Displaying items by tag: Walpole

17th September 2015

Cathy MacAleavey & Con Murphy Win Water Wags Race

The arrangements for the Water Wags Walpole Prizes were modified to ensure that the results could contribute to the overall championship. The terms of presentation asked for two races, one race for those who had competed in more than six races without a race win, and one race for the rest of the Water Wags.

The race was programmed to start at 18.30, but at 18.00 the Irish Light’s vessel Granuaile motored into the harbour, did not drop anchor, put somebody ashore, and half an hour later somebody returned to the ship and she motored out of the harbour mouth. Meanwhile there was absolutely no wind in the harbour. By the time she left there was about 3knots of wind from the north. A course was laid, and immediately the wind shifted to the north west.
Thus, the race had to be reduced to two laps of the harbour. It appears unlikely, but there was absolutely no evidence of tidal flow within the harbour.

At the first windward mark Mollie led from Pansy and Swift. These three were able to hold their places for the duration of the race.

After two laps the race was shortened at the leeward mark due to failing light. The results were:

1st. ‘Mollie’ Cathy & Con Murphy.
2nd. ‘Pansy’ Vincent Delany & Noelle Breeen. Winner Walpole Prize div 1A.
3rd. ‘Swift’ Guy & Jackie Kilroy.
4th. ‘ Ethna’, Bill Nolan & Niamh Hooper.
5th. Skee, Jonathan & Carol O’Rourke. Winner Walpole Prize div 1B.
6th. ‘Tortoise’, William & Linda Prentice.
7th. Alfa, Michael & Jenny Donohoe.
8th. ‘Scallywag’ Dan O’Connor & David Williams.
9th. Freddie, David Corcoran & Philip Mayne.
10th. Marcia, Ben & Maureen McCormack. Winner Walpole Prize div 2.
11th. ‘Moosmie’, David & Sally MacFarlane.
12th. ‘Polly’ Henry Rooke & Richard Mossop.
13th. ‘Marie Louise’, John & William Magner.
14th. ‘Sara’, Paul & Ann Smith.
15th. Good Hope, Hal Sisk & Sue Westrup.
16th. ‘Penelope’, Fergus Cullen and Alice Walshe
17th. Mademoiselle, Adam Winkleman & Goug Smith
18th. ‘Coquette’, Seymour Cresswell & Mary.
19th. Sprite, Adrian Masterson & Jeff Davys.
20th ‘Eva’, Ian McGowan
21st. Eros, Gail Varian & Gavan Johnson.
22nd. Nandor, Brian McBride and Stuart McBean.
23rd. ‘Little Tern’, Marcus Pearson & friend.

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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.