Displaying items by tag: SORC

4th June 2018

SoloFastnet Fleet Picks Up The Pace In Celtic Sea

Mark Thompson on the Contessa 32 SYZYGY captured this image by drone

#soloFastnet - After a frustrating first 36 hours, the majority of the soloFastnet fleet have now passed Land’s End — with the lead solo sailors already halfway across the Celtic Sea towards Fastnet Rock.

All three classes got away from Cowes on Saturday afternoon (2 June) in bright sunshine and a 15-knot southwesterly, but that wasn’t to last as a wind drop and a turn of the tide saw most of the 28 competitors going in circles overnight.

There was some drama at the start when a cruiser heading towards the shore wandered into the middle of the Class 2 start line.

Meanwhile, Richard Clarke with his Sunfast 3200 Fury was unfortunate to T-bone a folk boat. Clarke continued racing but it soon emerged that the collision had cracked the bow structure, causing a leak into the crash box area, forcing his retirement after 140 miles sailed.

Sunday morning (3 June) saw the breeze pick up for some, with Stephane Bodin’s Wasabi Enertek making the best of the conditions among the more southerly boats, flying at double the speed (6kts) of their more northerly competitors.

Offshore certainly paid off by Sunday evening with those boats flying downwind in up to 25 knots, but more challenging seas — as shared by the Royal Western Yacht Club of England’s Round Britain & Ireland fleet.

As of 10am this morning (Monday 4 June), the lead is held by Ari Kansakoski’s Class 40 Fuji, with French entry Raging Bee 2 in hot pursuit.

There’s also been one more retirement from the fleet, at Matt Smith’s Full Circle headed to Plymouth after issues with a line joining floats in the water.

The soloFastnet race tracker and leaderboard can be found HERE.

Published in Solo Sailing

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Solo Sailing Conference Offers Charter of Performance Yachts

Irish solo sailing fans may be interested in the annual Solo Racing Festival at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble on Saturday 12th March.

Given the Figaro race is coming to Dun Laoghaire in August a talk on the Artemis Academy with John Thorn (Figaro 2) will be of particular interest.

Owen Clarke's designer Merfyn Owen, who lives in Hamble will be attending as well as colleagues from their brokerage partners Boatshed Performance.

So whether your interest be solo sailing or short-handed sailing in general they will be there to answer questions on design, construction, as well as sale/purchase and charter of offshore performance yachts.

The Race Fair is an open house from 10.00 for race organisers to meet and greet potential skippers from; Global Ocean/Class 40, Mocra, UK mini group, RORC, SORC, Biscay Challenge, AZAB. Floating boat show, 8 boats including the OC class 40, 2 minis, A35, J105, Figaro 2, Sunfast 3200.

There is a Book Signing, Alex Bennett signing copies of High Seas High Stakes and showing Fuji DVD Mike Golding is opening the talks at 11,00.

Followed by:

Winning Mind Set with Ian Brown, sports psychologist
Global Ocean race with Oliver Dewar
Two Star/Ostar with John Lewis, RWYC
30m trimaran design with Nigel Irens (Idec, Sodebo)
Artemis Academy first term report with John Thorn (Figaro 2)
Route du Rhum with Marco Nannini, (class 40)
all in the spendid riverside setting of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble.

More HERE.

Published in Solo Sailing

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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.