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Displaying items by tag: Johanna Murphy

The Commodore of the South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) has been elected President of Cobh and Harbour Chamber in Cork.

The Chamber, which has been in existence for 60 years, is composed of local business representatives and works to promote the economic and social development of the Cork Harbour community. It is the primary business representative organisation in the greater Cobh area.

Johanna Murphy, an auctioneer, has been leading the development of yacht racing on the South Coast and introduced several new developments since she was appointed Commodore of SCORA.

She was previously Vice-President of the Business Chamber which, she said on taking office as President, will be announcing a two-year plan in January.

"We have set up Team Cobh, which is a coming together of the Chamber, Cobh Tourism and Cobh Tidy Towns Committee. We aim to work together in the best interests of the harbour town."

Published in SCORA
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The South Coast Offshore Racing Association and Kinsale Yacht Club have agreed to run a SCORA-based race from Kinsale to the Fastnet Rock and back to Kinsale which will act as a qualifier for the Round Ireland Yacht Race in August.

As sailing resumes on the South Coast, SCORA Commodore Johanna Murphy says this will be the Association’s only offshore race this season.

There will be two other SCORA events for its annual League this season, “a shortened one,” she says – the Cobh-to-Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour and the RCYC Autumn/October Regatta.

She is the guest on this week’s AFLOAT Podcast where she also says that members should support their clubs. “If clubs can’t continue, if they don’t exist, then you won’t be able to go sailing,” she says in response to concerns that members have been slow to renew club memberships.

This follows last week’s Podcast when the CEO of Irish Sailing, Harry Hermon, emphasised the importance of renewing club memberships.

The Kinsale/Fastnet/Kinsale race will start on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday, August 1, at 1800 and return the following morning. There will be two trophies – The Fastnet Trophy and the Minahan Trophy.

This week’s Podcast is below

Published in Tom MacSweeney
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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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