Displaying items by tag: Natasha Hemeryck

16th September 2018

Hugh O’Connor Wins 2018 Topper Ireland Championship Series

Hugh O’Connor receiving the Topper Challenge Cup in Rush last weekend

#Topper - Hugh O’Connor of the National Yacht Club was presented with the Topper Challenge Cup for the series last weekend at Rush Sailing Club.

Afloat.ie’s Junior Sailor of the Month for August amassed a string of impressive victories this season, including the second and third Traveller events, the Southern Championships and the O’Tiarnaigh Topper Challenge.

Ireland’s number-one Topper sailor also placed second in the Irish Nationals and Winter Championships — not to mention his stellar podium performance at the Topper Worlds in China.

Fellow NYC sailor Natasha Hemeryck was presented with the overall third place trophy in the series for 2018. Over the year, Hemeryck came in first in the Winter Championships, second at the Traveller 2 and Northern Championships and fifth at the Irish Nationals.

Caoimhe Seymour (NYC) came second overall for the series in the 4.2 Rig and was presented with her trophy at Rush Sailing Club, where the NYC was well represented for the fifth Traveller and last Topper event of the 2018 calendar.

Seymour maintained a consistent place through out the series, coming in third in the Irish Nationals, Winter Championships and Northern Championships, and first in the Traveller 4.

Meanwhile, NYC sailors in Rush included Seymour (third in the 4.2 rig), Adam Irvin, Eoghan Turner (second overall), Deirdre Turner, Mathew O’Brien Holohan and Hugh O’Connor, who finished third in the U17 amid challenging, windy and gusty conditions.

Sixty-two competitors signed up for the event, which the class association said was a fantastic number for the final Topper Traveller in the 2018 series.

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.