What is the Naval Service?

The Naval Service is the Irish State's principal seagoing agency with "a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements". It is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles.

Where is the Naval Service based?

The Naval Service is based in Ringaskiddy, Cork harbour, with headquarters in the Defence Forces headquarters in Dublin.

What does the Naval Service do?

The Naval Service provides the maritime component of the Irish State's defence capabilities and is the State's principal seagoing agency. It "protects Ireland's interests at and from the sea, including lines of communication, fisheries and offshore resources" within the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Naval Service operates jointly with the Army and Air Corps as part of the Irish defence forces.

When was the Naval Service formed?

The Naval Service was established in 1946, replacing the Marine and Coastwatching Service set up in 1939. It had replaced the Coastal and Marine Service, the State's first marine service after independence, which was disbanded after a year. Its only ship was the Muirchú, formerly the British armed steam yacht Helga, which had been used by the Royal Navy to shell Dublin during the 1916 Rising. In 1938, Britain handed over the three "treaty" ports of Cork harbour, Bere haven and Lough Swilly.

How many ships are in the Naval Service?

The Naval Service has nine ships - one Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), two Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) and two Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV). Each vessel is equipped with State of the art machinery, weapons, communications and navigation systems.

What are the Irish Navy ship's names?

The ships' names are prefaced with the title of Irish ship or "long Éireannach" (LE). The older ships bear Irish female names - LÉ Eithne, LÉ Orla, LÉ Ciara, LÉ Roisín, and LÉ Niamh. The newer ships, named after male Irish literary figures, are LÉ Samuel Beckett, LÉ James Joyce, LÉ William Butler Yeats and LÉ George Bernard Shaw.

Are Irish Naval Service ships armed?

Yes. The 76mm Oto Melara medium calibre naval armament is the most powerful weapon in the Naval Services arsenal. The 76mm is "capable of engaging naval targets at a range of up to 17km with a high level of precision, ensuring that the Naval Service can maintain a range advantage over all close-range naval armaments and man-portable weapon systems", according to the Defence Forces.

How is the fleet managed and maintained?

The Fleet Operational Readiness Standards and Training (FORST) unit is responsible for the coordination of the fleet needs. Ships are maintained at the Mechanical Engineering and Naval Dockyard Unit at Ringaskiddy, Cork harbour.

Who is the head of the Irish Naval Service?

The Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service (FOCNS) is Commodore Michael Malone. The head of the Defence Forces is a former Naval Service flag officer, now Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett – appointed in 2015 and the first Naval Service flag officer to hold this senior position. The Flag Officer oversees Naval Operations Command, which is tasked with the conduct of all operations afloat and ashore by the Naval Service including the operations of Naval Service ships. The Naval Operations Command is split into different sections, including Operations HQ and Intelligence and Fishery Section.

What is the Intelligence and Fishery Section of the Irish Naval Service?

The Intelligence and Fishery Section is responsible for Naval Intelligence, the Specialist Navigation centre, the Fishery Protection supervisory and information centre, and the Naval Computer Centre. The Naval Intelligence Cell is responsible for the collection, collation and dissemination of naval intelligence. The Navigation Cell is the naval centre for navigational expertise.

What is the Fishery Monitoring Centre?

The Fishery Monitoring Centre provides for fishery data collection, collation, analysis and dissemination to the Naval Service and client agencies, including the State's Sea Fisheries Protection Agency. The centre also supervises fishery efforts in the Irish EEZ and provides data for the enhanced effectiveness of fishery protection operations, as part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The Naval Computer Centre provides information technology (IT) support service to the Naval Service ashore and afloat.

How are shore operations managed?

This headquarters includes specific responsibility for the Executive/Operations Branch duties. The Naval Service Operations Room is a coordination centre for all NS current Operations. The Naval Service Reserve Staff Officer is responsible for the supervision, regulation and training of the reserve. The Diving section is responsible for all aspects of Naval diving and the provision of a diving service to the Naval Service and client agencies. The Ops Security Section is responsible for the coordination of base security and the coordination of all shore-based security parties operating away from the Naval base. The Naval Base Comcen is responsible for the running of a communications service. Boat transport is under the control of Harbour Master Naval Base, who is responsible for the supervision of berthage at the Naval Base and the provision of a boat service, including the civilian manned ferry service from Haulbowline.

Does the Naval Service undertake overseas missions?

Naval Service ships have undertaken trade and supply missions abroad, and personnel have served as peacekeepers with the United Nations. In 2015, Naval Service ships were sent on rotation to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean as part of a bi-lateral arrangement with Italy, known as Operation Pontus. Naval Service and Army medical staff rescued some 18,000 migrants, either pulling people from the sea or taking them off small boats, which were often close to capsizing having been towed into open water and abandoned by smugglers. Irish ships then became deployed as part of EU operations in the Mediterranean, but this ended in March 2019 amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the EU.

How can I join the Irish Naval Service?

Essentially, you have to be Irish, young (less than 32), in good physical and mental health and with normal vision. You must be above 5'2″, and your weight should be in keeping with your age.

Are there women in the Naval Service?

Yes, women have been recruited since 1995. One of the first two female cadets, Roberta O'Brien from the Glen of Aherlow in Co Tipperary, became its first female commander in September 2020. Sub Lieutenant Tahlia Britton from Donegal also became the first female diver in the navy's history in the summer of 2020.

What is a Naval Service Officer cadet?

A naval cadet enlists for a cadetship to become an officer in the Defence Forces. After successfully completing training at the Naval Service College, a cadet is commissioned into the officer ranks of the Naval Service as a Ensign or Sub Lieutenant.

What training is involved in becoming a Naval Service officer cadet?

A cadet trains for approximately two years duration divided into different stages. The first year is spent in military training at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Cork. The second-year follows a course set by the National Maritime College of Ireland course. At the end of the second year and on completion of exams, and a sea term, the cadets will be qualified for the award of a commission in the Permanent Defence Force as Ensign.

What qualifications are required to become a cadet?

A cadet trains for approximately two years duration divided into different stages. The first year is spent in military training at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Cork. The second-year follows a course set by the National Maritime College of Ireland course. At the end of the second year and on completion of exams, and a sea term, the cadets will be qualified for the award of a commission in the Permanent Defence Force as Ensign. The Defence Forces say it is looking for people who have "the ability to plan, prioritise and organise", to "carefully analyse problems, in order to generate appropriate solutions, who have "clear, concise and effective communication skills", and the ability to "motivate others and work with a team". More information is on the 2020 Qualifications Information Leaflet.

When can I apply to become a Naval Service cadet?

When you are 18 years of age or over and under 26 years of age on the date mentioned in the notice for the current competition, the officer cadet competition is held annually and is the only way for potential candidates to join the Defence Forces to become a Naval Service officer. Candidates undergo psychometric and fitness testing, an interview and a medical exam.

Where is the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI)?

The NMCI was built beside the Naval Service base at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, and was the first third-level college in Ireland to be built under the Government's Public-Private Partnership scheme. The public partners are the Naval Service and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the private partner is Focus Education.

What is a Naval Service recruit?

A Naval Service recruit enlists for general service in the "Other Ranks" of the Defence Forces. After successfully completing the initial recruit training course, a recruit passes out as an Ordinary Seaman and will then go onto their branch training course before becoming qualified as an Able Body sailor in the Naval Service.

What qualifications are required to become a Naval Service recruit?

No formal education qualifications are required to join the Defence Forces as a recruit. You need to satisfy the interview board and the recruiting officer that you possess a sufficient standard of education for service in the Defence Forces.

What training is involved in becoming a Naval Service recruit?

Recruit training is 18 weeks in duration and is designed to "develop a physically fit, disciplined and motivated person using basic military and naval skills" to "prepare them for further training in the service. Recruits are instilled with the Naval Service ethos and the values of "courage, respect, integrity and loyalty".

What is a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) career training?

On the progression up through the various ranks, an Able Rate will have to complete a number of career courses to provide them with training to develop their skills in a number of areas, such as leadership and management, administration and naval/military skills. The first of these courses is the Naval Service Potential NCO course, followed by the Naval Service Standard NCO course and the Naval Service senior NCO course. This course qualifies successful candidates of Petty officer (or Senior Petty Officer) rank to fill the rank of Chief Petty Officer upwards. The successful candidate may also complete and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership, Management and Naval Studies in partnership with Cork Institute of Technology.

What is pay like in the Naval Service?

Pay has long been an issue for just the Naval Service, at just over 1,000 personnel. Cadets and recruits are required to join the single public service pension scheme, which is a defined benefit scheme, based on career-average earnings. For current rates of pay, see the Department of Defence website

Displaying items by tag: Dun Laoghaire Dingle

1st July 2021

Crosshaven's Murphy Family & Nieulargo are June's "Sailors of the Month" (Offshore)

Time was - when a victorious Royal Cork YC vessel returned after "success abroad" - that she received a nine-gun salute on arrival from the Club battery. Even though we live in more noise-conscious times, the RCYC can still wheel out a five gun salute when appropriate, but it is used very sparingly. However, on the sunny evening of Monday, June 15th when the Murphy family's Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo returned to Crosser fresh from a brilliant overall win in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, she got the full and richly-deserved treatment from Admiral Colin Morehead and his members.

And though offshore racing is the boat and crew's speciality, subsequently in the more inshore conditions of the Sovereigns Cup Coastal Division at Kinsale, Nieulargo was still right in the picture to place second overall, making for a remarkably well-balanced month of achievement.

Published in Sailor of the Month

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15th June 2021

Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race Winners Nieulargo Crew Given Triumphant Welcome Home to Royal Cork Yacht Club

The Weather Gods were smiling on the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Monday evening in Cork Harbour as members gave a triumphant welcome home to the Murphy family's Nieulargo, the overall winner of last week's Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race.

Denis and Annamarie Murphy's successful Grand Soleil 44, was the winner of the 2020 inaugural Fastnet 450 Race (from Dun Laoghaire to Cork) and this year adds the D2D title.

RCYC Admiral Colin Morehead welcomed the victorious boat and crew back to the club with a special Royal Cork five gun salute and a reception on the lawn at Crosshaven, in accordance with the club's ancient rules as Afloat's WM Nixon described last Saturday here

After an epic 14th edition of the D2D that attracted a 38-boat fleet for last Wednesday's spectacular start on Dublin Bay, the Murphy's lifted the trophy at Saturday's prizegiving in Dingle, County Kerry.

As Afloat previously reported, Crosshaven & Kinsale yachts shared the spoils.

The Murphy family’s consistently successful campaign reached Dingle on Friday morning at 09:27 hrs and immediately corrected into an overall lead in the D2D which she never lost.

All of Afloat's D2D coverage in one handy link is here

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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13th June 2021

2021 Dun Laoghaire Dingle Prizegiving Photo Gallery at Dingle Marina

After race protests were heard and final official results published, Dun Laoghaire's National Yacht Club Commodore Martin McCarthy led the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race celebrations and prizegiving at the County Kerry marina on Saturday.

Commodore McCarthy thanked competitors and organisers alike and gave special mention to long term race partner the Dingle Skellig Hotel and the Officers and Members of the National Yacht Club for stepping up and supporting the race especially Race Chairman, Adam Winkelmann.

McCarthy thanked partners, DBSC, ISORA, Bretzel Bakery, A Stitch in Time, Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder Gin and The Cribs.ie for supporting the race. A new partner this time around was Sullivans Brewery based in Kilkenny who was the 2021 beer partner.

Prizes were presented by Sheila O'Connor of the Dingle Skellig Hotel and awarded across the fleet as Afloat reported here.

Photographer Dominick Walsh captured the prizewinners class by class below:

Martin McCarthy - Commodore NYC

Sheila O Connor of the Dingle Skellig Hotel and Conor Doyle - Freya Sheila O'Connor of the Dingle Skellig Hotel and Conor Doyle - Freya

Paul O’ Higgins - Rockabill VI

Sheila and Mia Murphy - Nieulargo

John O’Gorman - Hot Cookie John O’ Gorman - Hot Cookie

Chris Power Smith - Aurelia

Sheila and Mark Pettit - (collecting for Juggerknot II)

John Harrington - Excession

Johnny Treanor - JustTina

Clarke Allen - Elantic

Ronan O Suichru Ireland Offshore Sailing Desert Star

John Conlon - Humdinger

Conquestador - Barry Cunningham

Joe Kiernan - Gambit

Anna Leech and Sheila Tyrrell - Aquelina

Kinsale YC rep for Cian McCarthy of Cinnamon Girl

Peter Coad - Blackjack

Grzegorz Kalinecki - More Mischief

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

12th June 2021

The Fortunes of the Two Northern Ireland Yachts in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race

"Brutal" said the Harrington, O'Tiarnaigh, Mulholland trio in the IMX 38,eXcession, after the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race; "fantastic – a great collective learning curve," said Shaun Douglas in the First 40.7 Game Changer.

eXcession had an excruciatingly long passage from Belfast Lough to Dun Laoghaire and it left the crew with not much time for race preparation. Further hassle after the Tuskar because of a faulty charger meant no AIS, so a jury-rigged supply (and a handy electrician) got them through that.

After the beat to the Tuskar and yet another along the south coast in a short steep chop, it was a relief to turn the corner at the Fastnet, which John said they too couldn't see for the fog and hanging cloud. He added, "The big rolling Atlantic seas were much more consistent and easier to cope with". On the wind to Great Skellig, they hoisted the Code Zero and heading into Dingle, changed it for the A2 Asymmetric in the lighter breeze. "We had a great time; a great boat and we're delighted to be in Dingle".

The eXcession crew celebrate their arrival in Dingle

The trio are pleased to take fourth place prize in the Dingle Crystal Trophy in the IRC 2 division.

The three eXcession owners as signed on the deck of their IMX 38

Game Changer

Game Changer finished in eighth place overall

Game Changer put in a commendable performance, finishing in eighth place overall. The beat to the Tusker then another to the Fastnet, which Shaun says they couldn't even see in the bad visibility, despite hearing the waves crashing on the rock. After that they were able to crack off 20deg for Mizen Head. Having rounded Great Skellig, it was a 22-mile crawl in light winds to Dingle.

Some of the Gamechanger crew Some of the Game Changer crew

The crew were John and son Connor Simms, Colin and son Josh Coffey, and Michael Ennis. "The young lads" Shaun said, "have learned a lot and are keen to do more offshore passage races." At the time of writing a provisional eighth place overall is a very satisfactory result for Douglas and his crew.

As published earlier in Afloat.ie a protest committee decision gave line honours winner Freya (Conor Doyle of Kinsale) joint second overall after redress with defending champion Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

13th June 2021

Royal Cork's Nieulargo Victorious as National Yacht Club Presents Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2021 Prizewinners (Photo Gallery Here!)

After an epic 14th edition of the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race that attracted a 38-boat fleet for Wednesday's spectacular start on Dublin Bay, the prizewinners have been announced by the National Yacht Club race organisers ahead of this evening's prizegiving in Dingle, County Kerry.

As Afloat previously reported, Crosshaven & Kinsale yachts shared the spoils.

The Murphy family’s consistently successful Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo (Royal Cork YC) reached Dingle on Friday morning at 09:27 hrs and immediately corrected into an overall lead in the D2D which she never lost.

A protest commtitee decision today gave line honours winner Freya (Conor Doyle of Kinsale) joint second overall after redress with defending champion Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

The full prizewinners listing and a prizegiving photo gallery by Dominick Walsh is below

1st Over the Line - Seamus Gallagher Memorial Trophy Freya – Conor Doyle – Kinsale YC

1st Over the Line - Seamus Gallagher Memorial Trophy
Freya – Conor Doyle – Kinsale YC

IRC 1 Sam & Emma Trophy

1st IRC 1 – Nieulargo – Denis Murphy Royal Cork YC
2nd IRC 1 – Rockabill VI – Paul O’Higgins – Royal Irish YC and Freya – Conor Doyle – Kinsale YC
3rd IRC 1 – Hot Cookie – John O’ Gorman – National YC
4th IRC 1 – Aurelia – Chris Power Smith – Royal St George YC

1st IRC 2 – Juggerknot II – Andrew Algeo – Royal Irish YC

IRC 2 Dingle Crystal Trophy – (New Trophy)
1st IRC 2 – Juggerknot II – Andrew Algeo – Royal Irish YC
2nd IRC 2 – Indian – Simon Knowles – Howth YC
3rd IRC 2 – JustTina – Johnny Treanor – National YC
4th IRC 2 – Excession – John Harrington – Royal Ulster / Ballyolme YC
5th IRC 2 – Elantic – Clarke Allen – Arklow Sailing Club

Overall (Dingle Skellig Hotel Trophy- Existing Ships Decanter)
1st Overall – Nieulargo – Denis Murphy – Royal Cork YC

D2D Corinthian – Aurelia – Chris Power Smith – Royal St George YC

D2D Corinthian – (Silver Cup – NYC – New Trophy)
Aurelia – Chris Power Smith – Royal St George YC

National Yacht Club Decanter (New Trophy IRC 3 – 1st Below 1.0 h/c)
1st IRC 3 – Desert Star Irish Offshore Sailing – Ronan O Suicru – RORC
2nd IRC 3 – Humdinger – John Conlon – Arklow YC
3rd IRC 3 – Gambit – Joe Kiernan – Foynes YC

Cruiser Class - Alice Celebration Trophy (Existing Dolphin Trophy)
1st Cruising – Conquestador – Barry Cunningham - Royal Irish YC

Mixed Crew - Polynesian Paddle
1st Mixed Crew (2 Female Crew) - Aquelina

Halidon Trophy (Under 33ft)
1st Under 33ft – More Mischief - Grzegorz Kalinecki - ISA

1st 2 handed – Cinnamon Girl – Cian McCarthy – Kinsale YC

Volvo Trophy – (New Crystal Bowl – 2 Handed Class)
1st 2 handed – Cinnamon Girl – Cian McCarthy – Kinsale YC
2nd 2 handed – BlackJack – Peter Coad – Waterford Harbour SC

2021 Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Overall Results

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

11th June 2021

20 Percent Time Penalty for Five Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race Boats That Entered Tuskar Traffic Separation Scheme

Five boats have been penalised in the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race for sailing in the Tuskar Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) which is prohibited in the race rules.

The penalty does not affect the overall winner result but impacts the provisional second place overall, held by the Sunfast 3600 Searcher skippered by Pete Smyth of the host club.

The penalty news comes this evening as the fleet arrives into Dingle Bay at the finish of the 280-mile race that started on Dublin Bay on Wednesday.

In a notice to competitors issued this evening, the National Yacht Club Race Committee said the inclusion had been "brought to the attention of the Committee" who reviewed the race tracks on the YB tracker.

Following the review, the following boats were identified as "having entered the Tuskar TSS and under SI 15.3, a time penalty of 20% was applied to their elapsed times: Artful Dodger, Conquestador, Searcher, Springer, Tsunami"

One of these boats is still at sea racing, and another subsequently retired.

Revised results have been published on the D2D website here

Competitors can appeal penalty decisions under the Racing Rules of Sailing.

The full notice reads:

Notice to Competitors:

It has been brought to the notice of the D2D Race Committee that a number of boats may have entered the Tuskar Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) which under SI 9 is an obstruction. Following a review of the race tracks on the YB tracker by the Race Committee, the following boats have been identified as having entered the Tuskar TSS and under SI 15.3, a time penalty of 20% shall be applied to their elapsed times: Artful Dodger, Conquestador, Searcher, Springer, Tsunami.

D2D Race Committee

1725 hrs, 11 June 21.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

12th June 2021

Salute for Winners Includes Us All as Sailing Resumes in Steady Steps

When the Royal Cork Yacht Club was undergoing one of its infusions of new life and ideas during the early 1840s in order to keep up the necessary levels of vitality in a remarkable organisation which dates back to the Water Club of the Harbour of Cork of 1720, one of the rules it added to its already formidable array of regulations and requirements was an instruction for the club battery, viz:

Rule 4: Any yacht of the club which has won a prize at any Regatta out of Cork Harbour, shall on her return receive a salute of nine guns. Such yacht must shew her number on coming in sight of the club flag-staff, and on it being answered by the affirmative flag, shall hoist the distinguishing flag which she had worn during the race, under her burgee. The salute to be fired when she is passing the battery.

Unfortunately, today's succession of toots on a race-starting foghorn won't quite have the same impact as a nine gun salute. But nevertheless, we can only hope that some sort of recognition will be ready for the Murphy family's Nieulargo when she returns to Crosshaven in the next day or two (if she's not back already), after her outstanding performance in the Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race, with the Crosshaven crowd making for a proper socially-distanced reception, while not going so far as to make a Holy Shew of themselves.

The Royal Cork YC and the marinas of Crosshaven. The welcoming home of successful race boats nowadays would probably be best done at the entrance to Cork Harbour. Photo: Robert Bateman

For if you set out to design a significant sailing event to get people out competing on the water, and yet still complying with the current phase of Pandemic Regulations, then you'd probably come up with something very similar to this week's outstandingly successful National Yacht Club Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, every twist and turn of which we've tried to record in Afloat.ie.

The event ticks so many boxes, starting as it does from a commodious harbour, with four yacht club buildings and a Marina Office to facilitate maximum distancing for the preliminaries, with all the administrative work being minimized as the fleet was restricted for this year to Irish boats. And they're familiar Irish boats at that, as everyone more or less knows everyone else.

This might be the place to give Nieulargo a ceremonial welcome home to Cork Harbour, seen here as she finishes at Roche's Point to win the Fastnet 450 race in 2020. Photo: Robert Bateman

For the race itself, each boat is its own bubble – or was until the seamanlike crew on Freya efficiently fulfilled their duty and instinctive humanity by taking a diversion to pick up a drifting kite-surfer off the north Wexford coast. He didn't seem to be wearing a face mask, and we don't know if he had been vaccinated. But we can take comfort from reflecting that it's unlikely that he'd have felt inclined to go kite-surfing a couple of miles offshore if he'd the slightest signs of those earliest feverish stages of COVID-19, in Variation Z or whatever.

Be that as it may, the rest of the fleet were very definitely in bubbles until they got to Dingle, by which time some of them were feeling they'd been in a goldfish-bowl, but never mind.

In Dingle, they then found a welcoming seaport which has already shown it's very prepared to bend over backwards to cater for the social-distancing needs of visitors, and though most of the competitors had experienced more than enough fresh air by the time they reached the finish, the required fresh air allocations will be mandatory for any post-race socializing.

The ultimate offshore race destination – Dingle in West Kerry has devised ways of being hospitable while complying with current regulations.

Either way, it has all gone extremely well indeed in challenging circumstances, and congratulations to Adam Winkelmann and his organising team for a job well done, with the provisional results (still dependent at time of writing on the decision of how much redress Freya is allowed for her good deed and any other protests) being as follows:

Line Honours: 1st Freya (Xp50, Conor Doyle Kinsale YC) ET 1d 15h 16m 50s; 2nd Samatom (Grand Soleil 44, Robert Rendell, Howth YC)1:18:21:48; 3rd Aurelia (Chris & Patannne Power Smith, RStGYC) 1:18:24:0; 4th WOW (Xp44, George Sisk, Royal Irish YC) 1:18:32:24; 5th Rockabill VI (JPK 10.80, Paul O'Higgins, Royal Irish YC) 1:18:57:22; 6th Nieulargo (Grand Soleil 40, Denis & Annamarie Murphy, Royal Cork YC) 1:19:12:53.
Overall Corrected time: 1st Nieulargo 1:20:4:44; 2nd Searcher (Sun Fast 3600, Pete Smyth, National YC) 1:21:0:40; 3rd Rockabill VI 1:21:6:14; 4th Hot Cookie (Sun Fast 3600, John O'Gorman, National YC) 1:21:7:44; 5th Aurelia 1:21:34:48; 6th Freya (subject to redress) 1:22:39:29.
Class 1: 1st Nieulargo; 2nd Searcher: 3rd Rockabill VI.
Class 2: 1st Artful Dodjer (J/109, Finbarr O'Regan, Kinsale YC), 1:22:39:38; 2nd Juggernaut 2 (J/99, Andrew Algeo, RIYC) 1:23:2:0; 3rd Indian (J/109, Simon Knowles, Howth YC) 2:0:16:3.
Class 3: 1st Blackjack (Pocock 38, Peter Coad, Waterford Harbour SC); 2nd Desert Star (Sunfast 37, Ronan O Siochru & Conor Totterdell, Irish Offshore Sailing); 3rd Gambit (Sigma 38, Joe Kiernan, Foynes YC).
Two-handed: 1st Cinnamon Girl (Sun Fast 3300, Cian McCarthy & Sam Hunt, Kinsale YC) 1:23:14:10; 2nd Blackjack; 3rd More Mischief (First 310, Grzegorz Kalinecki).

UPDATE: A 20% time penalty imposed on five D2D boats on Friday evening by the race committee impacts the overall results. See official results sheet here - Ed

With the Dingle Race (or most of it) safely in port, we move on towards the next stages of this modified yet real 2021 season. At home, the Sovereign's Cup Regatta is gathering real strength in Kinsale in a fortnight and abroad the Olympic Games in just six weeks time is looming ever more significantly above everything else, for all the world like the Himalayas high above the dusty plains.

Regardless of the views of the ordinary people of Japan, it looks as though it will all happen, and certainly the Irish sailing squad of Annalise Murphy in the Women's Laser Radial, and Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove in the 49er, are doing their best in difficult circumstances to ensure they're at optimum performance when the show is up and running.

The Howth Seventeens race round Lambay today – as they have been doing annually since 1902. Photo: John Deane

Meanwhile, at Dickson's home club of Howth, today sees the annual Lambay Race, a club event this year, while across Dublin Bay in Dun Laoghaire the Royal St George YC hosts what is almost a pop-up Irish Laser Masters Nationals. Both events of course involve some very serious racing, but after months of being starved of any post-racing socialising, there'll be those keen to explore the limits of what is permissible in adapted club compounds as the sailing community makes the best of what is allowed.

Published in W M Nixon

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

11th June 2021

D2D Boats Arrive into Dingle Marina (Photo Gallery)

Led by Kinsale yacht Freya at 0530, the 2021 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race fleet is arriving into the County Kerry marina this morning.

A total of 38 boats took part in the 280-mile race from Dun Laoghaire on Wednesday afternoon.

The 14th edition of the offshore fixture is organised by the National Yacht Club.

See Dominick Walsh's photo gallery of early arrivals below.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

11th June 2021

Watch Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Yacht Freya Crew Rescue Lucky Wicklow Kitesurfer (VIDEO)

Watching this video (below) of a seemingly empty County Wicklow coastline and then seeing a tiny black dot hove into view gives you some idea how fortunate Wednesday's kitesurfer was to be spotted by an eagle-eyed crew onboard a leading contender in the 2021 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race.

As Afloat reported previously, Conor Doyle's largest yacht in the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race temporarily suspended racing on to rescue the kitesurfer as the video below reveals.

The rescue itself may yet be the focus of a race appeal for the Freya crew that was first to finish the biennial race early this morning. As Afloat also reported Freya can file for redress after time lost in the rescue that may have a bearing on the overall handicap results of the 280-mile race.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire Dingle

10th June 2021

Kinsale’s Freya is Past the Fastnet & Accelerating Towards Dingle

Day #2 2230 - Conor Doyle's Xp50 Freya was leading the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle fleet at the Fastnet Rock at 2147hrs tonight (Thursday), and then with slightly eased sheets eased was starting to make more serious knots – 9 knots and rising - to see off the remaining sixty miles to the D2D finish at Dingle.

Being the first of the fleet to get into faster sailing mode after a day of windward work gives her a brief advantage, and for now shows her as second on estimated finish. But unless the wind evaporates for the group of six boats following in a relatively tight-packed group, her advantage will be short-lived. That said, the post-finish working out of the redress she’s owed for time out to save a drifting kite-surfer near Arklow will provide some interesting research.

Conor Doyle's Xp50 Freya

All the leaders may have to face a new twist to the wind tomorrow with an easing and veering to a northwest direction a possibility. But as today’s southwester has already lasted for several hours longer than forecast, it may be that all the leading group gets to the finish with a fair wind from the Fastnet.

Chris & Patanne Power Smith's J/122 Aurelia

While Chris & Patanne Power Smith's J/122 Aurelia (RStGYC) is now second on the water with George Sisk’s Xp44 WOW third, the exceptional performance by the Murphy family’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo has been maintained to such good effect that she may even pass the legendary rock ahead of her larger new sister, Robert Rendell’s Grand Soleil 44 Samatom.

Newly into the podium positions is John O’Gorman’s Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie from the National YC. Her crew includes the formidable talents of Mark Mansfield, and with some other crews showing signs of exhaustion, it seems that the hyper-tough Mansfield is finding fresh reserves of energy to bring the O’Gorman boat up into more immediate contention with the newer sister-ship, Pete Smyth’s Searcher (National YC), where the already impressive talents of the Smyth brothers Pete and Nick have been augmented by Maurice “Prof” O’Connell and a suit of his very newest North Sails.

George Sisk’s Xp44 WOW Photo: Michael Chester

Defending champion Rockabill VI (Paul O’Higgins) has always been there or thereabouts with the leaders, and currently lies fifth overall on CT, but this puts her almost exactly an hour-and-a-half adrift on the extraordinary Nieulargo, with the two Sunfast 3600s between them.

Overall, it may look fairly straightforward from here to the finish. But as much of it is being sailed off the coast of Kerry, absolutely nothing – but nothing - will be quite as it seems.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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