Displaying items by tag: Laurent Giles

26th April 2017

Laurent Giles Classic Has Real Potential for the 2017 Irish Circuit

The Laurent Giles-designed classic Scythe with yawl rig fitted. Since being built in 1962, her rig has been varied between yawl and sloop, and she is currently sloop rigged

The keener Irish owners of classic wooden yachts with performance potential are already finalising plans for an interesting season writes W M Nixon. In it, their judiciously-chosen programme will include enough races against other classics to give a sense of purpose, yet not so much racing that it distorts their sailing and distracts them from the simple enjoyment of being aboard a comfortable and stylish classic yacht, which for many is really what it’s all about.

Taking this season gently, you could do the Lambay Classic at Howth on June 3rd, the Kingstown 200 Classic in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta which runs overall from the 6th to the 9th July, though some classics and traditional craft are focusing more on the weekend aspect of it, and then there’s the 25th Anniversary Glandore Classics Regatta in West Cork from 23rd to 28th July.

Obviously with the passage from Dublin Bay to Glandore between July 9th and July 23rd, you get the best of it with a capable seagoing vessel which can do the voyage with time and more to spare, and there’s no doubt that this 1962-vintage Laurent Giles 42-footer fills the bill on that score.

As to on-board comfort, while we’re all turned on by the characteristically Jack Giles appearance of the boat, the photo which particularly took my eye was the sumptuously comfortable saloon, a classic of its time and type. And yes, the good ship Scythe comes with a proper heating system, so you can revel in that best of cruising comfort in warmth and dryness if West Cork – or for that matter Dublin Bay - serves up some unseasonably damp and cold weather.

One thing Scythe doesn’t come with is the mizzen mast with which she was designed. She has sailed for some years as a sloop, but if you’re going to be mingling with classic purists, you’ll need the boat to look as nearly as possible like the drawings which emerged from the tiny Giles design office at 4, Quay Hill, Lymington more than 55 years ago. So maybe the replacement costs for the mizzen could be a bargaining chip in discussing that €70,000 price tag. Scythe is for sale through Crosshaven Boatyard. Full advert here.

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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.