynch; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Oona P Courtney; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Echo B & H Lynch; 2, Rita Curley/Lynch; 3, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 2 (RACE) 07/06/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Mojo Stanley/Callen; 2, Blue Velvet C & K Kavanagh; 3, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Shadowfax P Merry; 2, Klipbok E Dalton; 3, Pot Black I & R McMurtry; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Gelert J Flynn; 2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy; 2, Investwise G May; 3, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Mr. Punch NiBhraonain/Wilson; 2, Arcturus McAuliffe/McDermott; 3, Ile Molene Byrne/Stanley; Squib HPH: 1, Shadowfax P Merry; 2, Pot Black I & R McMurtry; 3, Puffin E Harte
Published in Howth 17
Tagged under
HOWTH YACHT CLUB. WEDNESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 01/06/2011 Class 1 IRC: 1, Tiger Hughes/Harris; 2, Trinculo M Fleming; 3, Makutu Doyle/Others; Class 1 HPH: 1, Trinculo M Fleming; 2, Makutu Doyle/Others; 3, Tiger Hughes/Harris; Class 2 IRC: 1, Sunburn I Byrne; 2, King One D Cullen; 3, Superhero Byrne/Banahan; Class 2 HPH: 1, C'est la Vie Flannelly/Others; 2, Indigo Eadie/Ritchie; 3, Sunburn I Byrne; Class 3 IRC: 1, Gecko K Darmody; 2, Hard on Port F O'Driscoll; 3, Starlet Bourke/Others; Class 3 HPH: 1, Gecko K Darmody; 2, Midnight Sun Howard/Others; 3, Jibberish O'Kelly/Others; White Sails HPH: 1, On the Rox J & C Boyle; 2, Tantrum 3 O'Leary/Klimche; 3, Bite the Bullet C Bermingham; White Sails IRC: 1, Alphida H Byrne; 2, Bite the Bullet C Bermingham; 3, On the Rox J & C Boyle
Published in Howth YC

Dublin Bay local Adam Hyland has won the Optimist Leinster Championships on home waters this afternoon in blustery conditions that saw the series completed in the comparative shelter of Scotsman's bay in the lee of Dun Laoghaire's East pier as winds across Dublin Bay hit 25 knots from the West. Howth Yacht Club sailors Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson were second and third respectively.

The Championships hosted by the National Yacht Club also featured racing in the Junior and Regatta fleets. The juniors was won by Ronan Cournahane and regatta racing by Eva Millar.

Results below.

Series PlaceSail NoFleetHelmPrize AgeClubSeries PointsRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 4
11413GoldAdam HYLAND14RStGYC713523
21437GoldSean WADDILOVE14SSC/HYC851252
31355GoldRobert Dickson13HYC1121581
41443GoldSean Gambier-Ross14KYC1347522
51407GoldConor O'Beirne13RStGYC1812666
61441GoldEoin Lyden14RCYC / BSC20115184
71433GoldJil McGinley14RCYC24910552
81305GoldSandy APLIN13RStGYC26321439
91440GoldHarry Whitaker14RCYC/BSC26351178
101307GoldAnna Kelly13RCYC/BBSC291081211
111438GoldSean Donnelly14NYC36239452
121315GoldFergus Flood13HYC371941452
131316SilverRoss Quirke14NYC39728257
141444GoldSophie Browne TBSC/RCYC401516952
151420GoldMegan Parker13SSC411818235
161425GoldDouglas Elmes13RCYC/WHSC4116191015
171335GoldScott Levie14LDYC428402212
181415SilverCaitlin Waters15RStGYC5025321510
191410GoldDaire Cournane13RCYC/KYC56352152
201314GoldAlexandra Walsh14RStGYC5617235216
211369GoldAdam D'ARCY13RCYC5730221322
221340GoldAlacoque Daly13TBSC5827242014
231436GoldDaniel Raymond NYC6313311952
241446SilverStephen Judge13RIYC6421372419
251298GoldBill Staunton14SSC6524202152
261352SilverCara MC DOWELL13MYC6626272713
271439GoldPeter McCann14RCYC681425252
281234GoldMark Bolger14RStGYC6928132852
291442GoldCliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain13KYC7041121752
301422GoldChloe Eggers14RStGYC756175252
311361GoldAoife Hopkins13HYC7620401652
321332SilverJames O'Connor13RStGYC7622383321
33961SilverClaire O'Sullivan RCYC8134353017
341427SilverJacob MARTENSSON14RIYC8131362624
351360SilverNicole Hemeryck13RIYC/WHSC8233295220
361349GoldConor KNEAFSEY14NYC8442253425
371243SilverCharley Breen13RCYC8840332926
381358SilverErica Markey13HYC9445393223
391225GoldPeter Healy14KYC10239521152
401375GoldRichard Hogan13HYC10229215252
41122SilverFionn O'REGAN14DSC10338343152
421392SilverCian BUCKLEY14MYC10443263552
431154GoldCiaran Finnegan13WHSC10737525218
441389SilverLaura COLEMAN13RIYC12444433752
451303SilverD.J. MCGOVERN14MYC12936415252
461278SilverEoghan O REGAN13RCYC14052523652
471313SilverAlex Kavanagh13HYC14652425252
48768SilverJulia GEOGHEGAN13RIYC15652525252
481218SilverEmer Rafferty 15652525252
481359SilverIsabel CAHILL13HYC15652525252
481402SilverLucy McCutcheon14RStGYC15652525252
Junior Division
Series PlaceSail NoFleetHelmPrize AgeClubSeries PointsRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 4
11411GoldRonan Cournane12RCYC/KYC715113
21408GoldKate Lyttle12RStGYC831132
31346SilverPhilip McDowell12MYC1112821
41012GoldNiamh Henry12RStGYC124445
51343SilverColin O'SULLIVAN12MYC158259
61282SilverOskar Cahill12 155377
71372GoldIsabelle Delamer12HYC1969144
81347SilverBen Walsh12SSC21214136
91266GoldScott O'Sullivan12KYC22.577.5818
101341GoldEwan MCMAHON12HYC24911514
111290SilverHarry Durcan12RCYC25136118
121421GoldEvie Byrne12NYC281012616
131302GoldHarry Craig12RStGYC31217223
141217GoldRebecca O SHAUGHNESSY12RCYC3211101611
151445SilverHugh Perrette12NYC/SDC4314191021
161342SilverDarragh KELLY12SDC445713922
171148GoldEoghan O'Buachalla12TBSC4423161216
181119SilverConor LEE11GBSC4715181715
191246SilverJohnny Durcan12RCYC5520171857
201143SilverRichard McGinley11RCYC5616272020
211399SilverDaniel Hopkins11HYC5817315710
221324SilverHeather SPAIN12NYC6530242417
231291SilverAmy CARROLL11 6525221924
241382SilverConor Byrne12NYC6722202557
251403SilverJamie O'GRADY11HYC7119262627
261357SilverJames McCann11RCYC7518573126
271297SilverLuke MCGRATH11RCYC7628255723
281404SilverAlex O'GRADY11HYC7731232331
298SilverEmma Parker10SSC7857292128
301275SilverNell STAUNTON11SSC8024572729
311294SilverTom KEAL10RCYC8629282957
321192SilverRachel Eggers11RStGYC8927305732
331244SilverAlix Buckley11SSC9057215712
341153SilverRonan WALSH11RCYC11732572857
351435SilverPatrick RIORDAN12RIYC13957575725
361089SilverHarry BELL10RNIYC14026575757
371397SilverLucy DONWORTH12RCYC/BSC14457575730
381293SilverKillian MCHUGH12GBSC14457573057
39698SilverShane O'Brien SDC17157575757
39885SilverImogen MCNAMARA11RIYC17157575757
39934SilverJane Bolger10RStGYC17157575757
39989SilverLucy WATERS11RStGYC17157575757
39996SilverGavin Roche Griffin11RStYC17157575757
391195SilverGrace O'Beirne11RStGYC17157575757
391196SilverOisin LYONS11GBSC17157575757
391233SilverSarah CUDMORE11rcyc17157575757
391253SilverSarah LEVIE11LDYC17157575757
391255SilverRos Morgan12SSC17157575757
391280SilverGemma MC DOWELL11MYC17157575757
391296SilverPhoebe NORWOOD12RIYC17157575757
391309SilverHelen O'Beirne11RStGYC17157575757
391354SilverDavid O'REILLY11GBSC17157575757
391364SilverDara Donnelly12NYC17157575757
391379SilverMax Kavanagh10HYC17157575757
391384SilverSally BELL12RNIYC17157575757
391423SilverTom SHANAHAN12NYC17157575757
Regatta Division
Sail NoHelmPrize AgeClub
0Eva MILLAR9RNIYC
683Micheal O'SUILLEABHAIN9KYC
697Eoin LYONS9GBSC
720Mairead MCHUGH10GBSC
778Rosa GEOGHEGAN11RIYC
786Caoimhe Totterdell10NYC
795Cormac BUCKLEY10MYC
819Cian MURPHY10NYC
838Conor WALSH8RCYC
844Robert KEAL0RCYC
960Siofra COLLINS10GBSC
998Louis MILLAR11RNIYC
1009Kate D'ARCY10RCYC
1018Jamie MCMAHON9HYC
1034Peter SHANAHAN10NYC
1081Peter FAGAN11NYC
1133Cliona COYLE11NYC
1150Patrick COYLE13NYC
1173Megan CAHILL11HYC
1182Clare GORMAN10NYC
1196Michael CARROLL10
1204Brian FOX13TBSC
1208William SPAIN11NYC
1236Finn MATTHEWS12GBSC
1242Alison MAGUIRE11RIYC
1254Emily Whitaker10RCYC/BSC
1269Guy Withinshaw WITHINSHAW10NYC
1274Nicola FERGUSON11RIYC
1283Ella HEMERYCK10RIYC/WHSC
1321Katie-Jane Marshall10NYC
1348Ella DUFFY11NYC
1394Neasa O'CONNELL9RstGYC
1396Morgan Lyttle9RStGYC
6102Rory COLLINS8GBSC
GBR3280Emma WILLIAMS9RStGYC
Published in Optimist
The Fireball Worlds are now only two weeks away! The regatta officials have been announced! A title sponsor has been secured! New boats are in the final stages of preparation and new sailing combinations have been honing their skills and teamwork over the winter!

This morning, Friday 27th May, the entry stands at 58 boats, spread across 9 nations and 3 continents. The spread of countries covers Ireland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Shetland Islands, France, Czech Republic, Canada and Germany, with the continents being Europe, Australia and North America.

The home contingent boasts 28 boats, followed by GBR with 17 boats, France and Switzerland have three entries each, Canada and the Czech Republic 2, with Australia, the Shetlands and Germany each having one. However, there is a late attempt to get a second Australian entry to the event and in fact with entries being open right up to the eve of the regatta, there is always the prospect that more boats may still declare. I also know of one entry that isn't on the list yet as the crew was only secured last weekend and the boat is still being finished out.

So which names stand out in the entry list thus far?
Tom Gillard and Sam Brearey are the current European Champions having won that title in the Czech Republic in Pavlov last October. They gave a very convincing display in that regatta and have shown good form in the UK regattas they have sailed to date. Tom has also "dabbled" recently in the Scorpion scene in UK with success. Also on the podium in Pavlov was Jaroslav Verner of the Czech Republic who has entered for Sligo with a different crew. From further afield and the sole Aussie thus far, is Ben Schulz, sailing with Phillip Bowley, who finished 5th in the 2010 Worlds in Barbados. Ben is the current Secretary of Fireball Australia.

As the largest Fireball fleet internationally, the UK fleet always brings quality to these events and the entry list for Sligo reflects that continuing trend. Defending champions Chips Howarth and Vyv Townend are not entered, but the British contingent is like a "Who's who" of the class there.

Vince Horey, 11th in Barbados races with Andy Thompson, Matt Burge & Richard Wagstaff, 2nd in Barbados sail together again in Sligo, Simon Potts, 3rd placed crew in Barbados teams up with David Wade, 6th placed helm in Barbados and 6th placed crew in Barbados, Tim Saunders, current UKFA Chairman, teams up with Alan Krailing. For those who follow the Fireball scene in the UK and internationally, these are almost household names!

Messrs Jospe & Egli are perennial competitors at international regattas and they are joined by Messrs Tipton & King. Both combinations contested the Barbados event.

European Commodore Maja Suter is part of a 3-boat Swiss representation which also includes another Fireball stalwart in Ruedi Moser. The French contingent has a similar profile with 3 boats and Jean-Pierre Nouel (Monsieur Cantona) their most travelled competitor.

Of the Irish contingent, the names that will be vying for first home boat will include, on current form, Graeme Grant & Hugh Butler, Noel Butler & Stephen Oram, Barry McCartin & Conor Kinsella and Kenny Rumball & Seamus Moore. Much will depend on the weather, but a 28 boat contingent is great news for the host fleet and bodes well for an interesting session of racing.

Sligo here we come!

Published in Fireball

A combination of an impossibly tight deadline, the high cost of entry and an appalling vista for sailing sponsorship in Ireland this season has halted any chance of an Irish entry into the La Solitaire du Figaro race when it sails in to Dun Laoghaire harbour on August 10th.

Competitive race entry costs ranged from anywhere between €60-250,000.

As late as February National Yacht Club organisers were touting the possibilities of two Dublin entries in to the race. It was a scenario that would have added extra spice for an Irish audience during the Figaro's only foreign stopover at the Irish east coast port.

A 71 boat fleet is expected to stay in Dun Laoghaire for four days and the National Yacht Club is staging a special festival around it.

Latest La Solitaire du Figaro news here

 

Published in Figaro
24th May 2011

Oona's Race in Howth

Howth Yacht Club TUE + SAT SERIES 1 (RACE) 24/05/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Rita Curley/Lynch; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Oona P Courtney; 2, Aura I Malcolm; 3, Leila R CooperTUESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 24/05/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 2, Yellow Peril N Murphy; 3, Gold Dust Walls/Browne; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Geppetto O'Reilly/McDyer; 2, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 3, Haemoglobin Mullen/O'Dea; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; 2, Puffin E Harte; Squib HPH: 1, Puffin E Harte; 2, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Northside Dragon J Bourke; 2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy; 2, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan
Published in Howth YC
Howth Yacht Club Tuseday and Saturday series 1 17/05/2011 17 Footer SCRATCH: 1, Aura I Malcolm; 2, Leila R Cooper; 3, Isobel B & C Turvey; 17 Footer HCAP: 1, Leila R Cooper; 2, Isobel B & C Turvey; 3, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 1 (RACE) 17/05/2011 Puppeteer SCRATCH: 1, Trick or Treat A Pearson; 2, Harlequin Clarke/Egan; 3, Mojo Stanley/Callen; Puppeteer HPH: 1, Haemoglobin Mullen/O'Dea; 2, Arcturus McAuliffe/McDermott; 3, No Strings T Harvey; Squib SCRATCH: 1, Shadowfax P Merry; 2, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; 3, Puffin E Harte; Squib HPH: 1, Shadowfax P Merry; 2, Puffin E Harte; 3, Whipper Snapper M Cantwell; Etchells SCRATCH: 1, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 2, Jabberwocky S Knowles; 3, Northside Dragon J Bourke; SB3 SCRATCH: 1, Investwise G May; 2, Dinghy Supplies S Murphy
Published in Howth 17
Tagged under

The John Corby designed 38 one off, Gloves off, was the winner in class zero of Kinsale Yacht Club's Spring Series League. In Class One, the X- yacht Eos skippered by David Scott had a 16-point winning margin over Dan Buckley's J109 Justus. In class two another Corby design, a 25-footer, Yanks and Franks skippered by Vincent O'Shea beat Brian Goggin's sister ship Allure. Provisional overall results are published below class by class. Photos of the event by bob Bateman are here. All the latest Kinsale news and photos including updates on June's Sovereign's Cup.

 

Kinsale's Spring Series Class IRC Zero Overall
Series PlaceSail NoBoatType of BoatOwnerHandicapSeries Points
1 IRL2003 GLOVES OFF CORBY 38 ONE-OFF Kieran Twomey 1.115 8
2 IRL4477 FREYA X-442 Conor Doyle 1.098 17
3 IRL4475 GODOT Dufour 44 Godkin & O'Donovan 1.099 24
4 IRL4076-2 MERIDIAN SALONA 45 Tom Roche 1.131 29
Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series Class IRC One Overall
Series PlaceSail NoBoatType of BoatOwnerHandicapSeries Points
1 IRL6695 EOS X-362 SPORT David Scott 1.022 10
2 IRL2067 JUSTUS J 109 Dan Buckley 1.027 16
3 IRL1843 ANTIX BEAG 1720mod Anthony O'Leary 1.005 27
4 IRL2805 INDULGENCE DEHLER 36 [JV] Aidan Heffernan 1.023 30
5 IRL1583 CHANCER ELAN 40 Carroll Bros 1.033 39
6 IRL4430 SAMBA SUNFAST 40.3 John Downing 1.030 41
Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series Class IRC Two Overall
Series PlaceSail NoBoatType of BoatOwnerHandicapSeries Points
1 IRL2525 YANKS & FRANKS CORBY 25 Vincent O'Shea 0.938 14
2 IRL2506 ALLURE CORBY 25 Brian Goggin 0.936 22
3 IRL4170 SLACK ALICE GK 34 Shane Statham 0.953 26
4 IRL16859 BAD COMPANY SUNFAST 32 Desmond-Ivers-Deasy 0.939 29
5 IRL4506 SEA HAWK SIGMA 33ood Clem McElligott 0.915 34
6 GBR7525R Thunderbird Corby25 Denis Coleman 0.940 43
7 IRL1121 MAC MAGIC II First 31.7 McCarthys 0.956 62
8 IRL78 NO-GNOMES NICHOLSON 30 mod Leonard Donnery 0.910 67
9 IRL9732 Wicked Sun Fast 32i Mark Mendel 0.940 70
10 IRL692 GEMINI FIRST 310 Salter/O'Regan/Minihan 0.930 82
11 IRL329 GUNSMOKE 11 FIRST 32 Sammy Cohen 0.910 89
12 IRL3492 BIG DEAL DEHLER 34 Derek Dillon 0.925 90
13 IRL6676 Y KNOT FIRST 32S5 Barrett_Conlon 0.933 95
Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series Class IRC Three Overall
Series PlaceSail NoBoatType of BoatOwnerHandicapSeries Points
1 GBR506R ANCHOR CHALLENGE Farr 1/4 tonner Eamonn Rohan 0.917 13
2 IRL1771 Shillelagh BLAZER 23 John Twomey 0.868 15
3 IRL9600 IMPACUNIOUS IMPALA Eddie Rice 0.888 21
4 IRL4206 POWDER MONKEY SIGMA 33 Liam Lynch 0.909 31
5 IRL6002 STAGEFRIGHT FORMULA 28 STAGEFRIGHT 0.912 47
6 IRL6564 MONKEY BUSINESS Formula28 Bill McConnell 0.912 49
7 IRL152 CHAMELEON FASTNET 34 Padraig O'Donovan 0.896 52
Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series Class IRC Four Overall
Series PlaceSail NoBoatType of BoatOwnerHandicapSeries Points
1 GBR9625R SUNDANCER DYNAMO 25 Alan Mulcahy 0.841 8
2 148 SHELLY D MOODY 30 Mick Murphy 0.859 16
3 A191 LA MARAQUITA ACHILLES 24 Eddie Higgns & Kevin Morrisson 32
Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series Class IRC White Sail Overall
Series PlaceSail NoBoatType of BoatOwnerHandicapSeries Points
1 IRL3450 Val Criss First 345 Murphy Hennessy Dann 0.965 13
2 IRL4004 OBJECTION SUN ODYESSY 35 Kevin & Celia Murray 0.953 17.5
3 IRL7880 Windrose Nicholson 26 Bill Joyce 0.850 20
4 IRL1176 MAGIC ELFIN Hanse 371 Peter Kelly 0.992 22
5 IRL6006 CIMARRON VI OCEANIS 42.3 Dave O'Sullivan 1.009 33
6 IRL4369 Charisma Sigma33 Des Lyons & Aine Dunne 0.957 35
7 IRL7305 Delos First 305 Dave Cullinane 0.914 40
8 IRL2123 WHEELS SUN ODYESSY 42 John Whealan 1.013 40
9 IRL3910 Sonas Sun Odyssey 39i David Ross 1.011 44
10 IRL1424 Roloco Oceaniis 343 Brian Rose 0.917 45
11 IRL109 Ragtime GK 24 John Alexander 0.811 57
12 IRL4003 Aoife Oceanis 350 John O Mahony 0.911 62
Published in Kinsale
Although the sailing numbers entered to date are smaller than usual for the SB3 fleet, what it lacks in quantity it will more than up for in quality when racing starts off Howth next Saturday (April 30th).

Unless last year's champion Gareth Flanigan and his crew can beg, steal or borrow a boat, they won't be able to defend their title and a new winner will be crowned on May 1st. The recent Spring Warmer Series saw some boats post inconsistent results while two teams in particular stepped up from last year to place themselves in the running.

Eoin Quinlan's decision to team up with Mike Evans and Peter Frane with 'Shockwave' looked like a smart one, with consistent results putting them on top of that series, and giving them the confidence to make the top 3 or 4 places at the Easterns.

John O'Driscoll of the Royal St.George is another skipper in flying form and will be hopeful of a good overall result next weekend. HYC's own 'Sharkbait' (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran/Rick Morris) can never be under-estimated and will be tipped to be among the prime contenders.

A feature of the event is the entry of several women helms, the most notable being Olympic hopeful Annalise Murphy of the National YC with her mother (and former Olympian) Cathy MacAleavey crewing.

Published in SB20
Page 5 of 9

William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland and internationally for many years, with his work appearing in leading sailing publications on both sides of the Atlantic. He has been a regular sailing columnist for four decades with national newspapers in Dublin, and has had several sailing books published in Ireland, the UK, and the US. An active sailor, he has owned a number of boats ranging from a Mirror dinghy to a Contessa 35 cruiser-racer, and has been directly involved in building and campaigning two offshore racers. His cruising experience ranges from Iceland to Spain as well as the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, and he has raced three times in both the Fastnet and Round Ireland Races, in addition to sailing on two round Ireland records. A member for ten years of the Council of the Irish Yachting Association (now the Irish Sailing Association), he has been writing for, and at times editing, Ireland's national sailing magazine since its earliest version more than forty years ago