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Displaying items by tag: King's Island

A flood relief scheme for King’s Island along the Shannon in Limerick came a step closer this week with approval of tenders for a construction project.

The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Patrick O’Donovan confirmed on Wednesday (Feb 7) that the OPW has approved issuing of tenders by Limerick city and county council.

Mayor of the city and county of Limerick Gerald Mitchell welcomed the development, which is expected to protect some 528 homes and businesses when completed by the end of 2026.

“It is ten years ago this month since King’s Island was devastated by significant flooding and the images of residents being taken from their homes in boats will live long in the memory,” Mitchell said.

“ Today we are taking a significant step towards delivering vital works to protect homes and businesses in the area,” he said.

“I know that a great deal of work has gone into developing this scheme in an important area of Limerick city with both environmental and archaeological sensitivities,”’O’Donovan said.

“ I also understand that in addition to the much-needed flood relief scheme there will also be important amenities provided for the local community through public realm [funding], and significant conservation works undertaken to those areas of the scheme that interface with the historic fabric of this particularly important area,” he said.

The design began in 2015 with the appointment of Arup and JBA consultants to develop a permanent flood relief scheme for King’s Island.

The preferred option for the scheme, which was subject to public consultation, received planning approval in May 2021.

Published in Shannon Estuary

The Round Britain & Ireland Race

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race will feature a wide variety of yachts racing under the IRC rating rule as well as one design and open classes, such as IMOCA, Class40 and Multihulls. The majority of the fleet will race fully crewed, but with the popularity of the Two-Handed class in recent years, the race is expected to have a record entry.

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race starts on Sunday 7th August 2022 from Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with The Royal Yacht Squadron.

It is run every four years. There have been nine editions of the Round Britain and Ireland Race which started in 1976 Sevenstar has sponsored the race four times - 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and has committed to a longterm partnership with the RORC

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is a fully crewed non-stop race covering 1,805 nautical miles and is open to IRC, IRC Two Handed, IMOCA 60s, Class40s, Volvo 65s and Multihulls that will race around Britain and Ireland, starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes on the Isle of Wight starting after Cowes Week on Sunday 7 August 2022

The last edition of the race in 2018 attracted 28 teams with crews from 18 nations. Giles Redpath's British Lombard 46 saw over victory and Phil Sharp's Class40 Imerys Clean Energy established a new world record for 40ft and under, completing the course in 8 days 4 hrs 14 mins 49 secs.

The 1,805nm course will take competitors around some of the busiest and most tactically challenging sailing waters in the world. It attracts a diverse range of yachts and crew, most of which are enticed by the challenge it offers as well as the diversity and beauty of the route around Britain and Ireland with spectacular scenery and wildlife.

Most sailors agree that this race is one of the toughest tests as it is nearly as long as an Atlantic crossing, but the changes of direction at headlands will mean constant breaks in the watch system for sail changes and sail trim

Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race Records:

  • Outright - OMA07 Musandam-Oman Sail, MOD 70, Sidney Gavignet, 2014: 3 days 03:32:36
  • Monohull - Azzam Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, VO 65, Ian Walker, 2014: 4 days 13:10:28
  • Monohull All-Female - Team SCA, VO 65, Samantha Davies, 2014: 4 days 21:00:39
  • Monohull 60ft or less - Artemis Team Endeavour, IMOCA 60, Brian Thompson/Artemis Ocean Racing, 2014: 5 days 14:00:54
  • Monohull 40ft or less – Imerys Clean Energy, Class40, Phil Sharp, 2018: 8 days 4:14:49