Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Dublin Bay Sailing Club

In anticipation of a weekend of one design action on the Bay, there was a full turnout of 10 boats in the Beneteau 31.7 Class ahead of the class national championships for Thursday's Dublin Bay Sailing Club race.

Chris Johnston's Prospect from the National Yacht Club was the winner of the 31.7 one-design race with clubmate Levante (John Power) second and Royal St. George's Michael Blaney's After You Too in third place.

All but one boat competed in each of the Cruiser 4, Ruffian, Beneteau 211 and Combined Squib & Mermaid Classes.

Overall there was an excellent turnout of 130 boats for another light-air evening on the bay. 

Top three results below

DBSC Results for 01/07/2021

Cruiser 0 IRC: 1. Rockabill VI, 2. Tsunami, 3. Lively Lady

Cruiser 0 Echo: 1. Lively Lady, 2. Rockabill VI, 3. Tsunami

Cruiser 1 IRC: 1. White Mischief, 2. Something Else, 3. Juggerknot 2

Cruiser 1 Echo: 1. Black Velvet, 2. Jump the Gun, 3. Dear Prudence

Cruiser 1 J109: 1. White Mischief, 2. Something Else, 3. Dear Prudence

31.7 One Design: 1. Prospect, 2. Levante, 3. After You Too

31.7 Echo: 1. Kalamar, 2. Levante, 3. Bluefin Two

Cruiser 2 IRC: 1. Windjammer, 2. Peridot, 3. Ruthless

Cruiser 2 Echo: 1. Windjammer, 2. Gwili II, 3. Ruthless

Cruiser 2 Sigma 33: 1. Gwili II, 2. Leeuwin, 3. Boojum

Cruiser 3 IRC: 1. Starlet, 2. Cartoon, 3. Eleint

Cruiser 3 Echo: 1. Starlet, 2. Cartoon, 3. Eleint

Cruiser 4 NS-IRC: 1. Boomerang, 2. Antix, 3. RunAway

Cruiser 4 Echo: 1. Boomerang, 2. Antix, 3. RunAway

Cruiser 5A NS-IRC: 1. Persistance, 2. Prima Luce, 3. The Great Escape

Cruiser 5A Echo: 1. Persistance, 2. Shearwater, 3. Edenpark

Cruiser 5B Echo: 1. Setanta, 2. Gung Ho, 3. Sweet Martini

SB20: 1. Ted, 2. venuesworld.com, 3. Carpe Diem

Flying 15: 1. Shane MacCarthy, 2. FFuZZy, 3. Enfant de Marie

Sportsboat VPRS: 1. Jester, 2. Jheetah, 3. Jeorge V

Sportsboat: 1. George 6, 2. Jester, 3. George 2

Ruffian: 1. Shannagh, 2. Bandit, 3. Ruffles

Shipman: 1. Jo Slim 5, 2. Viking, 3. Twocan

B211 One Design: 1. Small Wonder, 2. Beeswing, 3. Isolde

B211 Echo: 1. Isolde, 2. Betty B, 3. Small Wonder

Glen: 1. Glenluce, 2. GlenDun, 3. Glenroan

Squib/MermaidPY: 1. Jill, 2. Lively Lady, 3. Periquin

Published in DBSC

On the eve of the Beneteau 211 One Design national championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire this weekend, Billy Whizz (James Conboy Fischer) was the winner of Tuesday night's DBSC race. Second was Pat Shannon's Beeswing and third was Plan B (Kieran Kingston and Vincent Mulvey).

55 boats across all DBSC fleets enjoyed light airs on a sunny Dublin Bay evening as part of the AIB Summer Series. The top three in each class are below.

Congratulations are due to Declan Traynor, long-time DBSC Patrol chief, who had a successful first outing as Race Officer on the Dinghy Course, under the watchful eye of National Race Officer, Suzanne McGarry, backed up by long-time Dinghy Course stalwarts Ros Bremner, Caroline Liddy, Liz Aylmer, Sharon Moylan & Brendan Dalton.

DBSC Results for 29/06/2021

Race 1

Cruiser 3 Tuesday Echo: 1. Starlet, 2. Maranda, 3. Papytoo

Flying 15: 1. Perfect Ten, 2. A Mere Triffle

Sportsboat: 1. Joyride, 2. Jeorge V, 3. Jay Z

Ruffian: 1. Carmen, 2. Ruff Diamond, 3. Scamp

Shipman: 1. Poppy, 2. Bluefin

B211 One Design: 1. Billy Whizz, 2. Beeswing, 3. Plan B

B211 Echo: 1. Billy Whizz, 2. Beeswing, 3. Plan B

PY Class: 1. B & C O'Neill, 2. Teddy Byrne, 3. Barry Byrne

IDRA 14: 1. Slipway, 2. Dunmoanin, 3. Doody

Fireball: 1. Louise McKenna, 2. Paul ter Horst, 3. Frank Miller

Laser Standard: 1. Chris Arrowsmith, 2. Sean Doyle

Laser Radial: 1. Jacques Murphy, 2. David Cahill, 3. Michael Norman

Race 2

PY Class: 1. Noel Butler, 2. Barry Byrne, 3. Roy Van Maanen

IDRA 14: 1. Slipway, 2. Dunmoanin, 3. Doody

Fireball: 1. Louise McKenna, 2. Frank Miller, 3. Paul ter Horst

Laser Standard: 1. Chris Arrowsmith, 2. Sean Doyle

Laser Radial: 1. Jacques Murphy, 2. Alison Pigot, 3. Michael McCormack

Published in DBSC

Royal Irish Yacht Club J109 White Mischief (Richard and Tim Goodbody) beat Jalapeno (Paul Barrington) and Dear Prudence (Jay Bourke) in a windy DBSC J109 race on Dublin Bay last night.

The sister ships were beaten overall in IRC One by rival XP34 Bon Exemple. The Goodbody's took second in IRC with Andrew Algeo's J99, Juggerknot 2, third.

Dublin Bay J109 interests are being well represented on the South Coast this week where DBSC regular Something Else (John and Brian Hall) of the National Yacht Club lying second after four races sailed at the Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale.

104 boats turned out across all DBSC classes for the breezy Thursday night race.

In the one-design divisions, the big Flying Fifteen fleet was won by Rodriguez. FFuZZy was second with Perfect Ten third.

Heading out to a DBSC Green fleet start, Flying fifteen captain Neil Colin is captured with Sail Training Vessel Brian Boru Photo: Brian Buggy/BanditHeading out to a DBSC Green fleet start, Flying fifteen captain Neil Colin is captured with Sail Training Vessel Brian Boru Photo: Brian Buggy/Bandit

The top three in each class are below:

DBSC Results for 24/06/2021

Cruiser 1 IRC: 1. Bon Exemple, 2. White Mischief, 3. Juggerknot 2

Cruiser 1 Echo: 1. Bon Exemple, 2. White Mischief, 3. Juggerknot 2

Cruiser 1 J109: 1. White Mischief, 2. Jalapeno, 3. Dear Prudence

31.7 One Design: 1. Levante, 2. After You Too, 3. Bluefin Two

31.7 Echo: 1. Levante, 2. Bluefin Two, 3. Fiddly Bits

Cruiser 2 IRC: 1. Leeuwin, 2. Windjammer, 3. Ruthless

Cruiser 2 Echo: 1. Boojum, 2. Leeuwin, 3. Springer

Cruiser 2 Sigma 33: 1. Leeuwin, 2. Boojum, 3. Springer

Cruiser 3 IRC: 1. Starlet, 2. Maranda, 3. Eleint

Cruiser 3 Echo: 1. Cartoon, 2. Saki, 3. Starlet

Cruiser 4 NS-IRC: 1. RunAway

Cruiser 4 Echo: 1. Antix, 2. RunAway

Cruiser 5A NS-IRC: 1. Act Two, 2. Playtime, 3. The Great Escape

Cruiser 5A Echo: 1. Act Two, 2. The Great Escape, 3. Playtime

Cruiser 5B Echo: 1. Setanta

SB20: 1. Ted, 2. Bad/Kilcullen, 3. venuesworld.com

Flying 15: 1. Rodriguez, 2. FFuZZy, 3. Perfect Ten

Sportsboat VPRS: 1. Jester, 2. Jheetah

Sportsboat: 1. Jester, 2. George 2, 3. RIYC 1

Dragon: 1. Sir Ossis o'the River, 2. Phantom, 3. ZinZan

Ruffian: 1. Shannagh, 2. Bandit, 3. Carmen

Shipman: 1. Jo Slim 5, 2. Twocan, 3. Invader

B211 One Design: 1. Chinook, 2. Small Wonder, 3. Beeswing

B211 Echo: 1. Small Wonder, 2. Beeswing, 3. Chinook

Glen: 1. GlenDun, 2. Glenluce, 3. Glenroan

Published in DBSC

Royal St. George's Theo Lyttle won Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) Tuesday night Laser standard race at Dun Laoghaire from club mate Ross O'Leary. Damian Moloney was third.

The Fireball class was won by Royal St. George's Louise McKenna with DMYC's Frank Miller second. 

Top three in all competing DBSC classes are below

DBSC Results for 22/06/2021

Cruiser 3 Tuesday Echo: 1. Grasshopper 2, 2. Pamafe, 3. Papytoo

Flying 15: 1. A Mere Triffle, 2. Perfect Ten

Ruffian: 1. Ruff Diamond, 2. Bandit, 3. Scamp

Shipman: 1. Bluefin, 2. Poppy

B211 One Design: 1. Billy Whizz, 2. Isolde, 3. Plan B

B211 Echo: 1. Isolde, 2. Billy Whizz, 3. Plan B

PY Class: 1. Noel Butler, 2. Brendan Foley, 3. Brian Sweeney

IDRA 14: 1. Dart, 2. Chaos, 3. Dunmoanin

Fireball: 1. Louise McKenna, 2. Frank Miller, 3. Paul ter Horst

Laser Standard: 1. Theo Lyttle, 2. Ross O'Leary, 3. Damian Maloney

Laser Radial: 1. Hugh O'Connor, 2. Sean Craig, 3. Brenda Maguire

Dart,
Published in DBSC

The Royal Irish J109 White Mischief (Richard and Tim Goodbody) was the Cruiser 1 IRC winner in Saturday's DBSC race on Dublin Bay.

There was a 125 boat turnout across all classes for the AIB Summer Series, the country's biggest sailing series.

Second, in IRC 1, was the Royal Irish's XP33 Bon Exemple. The National Yacht Club J109 Jalapeno (Paul Barrington) was third.

Saturday's race marked the final DBSC on the water tribute to esteemed member, the late Carmel Winkelmann who passed away last week. Afloat tribute here

In the one-design classes, Ken Dumpleton was the Flying Fifteen class winner in Hera. 

The top three results across all classes are below:

(Above and below) the DBSC green fleet tribute to the late DBSC Race Official Carmel Winkelmann(Above and below) the DBSC green fleet tribute to the late DBSC Race Official Carmel Winkelmann

(Above and below) the DBSC green fleet tribute to the late DBSC Race Official Carmel Winkelmann

DBSC Results for 19/06/2021


Race 1

Cruiser 0 IRC: 1. Rockabill VI, 2. Tsunami, 3. Lively Lady

Cruiser 0 Echo: 1. Tsunami, 2. Rockabill VI, 3. Lively Lady

Cruiser 1 IRC: 1. White Mischief, 2. Bon Exemple, 3. Jalapeno

Cruiser 1 Echo: 1. Indecision, 2. White Mischief, 3. Raptor

Cruiser 1 J109: 1. White Mischief, 2. Jalapeno, 3. Chimaera

31.7 One Design: 1. Attitude, 2. Prospect, 3. Bluefin Two

31.7 Echo: 1. Bluefin Two, 2. Kernach, 3. Attitude

Cruiser 2 IRC: 1. Windjammer, 2. Peridot, 3. Leeuwin

Cruiser 2 Echo: 1. Springer, 2. Windjammer, 3. Leeuwin

Cruiser 2 Sigma 33: 1. Leeuwin, 2. Gwili II, 3. Springer

Cruiser 3 IRC: 1. Starlet, 2. Krypton, 3. Maranda

Cruiser 3 Echo: 1. Ceol na Mara, 2. Pamafe, 3. Starlet

Cruiser 4 NS-IRC: 1. Boomerang, 2. RunAway

Cruiser 4 Echo: 1. Boomerang, 2. RunAway

Cruiser 5 NS-IRC: 1. Playtime, 2. Gung Ho, 3. Persistance

Cruiser 5 Echo: 1. Playtime, 2. Shearwater, 3. Katienua

SB20: 1. Ted, 2. So Blue, 3. Carpe Diem

Flying 15: 1. Phoenix, 2. Hera, 3. Glass Half Full

Sportsboat VPRS: 1. Jawesome III, 2. Jitterbug, 3. Jambiya

Sportsboat: 1. Jawesome III, 2. Jitterbug, 3. George 2

Dragon: 1. ZinZan, 2. Phantom

Ruffian: 1. Bandit, 2. Ruffrider, 3. Icicle

Shipman: 1. Curraglass, 2. Jo Slim 5, 3. Poppy

B211 One Design: 1. Ventuno, 2. Beeswing, 3. Chinook

B211 Echo: 1. Ventuno, 2. Beeswing, 3. Small Wonder

Glen: 1. Glenluce, 2. Glenroan, 3. GlenDun

Squib/Mermaid: 1. Lively Lady, 2. Jill, 3. Aideen

PY Class: 1. Noel Butler, 2. Brendan Foley, 3. Brian Sweeney

Fireball: 1. Owen Sinnott, 2. Paul ter Horst

Laser Standard: 1. Gavan Murphy, 2. Robbie Walker

Laser Radial: 1. Hugh O'Connor, 2. Marc Coakley, 3. Sean Craig

Race 2

SB20: 1. Carpe Diem, 2. Ted, 3. venuesworld.com

Flying 15: 1. Hera, 2. Phoenix, 3. Ignis Caput II

Sportsboat VPRS: 1. Jawesome III, 2. Jitterbug, 3. Jambiya

Sportsboat: 1. Jawesome III, 2. Jitterbug, 3. Jambiya

Dragon: 1. Phantom, 2. ZinZan

Ruffian: 1. Ruffles, 2. Ripples, 3. Bandit

B211 One Design: 1. Yikes, 2. Small Wonder, 3. Chinook

B211 Echo: 1. Small Wonder, 2. Chinook, 3. Billy Whizz

Squib/Mermaid: 1. Lively Lady, 2. Jill, 3. Aideen

PY Class: 1. Brendan Foley, 2. Noel Butler, 3. Brian Sweeney

Fireball: 1. Owen Sinnott, 2. Paul ter Horst

Laser Standard: 1. Gavan Murphy, 2. Robbie Walker

Laser Radial: 1. Sean Craig, 2. Hugh O'Connor, 3. Sophie Kilmartin

Published in DBSC

Tony Fox's IMX 38 Gringo from the National Yacht Club beat club mates John and Brian Hall's J109 Something Else in the Cruisers One IRC division of Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Saturday racing.

Racing for classes in Seapoint Bay in the DBSC AIB sponsored Summer Series was subjected to variable westerlies for the opening races before a more solid breeze from 170 degrees came through for the second race.

Jim McCann's Mustang 30 Peridot from the Royal Irish Yacht Club beat two Sigma 33s for the top spot in class two IRC.

In the One Design classes,  DMYC's Enfant de Marie (Ben Mulligan) was the winner of the first race with Phoenix (John Lavery) of the National Yacht Club the second race winner.

The top three results in each DBSC class are below

DBSC Results for 12/06/2021

Race 1

Cruiser 1 IRC: 1. Gringo, 2. Something Else, 3. Chimaera

Cruiser 1 Echo: 1. Gringo, 2. Powder Monkey, 3. Raptor

Cruiser 1 J109: 1. Something Else, 2. Chimaera, 3. Powder Monkey

31.7 One Design: 1. Attitude, 2. Kalamar, 3. Kernach

31.7 Echo: 1. Kalamar, 2. Kernach, 3. Attitude

Cruiser 2 IRC: 1. Peridot, 2. Leeuwin, 3. Rupert

Cruiser 2 Echo: 1. Leeuwin, 2. Rupert, 3. Peridot

Cruiser 2 Sigma 33: 1. Leeuwin, 2. Rupert, 3. Gwili II

Cruiser 3 IRC: 1. Maranda, 2. Starlet

Cruiser 3 Echo: 1. Maranda, 2. Papytoo, 3. Wynward

Cruiser 5 NS-IRC: 1. The Great Escape, 2. Gung Ho, 3. Playtime

Cruiser 5 Echo: 1. Sweet Martini, 2. The Great Escape, 3. Playtime

SB20: 1. venuesworld.com, 2. Ted, 3. So Blue

Flying 15: 1. Enfant de Marie, 2. Flyer, 3. Phoenix

Sportsboat: 1. Jambiya, 2. Joyride, 3. Jay Z

Sportsboat VPRS: 1. Jambiya, 2. Joyride, 3. Jawesome III

Shipman: 1. Curraglass, 2. Viking, 3. Jo Slim 5

Glen: 1. Glenroan, 2. GlenDun

PY Class: 1. Brendan Foley, 2. Michael McCambridge

IDRA 14: 1. Dunmoanin, 2. Chaos

Fireball: 1. Owen Sinnott, 2. Paul ter Horst

Race 2

SB20: 1. Ted, 2. Bad/Kilcullen, 3. Rubadubdub

Flying 15: 1. Phoenix, 2. Rodriguez, 3. Fflagella

Sportsboat: 1=. George 6, 1=. Jawesome III, 3. Jambiya

Sportsboat VPRS: 1. Jawesome III, 2. Jambiya, 3. Joyride

Ruffian: 1. Bandit, 2. Ripples, 3. Ruffles

B211 One Design: 1. Yikes, 2. Chinook, 3. Beeswing

B211 Echo: 1. Beeswing, 2. Ventuno, 3. Chinook

Squib/Mermaid: 1. Lively Lady, 2. Periquin, 3. Allsorts

PY Class: 1. Brendan Foley, 2. Michael McCambridge

IDRA 14: 1. Chaos, 2. Dunmoanin

Fireball: 1. Owen Sinnott, 2. Paul ter Horst

Race 3

PY Class: 1. Brendan Foley, 2. Michael McCambridge

IDRA 14: 1. Chaos, 2. Dunmoanin

Fireball: 1. Owen Sinnott, 2. Paul ter Horst

Published in DBSC

102 yachts started on a windy evening on Dublin Bay last night for the first Thursday race proper of the 2021 DBSC summer season.

Tim and Richard Goodbody's J109, White Mischief from the Royal Irish Yacht Club were Cruiser One winners in both IRC and ECHO. Chris Johnston's National Yacht Club Prospect was the Beneteau 31.7 winner 

Royal St. George's Windjammer (​Lindsey J Casey & Denis Power) won Class Two in IRC but Conor Ronan's Corby 26, Ruthless won on ECHO. 

Full results below.  

DBSC Results for 10/06/2021

Cruiser 1 IRC: 1. White Mischief, 2. Something Else, 3. Jalapeno

Cruiser 1 Echo: 1. Something Else, 2. White Mischief, 3. Jalapeno

Cruiser 1 J109: 1. White Mischief, 2. Something Else, 3. Jalapeno

31.7 One Design: 1. Prospect, 2. Attitude, 3. After You Too

31.7 Echo: 1. Indigo, 2. Attitude, 3. Bluefin Two

Cruiser 2 IRC: 1. Windjammer, 2. Ruthless, 3. Rupert

Cruiser 2 Echo: 1. Ruthless, 2. Windjammer, 3. Boojum

Cruiser 2 Sigma 33: 1. Boojum, 2. Rupert

Cruiser 3 IRC: 1. Starlet, 2. Maranda, 3. Eleint

Cruiser 3 Echo: 1. Grasshopper 2, 2. Starlet, 3. Saki

Cruiser 4 NS-IRC: 1. Boomerang, 2. Playtime

Cruiser 4 Echo: 1. Boomerang, 2. Antix, 3. Playtime

Cruiser 5A NS-IRC: 1. Prima Luce, 2. Act Two, 3. Persistance, 1. Sweet

Cruiser 5A Echo: 1. Aurora, 2. Prima Luce, 3. Act Two

Cruiser 5B Echo: 1. Sweet Martini, 2. Gung Ho, 3. Fortitudine

SB20: 1. Ted, 2. So Blue, 3. venuesworld.com

Flying 15: 1. Shane MacCarthy, 2. Enfant de Marie, 3. Glass Half Full

Sportsboat: 1. Jester, 2. Jheetah, 3. Jitterbug

Sportsboat: 1. Jester, 2. Jheetah, 3. Jitterbug

Ruffian: 1. Bandit, 2. Shannagh, 3. Ruffles

Shipman: 1. Curraglass, 2. Twocan, 3. Jo Slim 5

B211 One Design: 1. Chinook, 2. Yikes, 3. Billy Whizz

B211 Echo: 1. Chinook, 2. Isolde, 3. Small Wonder

Squib/Mermaid: 1. Jill, 2=. Periquin, 2=. Aideen

Published in DBSC

Damian Moloney won both of Tuesday night's Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) in-harbour Laser dinghy races, the first of the 2021 season.

Ten-knot southerly winds greeted the DBSC fleet that resumed Dun Laoghaire competition following almost a month of training races in line with COVID-19 protocols.

Frank Miller was the winner of both Fireball races. Likewise, Brendan Foley, sailing an RS Aero, won both of the PY races.

In the Radial class, Conor Clancy and Sean Craig took a win apiece.

DBSC Results for 08/06/2021

Race 1

Cruiser 3 Tuesday Echo: 1. Maranda, 2. Papytoo, 3. Saki

Flying 15: 1. Shane MacCarthy, 2. Perfect Ten

Ruffian: 1. Ruff Diamond, 2. Carmen

Shipman: 1. Poppy, 2. Bluefin

PY Class: 1. Brendan Foley, 2. Noel Butler, 3. Barry Byrne

Fireball: 1. Frank Miller, 2. Louise McKenna, 3. Owen Sinnott

Laser Standard: 1. Damian Maloney, 2. Chris Arrowsmith, 3. Gary O'Hare

Laser Radial: 1. Conor Clancy, 2. Hugh O'Connor, 3. Shirley Gilmore

Race 2

PY Class: 1. Brendan Foley, 2. Noel Butler, 3. Barry Byrne

Fireball: 1. Frank Miller, 2. Louise McKenna, 3. Owen Sinnott

Laser Standard: 1. Damian Maloney, 2. Gary O'Hare, 3. Theo Lyttle

Laser Radial: 1. Sean Craig, 2. Hugh O'Connor, 3. David Cahill

Published in DBSC

With Dublin Bay Sailing Club's final week of Pandemic-restricted Training Races currently underway (restrictions are lifted on Monday, June 7th), the always-numerous Flying Fifteen class have been threatening to fly too high, and may need to have their wings clipped in order to stay within the Irish Sailing limits of not more than 15 boats per class in an approved training fleet.

FF Class Captain Neil Colin has circulated his members today regarding the races on June 3rd and 5th, and states: “We will run the WhatsApp Roll Call, and if we exceed the quota, I will be asking some to step back on a Random Selection Basis”.

Published in Flying Fifteen

With just over a week to go until Dubin Bay Sailing Club racing starts on June 8th, 116 boats turned out across  21 classes for race training on the bay on Saturday.

There were light easterly winds and another lovely sunny day on the water for the Dun Laoghaire Harbour fleets. 

Race Officer Barry MacNeaney on MacLir had a busy day, starting the ISORA fleet at 10 am before taking charge of DBSC's Blue/Red Fleet of 45 boats. This included Cr0 1, Cr1 9, B31.7 9, CR2 6, Cr3 5, Cr4&5 9, Shipman & Glen 6

Other fleets were:

Green fleet 47 boats: RO Barry O’Neill on Freebird: SB20 7, FF 15, Sportsboat & Dragon 5, Ruffian 7, B211 9, Squibs & Mermaids 4

Dinghies: RO Barbara Conway on the Spirit of the Irish Committee Boat - 24 boats - PY 8, Laser 16 over two starts

DBSC has also been reporting strong turnouts for training last week as follows: 

Tues dinghies: RO Suzanne McGarry on Freebird - approx 24 over 3 starts, mostly Lasers

Wed Wags: RO Harry Gallagher on MacLir 15 boats

Thurs Blue Fleet: RO Ed Totterdell on MacLir 38 boats Cr0 2, Cr1 7, B31.7 9, Cr2 3, Cr3 9, Cr4&5 8

Thurs Red Fleet: RO Brian Mathews 44 boats SB20 4, Sportsboats&Dragon 4, FF 15, Ruffian 7, Shipmans 5, B211 6, Squibs&Mermaids 3, no Glens

Published in DBSC
Page 8 of 60

Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!