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Displaying items by tag: Sovereign's Cup

The 2025 ICRA National Championships will be held at Kinsale Yacht Club it has been confirmed. 

Newly elected ICRA commodore Denis Byrne announced at Saturday's AGM that after examining several submissions, the cruiser-racer national championships would return to the biennial Sovereign's Cup in June 2025.

Up to 100 boats are expected to compete at the June championships, encompassing IRC boats in divisions Zero to Four, with White Sail fleet racing also included.

The ICRAs were most recently previously incorporated at the Sovereign's Cup in 2019 and 2015.

The 2025 edition of Kinsale Yacht Club's Sovereign's Cup and ICRA National Championships will be held from June 25-28, 2025.

The Irish event occurs a month before the resurrected Admiral's Cup takes place in Cowes, where Ireland is one of 11 countries that has registered an interest.

Published in ICRA

Checkmate XX won in the offshore class in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on Sunday (9 July), making it a double of offshore wins in the Sovereign and VDLR this season.

Prior to the event, Afloat.ie asked co-skipper Nigel Biggs about his and the team’s philosophy behind the Checkmate campaign. He was candid about their approach of putting enjoyment first, while also giving the younger generation a role to play.

That appears to be a winning combination, and one that should definitely lift spirits heading into their Fastnet Race challenge in the coming weeks.

Dave Cullen (left) and Nigel Biggs with the Sovereign's Cup Offshore trophy won last month at the Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale Photo: Bob BatemanDave Cullen (left) and Nigel Biggs with the Sovereign's Cup Offshore trophy won last month in Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

“The Sovereign’s was fun and we certainly enjoyed being back on the podium,” said Nigel, referencing the First 50 and crew’s achievement in late June.

The next big target for the Checkmate XX crews is the Rolex Fastnet Race later this month Photo: Bob BatemanThe next big target for the Checkmate XX crew is the Rolex Fastnet Race later this month Photo: Bob Bateman

“When we bought Checkmate XX last year, we did so in the knowledge that she wasn’t a successful race boat, more a platform for us to enjoy our sailing, as age begins to catch up with us, whilst also trying to encourage more younger people into keelboat racing,” he added.

Some of the Checkmate XX crew at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta prizegiving Photo: Michael ChesterSome of the Checkmate XX crew at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta prizegiving Photo: Michael Chester

“The plan appears to be working as we have already had some great times, sailing with friends both old and new.”

Elaborating on the importance of encouraging younger sailors, Nigel said: “Young people are the future of our sport and having discussed with some of them the reasons why they haven’t previously got involved in keelboat racing, we are trying to remove the perceived obstacles so they, both male and female, feel they can become valuable members of our crew, learning more about the sport and having fun along the way.”

As regards Checkmate XX’s stronger performance in 2023, Nigel said the answer is a simple one: using experience as a learning opportunity.

“The improved performance of the boat is not so much about rating optimisation; anyone can do that,” he said. It has more to do with the time we have spent thinking about the lessons of last year and working to improve the way we sail the boat, particularly in the conditions in which she was less competitive.

Co-skipper Nigel Biggs on the helm of Checkmate XX in an early season ISORA race(Above and below) Co-skipper Nigel Biggs on the helm of Checkmate XX in an early season light airs ISORA race Photo: AfloatCheckmate xx

“We have been fortunate to already have more hours under our belts this year than we managed in the whole of 2022, in a variety of conditions and are developing a better idea of what the boat likes in terms of rig setup, weight distribution and trimming, every time we go out.”

Nigel was modest about the team’s expectations for the VDLR, and harbours similar feelings for the Fastnet, “but if we continue to have as much fun with the great group of people we sail with, that is all the success we need”.

Published in Volvo Regatta

The Two White Sails Division at the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale totalled 20 boats, roughly a fifth of the overall fleet at the four-day event. It's a contemporary size that Afloat's WM Nixon says is a sweet size for Kinsallions.

The white sailors were in the prizes on Saturday night, too, walking away with the Portcullis Trophy for the best performance under ECHO and the Michelle Dunn Prix d'elegance award to Division Two competitor, the restored 1954 Marian Maid, as Afloat reports here.

The Portcullis trophy for the best performance under ECHO was won by White Sails division One entry, Ronan Twomey's Beneteau 40.7, Rosmarina in an eight-boat fleet.

 Beneteau 40.7, RosmarinaThe Portcullis trophy for the best performance under ECHO was won by Ronan Twomey's Beneteau 40.7, Rosmarina with her winning crew pictured below Photo: Bob Bateman

Ronan Twomey's Beneteau 40.7, Rosmarina

Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache was the White Sails Two IRC winner.

2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup White Sails 2 Echo winners were the McJenkins Family in the S&S 34  Morning After from Royal Cork YC pictured with Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group Photo: Bob Bateman2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup White Sails 2 ECHO winners were the McJenkins Family in the S&S 34  Morning After from Royal Cork YC pictured with Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group Photo: Bob Bateman

Stephen Harris and Frank Hughes were the White Sails One IRC winners in the Beneteau 40.7 Tiger and were awarded the McCarthy Cup. 

Stephen Harris and Frank Hughes and crew were the White Sails One IRC winners in the Beneteau 40.7 Tiger and were awarded the McCarthy Cup. Stephen Harris and Frank Hughes and crew were the White Sails One IRC winners in the Beneteau 40.7 Tiger (pictured below) and were awarded the McCarthy Cup by Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group (with cup) and Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern Photo: Bob BatemanBeneteau 40.7 Tiger

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

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Kinsale Yacht Club's premier 'Michelle Dunne Prix d-elegance’ trophy for the best-presented entry at the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup went to the lovingly restored 1954 eight-metre cruiser Marian Maid owned by the Sisk family.

Marian Maid was built by Hal Sisk’s father John Sisk in 1954 in Dun Laoghaire, in a shed behind the West Pier after Sisk Snr had to move his Dalkey Yacht Company from premises at Bulloch Harbour.

Marian Maid is unusual in many ways, not least in being a yawl-rigged version of Swedish designer Knud Reimers take on the newly-introduced International 8 Metre Cruiser/Racer Rule, with Reimers liking the boat so much that he had a sloop-rigged version built for himself in Sweden as Afloat reports here.

At 69 years old, Marian Maid has been re-born. Photo: Robert BatemanAt 69 years old, Marian Maid has been re-born. Photo: Robert Bateman

Read also: 

The Amazing Mr Sisk, Pioneer Of Ireland’s Economic Revival and Kinsale’s Sovereign’s Cup Regatta Can Sparkle As Sailing Stars Shine

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

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Kinsailor, the Kinsale Yacht Club Under-25 J24 crew were the inaugural winners of the 'Jack Roy Perpetual Trophy', awarded to the best female helm at Saturday night's 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup prizegiving.

The trophy was commissioned by the club and made in West Cork.

KYC created the award as a mark of appreciation to the late Jack Roy's running of many events for the club, particularly as Race Officer and Principal Race Officer for The Sovereign's Cup Regatta for many years.

The club asked his wife, Rosemary, who also officiates at Sovereign's Cup races, to present the trophy to the inaugural winners.

Jill Roy, with (from left) sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group, Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern and her month Rosemary thanked the club for commission the new trophy in her late father's honour Photo: Bob BatemanJill Roy, with (from left) Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group, Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern and her mother Rosemary thanked the club for commissioning the new trophy in her late father's honour Photo: Bob Bateman

The Roy's eldest daughter Jill thanked the club on behalf of the Roy family, highlighting how Jack loved everything about Kinsale Yacht Club and particularly enjoyed his involvement in the Sovereign's Cup.

Jill Roy's words were met with the biggest applause of the night as the packed clubhouse remembered their much-missed race officer.

“Always ready to take a joke” – during a very challenging flukey wind pattern at the Sovereigns Cup in Kinsale, Race Officer Jack Roy takes a personal prize in the proper spirit at the evening awards ceremony. Photo: Robert Bateman“Always ready to take a joke” – during a very challenging flukey wind pattern at a previous Sovereigns Cup in Kinsale, Race Officer Jack Roy takes a personal prize in the proper spirit at the evening awards ceremony. Photo: Robert Bateman

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

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There was a packed clubhouse and some emotional moments at Kinsale Yacht Club for the presentation of Simply Blue 2023 Sovereign’s Cup prizes on Saturday evening.

James and David Dwyer of Royal Cork Yacht Club with their Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble crew, who were overall winners of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup, after a perfect score of six wins from six races sailed off Kinsale, are pictured with Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group (right) Photo: Bob BatemanJames and David Dwyer of Royal Cork Yacht Club with their Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble crew, who were overall winners of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup, after a perfect score of six wins from six races sailed off Kinsale, are pictured with Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group (right) Photo: Bob Bateman

As Afloat reported earlier, with a superb string of six race wins in Class Two IRC in the four-day event, James and David Dwyer's Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble from Royal Cork Yacht Club took the overall Sovereign's Cup as the best boat performing under the international IRC rating system.

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern congratules the prizewinners at Saturday night's 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup prizegiving Photo: Bob BatemanKinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern, watched by Regatta Director Tony Scannell, congratulates the prizewinners at Saturday night's 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup prizegiving Photo: Bob Bateman

Simply Blue 2023 Sovereign’s Cup prizewinners

Simply Blue 2023 Sovereign’s Cup prizewinnersSimply Blue 2023 Sovereign’s Cup prizewinners

As Afloat reports here, the 1720 Europeans, raced as part of the Sovereign’s Cup programme, were successfully defended by Ross McDonald's Ropedock Atara

Three race wins enabled John Maybury's Joker II to take the Class One IRC title, while five wins saw Conor Phelan take the Class Three IRC title in his Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge.

The coastal class saw a similar dominant scoreline when the Howth Yacht Club First 50 Checkmate XX closed their account with three wins from four races

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) looks on as Hugh Kelly of sponsors Simply Blue presents the Axiom Trophy to Dave Cullen and Nigel Biggs of First 50 Checkmate for their IRC coastal division victory in the 2023 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob BatemanKinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) looks on as Hugh Kelly of sponsors Simply Blue (right) presents the Axiom Trophy to Dave Cullen (second from left) and Nigel Biggs of the Howth Yacht Club First 50 Checkmate for their IRC coastal division victory in the 2023 Sovereign's Cup Photo: Bob Bateman

Sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group raced in the event skippering the J122 Jelly Baby and won third overall under ECHO in the coastal class. He gave his thumbs up in this short vid below.

New 'Jack Roy Perpetual Trophy' 

Kinsailor, the Kinsale Yacht Club Under-25 J24 crew were the inaugural winners of the 'Jack Roy Perpetual Trophy', which was awarded to the best female helm.

The trophy was commissioned by the club and made in West Cork. It was created as a mark of appreciation for the late Jack Roy's running of many events for the club, as Afloat reports here.

Kinsailor, the Kinsale Yacht Club Under-25 J24 crew are presented with the inaugural 'Jack Roy Perpetual Trophy', made to the best female helm at the Sovereign's Cup 2023 by Jack's wife Rosemary and Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group, Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern Credit: Bob BatemanKinsailor, the Kinsale Yacht Club Under-25 J24 crew are presented with the inaugural 'Jack Roy Perpetual Trophy', made to the best female helm at the Sovereign's Cup 2023 by Jack's wife Rosemary and Sovereign's Cup sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Group, Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern Photo: Bob Bateman 

‘Prix d'elegance’ trophy for Marian Maid

The Michelle Dunne ‘Prix d-elegance’ trophy for best-presented entry in the event went to George, Hal and Owen Sisk's stunningly restored 1954 eight-metre cruiser Marian Maid that competed in White Sails Two division, as Afloat reports here.

George Sisk helming the immaculately restored 1954 eight-metre cruiser Marian Maid in White Sails Two division on the final day of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup Credit: Bob BatemanGeorge Sisk helming the immaculately restored 1954 eight-metre cruiser Marian Maid in White Sails Two division on the final day of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup Credit: Bob Bateman

White Sails Success

There was success for the 20-boat white sails divisions, too, with the Portcullis trophy for the best performance under ECHO won by Ronan Twomey's Beneteau 40.7, Rosmarina, more on the White Sails winners here

2025 dates confirmed for Sovereign's Cup

KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern confirmed the 2025 Sovereign's Cup dates as June 25-28.

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

Sovereign’s Cup prizewinners Gallery by Bob Bateman

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A first and a second scored in today's final races has given National J109 Champion John Maybury of the Royal Irish Yacht Club the overall Class One IRC title at the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale.

Maybury's Joker II crew ended the six-race series with all their results in the top five, and with three race wins to boot, the RIYC crew were two points clear at the top. 

Camelot in Kinsale is how Afloat's WM Nixon described the scene on the first two days of the regatta, but the 2023 Cup concluded with 100% cloud cover and drizzle on Saturday afternoon.

Five times J109 National Champion (and top ICRA yacht at Cork Week 2022), John Maybury and his Joker II crew won the Sovereign's Cup Class One IRC division Photo: Bob BatemanFive times J109 National Champion (and top ICRA yacht at Cork Week 2022), John Maybury and his Joker II crew won the Sovereign's Cup Class One IRC division Photo: Bob Bateman

Defending Sovereign's Cup Champion, Mike Evans's J99 Snapshot finished as runner-up by virtue of a final race win to be on 10 points overall. 

The Howth J99 broke up a J109 stranglehold in IRC One, with five of the top six boats being 109s. 

Maybury's clubmates, Richard and Timothy Goodbody, on' White Mischief', took a well-earned third overall with no race wins but six top-four results to finish on 15 points.

Mike Evans's J99 Snapshot from Howth has moved up to second place in IRC One of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale Photo: Bob BatemanMike and Ritchie Evans's J99 Snapshot from Howth (above and prizegiving below) finished in second place in IRC One of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

Mike and Ritchie Evans's J99 Snapshot from Howth (above and prizegiving below) finished in second place in IRC One of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off KinsaleMike and Ritchie Evans's J99 Snapshot from Howth (above and prizegiving below) finished in second place in IRC One of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale

The 15th edition of the biennial regatta attracted 90 entries across all divisions and ran from 21st to 24th June and incorporated the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Results below

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

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The perfect scoreline of six wins from six races saw James and David Dwyer's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble take the Class Two title and the overall 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale today. 

Camelot in Kinsale is how Afloat's WM Nixon described the scene on the first two days of the regatta, but the 2023 Cup concluded with 100% cloud cover and drizzle on Saturday afternoon and some tricky sailing conditions. 

Sovereign's Cup winners 2023: James and David Dwyer of Royal Cork Yacht Club on the Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble Photo: Bob Bateman(Above and below) Sovereign's Cup winners 2023: James and David Dwyer of Royal Cork Yacht Club on the Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble Photo: Bob Bateman

Sovereign's Cup winners 2023: James and David Dwyer of Royal Cork Yacht Club on the Half-Tonner Swuzzlebubble

Finishing on five nett points, the Royal Cork crew celebrated their six-point margin over John Gordon X-332 X-Rated from Mayo Sailing Club.

John Gordon' Mayo Sailing Club X-332 X-Rated is lying third in IRC Two of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup from Elan 333 Reavra Too, skippered by Stephen Lysaght of the host club Photo: Bob BatemanJohn Gordon's Mayo Sailing Club X-332 X-Rated and her crew at the prizegiving below Photo: Bob Bateman

John Gordon's Mayo Sailing Club X-332 X-Rated and her crewat the prizegiving below Photo: Bob Bateman

Kinsale YC Elan 333, Reavra Too, skippered by Stephen Lysaght, was third in the eight-boat fleet on 13 points. 

The 15th edition of the biennial regatta attracted 90 entries across all divisions and ran from 21st to 24th June and incorporated the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Consistent sailing in the Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup from Elan 333 Reavra Too, skippered by Stephen Lysaght of the host club Photo: Bob BatemanElan 333 Reavra Too, skippered by Stephen Lysaght of the host club Photo: Bob Bateman

Results are below

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

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Conor Phelan's Royal Cork Yacht Club Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge has won Class Three IRC at The Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale.

As Afloat reported earlier, Quarter Tonners had a grip on the ten-boat fleet since Wednesday's first race. 

Phelan led all the way and ended the regatta with five wins, taking two guns on the final day and discarding a second place.

Another Quarter Tonner, Courtown Sailing Club's Joubert Quarter Tonner, Snoopy (Joanne Hall & Martin Mahon), leapfrogged visiting Welsh Sigma 33 'Partisan' into second overall on Thursday, and that's how things stayed despite two more races on Saturday in some light winds and drizzle.

The 15th edition of the biennial regatta attracted 90 entries across all divisions and ran from 21st to 24th June and incorporated the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Results below.

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

Published in Sovereign's Cup

With three wins from four races sailed, Howth Yacht Club's First 50 Checkmate XX, co-skippered by Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen, were presented with the Axiom Trophy for their overall win of the IRC Coastal division of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale Yacht Club on Saturday night.

Howth Yacht Club's First 50 Checkmate XX, co-skippered by Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen is the Sovereign's Cup Coastal Division winner after four races off Kinsale Photo: Bob BatemanHowth Yacht Club's First 50 Checkmate XX, co-skippered by Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen is the Sovereign's Cup Coastal Division winner after four races off Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

Early leader Scotland's J122E El Gran Senor was overhauled by Checkmate XX on Thursday, and Biggs and Cullen then went on to wrap up the Cup's biggest class (17 boats) on three nett points after two more wins on Saturday.

Finishing second overall was the brand new J112 Valentia of Johnny Treanor of the National Yacht Club, with a score of 3,2,3 and (5.0) in his first Irish regatta in the new boat.

As regular Afloat readers will know, Treanor took a debut victory last week on the Solent when Valentina won her class at the Key Yachting J Cup.

Third overall was the Clyde visitor Jonathan Anderson in the J122. 

The crew of the J112E Valentina skippered by Johnny Treanor of the National Yacht Club, with her second prize overall prize in the coastal division of the Sovereign's Cup 2023 Photo: Bob BatemanThe crew of the J112E Valentina skippered by Johnny Treanor of the National Yacht Club, with her second prize overall prize in the coastal division of the Sovereign's Cup 2023 Photo: Bob Bateman

Scotland's J122E El Gran Senor skipper Jonathan Anderson was third overall in the Sovereign's Cup Coastal Division Photo: Bob BatemanScotland's J122E El Gran Senor skipper Jonathan Anderson was third overall in the Sovereign's Cup Coastal Division Photo: Bob Bateman

See results below

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

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The Irish Coast Guard

The Irish Coast Guard is Ireland's fourth 'Blue Light' service (along with An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance Service and the Fire Service). It provides a nationwide maritime emergency organisation as well as a variety of services to shipping and other government agencies.

The purpose of the Irish Coast Guard is to promote safety and security standards, and by doing so, prevent as far as possible, the loss of life at sea, and on inland waters, mountains and caves, and to provide effective emergency response services and to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

The Irish Coast Guard has responsibility for Ireland's system of marine communications, surveillance and emergency management in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and certain inland waterways.

It is responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue and counter-pollution and ship casualty operations. It also has responsibility for vessel traffic monitoring.

Operations in respect of maritime security, illegal drug trafficking, illegal migration and fisheries enforcement are co-ordinated by other bodies within the Irish Government.

On average, each year, the Irish Coast Guard is expected to:

  • handle 3,000 marine emergencies
  • assist 4,500 people and save about 200 lives
  • task Coast Guard helicopters on missions

The Coast Guard has been around in some form in Ireland since 1908.

Coast Guard helicopters

The Irish Coast Guard has contracted five medium-lift Sikorsky Search and Rescue helicopters deployed at bases in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo.

The helicopters are designated wheels up from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours and 45 minutes at night. One aircraft is fitted and its crew trained for under slung cargo operations up to 3000kgs and is available on short notice based at Waterford.

These aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains of Ireland (32 counties).

They can also be used for assistance in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and aerial surveillance during daylight hours, lifting and passenger operations and other operations as authorised by the Coast Guard within appropriate regulations.

Irish Coastguard FAQs

The Irish Coast Guard provides nationwide maritime emergency response, while also promoting safety and security standards. It aims to prevent the loss of life at sea, on inland waters, on mountains and in caves; and to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

The main role of the Irish Coast Guard is to rescue people from danger at sea or on land, to organise immediate medical transport and to assist boats and ships within the country's jurisdiction. It has three marine rescue centres in Dublin, Malin Head, Co Donegal, and Valentia Island, Co Kerry. The Dublin National Maritime Operations centre provides marine search and rescue responses and coordinates the response to marine casualty incidents with the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Yes, effectively, it is the fourth "blue light" service. The Marine Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Valentia is the contact point for the coastal area between Ballycotton, Co Cork and Clifden, Co Galway. At the same time, the MRSC Malin Head covers the area between Clifden and Lough Foyle. Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Dublin covers Carlingford Lough, Co Louth to Ballycotton, Co Cork. Each MRCC/MRSC also broadcasts maritime safety information on VHF and MF radio, including navigational and gale warnings, shipping forecasts, local inshore forecasts, strong wind warnings and small craft warnings.

The Irish Coast Guard handles about 3,000 marine emergencies annually, and assists 4,500 people - saving an estimated 200 lives, according to the Department of Transport. In 2016, Irish Coast Guard helicopters completed 1,000 missions in a single year for the first time.

Yes, Irish Coast Guard helicopters evacuate medical patients from offshore islands to hospital on average about 100 times a year. In September 2017, the Department of Health announced that search and rescue pilots who work 24-hour duties would not be expected to perform any inter-hospital patient transfers. The Air Corps flies the Emergency Aeromedical Service, established in 2012 and using an AW139 twin-engine helicopter. Known by its call sign "Air Corps 112", it airlifted its 3,000th patient in autumn 2020.

The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is responsible for the Northern Irish coast.

The Irish Coast Guard is a State-funded service, with both paid management personnel and volunteers, and is under the auspices of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is allocated approximately 74 million euro annually in funding, some 85 per cent of which pays for a helicopter contract that costs 60 million euro annually. The overall funding figure is "variable", an Oireachtas committee was told in 2019. Other significant expenditure items include volunteer training exercises, equipment, maintenance, renewal, and information technology.

The Irish Coast Guard has four search and rescue helicopter bases at Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo, run on a contract worth 50 million euro annually with an additional 10 million euro in costs by CHC Ireland. It provides five medium-lift Sikorsky S-92 helicopters and trained crew. The 44 Irish Coast Guard coastal units with 1,000 volunteers are classed as onshore search units, with 23 of the 44 units having rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and 17 units having cliff rescue capability. The Irish Coast Guard has 60 buildings in total around the coast, and units have search vehicles fitted with blue lights, all-terrain vehicles or quads, first aid equipment, generators and area lighting, search equipment, marine radios, pyrotechnics and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Community Rescue Boats Ireland also provide lifeboats and crews to assist in search and rescue. The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the Garda Siochána, National Ambulance Service, Naval Service and Air Corps, Civil Defence, while fishing vessels, ships and other craft at sea offer assistance in search operations.

The helicopters are designated as airborne from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours, and 45 minutes at night. The aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, on inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains and cover the 32 counties. They can also assist in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and can transport offshore firefighters and ambulance teams. The Irish Coast Guard volunteers units are expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time of departing from the station house in ten minutes from notification during daylight and 20 minutes at night. They are also expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time to the scene of the incident in less than 60 minutes from notification by day and 75 minutes at night, subject to geographical limitations.

Units are managed by an officer-in-charge (three stripes on the uniform) and a deputy officer in charge (two stripes). Each team is trained in search skills, first aid, setting up helicopter landing sites and a range of maritime skills, while certain units are also trained in cliff rescue.

Volunteers receive an allowance for time spent on exercises and call-outs. What is the difference between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI? The RNLI is a registered charity which has been saving lives at sea since 1824, and runs a 24/7 volunteer lifeboat service around the British and Irish coasts. It is a declared asset of the British Maritime and Coast Guard Agency and the Irish Coast Guard. Community Rescue Boats Ireland is a community rescue network of volunteers under the auspices of Water Safety Ireland.

No, it does not charge for rescue and nor do the RNLI or Community Rescue Boats Ireland.

The marine rescue centres maintain 19 VHF voice and DSC radio sites around the Irish coastline and a digital paging system. There are two VHF repeater test sites, four MF radio sites and two NAVTEX transmitter sites. Does Ireland have a national search and rescue plan? The first national search and rescue plan was published in July, 2019. It establishes the national framework for the overall development, deployment and improvement of search and rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region and to meet domestic and international commitments. The purpose of the national search and rescue plan is to promote a planned and nationally coordinated search and rescue response to persons in distress at sea, in the air or on land.

Yes, the Irish Coast Guard is responsible for responding to spills of oil and other hazardous substances with the Irish pollution responsibility zone, along with providing an effective response to marine casualties and monitoring or intervening in marine salvage operations. It provides and maintains a 24-hour marine pollution notification at the three marine rescue centres. It coordinates exercises and tests of national and local pollution response plans.

The first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die on duty was Caitriona Lucas, a highly trained member of the Doolin Coast Guard unit, while assisting in a search for a missing man by the Kilkee unit in September 2016. Six months later, four Irish Coast Guard helicopter crew – Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith -died when their Sikorsky S-92 struck Blackrock island off the Mayo coast on March 14, 2017. The Dublin-based Rescue 116 crew were providing "top cover" or communications for a medical emergency off the west coast and had been approaching Blacksod to refuel. Up until the five fatalities, the Irish Coast Guard recorded that more than a million "man hours" had been spent on more than 30,000 rescue missions since 1991.

Several investigations were initiated into each incident. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board was critical of the Irish Coast Guard in its final report into the death of Caitriona Lucas, while a separate Health and Safety Authority investigation has been completed, but not published. The Air Accident Investigation Unit final report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash has not yet been published.

The Irish Coast Guard in its present form dates back to 1991, when the Irish Marine Emergency Service was formed after a campaign initiated by Dr Joan McGinley to improve air/sea rescue services on the west Irish coast. Before Irish independence, the British Admiralty was responsible for a Coast Guard (formerly the Water Guard or Preventative Boat Service) dating back to 1809. The West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee was initiated with a public meeting in Killybegs, Co Donegal, in 1988 and the group was so effective that a Government report was commissioned, which recommended setting up a new division of the Department of the Marine to run the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC), then based at Shannon, along with the existing coast radio service, and coast and cliff rescue. A medium-range helicopter base was established at Shannon within two years. Initially, the base was served by the Air Corps.

The first director of what was then IMES was Capt Liam Kirwan, who had spent 20 years at sea and latterly worked with the Marine Survey Office. Capt Kirwan transformed a poorly funded voluntary coast and cliff rescue service into a trained network of cliff and sea rescue units – largely voluntary, but with paid management. The MRCC was relocated from Shannon to an IMES headquarters at the then Department of the Marine (now Department of Transport) in Leeson Lane, Dublin. The coast radio stations at Valentia, Co Kerry, and Malin Head, Co Donegal, became marine rescue-sub-centres.

The current director is Chris Reynolds, who has been in place since August 2007 and was formerly with the Naval Service. He has been seconded to the head of mission with the EUCAP Somalia - which has a mandate to enhance Somalia's maritime civilian law enforcement capacity – since January 2019.

  • Achill, Co. Mayo
  • Ardmore, Co. Waterford
  • Arklow, Co. Wicklow
  • Ballybunion, Co. Kerry
  • Ballycotton, Co. Cork
  • Ballyglass, Co. Mayo
  • Bonmahon, Co. Waterford
  • Bunbeg, Co. Donegal
  • Carnsore, Co. Wexford
  • Castlefreake, Co. Cork
  • Castletownbere, Co. Cork
  • Cleggan, Co. Galway
  • Clogherhead, Co. Louth
  • Costelloe Bay, Co. Galway
  • Courtown, Co. Wexford
  • Crosshaven, Co. Cork
  • Curracloe, Co. Wexford
  • Dingle, Co. Kerry
  • Doolin, Co. Clare
  • Drogheda, Co. Louth
  • Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
  • Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
  • Fethard, Co. Wexford
  • Glandore, Co. Cork
  • Glenderry, Co. Kerry
  • Goleen, Co. Cork
  • Greencastle, Co. Donegal
  • Greenore, Co. Louth
  • Greystones, Co. Wicklow
  • Guileen, Co. Cork
  • Howth, Co. Dublin
  • Kilkee, Co. Clare
  • Killala, Co. Mayo
  • Killybegs, Co. Donegal
  • Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford
  • Knightstown, Co. Kerry
  • Mulroy, Co. Donegal
  • North Aran, Co. Galway
  • Old Head Of Kinsale, Co. Cork
  • Oysterhaven, Co. Cork
  • Rosslare, Co. Wexford
  • Seven Heads, Co. Cork
  • Skerries, Co. Dublin Summercove, Co. Cork
  • Toe Head, Co. Cork
  • Tory Island, Co. Donegal
  • Tramore, Co. Waterford
  • Waterville, Co. Kerry
  • Westport, Co. Mayo
  • Wicklow
  • Youghal, Co. Cork

Sources: Department of Transport © Afloat 2020