Displaying items by tag: Women in Sport

6th September 2019

Boost For Women In Sailing & Rowing With Relaunched Sport Investment Programme

Annalise Murphy with her Olympic silver medal at Rio 2016

Sailing and rowing are among the beneficiaries of Sport Ireland’s €3 million investment in women in sport announced yesterday (Thursday 6 September).

Rowing Ireland will receive €100,000 over two years, while Irish Sailing and Canoeing Ireland will get a total of €80,000 for 2019 and 2020.

Irish Surfing also figures in the list with a €20,000 total allocation for this year and next, while the Irish Waterski and Wakeboard Federation receives €10,000.

Funding under the relaunched Women in Sport Programme complements the €265,000 allocated to Local Sports Partnerships earlier this year, brining Sport Ireland’s total investment for 2019 and 2020 to €3,277,000.

The announcement follows the publication of Sport Ireland’s new Policy on Women in Sport earlier this year, which identifies four key target areas: Coaching & Officiating, Active Participation, Leadership & Governance, and Visibility.

Speaking at the launch at the Sport Ireland campus in Blanchardstown, Sport Minister Brendan Griffin said: “One of the key objectives of the Government’s National Sports Policy is to increase the number of women and girls participating in sport and to eliminate the participation gradient between men and women.

“While the gender gradient, at 4.5%, is narrower now than at any point over the past 10 years, it is important that this gradient is eliminated altogether.

“Sport Ireland’s new Women in Sport Policy and the re-launched Women in Sport Programme is essential in this regard. I want to pay a particular tribute to our high-profile sportswomen who continue to inspire and encourage thousands of girls and young women throughout Ireland every day to become involved in sport and to stay involved.”

Lynne Cantwell, chair of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Steering Group, added: “The funding process has seen national governing bodies embrace projects focused on developing leadership opportunities, and pathways to coaching and officiating.

“This holistic approach will lead to a step-change in the landscape for women’s involvement in sport across the board from grassroots to leadership.”

Published in News Update

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Olympic Committee Honours Rowing Ireland for Bringing Women Into Sport

Aileen Crowley and Monika Dukarska, two of Ireland's successful women's rowers.

#Rowing: Rowing Ireland has received a commendation from the International Olympic Committee for its work in promoting women’s sport. The Irish governing body were awarded the “Women and Sport” Achievement Diploma in recognition of its “outstanding contribution to promoting the development and participation of women and girls in sport”.

The Get Going, Get Rowing programme has introduced big numbers of girls to rowing.

Published in Rowing

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About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil