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Displaying items by tag: North Sails Ireland

Happy new year everyone!

North Sails Ireland is continuing to further push the boundaries of sail design and construction using our Helix load sharing technology.

Helix is being continuously developed and refined by our designers at the very highest levels of the sport. It is of note that 2021 TP 52 World Champion and Super Series winner "Sled" was powered 100% by North Sails.

Like all industries, there is a "trickle-down" effect and North Sails Ireland customers, as always, will benefit from this technology with our first Helix sails appearing in 2020 and 2021.

Sunfast 3200 "All or Nothing" charges upwind flying her North Sails HELIX J2 on Strangford Lough. Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails IrelandSunfast 3200 "All or Nothing" charges upwind flying her North Sails HELIX J2 on Strangford Lough. Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland

We have Helix load-sharing headsails, staysails and Code ZERO's in build this year for Sunfast 3600's, J109's, Cape 31's, X302's and a JPK 1030 and we cannot WAIT to see our customers in action with these sails.

On a slightly larger scale, please click here to read about Sydney Hobart line honours winner "Blackjack" and how HELIX was integral to her recent success.

For more information on HELIX and any aspect of cruising or race sails please contact your North Sails Ireland team here. We'd love to chat!

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2021 was a busy year at the North Sails Ireland service loft. With a more regular sailing schedule back in play, we had unprecedented demand and it was such a pleasure to re-connect with so many of our clients and more importantly, help keep you all on the water enjoying your sailing!

We have seen everything from Optimist sails through to Grand Prix yacht sails come through the door with some exciting projects to challenge us along the way. For myself and Matthew O’Gorman (who works with me at the service loft), it has been a super busy year, trying to balance all the service work, as well as new sails delivery and set up along with getting out on the water as often as we can!

Over last winter we helped Project manage the new J/99 ‘Snapshot’ for Mike and Richie Evans, with the boat being staged and prepped at Noonan’s Boatyard (next door to us!), so it was especially gratifying to see and help that project get off to a flying start with an overall win at Sovereign’s Cup as well as some other very notable performances throughout the season.

On the sail modification side, we were especially busy working with our clients to upgrade or re-work their sails to help either extend the usable lifespan or simply fit a modified onboard set up. We recently undertook some sail modification work for Conor Fogerty’s Beneteau Figaro 3 ‘Raw’. It was so nice to get out and test the mods with Conor before he headed off to France with the boat, to make sure all the work had gone to plan and operated as expected.

J2 with Reef point and hanks added using 3Di 5 Ply Spread filament tapes(Above and below) J2 with Reef point and hanks added using 3Di 5 Ply Spread filament tapes

We also had time to light the Figaro 3 up a little which was nice! It is always great to work with Conor and we wish him all the best in 2022 with his upcoming sailing.

With the 2022 season on the horizon, it is time to get your sails in to us for servicing, so you are ready to hit the ground running. At North Sails, we have access to specific materials and technology that are unique in the sailmaking industry. Our proprietary 3Di product range is industry-leading and requires specific materials and understanding to repair properly. So, it is important that our clients protect their investment in the world’s fastest sails by keeping them maintained with us.

We also offer a full sail cleaning service which can include special anti-fungal treatments as well as water-repellant coatings for older soft sails so get in touch with us to discuss getting your sails and/or covers cleaned up and looking good for 2022.

"Our close proximity to the Dublin clubs and marinas makes collection / drop off easy"

Our close proximity to the Dublin clubs and marinas makes collection / drop off easy, however, we have good processes in place to collect and deliver sails nationwide so no matter where you are located please get in touch.

We are standing by to discuss your specific needs and work with you on your timeline so that you are 100% ready to go in 2022 for what is sure to be another exciting year on the water!

All the best from your North Sails Ireland service team!

The end-of-sailing season is the right time to get in touch with your North Certified Service loft for annual maintenance.

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North Sails is a unique sailmaker, built on a champion spirit. We make history by looking ahead and that's what sets us apart from other sailmakers.

We’re proud to introduce Loft 57, a conversational podcast (below) that opens the doors to the world’s leading sailmaker.

With host Ken Read, this series goes behind the scenes with product creators and the passionate sailors who trust us to power their adventures.

This will be a really interesting series of interviews with key North staff and industry leaders. 

All North Sails sold in Ireland are made using all of the features and systems discussed in the podcasts. 

We hope you enjoy the Podcast series!

Welcome onboard.

Nigel Young

Loft 57 with Ken Read

Advanced mathematical modelling complements the North Sails innovative spirit. In Episode 1, we talk design, simulation, and the bespoke North Design Suite with three generations of sail engineers. Michael Richelson, Marco Capitani, and Brodt Taylor all bring their unique skills to the table and help create cutting-edge products that give North Sails its signature competitive edge.

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The North Sails One Design Black Friday promotion is running this week and if you are in the market for OD sails please contact us in advance to get a quote and see what you can save!

North Sails are dominating the results in hundreds of classes worldwide as well as here in Ireland.

1720

The North Sails Ireland staff are all active on the International and local stage in many OD classes. This way we remain current and able to offer the very best advice on your chosen class.......

J/80 MojoJ/80 Mojo

Please do not hesitate to contact us here at North Sails Ireland for the best advice possible on all One Design Sails. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sail FAST!

Nigel Young

Dayboat at speed

Promotion valid for all Inshore One Design sails delivered in North America and Europe. Excludes OffShore and Grand Prix One Design classes. Excludes all custom sail orders. Valid for orders placed between November 25-29, 2021. Sails will ship as soon as order is complete. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount/promotion. 

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Only one week left to get the best savings on North Sails One Design products.

The North Sails One Design promotion will end on the 31st of October so please contact us before that date to secure the lowest prices.

North Sails are dominating the results in hundreds of classes Worldwide as well as here in Ireland. In the North Sails Ireland staff, we are all active on the International and local stage in many classes. This way we remain current and able to offer the very best advice on your chosen class...

J/80

Please do not hesitate to contact us here at North Sails Ireland for the best advice possible on all One Design Sails. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sail FAST!

Nigel Young

17201720

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Here at North Sails Ireland, our one-design (non-IRC/ECHO) clients have had a fantastic season.

North Sails powered championship winners in the J24, Puppeteer 22, Dragon, Flying Fifteen, J80 and many many other classes.

For these one-design classes, our winter pricing goes live today - October 1st for one month only.

So if you want the FASTEST sail, at the BEST price to you, then please get in touch with us. We'd be delighted to chat!

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Following on from the success of our wonderful North Sails Ireland customers at events all over the country last weekend, we bring you some more good news:- 

Our PPD (price period discount) programme will be going live on October 1st for a limited time only.

This is specifically aimed at helping owners and sailors who wish to avail of special pricing and take delivery of their sails in early 2022.

Whether you are cruising, handicap racing or one-design racing - this is good news for all!

So, whilst on the subject of good news, it was another smashing weekend for North Sails race clients..........

J/109 Nationals

On Dublin Bay, "Joker II" won the North Sails-sponsored J109 National Championships, powered 100% by North Sails as reported here.

The pic above is of the "Joker II" team mid-celebration with yours truly assisting them!

"Chimaera!" at the 2021 J109 Nationals flying her 3Di RAW Main and North Sails 3Di RAW Code 1 jib - Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland"Chimaera!" at the 2021 J109 Nationals flying her 3Di RAW Main and North Sails 3Di RAW Code 1 jib - Pic: Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland

J/24 Northerns

In Carrickfergus on Belfast Lough, JP McCaldin's great team on "El Roccicio" won the J24 Northern Area Championships - also powered in part by North Sails.

'El Riccio' winning the J24 Northerns flying her North Sails 'Fat Head' Main and SDTH Genoa'El Riccio' winning the J24 Northerns flying her North Sails 'Fat Head' Main and SDTH Genoa

Cruisers Three Championships

Back on Dublin Bay, "Cartoon" won the Cruisers 3 championships also powered in part by North Sails.

"Cartoon" flying her north Sails 3DL mainsail and her Contender Superkote A GRADE S2 symmetric spinnaker"Cartoon" flying her north Sails 3DL mainsail and her Contender Superkote A GRADE S2 symmetric spinnaker Photo: Afloat

Flying Fifteen East Coasts

Finally, again on Dublin Bay, under the auspices of the National YC, long time North Sails client Nigel Biggs with team-mate Peter Evans won the Flying Fifteen East Coast Championships, powered 100% by North Sails.

Nigel Biggs and Peter Evans rounding the top mark at the Flying Fifteen East Coasts flying their 100% North Sails inventoryNigel Biggs and Peter Evans rounding the top mark at the Flying Fifteen East Coasts flying their 100% North Sails inventory Photo: Afloat

"Biggzee" and Peter flew their FR-3 main, NXG-3 genoa and RS-1 spinnaker to win the event by a point from current Irish champions John Lavery and Alan Green. Well done guys!

What a weekend - thanks so much to all of you from the team here at North Sails Ireland.

If you would like to discuss your sailing plans for 2022, then do please get in touch with us. We'd be delighted to chat about our special PPD's! We have sails for all sizes, shapes and budgets.

Sail FAST.

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North Sails Ireland is again sponsoring the J/109 Nationals this year.

The event will be hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club and in talking to event organiser Damien Quinn from "Jalapeno", it is hoped that 12 boats will be competing this weekend.

That's TWELVE 35 foot one-designs racing windward leewards which is TREMENDOUS to see.

It is also wonderful to see the two Cork J109's "Artful Dodger" and "Jelly Baby" remain in Dublin after the ICRA's two weeks ago - fair play guys! You'll have to hurry back down for the RCYC Autumn League the following weekend!

12 J/109s will compete for National Honours at the North SAils sponsored National Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht clubUp to 12 J/109s will compete for National Honours at the North Sails sponsored National Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht club

In addition to some lovely NS goodies for prizes, we will be providing on-the-water event support on Sat. I will be in the RIYC RIB with my video camera shooting the action. We will then de-brief it all in the wet bar in the Royal Irish on the big screen.

(Above and below) The J/109 event will include post racing debriefs(Above and below) The J/109 event will include post racing debrie

There might just be a few giveaways for those of you who execute a memorable (maybe for not the right reasons) manoeuvre!

DBSC supremo Eddie Totterdell and his team will be running the racing so the fleet will be in good hands.

Here at North Sails, we are delighted to support such a fantastic event.

Fingers crossed we get some wind!

Prof.

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The Mermaid National Championships were hosted by Tralee Bay Sailing Club recently. TBSC in Fenit is one of my favourite places to race. The majestic mountain backdrops surrounding Samphire Island make it an unforgettable experience.

Here at North Sails Ireland, we were thrilled to see the McCormack treble - Darragh, Mark & Noel in "Innocence" successfully defend their title that they won in 2020 in Cork. Brilliant stuff guys."Innocence" is powered 100% by North Sails.

2nd overall, also powered 100% by North Sails was Vincent & Roisín McCormack and Michael Lynch in "Three Chevrons".

Congratulations to this great class from all of us here at North Sails Ireland. The class is going from strength to strength!

The podium:-

1. "innocence" 100% North Sails

2. "Three Chevrons" 100% North Sails

3. "This Is It" - North Sails*

Full results are here

Sail FAST.

*denotes partial inventory

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Not for the first time, the super-consistent team of Neil Hegarty, David Williams and the evergreen Peter Bowring won the Dragon Irish National Championships in Kinsale YC over the weekend.

In a stunning series, they opened their account with three straight bullets and kept it steady after that to wrap up their series with a 4 point winning margin.

"Phantom" flew her 100% North Sails inventory which consisted of her A7+ mainsail, MH-8H genoa and CD-5 spinnaker.

2nd overall - Ghost IRL 1812nd overall - Ghost IRL 181 Photo: Bob Bateman

2nd overall was Colm Dunne, sailing with Colm Daly and Daniel McCloskey, in his new Dragon "Ghost". Colm split the tie-break with Brian Goggin, Daniel Murphy, Sean Murphy, and John O'Connor on "Serafina" (also 100% powered by North Sails) by virtue of winning two races to the one race won by "Serafina!".

Serafina IRL 1803rd overall - Serafina IRL 180 Photo: Bob Bateman

Talk about TIGHT racing!

Colm and his team only took delivery of the boat this year and this, coupled with their new North Sails inventory of their A14 mainsail, v6-M genoa and R9 spinnaker made them a new force in the class.

Congratulations to all the Dragon fleet on yet another great event by all accounts. The class looks like it's on the rebound and all of us here at North Sails are delighted to be a part of that.

Sail FAST.

Published in North Sails Ireland
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Dun Laoghaire Harbour Information

Dun Laoghaire Harbour is the second port for Dublin and is located on the south shore of Dublin Bay. Marine uses for this 200-year-old man-made harbour have changed over its lifetime. Originally built as a port of refuge for sailing ships entering the narrow channel at Dublin Port, the harbour has had a continuous ferry link with Wales, and this was the principal activity of the harbour until the service stopped in 2015. In all this time, however, one thing has remained constant, and that is the popularity of sailing and boating from the port, making it Ireland's marine leisure capital with a harbour fleet of between 1,200 -1,600 pleasure craft based at the country's largest marina (800 berths) and its four waterfront yacht clubs.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Bye-Laws

Download the bye-laws on this link here

FAQs

A live stream Dublin Bay webcam showing Dun Laoghaire Harbour entrance and East Pier is here

Dun Laoghaire is a Dublin suburb situated on the south side of Dublin Bay, approximately, 15km from Dublin city centre.

The east and west piers of the harbour are each of 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) long.

The harbour entrance is 232 metres (761 ft) across from East to West Pier.

  • Public Boatyard
  • Public slipway
  • Public Marina

23 clubs, 14 activity providers and eight state-related organisations operate from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that facilitates a full range of sports - Sailing, Rowing, Diving, Windsurfing, Angling, Canoeing, Swimming, Triathlon, Powerboating, Kayaking and Paddleboarding. Participants include members of the public, club members, tourists, disabled, disadvantaged, event competitors, schools, youth groups and college students.

  • Commissioners of Irish Lights
  • Dun Laoghaire Marina
  • MGM Boats & Boatyard
  • Coastguard
  • Naval Service Reserve
  • Royal National Lifeboat Institution
  • Marine Activity Centre
  • Rowing clubs
  • Yachting and Sailing Clubs
  • Sailing Schools
  • Irish Olympic Sailing Team
  • Chandlery & Boat Supply Stores

The east and west granite-built piers of Dun Laoghaire harbour are each of one kilometre (0.62 mi) long and enclose an area of 250 acres (1.0 km2) with the harbour entrance being 232 metres (761 ft) in width.

In 2018, the ownership of the great granite was transferred in its entirety to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council who now operate and manage the harbour. Prior to that, the harbour was operated by The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, a state company, dissolved in 2018 under the Ports Act.

  • 1817 - Construction of the East Pier to a design by John Rennie began in 1817 with Earl Whitworth Lord Lieutenant of Ireland laying the first stone.
  • 1820 - Rennie had concerns a single pier would be subject to silting, and by 1820 gained support for the construction of the West pier to begin shortly afterwards. When King George IV left Ireland from the harbour in 1820, Dunleary was renamed Kingstown, a name that was to remain in use for nearly 100 years. The harbour was named the Royal Harbour of George the Fourth which seems not to have remained for so long.
  • 1824 - saw over 3,000 boats shelter in the partially completed harbour, but it also saw the beginning of operations off the North Wall which alleviated many of the issues ships were having accessing Dublin Port.
  • 1826 - Kingstown harbour gained the important mail packet service which at the time was under the stewardship of the Admiralty with a wharf completed on the East Pier in the following year. The service was transferred from Howth whose harbour had suffered from silting and the need for frequent dredging.
  • 1831 - Royal Irish Yacht Club founded
  • 1837 - saw the creation of Victoria Wharf, since renamed St. Michael's Wharf with the D&KR extended and a new terminus created convenient to the wharf.[8] The extended line had cut a chord across the old harbour with the landward pool so created later filled in.
  • 1838 - Royal St George Yacht Club founded
  • 1842 - By this time the largest man-made harbour in Western Europe had been completed with the construction of the East Pier lighthouse.
  • 1855 - The harbour was further enhanced by the completion of Traders Wharf in 1855 and Carlisle Pier in 1856. The mid-1850s also saw the completion of the West Pier lighthouse. The railway was connected to Bray in 1856
  • 1871 - National Yacht Club founded
  • 1884 - Dublin Bay Sailing Club founded
  • 1918 - The Mailboat, “The RMS Leinster” sailed out of Dún Laoghaire with 685 people on board. 22 were post office workers sorting the mail; 70 were crew and the vast majority of the passengers were soldiers returning to the battlefields of World War I. The ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat near the Kish lighthouse killing many of those onboard.
  • 1920 - Kingstown reverted to the name Dún Laoghaire in 1920 and in 1924 the harbour was officially renamed "Dun Laoghaire Harbour"
  • 1944 - a diaphone fog signal was installed at the East Pier
  • 1965 - Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club founded
  • 1968 - The East Pier lighthouse station switched from vapourised paraffin to electricity, and became unmanned. The new candle-power was 226,000
  • 1977- A flying boat landed in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, one of the most unusual visitors
  • 1978 - Irish National Sailing School founded
  • 1934 - saw the Dublin and Kingstown Railway begin operations from their terminus at Westland Row to a terminus at the West Pier which began at the old harbour
  • 2001 - Dun Laoghaire Marina opens with 500 berths
  • 2015 - Ferry services cease bringing to an end a 200-year continuous link with Wales.
  • 2017- Bicentenary celebrations and time capsule laid.
  • 2018 - Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company dissolved, the harbour is transferred into the hands of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

From East pier to West Pier the waterfront clubs are:

  • National Yacht Club. Read latest NYC news here
  • Royal St. George Yacht Club. Read latest RSTGYC news here
  • Royal Irish Yacht Club. Read latest RIYC news here
  • Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club. Read latest DMYC news here

 

The umbrella organisation that organises weekly racing in summer and winter on Dublin Bay for all the yacht clubs is Dublin Bay Sailing Club. It has no clubhouse of its own but operates through the clubs with two x Committee vessels and a starters hut on the West Pier. Read the latest DBSC news here.

The sailing community is a key stakeholder in Dún Laoghaire. The clubs attract many visitors from home and abroad and attract major international sailing events to the harbour.

 

Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Dun Laoghaire's biennial town regatta was started in 2005 as a joint cooperation by the town's major yacht clubs. It was an immediate success and is now in its eighth edition and has become Ireland's biggest sailing event. The combined club's regatta is held in the first week of July.

  • Attracts 500 boats and more from overseas and around the country
  • Four-day championship involving 2,500 sailors with supporting family and friends
  • Economic study carried out by the Irish Marine Federation estimated the economic value of the 2009 Regatta at €2.5 million

The dates for the 2021 edition of Ireland's biggest sailing event on Dublin Bay is: 8-11 July 2021. More details here

Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Offshore Race

The biennial Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race is a 320-miles race down the East coast of Ireland, across the south coast and into Dingle harbour in County Kerry. The latest news on the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race can be found by clicking on the link here. The race is organised by the National Yacht Club.

The 2021 Race will start from the National Yacht Club on Wednesday 9th, June 2021.

Round Ireland Yacht Race

This is a Wicklow Sailing Club race but in 2013 the Garden County Club made an arrangement that sees see entries berthed at the RIYC in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for scrutineering prior to the biennial 704–mile race start off Wicklow harbour. Larger boats have been unable to berth in the confines of Wicklow harbour, a factor WSC believes has restricted the growth of the Round Ireland fleet. 'It means we can now encourage larger boats that have shown an interest in competing but we have been unable to cater for in Wicklow' harbour, WSC Commodore Peter Shearer told Afloat.ie here. The race also holds a pre-ace launch party at the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

Laser Masters World Championship 2018

  • 301 boats from 25 nations

Laser Radial World Championship 2016

  • 436 competitors from 48 nations

ISAF Youth Worlds 2012

  • The Youth Olympics of Sailing run on behalf of World Sailing in 2012.
  • Two-week event attracting 61 nations, 255 boats, 450 volunteers.
  • Generated 9,000 bed nights and valued at €9 million to the local economy.

The Harbour Police are authorised by the company to police the harbour and to enforce and implement bye-laws within the harbour, and all regulations made by the company in relation to the harbour.

There are four ship/ferry berths in Dun Laoghaire:

  • No 1 berth (East Pier)
  • No 2 berth (east side of Carlisle Pier)
  • No 3 berth (west side of Carlisle Pier)
  • No 4 berth  (St, Michaels Wharf)

Berthing facilities for smaller craft exist in the town's 800-berth marina and on swinging moorings.

© Afloat 2020