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#Rowing: Enniskillen RBC had two outstanding results at the Schools’ Head of the River in London. The girls’ eight won their category, the First Eights, and were fifth overall. The boys’ eight finished second in the equivalent category behind Bedford. When the revised results were published this placed them 10th overall, the best placing by an Irish crew at the event since 2010, when Bann Rowing Club finished ninth and 2011 when Portora (now Enniskillen) matched this. Enniskillen finished seventh in an event shortened due to weather in 2017.

Schools’ Head of the River, London (Selected Results; Irish interest; REVISED)

Men, Schools First Eight: 1 Bedford 17 min 15.1 sec; 2 Enniskillen Royal Boat Club (S Balcombe, R Mills, M McBrien, P Murphy, O Donaghy, J McDade, J Kennedy, N Timoney; cox: R Farragher) 17:18.4; 16 Methodist, Belfast A 19:10.2

First Junior 16 Eight: 9 Methody 19:44.4. 

Sculling, Quadruple – Championship: 17 Methody 19:15.6.

Women, Schools First Eight: 1 Enniskillen RBC (T McComb, A Corry, V Wilson, C Leonard, Z McCutcheon, M Donnelly, J Long; C Fee; cox: S Dolan) 19:01.3; 13 Methody 21:49.7.

 

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Trinity’s senior eight were the fastest crew at the re-fixed Erne Head of the River in Enniskillen today. It was their fourth consecutive win, achieved this year in rainy conditions. Junior crews did well: Enniskillen RBC’s junior men’s eight were third fastest overall and the fastest women’s crew was the host club’s junior eight.

 In Amsterdam, UCC’s men’s eight were the best Irish crew at the Heineken Roeivierkamp. They took 32nd in the men’s race over 2,500 metres in seven minutes 36.8 seconds.

Erne Head of the River, Saturday (Selected Results)

Overall: 1 Trinity men’s senior eight 19 minutes 17 seconds, 2 Commercial sen eight 19:50, 3 Enniskillen jun eight 20:04, 4 Trinity inter eight 20:27, 5 Neptune club two eight 20:49, 6 Lagan senior quadruple 20:57: 17 Enniskillen women’s junior eight 22:39.  

Men

Eight – Senior: Trinity 19:17. Inter: Trinity 20:27. Club Two: Neptune 20:49. Nov: Trinity A 21:26. Junior: Enniskillen 20:04. Masters: Commercial (D) 21:42. Jun 16: Col Iognaid 22:20.

Four – Jun, coxed: Commercial 22:35.

Sculling, Quadruple – Sen: Lagan Scullers 20:57. Inter: Belfast 21:53. Nov, coxed: Commercial 27:13. Jun: Neptune A 21:12. Jun 16, coxed: Bann 23:17. Masters, coxed: City of Derry (E) 24:31.  

Women

Eight – Inter: Trinity 22:48. Club One: Bann 22:46. Club Two: Carlow 25:59. Jun: Enniskillen 22:39. Jun 16: Enniskillen A 23:53. Masters: Portora (D) 30:27.

Four – Sen: Trinity 24:25. Inter, coxed: Trinity 26:35.

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun: Col Iognaid 25:22. Jun 16, coxed: Carlow 25:08. Masters, coxed: City of Derry, Lagan, Offaly (C) 29:42.

Roeivierkamp, Amsterdam (Selected Result)

Men, 2500 metres: 1 Nereus 1e Eight 6:48.6; 8 Nereus 2e Eight 7:10.8; 32:UCC 2e Eight 7:36.8.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The two heads of the river scheduled for this Saturday have fallen foul of the weather, although both are set to be rescheduled. The Erne Head, at Enniskillen, had drawn a top-class entry. But while conditions at Enniskillen might well be rowable on Saturday, travel to the venue, especially on Friday, would prove difficult at best because of snow and high winds. The organisers hope to run the event on March 10th. Cork Head has also been cancelled, and organisers say the are also hoping to have it held on a new date.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Molly Curry and Aobhinn Keating had the fastest time in a women’s double at the Ireland junior trial at the National Rowing Centre in Cork. The Coleraine Grammar School and Skibbereen combination covered the 2,000 metres in seven minutes and 45.13 seconds. We apologise for having got this wrong in the original report.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Head of the Shannon enjoyed good weather and an appreciative crowd at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. The timing system encountered some difficulties. Neptune’s junior 18 quadruple were the fastest crew in the first head. The pennant for this class was granted in the second head and Enniskillen took it. The Fermanagh club had a set of wins at junior level, as did Coláiste Iognáid of Galway. Commercial’s junior 16 women’s eight also came out on top.  

Head of the Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Selected Results (Category winners)

Head One

Men

Eight – Jun 16: Col Iognáid. Masters: Neptune (d)

Four – Jun 18, coxed: Enniskillen

Pair – Sen: Galway. Jun 18: Enniskillen

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo. Masters: Galway (e). Masters, coxed: Athlone (e).

Double – Sen: Portadown. Masters: City of Derry (d). Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Jun 16: Athlone (Carroll)

Women

Eight – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Four – Club, coxed: Athlone

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon. Jun 16: Commercial

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Jun 18: Enniskillen (Fee)

Head Two

Men

Eight, Jun 18: Portadown

Four – Masters, coxed: Athlone (b)

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Enniskillen. Jun 16: Enniskillen

Single – Sen: Sligo (G Patterson). Jun 18: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Masters: Athlone (Gallen, f)

Women,

Eight

Club: Galway. Jun 16: Commercial. Masters: Tribesmen B (e)

Four – Jun 18: Col Iognáid.

Pair – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo.

Double – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (T Duggan). Jun 16: Carrick-on-Shannon (Murtagh).

Published in Rowing

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland advises all masters and users of the Erne Navigation that a fireworks display will take place at Castle Island in Enniskillen on Hallowe’en night (Tuesday 31 October) from 8pm to 8.30pm.

Boat masters should also be aware of an event called Light Up the Lough which will take place prior to the fireworks display from 6.30pm.

Light Up the Lough is a flotilla of lit-up vessels from Erne Paddlers, Row the Erne and Erne Boat Hire Ltd. The boats will be dressed in lights and will circle around Castle Island four an hour.

Passing vessels must keep wash to a minimum and stay clear of this activity.

Masters of vessels are advised that there will be no mooring permitted at Waterways Ireland Head Office moorings nor at the Henry Street Public Jetties on the day of the event in the interest of public safety.

Navigation in the vicinity of Castle Island is also prohibited for the duration of the event.

Alternative moorings are available at the Forum and Regal Pass jetties with easy access to event vantage points.

Instructions from safety vessels must be adhered to at all times.

Further information may be had from the Lough Erne Manager/Warden at Waterways Ireland Head Office at 0044 48 66322836.

Published in Inland Waterways

​#InlandWaters - ​The Waterways Ireland Archive in Enniskillen is open for tours today and tomorrow (Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September) as part of the European Heritage Open Days taking place across Northern Ireland this weekend.

From 1pm to 5pm today and tomorrow, visitors can dive into the archives to discover the history of the inland waterways, and explore original archive material.

You'll also get a free tour of the building (tours start at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm) which will include the chance to see the solo exhibition ‘Elsewhere’ by artist Douglas Hutton, showcased as part of the Fermanagh Live arts festival.

The exhibition will remain open to the public from 7pm in the evening throughout the festival until Saturday 30 September.

Published in Inland Waterways

#Enniskillen - The Sunday Life reports that a woman has died after falling from a boat in Enniskillen in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 26 August).

The PSNI recovered the woman and a man from the waters of Lower Lough Erne after reports that they had fallen in near their boat mooring at the Round O jetty.

Both were transferred to South West Acute Hospital for treatment but the woman, aged 49, was pronounced dead shortly after. A post-mortem is expected.

The Sunday Life has more on the story HERE.

Published in News Update

#InlandWaters - ​The newly opened Enniskillen Blueway Activity Hub offers a range of activities from guided canoeing and kayaking tours to electric bike hire, day boat hire and water taxi tours.​​

Developed by Waterways Ireland with the Enniskillen Business District and based at its offices on Sligo Road along the River Erne, the new hub makes Fermanagh’s county town the perfect base to explore Lough Erne and the wider Lakelands region.​

Full details, maps and pricing are available at www.bluewaysireland.org

Published in Inland Waterways
Tagged under

#Rowing: Ireland picked up more wins at the Home International Regatta in Strathclyde today. Early in the day they had won the women’s and men’s lightweight pairs. The women’s senior double of Chloe Mehigan (Cork) and Claire Feerick (Neptune) won a good battle with Scotland to take the senior women’s double, and Ireland’s junior four of Mia Jane Elliot, Zoe McCutcheon, Caitlyn Fee and Miriam Kelly also won. They are all Enniskillen rowers.

Home International Regatta, Strathclyde (Ireland Winners; early)

Men

Lightweight Pair: C Hennessy, S O’Sullivan

Women

Double: C Mehigan, C Feerick

Lightweight Pair: G Crowe, H O’Neill

Junior – Four: MJ Elliot, Z McCutcheon, C Fee, M Kelly

Published in Rowing
Page 7 of 11

About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth

Main Trophies

Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy – overall race winner under IRC Time Correction

Boccale de Mediterraneo – winner of ORC category

RLR Trophy – winner of monohull line honours

Captain Morgan Trophy – winner of multihull division on corrected time (MOCRA)

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