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Displaying items by tag: sailing season

30th April 2021

'All Systems Go' for Irish Sailing Season But Regatta Organisers Require More Detail From Sport Ireland

Worry over if there will be a 2021 sailing season at all has been replaced by hope after the Government outlined its latest path out of COVID-19 last night.

There has been overwhelming optimism following the news of the accelerated easing of restrictions from regatta organisers and sailing clubs around the country, especially for those events penciled in for June.

People will be allowed to travel across the country from 10 May. Hotels, B&Bs, bars and restaurants, and outside catering returning in the first week of June. 

The Taoiseach said last night training in sport can resume in May and competition returning in June.

It's a scenario that opens the door for a very complete sailing season as had been scheduled, but many feared – given the country has been in Level 5 lockdown since Christmas Eve – that would not take place.

And while there is positivity from organisers, most also now want more clarity on last night's arrangements.

The expectation is that such clarity will come from Sport Ireland in the coming days.

For example, as sailing is a low-risk outdoor no-contact sport and there is little difference in sailing between training and competition modes more clarity is needed on the resumption date for yacht racing competitions.

DBSC - May 4th

The country's biggest sailing league on Dublin Bay had been targeting a return on May 4th. While this is still not confirmed, Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Commodore Ann Kirwan told Afloat the club is awaiting "guidance" but "would be hopeful for a return to our full racing programme pretty soon". 

DBSC has laid its marks, prepared courses and made arrangements for an immediate start to the season that traditionally begins this week for a fleet of up to 200 boats and 1200 sailors on the capital's waters. 

ISORA - May 15th

The first big offshore of the season is the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race on June 9th and ahead of that ISORA intends to run training for the 320-mile race ahead of that. "The first ISORA race is Saturday in Pwllheli. On the Irish side, ISORA will be providing training and experience for boats and crews considering doing the D2D race. These will start on the 15th of May. It’s all systems go!", ISORA chief Peter Ryan told Afloat.

Dun Laoghaire Dingle - June 9th

Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Chairman Adam Winkelmann is also optimistic "I think it looks very positive for the race to go ahead, subject to Irish Sailing confirmation on racing and crew numbers". 

The D2D reached its 50-boat entry limit as early as March 6.   

Adam Winkelmann - positive news over Government easing of restrictions so the 2021 D2D can go ahead in JuneAdam Winkelmann - positive news over Government easing of restrictions so the 2021 D2D can go ahead in June

Winkelmann told Afloat he is "still concerned about boats from UK ( including NI) being allowed enter Irish ports". 

He says he also needs to consult with marinas, particularly Dingle after the racing situation is clarified but expects to know more on that over the next few days. 

As regular Afloat readers know, there are special arrangements required under COVID for anyone seeking to bring yachts to Ireland.

"We will move to virtual forms for declarations where possible and may need to defer prizegiving to Sept / Oct in NYC, Winkelmann added as part of his initial thoughts following the Government announcement. 

Sovereign's Cup - June 24th

The D2D brings Dublin boats to the south coast where the next big event on the Calendar is Kinsale Yacht Club's Sovereign's Cup, on June 24th where club commodore Mike Walsh told Afloat; "We are all excited but need to read the small print. expect an announcement in coming days".

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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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

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.

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.

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.

© Afloat 2020

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