Ruffian 23 Team Racing Challenge Ireland v Hong Kong Held at Dun Laoghaire

12th July 2018

The HK team at the welcome reception in the DMYC

The sixth Interport Ruffian 23 challenge between Ireland and Hong Kong took place in Dun Laoghaire at the weekend. The 12-strong team of Ruffian sailors from RHKYC arrived in Dun Laoghaire on Thursday evening and joined the Irish sailors for post-DBSC racing drinks in the RStGYC.

The 1st Interport Ruffian challenge took place in 1993 in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Ruffian sailors coming to Dun Laoghaire the following year. The challenge was revitalised in 2009 when an Irish contingent travelled to Hong Kong. Since then the event has occurred every 3 years with the Irish team travelling to Hong Kong again in 2015, and the Hong Kong team coming to Dun Laoghaire in 2012 and again this year.

The event officially kicked off with a practice race on Friday afternoon followed by a welcome reception in the DMYC. The group was treated to Michael Cutliffe’s presentation on the history of the Ruffian 23, followed by a taste of traditional music featuring a tin whistle and Northumbrian pipes among other instruments. Some of the Hong Kong team got a lesson in playing the pipes.

"The first Interport Ruffian challenge took place in 1993 in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Ruffian sailors coming to Dun Laoghaire the following year"

The Interport challenge commenced on Saturday with 3 Hong Kong teams allocated 3 Ruffians to compete in 2 fleet races in the RStGYC regatta. Hong Kong’s Peter Leung finished 3rd overall in Bandit (owned by Brian Cullen, Ciara Brown, and Ann Kirwan). The Irish team of Ripples (Frank Bradley, DMYC), Icicle (Colm Murray, NYC), and Ruff Rider (Willie Finnie, DMYC) won both matches.

The RStGYC kindly awarded prizes to each of the 3 Hong Kong teams. Following the regatta prize giving the group had dinner in the NYC’s JB Room on Saturday night.

Sunday saw another sunny day with the sea breeze kicking in around 11.30. Race officer Larry Power got racing off to a prompt start once the breeze settled, with the objective of holding a 6 race series with the teams swapping boats after 3 races.

The Hong Kong team (Peter Leung sailing Diane II, Olly Cully sailing Ripples and Cathy Lam sailing Ruffles) made a great comeback to win the first 2 races so the score was level at that point. However, the Irish team (Ann Kirwan sailing Bandit, David Meeke sailing Ripples and Al Mitton sailing Alias) fought back to win race 3. Following the swapping of boats, the Irish team went on to win the next 2 races. RO Larry Power called it a day as the wind was dying and the 6th race had no bearing on the result, the Irish team winning the challenge with 5 wins to Hong Kong’s 2.

HK 18 race start A race start in the Sunday team racing

HK18 Bandit RStGYC regatta The Hong Team of Christina, Brian, Jason, Julian and Peter were third in the RStGYC regatta

HK18 Winklemann Trophy Carmel Winkelmann presenting the Winkelmann trophy to the Irish team

The Irish team commissioned artist Brian O’Loughlin to produce a gift made from a piece of ancient bog oak (5,000-7,000 years old) to present to the visitors. The Hong Kong team presented the DMYC, RStGYC, and NYC each with a Hong Kong teapot, traditionally filled with rum and coke by a race winner to share with fellow competitors.

HK18 Christina with bog oak Willie Finnie presenting Christina Cully with the bog oak piece, and below Christina presenting Willie with the Hong Kong teapot

HK 18 Willie Christina teapot

HK18 Teams Both teams on the platform of the NYC following the event prize giving

The event was officially over apart from one further social event on Monday, July 9th when 10 of the Hong Kong group plus 12 Irish headed over to Howth on the St. Bridget ferry and had a lovely lunch hosted by the Hong Kong sailors in glorious sunshine on Howth Yacht Club’s upper deck. The Irish team looks forward to the return visit to Hong Kong in 2021.

HK18 Lunch HYC The Hong Kong and Irish Ruffian sailors enjoying lunch in Howth Yacht Club

Published in Ruffian 23, Dublin Bay

Published in Ruffian 23

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Ruffian 23

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Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

What beaches are there on Dublin Bay?

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

Where are the public slipways to launch a boat on Dublin Bay?

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Who is in charge of Dublin Bay?

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

How big is Dublin Bay?

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

What piers or harbours are there on Dublin Bay?

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

Are there marinas on Dublin Bay?

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

What ferries operate on Dublin Bay?

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Are there Islands on Dublin Bay?

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

What is the river that flows into Dublin Bay?

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

What are the popular kitesurfing spots on Dublin Bay?

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

How many pleasure craft are there on Dublin Bay?

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

Is Dublin Bay a UNESCO Biosphere?

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

What yacht clubs are on Dublin Bay?

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

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Ruffian 23 Team Racing Challenge Ireland v Hong Kong Held at Dun Laoghaire