There will be a light start this morning to the Royal Alfred's Baily Bowl event on Dublin bay. The Dublin Club will provide a full weekend of racing run from the National Yacht Club. Three races on Saturday and two on Sunday. The biggest fleet will no doubt be the SB3 fleet sharing the windward-leeward course with the Dragons.  Also racing is the Squib and Flying fifteen classes. First gun at 1100 hours. Report here later.

An interesting visitor to Dublin Bay this morning is the MS Fram, a 500-passenger capacity cruise ship that has been designed with a reinforced hull for cruising arctic waters. The Norwegian ship cruised from Cork overnight. It has a four star rating from www.choosingcruising.co.uk and more details are here. MS Fram is operated by the Hurtigruten ASA Group. The ship made its first maiden voyage to Greenland in May 2007.

Of the 86 Cruise liners due in to Dublin Port this Summer, three are docked in the Capital's port today, two arriving after 7am this morning.

Cruise liner traffic into Dublin is in line with last years figures when almost 80 cruise liners visited the port in 2009, carrying 120,000 passengers and crew to Dublin.

The 139 metre long Spirit of Adventure, the 163 metre Ocean Countess and the largest blue hulled Marco Polo at 176 metre contribute significantly to the Dublin economy.

The port company estimates that cruise liner visits generate in the region of €35 million to €50 million for Dublin’s economy.

Dublin is Ireland's most popular port with cruise liners. 75 visited Dublin in 2006, numbers have grown despite the down turn. Smaller liners can come up the River Liffey close to the city centre while the larger ships berth in Alexandra Quay, which is only 2 kms from the city centre.

Cruise Liner websites

Spirit of Adventure

Ocean Countess

Dublin City Council is to conduct a major marine site investigation works in Dublin Bay to provide a detailed understanding of the sub-seabed. The works will assist the Council in determining the feasibility of constructing a tunnel to extend the existing effluent outfall to a point approximately 10 kilometres eastwards in Dublin Bay.

To assist in the final decision regarding the technical feasibility and overall viability of extending the existing efluent outfall in the Bay, it is necessary to obtain a detailed understanding of the following in the Bay area; Sea Bed Bathymetry, Sea Bed characteristics, Sub-seabed sedimentology and underlying bedrock geology (rock types, faults, folds, structures, characteristics etc.). The full tender notice is here.

Matt Davis sailing Raging Bull (a Sigma 400) took first place overall  in the second race of the ISORA series sailed in blustery conditions on Saturday. ISORA newcomer Ken Grant and “Tigh Soluis” took second overall and first in Class two. “Galileo” took third Overall and second in Class 1. “Tsunami” took third in Class one while “Legally Blonde” took second Class two and “Lula Belle” took third in class two.

From an entry list of 26 boats, 20 boats came to the line in Dun Laoghaire for the 2nd ISORA race and the first in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club and their Lee Overlay Offshore Series. The fleet had two newcomers to ISORA- “Rollercoaster” and “Tigh Solus”.

The wind remained constant for the entire race North- East, 20-25 knots. The tide also was ideal with a south going tide for the leg to Arklow North, turning as the fleet rounded to go north to Dun Laoghaire. The wind and tide gave a fast invigorating race. Even the sun shone. It was perfect offshore conditions.

With a beam reach to the Muglins and a reach down to North Arklow the fleet kept very tight. There was even crowding for some boats rounding North Arklow. The close proximity of the boats kept all the crew driving their boats for the duration of the race.

The leg to the Muglins, before turning into Dublin Bay for the finish at the Harbour lighthouses, was a long leg- short leg beat. Due to the north-easterly that had been blowing for some days the seas were rough and extreme care had to be taken to steer the boats around the breakers.

The first boat to cross the finish line was “Galileo”, Tennyson, Lemass and Kelliher. It was followed closely by Matt Davis’s fast Sigma 400 “Raging Bull” with “Tsunami”, Vincent Farrell close behind. The entire fleet finished the 50 mile course within two hours of “Galileo”.

The next race is next weekend 15th May from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. It is a 75 mile race. This is also the feeder race to the ICRA Championships being run in the Royal St. George Yacht Club. Results attached.

Westerly winds gusting to over 10 knots provided ample breeze for the first Dublin Bay Sailing Club Thursday race of the season. Colin Galavan's Design Security was the winner in a large turnout of  SB3s and Charles Broadhead's Persistence was the winner of the White Sail Cruisers on ECHO handicap. A full set of sailing results is published here.

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 29 APRIL 2010                          

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)                     

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 2. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)                     

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)                       

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Another Adventure (Darragh Cafferkey)                    

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)                           

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Peridot (Y Charrier et al), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson)                    

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Peridot (Y Charrier et al), 3. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke)            

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Lady Rowena (David Bolger), 3. Jiminy Cricket (Mona Tyndall)                      

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 3. Cries of Passion (Bryan Maguire)                      

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Fifty Somethings (David Mulvin), 2. Deranged (C.Doorly), 3. Flyer (Niall Coleman)                      

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glencorel (B.Waldock/K.Malcolm), 3. Glenshane (P Hogan)                                

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)                     

SB3s - 1. Design Security (Colin Galavan), 2. Blue Bird (Cathy McAleavy), 3. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill)                      

SHIPMAN - 1. Poppy (Peter Wallis et al), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)                    

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 3. Enchantress (Michael Larkin et al)                           

SQUIB - 1. Aquabats (Brendan Fogarty), 2. Absolutely Fabulous (N Kennedy/P Reilly), 3. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans)                        

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Afternoon Delight (Michael Bennett et al), 3. Lucy O (Aonghus O hEocha)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Windshift (R O'Flynn et al), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

This May Bank Holiday weekend (01-03 May 2010) over 300 boats from seven different classes will race on three separate courses in Dublin Bay. The format for this year’s event is based on that of the ISAF Youth World Championships which will be hosted by Dublin Bay in 2012.

Many of the junior sailors who will be targeting qualification for the 2012 Youth Worlds will be competing in the Optimist Class at the Mitsubishi Championships as sailors must be under 18 years of age in 2012 in order to qualify. There will be over seventy Optimists competing for this years World, European, and Under 12 squads.

The Laser Radial, Laser 4.7 and 420 Classes will also be fighting it out for Irish team places too with the prestigious 2010 ISAF slots also up for grabs. The 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds will be held in Istanbul in July and Ireland will be represented at this event by the leading sailors in all 3 classes.

The Junior Pathway classes, Topper’s and RS Feva’s will also compete along with the SL 16 catamaran which makes its debut on the bay in preparation for 2012 where it will be a class. The introduction of the SL class two years in advance offers sailors a fresh opportunity to train and qualify in this new class to Ireland.

www.dublinbay2012.com has been set up by the organisers to assist sailors and clubs to prepare for the prestigious Youth Worlds. Full details of all pre-event activities are available on this site including a link to the Mitsubishi Motors Youth Championships 2010.

Since 2003 the team behind Afloat magazine has also been producing high-end, internationally appealing and entertaining factual documentaries on the Irish waterways. The production team are a mix of creative, technical and business people whose expertise guarantees an innovative approach to production and a high-quality finished product. The focus is on marine based programmes which entertain and educate. The work has been broadcast on RTE One and internationally on Sky Channels.

The Bay

Screened on RTE One in 2005.

Take a trip around the one half of Ireland's capital city you probably know the least. A new four-part documentary series, The Bay will be screened over four consecutive Wednesdays in May. Using spectacular aerial and underwater footage, the series features a combination of personality-led interviews and themes to tell the story of Dublin's unique waterway. Dublin Bay stretches over six kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine. And that's why The Bay was made. The series introduces viewers to the rich diversity of activities and personalities around the bay, while also touching on the serious environmental and political issues facing it. Find out more about the bay here.

The Harbour

Screened on RTE One in 2007.

It’s one of the largest natural harbours in the world – and those living near Cork Harbour insist that it’s also one of the most interesting. This was the last port of call for the most famous liner in history, the Titanic, but it has been transformed into a centre for chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Giraffe wander along its shores, from which tens of thousands of men and women left Ireland, most of them never to return. The harbour is home to the oldest yacht club in the world, and to the Irish Navy. This deep waterway has also become a vital cog in the Irish economy. ‘The Harbour’ is not a history programme, nor is it a news focus. It’s simply an exploration of this famous waterway, its colour and its characters. Find out more about the harbour here.

The Estuary

Screened on RTE One in 2007.

The story of the Shannon estuary might well be one of neglect, except that against the odds this waterway has become one of Ireland's greatest natural resources. Windswept, sitting on the edge of the Atlantic, often ignored by the nation. The story of the Shannon estuary might well be one of neglect, except that against the odds this waterway has become one of Ireland's greatest natural resources. A new four-part documentary series, from the makers of RTÉ's The Bay and The Harbour series, uncovers the secrets of the Shannon Estuary. From flying boats to film-making, wildlife to wind-farms, the series reveals how a 100km-stretch of the Shannon waterway has become a hotbed for innovation in Ireland. Up to 40% of Irish energy needs are met here, on the shores of a waterway that is also home to Ireland's second largest airport, a 10,000 student university and a massive cargo port. Ireland - and the world - has learned from the estuary. The first duty free shop was opened here, along with the first industrial free zone. Over the years, thousands of business and political leaders from across the globe have come to Shannon to discover its secret - in the hope that they might copy it. Long before Ireland heard of green energy, this place was producing it. Listen in to dolphin conversations beneath the Shannon's waterline. Uncover the mystery of the Ark, the church on wheels built by a priest who prayed when the tide went out. Narrated by Brenda Fricker, the series aired on Friday nights at 7.30pm on RTÉ One from May 4th 2007. Find out more about the estuary here.

The Navy

Screened on RTE One in 2007.

60 years of the Irish Naval Service. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Irish Naval Service, this 3 x half-long feature documentary shows how the Service has evolved into a multi-tasking, multi-disciplinary force. Most Irish people rarely come into contact with the Naval Service, and so are unaware of the range of activities it undertakes. This documentary provides an ideal opportunity to reveal the full extent of the Service’s duties – and the commitment of those who serve on Ireland’s fleet.

The Regattas

Screened on RTE One, 2007 and Sky Sports in 2009.

Sailing featured in RTE’s Christmas schedules this year, with the broadcast of a half-hour documentary feature on the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2007. The production, entitled ‘The Regatta’, was shot over four days in Dublin Bay during this year’s regatta. Made by Baily Films, the company behind earlier critically-acclaimed water-based documentaries The Bay, The Harbour, The Estuary and The Navy, it features spectacular on-board footage from a range of craft competing in the event. The Regatta takes viewers both on board the competing craft, and behind the scenes, to examine the challenges thrown up by organising such a large-scale event on the bay. The Regatta was broadcast on RTE 1 on Saturday, December 22, at 4.20pm.

IN DEVELOPMENT

Afloat TV projects at an advanced stage of development include:

The Edge of Ireland

Ireland’s attitude to the seas that surround her is one of the most curious in the world. An island nation, with more coastline than most other European nations, most of her citizens look inland.

Yet no-one in Ireland lives further than 100 kilometres from the sea, and the majority of the population are housed within 10 kilometres of the coast.

More than any other European nation, our history is written on our shores. The very first settlers clung to it, fearing to explore inland. The shores fed and sustained them, and continued to sustain communities from Malin Head to Mizen Head for the next 9,000 years.

From the fort of Dun Aengus to the fields at Carnsore Point, from Inishvickillane to Bull Island, the coastline holds a key to our understanding of Ireland and ourselves.

The Edge of Ireland will uncover that hidden history of Ireland, and explore what the future holds for our coastline. Travelling around the coast, it will use local and national experts to relate individual accounts of how the sea has connected with the land to shape a local community or the nation at large.

The six half-hour series will be presented thematically, rather than using a linear journey up and down the coastline.

CONTACT

If you're keen on promoting Ireland's waterways and would like to get involved with Afloat TV please email us here.