#springafloat – Now long evenings are officially with us and winter is finally losing its grip, the Spring issue of Afloat magazine hits the newsstands at the same time antifouling is being dabbed on hulls.
Afloat's 64–page issue previews the season just around the corner and reports on a winter of considerable Irish sailing and boating news; Boat registration, Our sailor of the year breaks her nose, Olympic sailors share €168k, Moth sailing, the new Ports policy, Dublin Bay sight-seeing, a leading harbour master retires, Yacht clubs cut fees and Dun Laoghaire cuts its moorings.
There's a buzz about the waterfront. New initiatives to promote boating such as those at Castlepark at Kinsale Co. Cork (see page 26) and the opening of a new marina in Greystones, Co. Wicklow (see page 16) are positive signals that the marine industry is fighting back. It couldn't come soon enough after a torrid few years.
Buying or selling your boat? Castlepark Marina has announced key partners to kick start the 2013 season. After 20 years in operation, popular coastal marina Castlepark is launching a number of initiatives aimed at rejuvenating leisure boating on the south coast.
Lift–ins have been delayed by March's unseasonably low temperatures and even though some of the hardiest sailors are already back on the water early voyages have been battered by high winds.
Volvo Ocean race winner Damian Foxall sailed here a few weeks ago from France on an ultra fast trimaran in a bid for the Round Ireland speed record but never made the Dublin Bay start line. We're using the opportunity to recall past records since 1889! (See page 34).
And off Bermuda, a series of unfortunate events led an Irish crew to abandon ship. The Wolfhound story is a dramatic tale with some important lessons and told by WM Nixon on page 42.
On home shores Irish sailing is also in stormy waters after intense debate united clubs and classes in calls for a change of tack at the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) (see page 20).
As more regulation looms (see page 2,18) and resources are scarce, sailing's stakeholders need to be sure the sport is adequately represented.
Olympic Dinghy sailor Annalise Murphy jetted off to Florida for her first round of the ISAF World Cup but our 2012 Sailor of the Year (see page 4) has also been racing in a freezing Baltimore, Co.Cork for the Laser Munster title and also trying out a hydrofoil dinghy in Dun Laoghaire (see page 10).
Likewise Commodore's Cup captain Anthony O'Leary and his Antix crew endured Arctic conditions on the Solent to take third overall in IRC division 2 at RORC's Easter Challenge.
O'Leary will lead an ICRA fleet at its national championships that returns to Tralee in June (see page 48) but not before an important ICRA crew training initiative takes place in Howth Yacht Club later in April.
ICRA has identified that it needs new blood for the sport to grow. If you're interested in joining the crew there's a host of different events to try this Summer.
As well as Tralee Bay's big event, the National YC hosts a race from Dun Laoghaire to Dingle and Kinsale stages the Sovereign's Cup. In July Dun Laoghaire clubs come together to stage the country's biggest regatta, a unique partnership that showcases Irish sailing.
It's one of the reasons Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George picked up the Mitsubishi Club of the Year award, not least for its interaction between club and town. (see page 6).
We hope you enjoy this issue. In shops this weekend!
Selected Contents from Spring Afloat 2013:
News
Boat registration, Our sailor of the year breaks her nose, Olympic sailors share e168k, Moth sailing, Ports policy, Dublin Bay sight-seeing,
Harbour master retires, Yacht clubs cut fees, Dun Laoghaire cuts moorings
Sailor of the Year
Annalise Murphy was a runaway winner of the Afloat.ie Sailor of the Year award.
Club of the Year
Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George is the Mitsubishi Club of the Year
On the Bookshelf
The latest boating books
Greystones marina opens
Wicklow facility opens in time for 2013 season with 100 new berths
Sailing's new course
A small boat forum is demanding changes in how the sport is run
Castlepark marina gets new buzz
New agencies are breathing new life into boating at Kinsale
Round Ireland Record Breakers
Charting speed records from 1899
Island Nation
Tom MacSweeney with father and son team, Jim and Justin Slattery
Abandon Ship
The Wolfhound story from Bermuda
Racing Round-Up
ICRA, VDLR & Sovereign’s Updates
Inland Waterways
Looking back at the work of Waterways Ireland CEO John Martin
Brokerage Classifieds Services
Boats for sale and a the latest range of services from the Irish marine industry
Dubarry Crossword
Win a pair of deck shoes in our free-to-enter competition
Soundings
American Sailing's Great Survivor