Displaying items by tag: First 375

13th October 2016

Style of Beneteau First 375 Reveals Artistic Background of Designer Jean Berret

When the First 375 first appeared in 1985, she was very much in the forefront of yacht design, and now her good looks have acquired a classic status

A First 375 has appeared on Afloat's Boats for Sale this week and there’s a timeless elegance to the general appearance and lines of the First 375 which suggests something beyond basic naval architecture in her creation writes W M Nixon. So it’s no surprise to learn that designer Jean Berret was a student at a very distinguished art school before his love of sailing, and offshore racing in particular, steered him into the professional designing of boats which he’d like to sail himself, and in 1985 the First 375 for Beneteau was signed off from his drawing board.

This 1988-built First 375 is based in Howth Yacht Club Marina, and is for sale through Leinster Boats. She certainly seems to have done what’s expected of her, as she has had only two previous owners. But as she is largely unchanged from new – including the original 28hp Volvo Penta diesel auxiliary – her sensible price of €31,950 reflects this, as some potential owners might think in terms of an early engine upgrade for this 28-year-old boat, planning on installing a more powerful yet lighter type of motor.

Against that, I was with a couple of happy co-owners on another cruiser of a certain age the other day who still cruise with their original vintage Volvo, and they wouldn’t dream of having anything else. Its weight gives it endurance, and it’s tops on fuel consumption too – “It would run on the smell of an oily rag” I was assured.

In this version of the First 375, the accommodation has been so arranged that you could sleep eight if needs be, but as there’s only one toilet that might feel a little crowded, and a more civilized approach would be no more than six with the saloon settee berths used only as settees. For four, she would be decidedly commodious, a very civilised fast cruiser which could give a good account of herself in local racing. As for her looks, you’re almost into “Spirit of Classics” territory here, she looked good when she was new, and she still looks good.

Read the full advert on Afloat's Boats for Sale here

Published in Boat Sales

Tagged under

Lively Lady is ISORA Rockabill Race Winner

East Coast inshore campaigner Lively Lady (Derek Martin) left Dublin Bay racing behind yesterday for ISORA's offshore race to Rockaill and won. The Royal Irish boat, a Beneteau First 44.7, topped a 13-boat fleet over the 50 mile course to Rockabill. It was the second ISORA race of the 2011 calendar.

Second overall was another Beneteau, Walter Mitty, Stephen Mullaney's First 375 from Howth Yacht Club. Third was Jedi, Andrew Sarratt's J109 from Dun Laoghaire.

Yesterday's race was a much more pleasant start to the season compared to the previous weekend's pasting taken during the slog across the Irish Sea to Holyhead. Perhaps that was the reason for the drop off in entries from 21 to 13? Next Saturday's ISORA fixture features another cross Irish Sea venture, this time to Pwhelli.

Race two results are available for download below. Latest ISORA news here.

ISORA Commodore Peter Ryan adds:

It had been hoped that there would be a bumper fleet out for this popular day race run in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club and the Lee Overlay Offshore Series but despite 25 entries, only 15 came to the start line. The heavy offshore race to Holyhead and delivery back the previous weekend and the strong winds all the week since then, had taken its toll with damage to boats and crew and boats not being to get to Dun Laoghaire.

The weather forecast for the day was for wind force 3-5 south east going east. The original course was to go south to North Arklow buoy. However, with the strong spring tides going north at the start and the light winds forecast, the Sailing Committee decided that going north to Rockabill would ensure a finish would be achieved to all boats. The course was: Start – North Burford(P) – Lambay (P) – Rockabill (S) – Lambay (S) – Kish Light (S) – Finish at Dun Laoghaire Harbour (45 miles).

Paul McCarthy of the RAYC provided the start at 10.00 and the fleet set off on a white sail reach towards North Burford. The wind was as forecast, south east force 3-4. Rounding that mark, spinnakers were raised and the fleet sped north with the tide. Shorthy after 12.00 “Lively Lady” rounded Rockabill followed by “English Mick”, “Orna” and directly behind her “Tsunami”.

The leg back to Kish was a beat keeping Lambay to starboard. The wind fluctuated with the stronger wind being out to sea. Most boats tacked behind Lambay to get the benefit of some lack tides in the lee of the island.

The wind was holding as the fleet neared Kish. First round was “Lively Lady” followed by “English Mick”, “Tsunami”, “Orna” and “Jedi”. As forecast the wind backed to east and dropped. What was looking like a charge to the finish turned out to be a crawl. Many of the boats at the back of the fleet gained by a temporary filling of the wind from behind as they caught up with the leading pack. However, “Lively Lady” and “English Mick” held their positions and crossed the line first and second. “Jedi” and “Orna” crept past “Tsunami” to cross the finish.

“Lively Lady” took line honours, 1st in Class and 1st Overall. “Jedi” took 1st in Class 2 while “Walter Mitty” won Class 3.

Sandra Moore of the NYC provided the finish. The usual après sail took place in the NYC after the race.

The next race is the Day Race in Pwllheli on the 14th May. It is hoped that the day race there will attract some new entrants from the Welsh side.

Rank	Fleet	Boat	SailNo	Type	Rating	Start	Finish	Elapsed	Corrected	Points
1	Class 1	Lively Lady	IRL 1644	First 44.7	1.109	10.00.00	16:21:00	6.21.00	7.02.32	98.6
2	Class 3	Walter Mitty	IRL 7963	First 375	0.947	10.00.00	17:36:38	7.36.38	7.12.26	92.8
3	Class 2	Jedi	IRL 8088	J109	1.029	10.00.00	17:05:15	7.05.15	7.17.35	87.0
4	Class 1	Orna	IRL 532		1.047	10.00.00	17:13:18	7.13.18	7.33.40	81.2
5	Class 2	Lula Belle	IRL 3607	First 36.7	1.019	10.00.00	17:28:55	7.28.55	7.37.27	75.4
6	Class 3	Windshift	IRL 37737	SF37	0.992	10.00.00	17:41:59	7.41.59	7.38.17	69.6
7	Class 2	First of September	IRL 8581	First 43.5	1.017	10.00.00	17:32:41	7.32.41	7.40.23	63.9
8	Class 1	Tsunami	IRL 4007	First 40.7	1.061	10.00.00	17:15:00	7.15.00	7.41.32	58.1
9	Class 1	English Mick	GBR4771R	Beneteau 47.7	1.130	10.00.00	16:50:07	6.50.07	7.43.26	52.3
10	Class 2	Miss Scarlett	IRL 4763	Sunfast 40.3	1.025	10.00.00	17:33:06	7.33.06	7.44.26	46.5
11	Class 3	Yahtzee	IRL 1068	Oceanis 411	0.983	10.00.00	17:57:51	7.57.51	7.49.44	40.7
12	Class 1	Sailing West Intuition	GBR 9383	Reflex 38	1.060	10.00.00	17:28:33	7.28.33	7.55.28	34.9
13	Class 1	Rebellion	IRL 6001	Nicholson 58	1.054	10.00.00	17:39:22	7.39.22	8.04.10	29.1
14	Class 1	African Challenge	IRL 2649	Fast 42	1.077	10.00.00	17:33:11	7.33.11	8.08.05	23.4
15	Class 3	Obsession	IRL4513	Sigma 33	0.905			DNF		10.0

Published in ISORA

Tagged under

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

From the Baily lighthouse to Dalkey island, the bay accommodates six separate courses for 21 different classes racing every two years for the Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

In assembling its record-breaking armada, Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta (VDLR) became, at its second staging, not only the country's biggest sailing event, with 3,500 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland's largest participant sporting events.

One of the reasons for this, ironically, is that competitors across Europe have become jaded by well-worn venue claims attempting to replicate Cowes and Cork Week.'Never mind the quality, feel the width' has been a criticism of modern-day regattas where organisers mistakenly focus on being the biggest to be the best. Dun Laoghaire, with its local fleet of 300 boats, never set out to be the biggest. Its priority focussed instead on quality racing even after it got off to a spectacularly wrong start when the event was becalmed for four days at its first attempt.

The idea to rekindle a combined Dublin bay event resurfaced after an absence of almost 40 years, mostly because of the persistence of a passionate race officer Brian Craig who believed that Dun Laoghaire could become the Cowes of the Irish Sea if the town and the local clubs worked together. Although fickle winds conspired against him in 2005, the support of all four Dun Laoghaire waterfront yacht clubs since then (made up of Dun Laoghaire Motor YC, National YC, Royal Irish YC and Royal St GYC), in association with the two racing clubs of Dublin Bay SC and Royal Alfred YC, gave him the momentum to carry on.

There is no doubt that sailors have also responded with their support from all four coasts. Running for four days, the regatta is (after the large mini-marathons) the single most significant participant sports event in the country, requiring the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury, to resolve racing disputes representing five countries. A flotilla of 25 boats regularly races from the Royal Dee near Liverpool to Dublin for the Lyver Trophy to coincide with the event. The race also doubles as a RORC qualifying race for the Fastnet.

Sailors from the Ribble, Mersey, the Menai Straits, Anglesey, Cardigan Bay and the Isle of Man have to travel three times the distance to the Solent as they do to Dublin Bay. This, claims Craig, is one of the major selling points of the Irish event and explains the range of entries from marinas as far away as Yorkshire's Whitby YC and the Isle of Wight.

No other regatta in the Irish Sea area can claim to have such a reach. Dublin Bay Weeks such as this petered out in the 1960s, and it has taken almost four decades for the waterfront clubs to come together to produce a spectacle on and off the water to rival Cowes."The fact that we are getting such numbers means it is inevitable that it is compared with Cowes," said Craig. However, there the comparison ends."We're doing our own thing here. Dun Laoghaire is unique, and we are making an extraordinary effort to welcome visitors from abroad," he added. The busiest shipping lane in the country – across the bay to Dublin port – closes temporarily to facilitate the regatta and the placing of six separate courses each day.

A fleet total of this size represents something of an unknown quantity on the bay as it is more than double the size of any other regatta ever held there.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta FAQs

What is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Ireland's biggest sailing event. It is held every second Summer at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

When is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is held every two years, typically in the first weekend of July.

Where is Dun Laoghaire Regatta held?

As its name suggests, the event is based at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Racing is held on Dublin Bay over as many as six different courses with a coastal route that extends out into the Irish Sea. Ashore, the festivities are held across the town but mostly in the four organising yacht clubs.

How big is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is the largest sailing regatta in Ireland and on the Irish Sea and the second largest in the British Isles. It has a fleet of 500 competing boats and up to 3,000 sailors. Scotland's biggest regatta on the Clyde is less than half the size of the Dun Laoghaire event. After the Dublin city marathon, the regatta is one of the most significant single participant sporting events in the country in terms of Irish sporting events.

How old is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The modern Dublin Bay Regatta began in 2005, but it owes its roots to earlier combined Dublin Bay Regattas of the 1960s.

How many boats compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 500 boats regularly compete.

How many yacht clubs are represented at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 70 different yacht clubs are represented.

Where do the yachts come from to compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland countrywide, and Dublin clubs.

How many boats are visiting boats at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Nearly half the sailors, over 1,000, travel to participate from outside of Dun Laoghaire and from overseas to race and socialise in Dun Laoghaire.

What type of yachts race in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

21 different classes are competing at Dun Laoghaire Regatta. As well as four IRC Divisions from 50-footers down to 20-foot day boats and White Sails, there are also extensive one-design keelboat and dinghy fleets to include all the fleets that regularly race on the Bay such as Beneteau 31.7s, Ruffian 23s, Sigma 33s as well as Flying Fifteens, Laser SB20s plus some visiting fleets such as the RS Elites from Belfast Lough to name by one.

What famous sailors race in Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Some sailing household names are regular competitors at the biennial Dun Laoghaire event including Dun Laoghaire Olympic silver medalist, Annalise Murphy. International sailing stars are competing too such as Mike McIntyre, a British Olympic Gold medalist and a raft of World and European class champions.

How much does it cost to enter Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

There are different entry fees for different size boats. A 40-foot yacht will pay up to €550, but a 14-foot dinghy such as Laser will pay €95. Full entry fee details are contained in the Regatta Notice of Race document.

Where can spectators view Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Spectators can see the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay. As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it is also possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

How does Dun Laoghaire regatta compare to international regattas?

Very favourably. It is often compared to Cowes, Britain's biggest regatta on the Isle of Wight that has 1,000 entries. However, sailors based in the north of England have to travel three times the distance to get to Cowes as they do to Dun Laoghaire.

Why is Dun Laoghaire Regatta so unique?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore. International sailors also speak of its international travel connections and being so close to Dublin city. The regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

Who organises Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Organising Authority (OA) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Dublin Bay Regattas Ltd, a not-for-profit company, beneficially owned by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC), National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) and Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC).

What does Dun Laoghaire Regatta contribute to the local economy?

The Irish Marine Federation launched a case study on the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's socio-economic significance. Over four days, the study (carried out by Irish Sea Marine Leisure Knowledge Network) found the event was worth nearly €3million to the local economy over the four days of the event. Typically the Royal Marine Hotel and Haddington Hotel and other local providers are fully booked for the event.