It has been a busy summer here in UK Sailmakers Ireland with Dun Laoghaire regatta and other regattas. We are pleased to report that we were up to the challenge of getting sails made and ready on time despite the obstacles posed by worldwide supply chain issues.

Luckily for our customers, we make many of our sails locally, right here in Crosshaven, so our customers were able to receive their new sails in time for their regattas. That’s not a claim every sailmaker can make.

First 34.7 Black Velvet IRL 3471 with her A2 and Titanium mainsail competing at Calves Week Regatta

From 1720 spinnakers to Howth 17s and Mermaid sails, we have also started making Shannon one design sails, which are proving their worth on the race course. This is the level of professional customer service sailors have come to expect from UK Sailmakers, and that’s a responsibility we take seriously.

Having the ability to design and produce sails in Ireland is a key feature of our loft. With the resident sailmaking know-how right here, sailors can discuss their new sails face-to-face with the sailmakers who will be building them. That is a rare and very special part of what makes UK Sailmakers Ireland stand out in the marketplace.

David Dickson coming around the leeward mark in the Lough Ree Regatta 

Although we make many of our own sails, some are made at the UK Sailmakers loft in Hong Kong. With supply chain issues not expected to ease up in the near future and with an early Chinese New Year expected to disrupt deliveries further, we are advising our customers to talk to us now about new sail requests so we can meet delivery expectations.

As autumn draws to a close, our Winter Discount programme kicks in from September 1st until December 1st, giving you time to inspect your sails one last time and see what’s needed for the new season starting in March.

Get in early, get out early, and sail with confidence.

Adam Perry from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) was at UK Sailmakers Ireland loft in Crosshaven, County Cork, this week  (7th of June 2023) for the refreshing of its In-House Certification (IHC).

The Cork loft is the only IHC loft in Ireland and has been since Des McWilliam's days, but it must renew this status every three years as per World Sailing requirements.

To that end, Adam from the RYA was in the loft to check over the loft’s records and measurement methods to confirm the required consistency with worldwide practice and renew their licence.
The Royal Yachting Association's Adam Perry (right) conducting the IHC certification at the UK Sailmakers loft in Crosshaven 

This allows UK Sailmakers Ireland to make and measure any sail for one design, IRC, ORC, PHRF, ISAF, world sailing, ECHO; all the staff attended the course (including loft dog Bert), which allows UK Sailmakers Ireland to put a World sailing ISAF stamp on any sail needing to be certified worldwide.

UK Sailmakers Ireland is on the ISA list of authorised ISAF approved measurers.

UK Sailmakers Ireland can make and measure any sail for one design, IRC, ORC, PHRF, ISAF, world sailing and ECHO handicaps

We’re getting very close now. It’s just around the corner; this time next weekend, you will hopefully be in Dick Mac’s in Dingle having a refreshing pint!

So how is it looking for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race (D2D) next week, and what should be occupying the minds of skippers over the weekend?

At this stage, boats should be cleaned and washed above and below the waterline and could probably be set into ‘race mode’ ahead of the start on Wednesday.

Provisioning is probably well underway, and a big lesson is to make sure there is enough water! A minimum of 2.5 litres per person per day! Minimum.

We will be running a weather briefing on Tuesday evening and will be available to answer questions on Wednesday morning, but the long-term forecast is for spinnakers!

The D2D fleet should get the benefit of the tide around Wicklow Head and use this to carry themselves mostly to Tuskar Rock

There is a very dominant high pressure to the North of Ireland that looks set to stay there until next week and into next weekend…. This is giving us downwind conditions all the way to Dingle at present.

With a start time set that would be used for a perfect passage if one was to head south tide-wise, the fleet should get the benefit of the tide around Wicklow Head and use this to carry themselves mostly to Tuskar. The faster boats may stay in this tide all the way to Tuskar in the dying few hours of the southerly flow. Slower boats may unfortunately not make Tuskar and may end up punching into the tide as they approach the lighthouse…. It will be interesting when we run the routings to see if it might even pay to go outside the Tuskar TSS!

Wind-wise, initially, with a lot of change likely to happen in the next few days, the fleet is likely to start in a strong sea breeze out of Dun Laoghaire, and once around Muglins, this could die off. Wind within sight of the land looks good down the Wexford coast, with there likely to be running VMG conditions gybing in and off the coast. Through Wednesday night, look out for a transition with the wind going forward to being on the bean towards Tuskar.

Into Thursday, this easterly wind is likely to stay with slightly more breeze offshore; once again, it will be VMG running conditions in the direction of the Fastnet. There is likely to be some compression off the Fastnet with a bit more breeze in that area but expect the race to be quick along the south coast.

There is likely to be some compression off the Fastnet with a bit more breeze in that area but expect the D2D race to be quick along the south coast

The wind will likely follow the fleet around Baltimore and Goleen, keeping the running VMG theme going!

Unfortunately, early forecasts show little wind off Dingle; still time to win or lose the race here! Keep the concentration up!

As I said, this is a very, very early look at what MIGHT happen, not to be relied on yet!

Make sure to come to the briefing on Tuesday night, where we will discuss this in more detail.

And don’t forget, to save weight, you can drop your bags with us by booking at this link here

With a race starting on the 7th of June, there are a little over three weeks to the start of this year’s edition of the challenging Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. So what should boats and crews be thinking about?

Kenny Rumball, who has competed in the race many times, taking class wins and line honours, has some top tips in collaboration with UK Sailmakers Ireland and Offshore Racing Academy.

Boat prep…

Although the weather is unlikely to be too harsh for this race, it can be… one year we actually had to pull out on a J109 into Dunmore East after an upwind hammering the night before all the way from the start. As such, now is the time to check your rig, standing and running rigging, winches, clutches etc. A lot of time, money and effort goes into a race, so let’s control the controllable, one of which is the boat. A few solid days on the boat with the crew in the sun, checking crucial items could mean the difference between finishing or not.

Sails…

‘The powerhouse of our boat, they are what will get us there under sail or not. Those who have competed in the first few ISORA races have been pretty light…. Have we had all the sails in the air and checked them ahead of the race? The last thing we want is to hoist the J3/J4 when we really need it to find its missing battens or, worse still, has a massive hole in it! For those seeking that extra edge in performance and trying to optimise their rating, it’s no secret that sails shrink! When was the last time your sails were re-measured? You never know how much they have shrunk, and this can lead to a few key crucial points on the cert!’

Now is the time to log important waypoints and dangers into your chart plotter or computer

Navigation & Routing

‘Something that is talked about in the bar more than anywhere else, routings, ETAs, going inside our outside banks etc. The most important part is to look at the safety side of things navigation-wise. Now is the time to log important waypoints and dangers into your chart plotter or computer rather than the night before! In the most basic part, we can predict the tides with confidence. The start is scheduled for 1400, and with high water that day at 1504; this is the perfect time if you wanted to catch the south-going tide past Wicklow head; worth looking at a tidal atlas to see where the tide runs fastest inshore or offshore….

To help competitors on this, I will be running a weather briefing and some routing simulations the night before the race in the National Yacht Club, where I’ll be able to answer some last-minute questions.

Logistics

Logistically offshore races such as the D2D can be a challenge, finishing in a different port to the start and away from home. Don’t forget the basics to allow you to enjoy the event fully! Dingle is busy; book accommodation early!

For those boats looking to save weight on board, we in the Offshore Racing Academy are providing our bag drop service, checkout this link for more information!

We’ll have more information soon, however, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact the loft…

Earlier this month, we ran a successful training day in Dun Laoghaire for all cruiser racers leading up to the busy Dublin Bay Sailing Club season. Kenny Rumball from the Offshore Racing Academy was on hand to coach along with Barry Hayes and Liam Glynn of UK Sailmakers Ireland.

The day was a great success in challenging conditions making it all the more worthwhile for the sailors and, indeed, the great team on board the committee boat. The race committee led by the diligent Michael Tyrrell dealt with wind from the North, South, East and West which changed direction every 5 minutes…. When the rain came in hard, and with a 1500 kick-off looming on a certain Heineken Cup Match, it was time to head for home!

Nick Holman gets set up for the start of Race 2 of the UK Sailmakers Ireland Dublin Bay Sailing Club Training Day

Michael Tyrrell got the mixed large fleet of everything from First 21.7 up to Cruisers 1 of boats off all sizes and classes in one of 3 starts. With 180-degree wind shifts the DBSC race committee were well under pressure to get us away, with Michael keeping on top of it all.

The classes were treated to light windward-leeward courses starting off slowly and getting on-the-water advice from Liam, Kenny and Barry. With video and drones in action for the debrief after sailing.

Retiring to the wet bar of the Royal Irish Yacht Club with glasses charged and sandwiches in order, the video and drone footage was put to good use and picked apart to see where every boat could improve. This was a constructive session with everyone working together! We need more of this in sailing!

Steve Hayes's First 34.7 Black Magic getting his team set up for the season at the UK Sailmakers Ireland Dublin Bay Sailing Club Training Day

Feedback from all participants was that of the worthiness of getting out training ahead of the season. It’s no surprise that those boats out training with us were at the top of the results board after the first few days of the DBSC season!

From a wide range of boats racing in both sizes and differing skill levels, we were able to assist everyone on the course and get a wide range of technical issues, which we were able to iron out in the Debrief after sailing.

Rowan Fogerty's First 211 Ventuno at the UK Sailmakers Ireland Dublin Bay Sailing Club Training Day

Below is a youtube video from the day:



We look forward to working with DBSC to do more training days for their members to improve the racing in Dublin Bay.

UK Sailmakers Ireland, in conjunction with Dublin Bay Sailing Club and the Irish National Sailing School, will be on the water this month with an innovative pre-season race training day on Dublin Bay on Saturday, April 22nd. 

A series of short races will be held with on-the-water coaching provided.

Windward Leeward course simulations with between three and five starts (depending on numbers).

The first race start, which is open to all, is at 10.45 am. 

Afterwards, a video debrief will be held in the Royal Irish Yacht Club with Kenny Rumball and Barry Hayes.

More details in this flyer below and booking form here

Irish Laser ace Liam Glynn will be in the Royal St. George Yacht Club on Thursday evening when he and offshore sailor Kenny Rumball, along with UK Sailmakers Ireland manager Barry Hayes deliver a lecture at Dun Laoghaire's biggest yacht club.

The open talk is titled; 'Optimising performance through the lens of sailing physics' and starts at RStGYC at 7.30 pm on Thursday, March 30th.

The talk is part of a series of UK Sails countrywide talks that began in February at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough and last week at Howth YC and the Royal Irish YC, both recording some great turnouts.

A good turnout for Kenny Rumball at the RIYC

Glynn talks chiefly about Lasers and tactics, while Rumball intends to cover offshore tactics and navigation.

Liam Glynn at the Howth Yacht Club UK Sails talk 

Irish Laser ace Liam Glynn will be in Royal Irish Yacht Club on Thursday evening when he and offshore sailor Kenny Rumball, along with UK Sailmakers Ireland manager Barry Hayes deliver a lecture at the country's biggest IRC club.

The open talk is titled; 'Optimising performance through the lens of sailing physics' and starts at RIYC at 7.30 pm on Thursday, March 24th.

The talk is part of a series of UK Sails countrywide talks that began in February at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough and this week at HYC.

Glynn talks chiefly about Lasers and tactics, while Rumball intends to cover offshore tactics and navigation.

Irish Laser ace Liam Glynn will be in Howth Yacht Club on Wednesday evening when he and offshore sailor Kenny Rumball along with UK Sailmakers Ireland manager Barry Hayes deliver a  lecture at the country's biggest yacht club.

The talk, which is open to everyone, is titled; 'Optimising performance through the lens of sailing physics' and starts at HYC at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, March 22nd.

The talk is part of a series of UK Sails countrywide talks that began in February at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough.

Glynn talks chiefly about Lasers and tactics, while Rumball intends to cover offshore tactics and navigation.

Irish Laser ace Liam Glynn will be on home waters when he and UK Sailmakers Ireland manager Barry Hayes deliver the first of a series of UK Sails countrywide talks beginning in Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough later this month.

The talk, which is open to everyone, is titled; 'Optimising performance through the lens of sailing physics' and will be held at BYC at 7.30 pm on Thursday, February 23rd.