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Displaying items by tag: Paris Olympics

There were testing conditions on the third day of French Olympic Week at Hyères on the Cote D'Azur, France but Irish Sailor of the Year Eve McMahon of Howth Yacht Club managed to stay in the top ten, now lying eighth overall after five races sailed in the ILCA 6 class. 

ILCA 7

Ewan McMahon is lying 15th in the men's single-person dinghy (ILCA7 class) dropping back from eight overall on Tuesday. Rio 2016 veteran Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club), who is confirmed as the Irish Paris 2024 rep, is lying 34th.

 Howth's Eve McMahon lies eighth overall at French Olympic Week in Hyères after five races sailed Photo: Sailing EnergyHowth's Eve McMahon lies eighth overall at French Olympic Week in Hyères after five races sailed Photo: Sailing Energy

49er Trial

In the second of the Irish selection trials for Paris 2024, Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) have dropped back from eighth to 13th after seven races sailed.  The rival Irish crew of Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) are 23rd.

Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) are lying 23rd at French Olympic Week at Hyères Photo: Sailing EnergySéafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) (IRL 11) are lying 23rd at French Olympic Week at Hyères Photo: Sailing Energy

Organisers of the annual French Olympic Week (SOF) are running two regattas concurrently, double the usual number of events with the 'Last Chance Regatta' to decide the 50 remaining nation places for Paris 2024 alongside the usual World Cup of Sailing series.

Results here

Howth Yacht Club boats have moved into the top ten of their respective events on the second day of French Olympic Week at Hyères on the Cote D'Azur, France, one of the last big regattas before the Olympic Games itself.

Eve McMahon Fifth

Both McMahon siblings from Howth Yacht Club fared well with Irish Sailor of the Year Eve McMahon now in fifth overall after her three opening races - Monday's racing for her women's single-person dinghy event (ILCA6 class) was cancelled due to difficult wind conditions.

"It's only the first day, but so far, it's very good, though it was very tricky - there's some wild results on the sheet, so I'm happy to keep my results low," said Eve McMahon. "I've done my time fighting at the back of the fleet and now I feel it's my time to be fighting at the front of the fleet - and I'm enjoying every single minute of it!"

Ewan McMahon Eighth

Her older brother Ewan had a mixed day in the men's single-person dinghy (ILCA7 class) with a 26th, which he was able to use the event discard to drop, so he counts Monday's ninth place, followed by a 13th for the second race of today.

Howth's Ewan McMahon lies eighth overall at French Olympic Week in Hyères with six more races scheduled Photo: Sailing EnergyHowth's Ewan McMahon lies eighth overall at French Olympic Week in Hyères with six more races scheduled Photo: Sailing Energy

"It's going well. I'm just keeping everything really simple, especially as it's so shifty out there with the breeze coming off the land," said Ewan McMahon. In a 70-boat fleet with a lot of guys to consider, executing the start is about 70 percent of the race, and then you switch your focus to the next leg ahead of you."

He now lies eighth overall in his event with six more races scheduled for the coming days.

Finn Lynch looking forward to Mistral conditions

Although Eve McMahon is confirmed as the nominee for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ewan McMahon lost out in the selection trials to Rio 2016 veteran Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club).

However, the Carlow sailor has been unable to find form so far this week after 55th and 46th places today saw him drop to 49th place overall in the 69-boat men's single-person dinghy event (ILCA7 class).

"I had a bad day on the water but I think we'll have three races tomorrow," said Lynch after racing ended. "We're expecting strong Mistral (wind) conditions so I'm looking forward to that.

"My speed is okay but with 70 boats on the starting line it’s all about strategy."

49er Trial

Meanwhile, Ireland has two boats contesting a selection trials to decide on the Team Ireland place for the Men's skiff event (49er class) with French Olympic Week the second of three events.

Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) competing at French Olympic Week at Hyères Photo: Sailing EnergyRobert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) competing at French Olympic Week at Hyères Photo: Sailing Energy

Robert Dickson (Howth YC) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) had a solid day, with two top-ten places moving them into eighth overall in their event. Having held second place for most of the second race of the day, the Dublin pair were unlucky to miss a windshift and dropped back to eighth place.

"With two top tens from two races we're pretty happy," said Dickson after racing. "Some of the (training) work since Lanzarote (world championships) has paid off."

However, their rival Irish crew of Séafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan (Royal Cork Yacht Club) were unlucky in their second race of the day when the mainsail halyard broke and they scored maximum points.

The Cork pair have dropped to 24th place in the 30-boat fleet, though with potentially nine more races before Saturday's medal race final, they have scope to regain a foothold in the series.

Organisers of the annual French Olympic Week (SOF) are running two regattas concurrently, double the usual number of events with the 'Last Chance Regatta' to decide the 50 remaining nation places for Paris 2024 alongside the usual World Cup of Sailing series.

Results here

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has officially unveiled the bespoke Opening Ceremony wear for Team Ireland at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Designed by Laura Weber, a renowned Irish designer based in New York, the uniform is a perfect blend of traditional and modern styles, in line with the 100th anniversary of Team Ireland's participation in the Olympics.

Laura Weber, the founder of LW Pearl, is known for her innovative and luxurious embellishments and has created a unique uniform for the Irish Olympic team. The ensemble consists of two blazers for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, a t-shirt, shoes, and trousers options. Each suit incorporates national emblems and embellishments that are specifically designed to represent the journey of Irish athletes.

Speaking about the design, Weber said, "It's an honour to design the Team Ireland Opening Ceremony wear, especially in this landmark year. I wanted to create something that reflects the rich history of Irish sport while also capturing the energy and excitement of the modern games."

The Irish Olympic team will don the bespoke uniform during the Opening Ceremony on July 26 at the Stade de France in Paris. The ceremony will mark the beginning of the 32nd Summer Olympics, and the Irish team will be among the 206 nations competing in the games.

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Marine Institute Research Vessel Tom Crean

Ireland’s new marine research vessel will be named the RV Tom Crean after the renowned County Kerry seaman and explorer who undertook three major groundbreaking expeditions to the Antarctic in the early years of the 20th Century which sought to increase scientific knowledge and to explore unreached areas of the world, at that time.

Ireland's new multi-purpose marine research vessel RV Tom Crean, was delivered in July 2022 and will be used by the Marine Institute and other State agencies and universities to undertake fisheries research, oceanographic and environmental research, seabed mapping surveys; as well as maintaining and deploying weather buoys, observational infrastructure and Remotely Operated Vehicles.

The RV Tom Crean will also enable the Marine Institute to continue to lead and support high-quality scientific surveys that contribute to Ireland's position as a leader in marine science. The research vessel is a modern, multipurpose, silent vessel (designed to meet the stringent criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research), capable of operating in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Tom Crean is able to go to sea for at least 21 days at a time and is designed to operate in harsh sea conditions.

RV Tom Crean Specification Overview

  • Length Overall: 52.8 m
  • Beam 14m
  • Draft 5.2M 

Power

  • Main Propulsion Motor 2000 kw
  • Bow Thruster 780 kw
  • Tunnel thruster 400 kw

Other

  • Endurance  21 Days
  • Range of 8,000 nautical miles
  • DP1 Dynamic Positioning
  • Capacity for 3 x 20ft Containers

Irish Marine Research activities

The new state-of-the-art multi-purpose marine research vessel will carry out a wide range of marine research activities, including vital fisheries, climate change-related research, seabed mapping and oceanography.

The new 52.8-metre modern research vessel, which will replace the 31-metre RV Celtic Voyager, has been commissioned with funding provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine approved by the Government of Ireland.

According to Aodhán FitzGerald, Research Vessel Manager of the MI, the RV Tom Crean will feature an articulated boom crane aft (6t@ 10m, 3T@ 15m), located on the aft-gantry. This will be largely used for loading science equipment and net and equipment handling offshore.

Mounted at the stern is a 10T A-frame aft which can articulate through 170 degrees which are for deploying and recovering large science equipment such as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV’s), towed sleds and for fishing operations.

In addition the fitting of an 8 Ton starboard side T Frame for deploying grabs and corers to 4000m which is the same depth applicable to when the vessel is heaving but is compensated by a CTD system consisting of a winch and frame during such operations.

The vessel will have the regulation MOB boat on a dedicated davit and the facility to carry a 6.5m Rigid Inflatable tender on the port side.

Also at the aft deck is where the 'Holland 1' Work class ROV and the University of Limericks 'Etain' sub-Atlantic ROV will be positioned. In addition up to 3 x 20’ (TEU) containers can be carried.

The newbuild has been engineered to endure increasing harsher conditions and the punishing weather systems encountered in the North-East Atlantic where deployments of RV Tom Crean on surveys spent up to 21 days duration.

In addition, RV Tom Crean will be able to operate in an ultra silent-mode, which is crucial to meet the stringent criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research purposes.

The classification of the newbuild as been appointed to Lloyds and below is a list of the main capabilities and duties to be tasked by RV Tom Crean:

  • Oceanographic surveys, incl. CTD water sampling
  • Fishery research operations
  • Acoustic research operations
  • Environmental research and sampling operation incl. coring
  • ROV and AUV/ASV Surveys
  • Buoy/Mooring operations