#historicboats – The fiftieth Birthday celebrations of the Old Gaffers Association on the river Liffey on the June Bank Holiday will include a Gaff Rigged Droleen (Sail No. 13-1) that once sailed off Bray in Co. Wicklow at the end of the 1800s.
A local group of Wicklow maritime enthusiasts have come together to build a new fleet of the 12-foot boats.
The original Bray Sailing Club Droleens first sailed off the beach in 1896 and the newly formed Bray Droleen Association wish to see the new fleet continue to sail under the current Bray Sailing Club Burgee.
The Bray Droleens were specifically designed by Mr Ogilvy to be sailed off the Bray shore in County Wicklow.
The group is going to build a fleet of Bray Droleens in collaboration with community and business organisations.
By doing so, the aim is to promote, restore and record some of Bray's maritime golden history.
The Droleen will be based at Poolbeg sailing club at the OGA weekend.
The fleet of at least six will be available to community groups, businesses and visitors for sailing, fishing, rowing and racing on Bray's waterfront, adding an additional experience to Bray's seafront.
Droleens are a one design class, 12ft long, 6ft wide, gaff rigged dinghies with spinnakers.
The project will involve young and old people in local groups building and using these classic boats.
