#loughderg – This weekend sees the gathering of the biggest of the keelboat one design fleets in Lough Derg for the annual freshwater keelboat regatta. For what is fast becoming a popular feature in the trailer sailor one design classes, Lough Derg Yacht Club is hosting a one design weekend for the Dragons, SB20's, Squibs and J80's.

The classes share the same race area but split between windward/leeward and trapezoid courses with a common start line.

The dragons assembled early on Friday with 2 races sailed and with a further 4 races today out of a 8 race series. Martin Byrne from the Royal St. George YC is clear ahead by the end of racing with a massive 11 point lead over RIYC rival Richard Goodbody. Martin counts 5 race wins in the 6 races sailed.

In the SB20 class 4 races sailed leaves the two front runners on tied points overnight with two first places and a second each for Ben Duncan and Peter Kennedy (RNIYC) each discarding a 10+ point race for 4 points nett, this being a somewhat familiar result between these two top boats. Further back James Gorman and Aidan O'Connell battle it out for 3rd but the Lough has proven a formidable challenge for all crews with the shifting and gusting southerly breeze. Who will emerge as overall leader is very much yet to be decided.

In the J80s Andrew Deacon is having it all his own way with 3 first places but discarding a Joint first (1.5). He is leading overall by 3.5 points to nearest rival Hetty Sanders with a 1.5,2,3.

At the time of writing the squibs overall was dependent on the outcome of a protest so were not available.

A beautiful October sunny day on Lough Derg, some more trying and difficult conditions tomorrow in the heartland of Ireland.

#The line up for the All Ireland Sailing championships has been released today for the annual event to be staged on Lough Derg on October 5th. The full entry list announced by the ISA is below.

Returning to defend his title will be 24–year old George Kenefick from Cork who narrowly beat four time Olympic sailor Mark Mansfield in a breezy climax in 2011.

Mansfield will also be competing next Friday representing the 1720 class but he will need to win one of the three spots available through the initial qualifier if he is to compete against Kenefick again for the title.

The format for the event was reviewed last year after complaints that some classes were excluded. There has been comment this year though that the new format left 20 classes fighting for three places but it appears from the list below that only eight classes are taking up the Qualification round invitation.

Returning for a second consecutive year will be 2012 Olympic 49er sailor Ryan Seaton. Seaton from Belfast Lough finished third in 2011. Also in the line up is Seaton's London team-mate Star keelboat sailor Peter O'Leary.

The youngest competitor at the event will be Fionn Lyden, fresh from winning the Junior All Ireland Sailing Championship in Schull last weekend.  

 Friday Qualification Series

Saturday Preliminary Series

#LOUGH DERG - RTÉ News reports that the body of a man in his 40s was recovered from Lough Derg on Friday night.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched to investigate an upturned speedboat in Youghal Bay near Garrykennedy on Thursday evening.

The 20ft vessel was said to have extensive damage to the outdrive and propellers, consistent with damage sustained while running.

The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard immediately launched a search and rescue operation in the area for any mossing persons, assisted by the Shannon coastguard helicopter.

There was no reports on shore of anyone overdue, and as of Friday attempts were ongoing to find out who might own the boat and who was on board at the time of the incident.

Divers with the Killaloe Search and Rescue Unit found the body some 30m from the boat and recovered it around 8pm on Friday. A post-mortem was scheduled to be carried out yesterday at Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.

#lifeboat – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched tonight to assist 4 people whose cruiser was grounded and who abandoned their vessel to a small tender.

On Friday evening August 3 at 17.25hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch to assist four persons who abandoned their vessel to a small tender, after the cruiser grounded in Carrigahorig Bay, near Terrglass at the northern end of Lough Derg.

The lifeboat with Helm Peter Clarke, Ger Egan and Ben Ronayne on board, were already afloat assisting with the ongoing search in Garrykennedy.  The lifeboat made way immediately to assist.  It is reported that all four persons are safe and well.  The rescue is ongoing.

#lifeboat – Last night at 21.19hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched to investigate a vessel upturned in Youghal Bay, close to Garrykennedy. At 21.34hrs, the lifeboat launched with Helm Peter Clarke, Colin Knight and David Moore on board. Winds were southwesterly, Force 2, and visibility was good, but failing quickly with nightfall.

At 21.50 the lifeboat was alongside the upturned vessel, a 20ft speedboat.  It was reported to have extensive damage to the outdrive and propellers, consistent with damage whilst underway.  The lifeboat began a search of the area.  Meanwhile the Killaloe Coast Guard unit launched from their base and the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter took off from their base at Shannon to assist in the search.

Lifeboat crew, committee members and volunteers set off in teams to search the shoreline. There were no reports of anyone overdue, and attempts are ongoing to discover who might own the boat.

An extensive search of the water and shoreline didn't reveal anything. The speedboat was taken to Garrykennedy and is being investigated by Garda specialists.

The search was called off and all teams returned to their bases. A search is underway this again this morning.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again 01.00hrs.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Charles Stanley Smith thanked everyone for their assistance on the search saying that he was 'extremely pleased with the level of co-operation by all of the emergency services on the lake, as well as offers of help from the public'.

#rnli – Lough Derg Lifeboat assisted 3 persons aboard a 27ft cruiser who got into difficulties after they believed they glanced off rocks.

Whilst out on exercise on Thursday evening July 26th Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist 3 persons on board a 27ft crusier, who believed they had glanced off rocks and were is great distress.  The cruiser was located at the northern end of the lake, in Portumna.  At 20.00hrs the lifeboat, with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Dom Sharkey and Ben Ronayne on board made way immediately to their location.  They requested the Coast Guard to issue a Pan Pan requesting any vessels in the area to go to the cruiser's assistance. Winds were West southwest, Force 4 with a moderate swell.Visibility was very good.

At 20.29hrs, Valentia Coast Guard informed the lifeboat that the vessel had turned round and was making it's way back up river to Portumna Bridge. At 20.37hrs the lifeboat met the cruiser at the river near Portumna, where they were tied safely alongside.  The three persons were unharmed but greatly distressed.  They were reassured by crew and the boat was inspected for damage.  None was found.  Lifeboat crew continued to chat to the people, who when  calm made the decision to stay put for the night.

Helm Eleanor Hooker commended crew members Ben Ronayne and Dom Sharkey for the kind and gentle manner in which the dealt with very distressed persons.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 21.45

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was launched to assist 3 persons aboard a 32ft cruiser that had an engine overheating problem.

#rnl i– Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist 3 persons on board a 32ft crusier that was in danger of grounding on the Goat Road, south of Bellevue Point, after its engine had dangerously overheated.  The skipper of the cruiser switched off his engine to prevent an engine fire.  At 14.08hrs, the lifeboat launched with Helm Colin Knight, Eleanor Hooker and Tom Dunne on board. Winds were northerly, Force 4, and visibility was good.

The skipper of a passing barge, Knocknagow, advised the cruiser to drop anchor to prevent themselves being grounded on the Goat Road and raised the alarm. (The Goat Road is a rocky outcrop for migrating Terns.  It is marked by the navigation mark E.

The cruiser passed a tow line to the barge, who took it under an alongside tow.  When the lifeobat arrived on scene, they found all safe and well.  An RNLI crew member was transferred to the cruiser, who passed the tow to the lifeboat.  The cruiser was towed to Williamstown Harbour.

Lifeboat Helm, Colin Knight praised the skipper of cruiser for his swift action in cutting their engine saying that 'had he not noticed and been attentive to the overheating indicator, they would have been a definite risk of an engine fire on board'.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 15.15

#RESCUE - Six people were rescued from a cruiser that ran aground in high winds on Lough Derg at the weekend.

The Irish Times reports that the group had been wakeboarding near Youghal Bay on Saturday afternoon when the 37ft boat's propeller fouled on the tow rope.

The crew attempted to free the propeller but the boat began drifting to the rocks in Force 7 gusts.

The Irish Coast Guard were quickly notified and put out a message for assistance to all vessels in the area while Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat responded to the scene, finding the cruiser on the rocks but not seriously damaged.

The boat was subsequently towed to Dromineer Bay. No injuries were reported.

Elsewhere, the Irish Coast Guard was called to assist a man who had been camping on an island bird sanctuary off Co Clare.

According to the Clare Herald, the harbourmaster at Doolin noticed the man camped on Crab Island, some 400 metres from the mainland, amid "extreme" sea conditions.

One of Ireland's worst drowning tragedies occurred in the same area in July 1983, when eight young men - including three brothers - drowned while swimming at Trá Leathan.

It's believed that the man made his way by kayak on Friday evening to the island - designated as a protected area due to the presence of a particular seabird species.

The Doolin coastguard unit made three trips to the island to retrieve the man and his belongings.

#INLANDWATERWAYS  – Members of the public and community and tourism groups throughout counties Clare, Galway and Tipperary are being invited to have their say on the future provision of signage in the Lough Derg area.

A signage audit has been carried out by consultants URS Ireland, and a presentation will be made on the initial findings of the consultants at two public meetings to be held on Wednesday, 30th May in Portumna and Killaloe.

The Signage Strategy for the Lough Derg area is being spearheaded by the Lough Derg Marketing Strategy Group (LDMSG), which last year produced a Destination Development Action Plan for the region. Earlier this year, the Mid West Regional Authority (MWRA), which is a member organisation of the Group, appointed URS Ireland to prepare the Signage Strategy.

Mr. Joe MacGrath, LDMSG Chairperson and Manager of North Tipperary County Council, explained that the purpose of the upcoming public meetings would be "to ensure that the Signage Strategy being developed provides maximum benefits to the Lough Derg Area".

Mr. MacGrath added: "All are welcome to attend either of the meetings and to have their say on the future approach to signage provision in the Lough Derg area. The meeting should be of interest to tourism and leisure businesses, accommodation providers, local community and heritage groups, walkers, cyclists, lake users, residents and anyone concerned with the improvement of signage in the Lough Derg Area."

Liam Conneally, Secretary of the LDMSG indicated that the participation of members of the public in the development of the Strategy "is vitally important to the Strategy's overall success".

Mr. Conneally "The audit carried out by URS focuses on the need for and benefits of tourism signage, including orientation, interpretive and information boards, in the Lough Derg area. It also points to the importance of there being public participation in the formulation of any future Signage Strategy."

"The provision of appropriate signage throughout the region will not only serve to benefit visitors to the area, but also will also create significant benefits for tourism and hospitality sector operators," he concluded.

The LDMSG was established to bring a coherent marketing focus to the Lough Derg Catchment area and to establish the Lough Derg Brand nationally and internationally. The Group involves a broad range of representation from stakeholders, including local authorities from Clare, Galway, and North Tipperary, the Mid-West Regional Authority (Secretariat to the group), Shannon Development, Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, and business representatives from the Lough Derg area.

The Signage Strategy meetings will be held on Wednesday, May 30th at Portumna Town and Community Hall from 5.00pm to 6.30pm and at the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe from 8.00pm to 9.30pm.

#RNLI – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was launched to investigate a possible missing person/s after a lakeboat was found adrift towards the northern end of the lake this afternoon.  On the return journey, the lifeboat was diverted to Scarriff Bay to assist a person in difficulty on board a 32ft crusier in Scarriff Bay, at the southwestern end of the lake.

At 15.20hrs on Friday May 18, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard, to investigate a possible missing person/s following the discovery of a lakeboat adrift towards the northern end of the lake.  (It is the Dapping Season and there are many fishermen and lakeboats afloat at present.)  At 14.38hrs, the lifeboat was launched with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Peter Clarke and Gerry O'Neill onboard.  Winds were Northerly, Force 2-3, visibility was good.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 16.04hrs and was met by the fisherman who had discovered the boat adtrift.  The crusier Stormy Monday, was near the area, and its skipper, very kindly, offered to remain on standby and assist if required.  The found lakeboat had an engine attached, a full fuel tank and a spare tank of fuel on board, there was no fishing tackle or any signs of ownership. As the lifeboat was commencing a search of the area, they were informed by Valentia Coast Guard, that the owner had been located and that the boat had slipped its moorings.  The lakeboat was driven by an RNLI volunteer to Portumna and returned to its owner.

17.15hrs On its homeward journey, Valentia Coast Guard diverted the RNLI lifeboat to Scarriff Bay, at the southwestern end of the lake, to assist a person in difficulty on board a 32ft cruiser.  The wind had veered northeasterly and was blowing Force 4. Visibility was fair to good, with frequent squally showers.  The lifeboat was alongside the crusier at 17.34hrs.  There was an elderly person onboard and in some distress; his vessel had hit a rock and suffered considerable damage to its propeller. The person was reassured by the lifeboat crew. The boat wasn't holed and with an RNLI crew member onboard, was towed to its home marina up the Scarriff river.  The boat was tied safely alongside at 18.18hrs. The person was met by friends, who were going to look after him for the evening.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 19.15hrs.