Displaying items by tag: Innocence

5th June 2019

Innocence Wins Again: Foynes Crew Crowned Munster Mermaid Champions For Fourth Year Running

Nigel Young, Darragh McCormack and Jack Young of 188 Innocence with the trophy that’s been the helm’s since 2016

Foynes Yacht Club boat Innocence, helmed by Darragh McCormack and crew Nigel and Jack Young, claimed their fourth Munster Mermaids title in a row at the regional championships held at their home club on the Shannon Estuary his past June Bank Holiday weekend, writes Patricia McCormack.

The weekend got off to a bit of a slow start with racing postponed ashore for an hour in the hope that more breeze would fill in. Thankfully a breeze of 12-15 knots arrived, making for perfect racing conditions for the Mermaids.

Nine boats took to the start line for the first warning signal as 12.25pm. The first upwind proved to be very competitive with 121 Red Seal, helmed by Darragh Dineen and crew Conor and Louise Magner, and 188 Innocence rounding the windward mark first and second respectively.

There was a bit of a change-up in races on the first downwind with Innocence taking the lead and holding it comfortably for the rest of the race.

Meanwhile, there was a serious battle going on for second, third and fourth place between 100 Zest, helmed by Anna Lowes and crew Bev Lowes and Conor Clifford; 135 Cara II, helmed by Frankie Browne Snr and crew Frankie Browne Jnr and Brendan Dunne; and 119 Three Chevrons, helmed by Vincent McCormack and crew Michael Lynch and Roisin McCormack. The first race was definitely an exciting start to the championship.

ActionPhotoWinnersInnocence

The second race saw 10 boats on the start line with 54 Hycilla, helmed by Mark McCormack and crew Cathal McMahon and Luke McCormack, making its way to the start line for its debut after nine years out of the water.

The rest of the day didn’t fall short with excitement. The close racing was a magnificent sight for spectators and fantastic fun for everyone taking part.

With the forecast for Sunday not looking great the OOD Raymond McGibney made the executive decision to hold all four races scheduled for the weekend on Saturday. This came with no bother with swift mark layers and a good crew around the OOD.

The last race was certainly an interesting one for Three Chevrons and 134 Jill, helmed by Paul Smith and crew Anne Smith and Pat Mangan, battling for third overall. 161 Pearl helmed, by Noel McCormack and crew Tadhg O’Loinsigh and Mary McCormack, managed a second in Race 4.

Meanwhile, 165 Seafox, helmed by Oisin Finucane and crew Christopher McDaid and Sean Finucane, and 191 Maybee, helmed by Paddy Archer and crew Packer Thorne and Breda Magner, continued to battle with one another.

Overall it was a clean sweep for Innocence with four bullets on the day, and their fourth Munster title in as many years. Second place went to Cara II followed closely behind by Three Chevrons. Once again a fantastic weekend of racing for the Mermaid fleet.

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour