#TITANIC - Irreverent tech website Gizmodo has marked the 100th annversary of the sinking of the Titanic with a list of the 13 deadliest shipwrecks in history.

The list runs the gamut from well over a century ago, in the early days of passenger shipping - see the SS Sultana, a tragedy overshadowed by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the end of the American Civl War - to more recent events.

Included are such as sad tales as that of the Empress of Ireland, the worst disaster in Canadian maritime history in which more than 1,000 died, and much closer to home the Lusitania, which went down off Kinsale in May 1915 after a torpedo attack.

But the worst was arguably suffered by the passengers of the steamship SS Kiangya - which blew up 50 miles north of Shanghai in December 1948, taking as many as 3,920 lives - and the horror that befell the MV Doña Paz in the Philippines in December 1987, where estimates put the death toll at an unbelievable 4,000.

Gizmodo has more on the story HERE.

#KINSALE – In contrast to last week's bruising battle, a dying, shifting breeze, pleasant sunshine and shortened courses were the order of the day for competitors in the North Sails sponsored third week of the Kinsale Yacht Club Spring Series writes Peadar Muphy.

OD Donal Hayes sent the White Sail fleets out from Charles Fort to Hake Head, but had to end the race there to ensure that all finished before the zephyrs died out. Nonetheless, in White Sail One the three leading boats crossed the line within 19 seconds on the water, with Stephen Lysaght's Reavra claiming the bullet by one second from the Murphy, Hennessy and Dann team on Val Kriss. Peter Kelly's Magic Elfin popped up in third place again after being blown out last week. Overall it's tight at the head of affairs, with the top six separated by just four points - Reavra holding a one point lead from both Dave Ross' Sonas and Val Kriss.

In White Sail Two, the Lannigan's Privateer claimed an impressive bullet, by six seconds on corrected time, from the in form Windrose skippered by Billy Joyce. The ladies on Guiness Kann came home in third position with the Goode and Forde duo also in third overall on 10 points. Dave Cullinane's Delos is in second on eight points and Windrose is a further point ahead. With discards in White Sail not applying until five races have been completed, it's likely that both of these classes will see a final day shoot out for the podium spots.

Out near the Bulman Buoy, OD Tony Ireson set about giving the Class Three and Class Four fleets a challenging coastal course that gave sufficient options for shortening given the conditions. Both fleets headed out to Black Head and then east to the Sovereign Mark. In lottery-like conditions, the Marron and O'Connell partnership on Bandit, found themselves parked up and enviously monitoring Class Three rival Padraig O'Donovan's progress on Chameleon. In the game of Snakes and Ladders, they got their chance later and grabbed it and went on to score a crushing victory, claiming their fifth bullet in succession in IRC and leading Chameleon home by over 30 minutes and the Ryan/Tyler team on Away on Business by over 40 minutes on corrected time. Bandit is on out on her own at the top of the IRC Three leader board, with the discard coming in to play this week. Finbarr Dorgan's No Half Measures retains second spot on eight points, even though she missed this week's events and Chameleon lies in third spot a further four points in arrears. In ECHO Three, the finishing order was the same, albeit much closer with the progressive handicapping well reflecting the boats' potential. Overall, No Half Measures holds onto top spot with Bandit and Chamelon tied on points just one point behind.

In IRC Four, Alan Mulcahy's yellow-hulled Sundancer led Richard Hanley's Saoirse home in the sunshine for the third race in a row with Michael Murphy's Shelly D claiming the third spot. The three have this class to themselves and this week's action reflected the overall picture, with Sundancer holding a two point lead from Saoirse, with Shelly D four points further adrift. In ECHO Four, Hanley's Saoirse claimed the bullet, with Shelly D pushing Sundancer down to third spot on the day. Overall, Saoirse holds a slender one point advantage over Sundancer, with the Higgins and Morrison pairing on La Maraquita holding onto third spot, despite retiring from Sunday's lengthy challenge.

A mile or more south of the Bulman Buoy, OD Tony Small and team set up the windward-leeward courses for classes zero, one and two. All fleets were well-behaved for the first races' starts, with both the Class Two and the combined Class Zero and One fleets getting away cleanly. The top mark was initially laid west of the Sovereign Mark, and the shifting breeze and the wind shadow from the Sovereign Rocks presented plenty of opportunities for big gains and losses. In IRC 2, Brian Goggin's Allure came home first by 14 seconds on corrected time from Clem and Wendy McElligott's Sea Hawk with the RCYC team on Bad Company just 19 seconds further behind. There was a delay and then an abandoned sequence before the breeze settled sufficiently to lay a new windward mark. In the second race, John O'Regan and company on The Main Four read the conditions best and came home to claim the bullet from the consistent Sea Hawk and Allure in third. Overall in IRC Two, Brian Goggins' Allure leads the way, with the Desmond, Ivers and Deasy outfit on Bad Company in second overall, despite having a race to forget in their latter outing on Sunday. Fortunately for them the discard is in play at this stage and gives Bad Company a three point lead from the KYC team on Sea Hawk. In ECHO 2, Sea Hawk leads overall after a bullet and third in the two races. The Main 4 made it a clean sweep in the second race and now holds second place overall in ECHO Two five points behind Sea Hawk, having discarded a ninth place finish from the first race where Lady Luck did not shine on them on their side of the beat. Bad Company lies a further two points astern.

In Class One, the Nagle and O'Malley team on Jelly Baby had a good day at the office claiming two bullets in IRC One. David Scott's Eos was hot on their heels in the first race, finishing just six seconds behind on corrected time, but they were called over the line at the start of the second race and in the very light and fluky conditions, getting back to the correct side of the start line proved costly. Dan Buckley's J109 Justus was as ever ready to pounce on any mistake and took the second place on offer to go with the third place she scored in the first race, while the Carroll Brothers on Chancer grabbed third place in the second race. Overall in IRC One, Jelly Baby has a two point lead over Eos, and is currently in the comfortable position of discarding a second place finish. Justus is a further six points adrift in third. In ECHO One, Justus and Chancer claimed their first wins of the series, while overall Jelly Baby holds a one point advantage over Aidan Heffernan's Indulgence, which was unable to repeat her heroics of last week. She's tied on points with Justus at this time.

Kieran Twomey's Gloves Off continues to set the standard in Class Zero IRC, scoring an emphatic victory in the first race of the day coming home almost seven minutes ahead of Tom Roche's Meridian on corrected time. Conor Doyle's consistent Freya came home third, but in the second race she chose the perfect line through all the holes in the breeze to round the top mark first and as the run to the finish line was transformed by a massive swing in the wind into a beat, reacted swiftly to claim the bullet by six seconds on corrected time from Gloves Off, which had taken a somewhat circuitous route through the wind holes to the top mark, but made amends on the way to the finish line. Tony O'Brien's White Tiger somehow avoided the melee at the start of the second race which saw both Meridian and Eos over the line and revelled in the conditions to claim a comfortable third. Overall, Gloves Off holds a one point lead over Freya with John Godkin's Godot 9.5 points behind, but with White Tiger and Meridian hot on her heals.

In IRC Restricted, Jelly Baby tops the table overall, with Eos three points off the pace. Freya and Justus lie a further eight points behind.

#KINSALE – Easter Monday dawned overcast and breezy for the second week of the KYC Spring Series, sponsored this week by Cheeky Cherubs crèches writes Peadar Murphy. By the time the hardy competitors were out on course they were faced with a battle against the elements with westerlies in excess of 20 knots, gusting closer to 30 and the sailors' perennial favourite, rain.

Classes 0, 1 and 2 were on the round the cans course which saw them heading out to Black Head and back east to Sovereigns with a few extra turning points added in to add spice to affairs. In IRC 0, Race 1 saw Meridian and Gloves Off over the line early, but Kieran Twomey's Gloves Off made a particularly good comeback in the gusting conditions to eventually finish just 5 seconds adrift on handicap of race winner Freya, and tied for second place with John Godkin's Godot. Conor Doyle and crew on Freya made it a clean sweep on the day, winning the second race also, with Gloves Off and Godot claiming the next two spots. Overall, Gloves Off holds a slender 0.5 point lead over Freya with Godot keeping them honest in third. ECHO 0 also saw Freya claiming two bullets, albeit a joint first in the second race with Tom Roche's Meridian. In an extremely tight leaderboard, Freya now leads Tony O'Brien's White Tiger by just 0.5 points overall in ECHO, but Gloves Off and Godot are on the same overall score as White Tiger and Meridian is far from out of the running just a further 0.5 points adrift.

In IRC 1, Ian Nagle's and Paul O'Malley's Jellybaby continued their titanic struggle with Dave Scott's Eos, with the RCYC crew coming out top in both races this week. Both boats were pushed outside the pin end at the start of Race 2, and after some very, very close manoeuvring to get around and across the start line, battled back to the top of the fleet in the moderating conditions. Overall it couldn't be closer with both boats locked together on six points. Dan Buckley's Justus lies somewhat adrift in third with consistent set of results. In ECHO 1, it was a good day at the office for Aidan Heffernan's Indulgence coming home with two bullets. The usual suspects, Jellybaby and Eos are lurking at the top of the table overall, with Jellybaby a point ahead of their RCYC clubmates and Eos on the same score as Indulgence.

In IRC Restricted, Jellybaby and Eos claim the two top spots, and separated by one point, with Freya now holding third place after her strong showing in the wintry conditions, a further six points behind.

In IRC 2, the RCYC men on Bad Company must be commended for their consistency, regardless of the conditions. The Desmond, Ivers and Deasy team came home second in both races, adding to their two seconds last week, which were achieved in much lighter conditions. However, that consistency sees them top the table overall on eight points. Brian Goggin's Allure now lies second overall on 10 points, having found the conditions less to their liking than in the first week. Their KYC clubmates on The Main 4 have been catapulted up to third place overall after the Salter, O'Regan and Minehane outfit claimed two bullets in the demanding conditions.

Ernie Dillon's Silk Breeze stole the show in ECHO 2, charging home with two bullets and sizeable leads on handicap, clearly finding her mojo in the rough stuff. The Main 4 crew took second place in both races to claim second place in the overall rankings. Clem and Wendy McElligott's Sea Hawk now leads overall with a third in the second race giving them a one point advantage over their KYC clubmates. Derek Dillon's Big Deal is tied on points with The Main 4, after third and fourth place finishes in Monday's races.

In IRC 3, the Marron and O'Connell team on Bandit continued to reign supreme over Finbarr Dorgan's No Half Measures, and hold a four point lead overall. Padraig O'Donovan's evergreen Chameleon came home third on the day and lies third overall, with the same points as the Ryan and Tyler team on Away on Business. In ECHO 3, the race wins were shared by No Half Measures and Bandit, with Chameleon coming home third and second on the day. No Half Measures lived up to her name, claiming top spot overall, with Chameleon in second and Bandit just a further point adrift in third.

In Class 4, three boats turned out to do battle, with Alan Mulcahy's Sundancer leading Richard Hanley's Saoirse across the finish line in both races to tie the IRC 4 series at seven points apiece. Sundancer gets the nod overall due to more lower scoring finishes. Both boats are locked at the top of the ECHO 4 table too on nine points, with Sundancer in pole position again. The team on La Maraquita are ready to pounce on any slip up though, just a point behind, after solid bullet and second place finishes this week.

It was an eventful day in Whitesail 1, where the crew on Wheels were out to move Heaven and earth to bag a race win. Unfortunately their plans went awry when they instead snared the Matthews Chandlery buoy and had to return to port before the race even started. Of the remaining eight boats in the fleet, Dave Akerlind on Paragon claimed the bullet on the day, with Stephen Lysaght's Reavra just pipping Dave Ross and crew on Sonas for second place. Sonas is in pole position overall, with Paragon's win rising her to second and Dave O'Sullivan's Cimarron VI just a further point behind in third.

Billy Joyce brought Windrose home just ahead of Dave Cullinane's Delos, with Kevin and Celia Murray not much further behind in Objection! It's been a good campaign so far for Delos, with two second places giving her a slight edge over Windrose for now. Michael Lynch's Lady T was not quite in the grove this week, slipping to third overall.

Afterwards, there was an Easter egg hunt for the young at heart in the clubhouse, though unfortunately your writer cannot confirm if a certain septuagenarian OD fulfilled his commitment to celebrate his birthday by partaking in the fun family event. Even so, belated happy birthday Neil!

#KINSALE – With only a week to the start of Kinsale's big April Series, the final race of the yacht club's March league saw some new faces on familiar boats. Kieran O'Connell and Graham Marron who have recently acquired the Quarter Tonner Bolero 'Bandit' (formerly owned by Ian Travers) were on the water for some early season practice. Quarter ton sailing is on a high this season with Cork week regatta centre stage in the 2012 programme. Conditions couldn't have been better yesterday with a brisk 15–knot southerly wind in Kinsale harbour. Joker, a Sigma 38, owned by Mike Brodrieck and Dave Gibbons won the overall  March league prize.

#LECTURE - This month's lecture organised by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) is about 'The East India Company in Kinsale', presented by Paddy O'Sullivan.

The lecture will be held next Thursday (15th March) starting at 8pm and as usual takes place in the Stella Maris Seafarers Club on Beresford Place, close to Busaras and behind the Customs House.

O'Sullivan is an engineer, diver, author, and lecturer has uncovered a vast amount of information about the activities of the East India Company in Munster, regarding ship-building, trading, iron smelting, and cannon casting.

All are welcome to attend the evening where a bar and refreshments are available. A voluntary contribution is at the door. The organisers would be pleased for anyone to kindly forward details about the lecture programme, held monthly (third Thursday) at the city-centre venue.

Public transport: The nearest DART stations are Connolly Station and at Tara Street in addition to the LUAS (Red) line stop at Busáras. Car parking is located in the Irish Life Mall (ILAC) on Lower Abbey Street. For information of the lecture programme call 086 150 3766 and by visiting www.mariner.ie/lectures-spring-2012

#KINSALE –  Conditions for the final day of the ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club last Sunday morning did not look promising initially. The approaching weak warm front, attended by early mist and drizzle, however was accompanied by a steady and persistent South Westerly Force 2 gentle breeze which by race time had strengthened to a welcome Force 3. Racing was followed by a prizegiving, photos below by Brian Carlin. RACING PHOTOS HERE.

Though the usual six week programme as previously reported, had been interrupted by the loss of two days of racing, the Race Committee with the completion of three final races brought the total number to fourteen with three discards applying.

Though the spoils were equally shared in the Laser Standard Fleet on Sunday with Ronan Kenneally (MBSC), James Long (ISKC) and Robert Howe (MBSC) each securing a win, a second and a third, it was Ronan with his outstanding performance of seven straight wins in the early part of the league that that eventually won him the title in this class. His total of eight wins over the series was only to be matched by James and Bruce in the Squib Class.

Darragh O'Sullivan (KYC) in the Laser Radial Fleet, relentlessly making up ground for four races missed earlier, eventually sealed the top spot in this fleet with a flawless performance of three wins and took the KYC Trophy for Best Performance by a Local Sailor in this class. Fellow competitor Eoin Cotter (KYC) saw his overall lead disappear as he scored three fourths, leaving him just four points behind overall. Equally Dermot Lyden's (RCYC/BSC) late surge, with a second and two thirds saw him jump ahead of Tomas Scanlon (Bantry Bay SC) and take third place overall in this very competitive fleet. Though unable to complete the series, Seafra Guilfoyle (RCYC) is to be congratulated for his six wins in total in earlier weeks.

Holding the top place in the Laser 4.7 Fleet from day one, Cian Byrne (RCYC) did enough to retain that position by five points overall with a third, a fifth and a second. His earlier six wins being the foundation of his eventual victory. Sorcha Ni Shuilleabhain (KYC) with improving performances over the past few weeks, saw her final two wins and a third move her up one place into second overall. Unfortunately, Ross O'Sullivan (KYC) had to concede that second place overall despite a win in the second race, as he also scored a seventh and a fourth. Cliodhna O'Regan held her fourth place overall by virtue of her final two seconds and a third.

James and Bruce Matthews (KYC) in Mucky Duck, in their first attempt in the Squib Fleet, expectedly ran out the eventual winners. With eight wins and never out of the top three in any race, their overall advantage of eleven points going into the final day looked unassailable – no pun intended. This did not deter the improving Colm Dunne and Mark Buckley (KYC) in Yacht Services Ireland to have a final flourish and commendably scored a first, a second and a fourth. Marcus Hutchinson's Sensation (KYC) crewed on the day by Victor Fusco and Michele Kennelly scoring a second, a third and a fifth ended the series two points adrift of Yacht Services. Bobby Nash and Mike Walsh (KYC) improving steadily , waited on the final race on the final day to make their mark with a win and ended the series in fourth.

Prize-Giving was attended by KYC Commodore Cameron Good who congratulated the deserving winners and thanked all the sailors for their efforts. Special mention went to PRO Bruce Mathews for his continuing and enthusiastic support, the KYC organizers, the Sponsor and all those who had helped both on and off the water to make this annual event such an enjoyable regatta. Bruce Matthews in his reply highlighted the continuing support of each class and his appreciation of the contribution of the Committee Boat members. The Commodore awarded the prizes for each class which were presented by Agnes McLaverty on behalf of ASM-Marine. Bruce Matthews closed the proceedings with the presentation of the KYC Trophies for the Best Local Performance in the Laser to Darragh O'Sullivan, and the Squib Trophy which was awarded to James and Bruce Matthews.

#KINSALE – Stronger winds brought the ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club to a close this afternoon. Brian Carlin's final race photography is below.

#KINSALE – After a two week wait due to lack of wind in  Kinsale Harbour, the sailing club managed a four race day at the ASM Marine Frostbites yesterday. Scroll below for shots by Brian Carlin of the lightest wind day so far.

#BOATS FOR SALE – A 'highly spec'd and well maintained' 2007 Elan 340 has just come on the market. According to the broker Crosshaven Boatyard in Cork 'the yacht has the unique advantage of earning an income for her new owners'.

Priced at €73,500 ex VAT, this hi-tech designed performance cruiser has been used as a sail training and charter yacht with Kinsale's Sovereign Sailing. James Lyons from Sovereign Sailing told Afloat.ie "The Elan is a perfect fit for our fleet as she is licensed by the DOT for skippered and bareboat charter. The concept of our management fleet is the that owners use the boat as much as they wish and we use it for around 6-8 weeks a year which covers all her annual expenses".

She can be viewed through Hugh Mockler of Crosshaven Boat Yard. The full advert giving detailed specs is on the Afloat Boats for Sale site HERE.

#KINSALE–Sailing in the annual ASM Marine sponsored Kinsale Yacht Club Frostbite series is underway inside Kinsale Harbour. Brian Carlin captured yestrerday's action (below) in the Squib keelboat and dinghy classes.

The league runs over six Sundays in Late Jaunary and February about sixty sailors will enjoy short sharp races on the Bandon River in underneath Kinsale's famous Charles Fort.

Racing features starts for all singlehanded Laser classes, mixed dinghies and Squibs. Three races are scheduled for each class every weekend. If the full programme is sailed over the six weeks that will see 18 starts for each class.

Entry fees are modest and include mooring and dinghy park space for all competitors.