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Position: Business Development and Operations Manager.

Location: Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Role: The business development and operations manager is a key leadership position within a fast-growing business in the marine industry.

The prime business of the company was boat building, but it has now added the distribution of several marine products, ranging from boats to outboard motors, boat trailers and marine safety equipment. This business is currently being developed at a quick pace within Ireland, with great potential to expand into other markets.

The purpose of this role is to develop and maintain key relationships with clients/customers by managing day-to-day operations to ensure client service level expectations are exceeded.

This role requires excellent management, communication, sales, leadership, staff supervision and customer service skills. Candidates are required to have a third level qualification relevant to the post. Knowledge of the marine industry is desirable, but not essential.

Finally, the candidate would be required to have the ability to be involved in all aspects of the business as we have a small but diverse team that works together to ensure best service to our customers and supply-chain.

CV’s and cover letters can be sent to [email protected] 

Published in Jobs

Safety first! Whaly boats are now becoming the No. 1 Polyethylene safety boat used by many professional organisations writes Brian O'Sullivan of O'Sullivan's Marine

Whaly's almost indestructible crafts are ideally suited for Search and Rescue, Fire & Rescue, Safety Cover, Workboat etc. all over the world. They can be used for all sorts of different rescue operations, but in whatever situation, you can be assured that safety comes first with Whaly.

Suppose you are looking for extremely sturdy basic equipment or a boat that can take some rough handling or get into shallow waters. In that case, you will find that you can rely on the optimal safety that Whaly boats offer for safety for you and your passengers. Please allow us to introduce Whaly boats/models ideally suited for rescue operations:

  • Whaly 370
  • Whaly 435 / 435R Professional
  • Whaly 455 / 455R Professional
  • Whaly 500 / 500R Professional

Whatever your requirements, whether you are looking for the supply of just a boat, or looking to put together a package with an engine, trailer, console, electronics and safety equipment, O'Sullivan's Marine has the experience and expertise to help you find the Whaly to suits your unique requirements.

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine
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O’Sullivan’s Marine stock a large selection of life jackets and buoyancy aids for adults, children and infants available from some of the leading brands. We have all types, from inflatable lifejackets in automatic and manual versions with or without an integrated safety harness, foam life jackets, SOLAS folding commercial lifejackets to 50N foam and neoprene buoyancy aids. But which is the right life jacket to suit your type of activity and experience?

Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids are tested and rated to specific European Standards and split into CE categories. These are the universal criteria that define each product and the environment they are suitable for. Life jackets and buoyancy aids are measured in pounds or Newtons.

BUOYANCY AIDS

lalizas fit and float bouyancy aid osmarineThe Lalizas fit and float buoyancy aid

50N Buoyancy Aids – ISO 12402-5

Designed mainly for active surface watersports for example dinghy sailing, kayaking, kite surfing, in sheltered water where help is close at hand. These are suitable for competent swimmers and provide support to conscious people. We have some of the best value foam buoyancy aids on the market, Fit & Float, Pro Race, Performance buoyancy aids in a range of sizes, a range of 50N neoprene buoyancy aids. We even have your pets covered with Pet Retriever Buoyancy aids.

LIFE JACKETS

100 Newtons of buoyancy is the standard minimum for Lifejackets. It is sufficient to keep most people afloat with their mouth comfortably above the water For offshore and coastal sailing, where sea conditions can be severe and rescue can take longer 150 Newtons is the recommendation.

foam lifejacket osullivans marine ireland 767The Lalizas foam lifejacket

100N – 150N Foam Lifejackets – ISO 12402-4

Designed for dinghy sailing, sportsboats, powerboats (Including RIBs) for inshore and coastal waters. These are suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers and give reasonable assurance of safety from drowning in relatively calm water. Our Lalizas range of 100 and 150N foam lifejackets have a large flotation collar which is designed to turn the user face up and support the head. Foam lifejackets for babies, infants, children and adults available.

marinepool lifejacket ireland osmarineMarinepool lifejacket

150N – 180N Inflatable Lifejacket – ISO 12402-3

spinlock deckvest ireland osmarineThe Spinlock deckvest

Designed for yachting, sports boats, powerboats (Including RIBs) for use in all but the most severe conditions. These are suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers. Available in automatic or manual.

Automatic styles inflate when wet or submerged in water. Automatic inflation can be important in life-saving if an accident occurred leaving you in the water, or if you are unconscious in the water.

Manual inflation requires jerking an inflation tab or handle attached to the CO2 cartridge. If you are in a situation where you want to control whether or not the vest inflates, and expect to be conscious, manual inflatables may be an option for you.

Both manual and automatic life jackets are available with or without a safety harness. If you ever anticipate sailing offshore, at night or in seas where you want to use a tether to attach yourself to a jackline or pad eye, even just once, purchase an inflatable life jacket with a built-in harness and tether attachment point.

O’Sullivan’s Marine offer a range of inflatable life jackets from some of the leading brands: Marinepool, Maindeck, Waveline, Spinlock, Plastimo and Lalizas.

Should you need any assistance, our knowledgeable sales team will only be too glad to help with your lifejacket selection, to ensure you get the right life jacket for your needs and are safe on the water.

LIFE JACKET SERVICING – How often should lifejackets be serviced?

Manufacturers, safety bodies and the RNLI universally recommend the importance of regular lifejacket servicing. Inflatable life jackets, for normal personal use, should be serviced every 2 years. Where life jackets are used very regularly or for professional or commercial use, this should be carried out every year. Here at O’Sullivan’s Marine, our qualified staff can service and certify our life jacket brands.

As well as a comprehensive range of life jackets and buoyancy aids, O’Sullivan’s Marine also supply life jacket spares & accessories, from SOLAS approved lifejacket lights, CO2 recharge cylinders and UML cartridges, replacement salt tablets, sprayhoods, to name a few.

Visit our website http://www.osmarine.ie to browse our full range of life jackets, lifebuoys and other marine safety equipment, and feel free to contact us for advice, or to request a quotation for products that comply with code of practice safety requirements for grant purposes.

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine
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There can be little worse than heading out for a day's boating only to find someone has stolen your outboard motor, leaving you to deal with the loss, painful insurance issues, the costly excess or replacement of the engine and a ruined weekend. Thefts tend to occur in areas where there are significant accumulations of boats with outboards, for example, marinas and boating clubs; however, the problem is nationwide and can also occur in isolated regions.

Combatting Outboard Motor Theft

The more visibly secure an engine is, the less likely it is that a thief will attempt to take it. Given the reduced rates of recovery success, prevention is better than cure. The first step owners should take is to ensure the most secure and suitable anti-theft device for their engine is installed. Owners also need to ensure that their insurance policy wording relating to anti-theft devices are complied with in full, to avoid the possibility of a claim being invalidated due to failure to comply with all policy wordings. No outboard is insured unless it is locked on with an insurance approved lock.

INSURANCE APPROVED ENGINE LOCKS

O'Sullivan's Marine is now able to supply MOTORLOC insurance approved outboard locks to the Irish market.

Atlantic Slot Lock

The Atlantic Slot Lock is the most substantial insurance approved outboard motor lock and is available in four lengths: 170mm, 195mm, 230mm, 260mm; each with a 14mm slot. A high-security locking head (HSH) is supplied as is a black dust cap and a rubber liner. Design specifically for smaller, clamp-mounted outboard engines.

s l300Atlantic Slot Lock

These are for use where an outboard engine is attached using the engine's clamping bracket. The slot in the lock covers the two clamp heads making it nearly impossible for a potential thief to get access to them.

Atlantic Slot Lock3

Choosing the right size: If you are unsure which Slot Lock you require, then measure across the width of your toggles once aligned up straight: If less than 150mm then an Atlantic 170 is required | If less than 160mm then an Atlantic 195 is required | If over 160mm then an Atlantic 230 is required | If above 190mm then an Atlantic 260 is required. Available from O'Sullivan's Marine, Co Kerry.

The Volcano

The Volcano Bolt Lock represents the pinnacle of insurance approved bolt lock development. It is now regarded by many in the industry as the best bolt lock on the market as it has been designed and built to resist removal by the most robust actions.

Volcano Bolt LockVolcano Bolt Lock

For through-transom bolted engine installations

As two stroke outboard motors become rarer and new heavier four-stroke outboard engines take their place, many owners of 8hp engines and above sensibly choose to bolt the engine through the transom in a semi-permanent installation to protect from outboard motor theft.

The Volcano bolt lock is intended for use with through-bolts that are coach, countersunk or stepped, so that should a thief attack the head of the bolt and remove it, they will be unable to hammer the bolt shank through the existing hole.

Volcano Bolt Lock 2Volcano Bolt Lock

The Volcano bolt-lock for through-transom bolted outboard engines has a 13mm diameter hole in the body unit. A stainless steel reducing bush is available to cut the gap to 10mm.

Motorloc insurance approved locks are made from high grade (nickel/chrome marine 316) stainless steel, incorporating marine friendly lock mechanisms that perform well in a saltwater/marine environment - High-quality locks that will last. All available from O'Sullivan's Marine, Co Kerry.

OTHER SECURITY MEASURES FOR COMBATTING THEFT

Further security measures include marking the engine somewhere with your own unique mark such as your Eircode, taking photographs and installing a motion-activated surveillance camera (MASC), which are very discrete and inexpensive to buy and install. These automatically photograph and/or record any movement, and wireless cameras have made surveillance possible in remote areas where it was not possible in the past.

When storing a boat, ashore consideration should be given to general security, such as lighting and ensuring that recorded CCTV covers the appropriate part of the yard being used.

Finally, there is some evidence of smaller engines being stolen from boats while they are afloat, so a collective effort is required by all concerned to be observant and to report any suspicious activity immediately to the Gardai.

For further information or advice on Insurance Approved Engine Locks contact O'SULLIVAN'S MARINE on 066-7124524, or visit www.osmarine.ie.

For trade enquiries please email: [email protected]

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine

An array of boats, kayaks, inflatables, outboards and safety equipment is on display this weekend on the O’Sullivan’s Marine stand at the Ireland Angling Show at The National Show Centre in Swords in north Dublin.

Early attendance to the show this morning is reported as 'very good' by the firm's Brian O'Sullivan.

Whaly boatThe multi purpose Whaly boat with bow door is on display

O’Sullivan’s Marine are displaying their recent consignment of Whaly boats - including the eagerly anticipated Whaly 455 – the first to arrive in Ireland! As Afloat reported previously here, the County Kerry firm delivered five Whaly 500R boats to Inland Fisheries in March last year.

O'Sullivan's Marine is also displaying in Swords some of the “best value” angling kayaks as Afloat reported earlier here. Included in the display is the very popular compact single sit-on-top Conger fishing kayak that is stable, light and easy to handle.

CanoesCanoes and Kayaks from OSM

Show attendance

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine
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O’Sullivan’s Marine will be displaying some of the “best value” angling kayaks in Ireland at this year’s Ireland Angling Expo in the National Show Centre, Swords, Dublin on 15th & 16th February 2020.

ANGLING & RECREATIONAL KAYAKS TO SUIT ALL LEVELS AND BUDGETS

RECREATIONAL: on display

conger KayakThe Conger kayak

CONGER
The Conger is a compact single sit-on-top fishing kayak that is stable, light and easy to handle. Four internal fishing rod holders, a large storage area at the rear and 2 waterproof round hatches with bag inserts to secure your gear. The Conger kayak is a well-featured starter kayak at a very reasonable price.

Rodster KayakThe Rodster kayak

RODSTER
The Rodster is a neat compact fishing kayak that tracks beautifully through the water due to its sleek bow design and is extremely stable due to the 84cm wide hull. Equipped with a comfortable aluminium-frame raised seat and plenty of storage areas for your catch and equipment. 4 internal flush-mounted rod holders and deep fishing pod console in the centre. Hands-free rudder system available as an optional extra.

Dace pro 8 767pxThe Dace Pro

PROFESSIONAL ANGLING KAYAKS:

Professional angling kayaks on display include The Dace Pro 10’, 12’ and 14’ as well as the Big Dace Pro 13’. Packed to the gills with fishing features, and everything needed for a comfortable and productive outing for professional fishermen and women.

These kayaks are extremely well-featured and offer the perfect combination of stability, speed, manoeuvrability and straight-line tracking.

big dace pro angler 13 4Big Dace Pro Angler 13

TANDEM AND 1 + 1 KAYAKS

For those who want to share the fun, O’Sullivan’s Marine also offer the GLIDE 1 + 1, which has room to bring a small passenger in front of the paddler, along with the OCEANUS (2.5 p) and the CASTOR DOUBLE KAYAK - boasting a huge load carrying capacity of 300kg and extra-wide seating area, perfect for a fishing trip for two! 

TARPON PROPEL

Tarpon 7Tarpon 7

The Tarpon Propel is equipped with a performance-engineered pedal drive system for hands-free fishing, accessory gear tracks, adjustable seat, hand-controlled rudder and 2 flush mount rod holders. Coming in at 10.5’ long and 33 inches wide this fishing machine is ready for anything!

Come and see these and more at O’Sullivan’s Marine Ireland Fishing Expo stand!

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine

With all the uncertainty around Brexit, O’Sullivan’s Marine have been pro-active in securing a level of consistency and reliability of supply of various ranges of marine products that are traditionally shipped into Ireland from the UK.

The first line to be announced for sole distribution in Ireland by O’Sullivan’s Marine is Cobra Marine Radios. When it comes to the latest VHF radios, nothing comes close to a Cobra.

cobra

When heading out on the water, a fixed-mount VHF radio is vital for communication and safety. With advanced safety features, easy menu navigation, and 24 hr access to emergency alerts and broadcasts, Cobra’s got you covered. With advanced features like Rewind-Say-Again® so you’ll never miss a VHF call, Radio check – checks battery transmitting voltage, RF power output and antenna integrity. Submersible for 30 minutes in 1.5m deep water which meets IPX8/JIS8 standards. With noise-cancelling microphone to block background noise for clearer communication and PA function for public address to an external speaker.

The MRF57B (pictured top) is a powerful Class D DSC VHF radio perfect for short or long-range communication, Plug and play GPS capable. The MRF77B is Cobra’s most advanced fixed radio, a unique VHF radio with an integrated GPS receiver and exact location for a true life-saving device.

MRHH600B stra 800xThe advanced HH600 model with built-in GPS

Cobra also offers a range of FIVE Hand Held VHF radios, from the entry-level HH125, perfect for recreational boaters or as a portable backup on larger vessels. The backlit LCD and keypad allows use in low light conditions and will turn off automatically to conserve battery power. Includes 1 or 3 watts, Large, bright LCD display, Compact waterproof design, 5 x 850 mAh AAA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries. It can also be used with 5 standard AAA alkaline batteries in emergencies. Features 1 or 3 Watts Dual output power for short and long communication. From this basic radio, Cobra offers HH150, HH350, HH500 each floating handheld with their own unique features, through to the advanced HH600 model with built-in GPS. View exact coordinates, transmit your location, and use its Bluetooth® capabilities to keep your phone safe and dry. The added flashlight with emergency strobe ensures you can always be found. Rewind-Say-Again®Automatically records the last 20 seconds of VHF calls so you can always playback what you missed. Selectable Power - Select between 1, 3 and 6 watts of output power for short and long-range communication, with Crystal clear, illuminated display which makes it easy to read your radio. 

O’Sullivan’s Marine are proud to be able to offer Cobra products to the Irish market, for more detailed information on pricing and model features, visit www.osmarine.ie, or contact 066-7124524 – Trade enquiries: please email [email protected].

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine

O’Sullivan’s Marine is proud to represent Ocean Fenders in Ireland, and for the month of October, are offering 20% off all Ocean fenders… while stocks last.

Ocean Fenders – the leading brand in the fendering industry, offer superior quality, lifetime performance and maximum protection. Their exclusive designs undergo extensive quality testing ensuring consistent quality – at highly competitive prices. Ocean Buoys and Fenders are made in one piece, resulting in consistent wall thickness throughout.

R series 72002 008R series

R Series Heavy Duty Buoys – Versatile buoys for the most adverse conditions.
Rock-solid rope-hold with reinforced material
Simple valve for convenient inflation
Seamless construction
UV resistant
More ribs than any other buoy on the market
Widely popular among commercial fishermen, but also among recreational boats too.

H Series 71984 992H Series

H Series Heavy Duty Fenders in which the rib-reinforced rock-solid rope-holds on the two sides of the fender are made in such a way to provide extra strength and durability for the fender. A versatile fender for the most adverse conditions. Suitable for any use and any kind of boat from 10-60ft, the Ocean Heavy Duty fender “fends” proudly.

U Series 72260 265U Series

U Series Fenders, the utility fender for every use and everyone! As with all of the Ocean fenders, it is made out of Plastisol PVC material, with rotation moulding procedure making it the highest quality utility fender in the market. The simple valve offers convenient inflation and maximum protection at the same time.

CH series 72266 268 with ropeCH series with rope

CH Series Centre Hole Fenders, distinct for their multiple use since they are designed for both horizontal and vertical application to any small to medium boat. Accompanied with white rope to make your life easier!

RT series 72107 110RT series

RT Series Rope Through Fenders, multiple use for both horizontal and vertical application for any boat, with reinforced vertical ribs, giving extra protection. Made in one piece for consistent wall thickness. For boats 15 to 50 feet.

For more information: www.osmarine.ie

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine

For many years O’Sullivan’s Marine have been the ‘go to’ outlet for quality outboard engine brands such as Tohatsu, Suzuki and Honda — and now Yahama outboards have been added to their available stock range, writes Brian O’Sullivan.

Whether you are looking to purchase an individual engine, or as part of a tailored boat package, O’Sullivan’s Marine are now able to offer all top-quality engine brands — ex stock.

Yamaha’s highly popular engines are well known for their reliability, quiet running and excellent fuel economy, and range from lightweight portable 2.5HP right through to the powerful 350HP V8.

O’Sullivan’s Marine are renowned for their expertise in both the supply and servicing of outboard engine, and have the largest choice of outboard engines on permanent display in their Tralee showrooms.

With full-time mechanics and the latest equipment and software, O’Sullivan’s Marine can service everything they supply. Contact them for a quotation — for a new engine to whatever repairs may be required, they are happy to oblige.

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine

After launching a comprehensive new range of Cool Kayaks earlier in the season, the demand was so high that stocks soon ran out… not surprising considering their high quality and exceptionally good prices writes Brian O'Sullivan of O'Sullivan's Marine.

The good news is that a new consignment arrived into O’Sullivan’s Marine on 6th August, and the even better news is that they have increased their range, and can now offer an even bigger selection of “best value” kayaks in Ireland!

Sit On Top Kayaks

Sit on top kayaks are getting increasingly more popular, and at O’Sullivan’s Marine they have models to suit all budgets and abilities.

Recreational Fun for all the family

From the low profile sleek Flash Kayak for small adults and children up to the 9’6” Conger single kayaks and several models in between, O’Sullivan’s Marine can offer a range to suit all individual kayakers.

oceanus 5 767Oceanus 5

For those who want to share the fun, they also offer the Glide 1 + 1, this stable versatile platform has room to bring a small passenger in front of the paddler or the Oceanus 2.5 seater, a well-priced tandem kayak.

Angling Kayaks

Using kayaks for angling is a rapidly growing pastime that has many advantages for fishermen and women. It allows the exploration of areas that would otherwise be difficult to access, giving more fishing time and potentially bigger catches!

Dace pro 8 767pxThe Dace Pro 8

O’Sullivan’s Marine has a comprehensive choice of models for the angler, fully equipped with everything needed for a comfortable and productive outing. Ranging from the 9’6” Rodster up to the Dace Pro Angler 14’ single kayak, and the Caster double seater, these kayaks are well-featured and offer the perfect combination of stability, speed, manoeuvrability and straight-line tracking.

Tarpon Propel Kayak

Packed to the gills with fishing features, the Tarpon Propel 10 pedal kayak is equipped with a performance-engineered pedal drive system for hands-free fishing, accessory gear tracks, adjustable seat, hand-controlled rudder and 2 flush mount rod holders. Coming in at 10.5’ long and 33 inches wide this fishing machine is ready for anything!

Tarpon 767pxTarpon

Touring Sit in Kayak

The Swift touring kayak has a unique design that cuts through the water easily, giving it extraordinary acceleration. Equipped with a large seat well and two storage hatches.

swift 3 767pxSwift 3

SUP Boards

Available in 10’ and 12’, the cool SUP boards are high quality, competitively priced and equipped with storage hatches, foot cushions, bungees, drain plugs and carrying handles.

All Cool kayaks are well equipped as standard, but also offer a full range of additional accessories, from roof racks to luxury seats, all available from next week at O’Sullivan’s Marine.

For more information contact 066 7124524 or visit www.osmarine.ie

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine
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Irish Olympic Sailing Team

Ireland has a proud representation in sailing at the Olympics dating back to 1948. Today there is a modern governing structure surrounding the selection of sailors the Olympic Regatta

Irish Olympic Sailing FAQs

Ireland’s representation in sailing at the Olympics dates back to 1948, when a team consisting of Jimmy Mooney (Firefly), Alf Delany and Hugh Allen (Swallow) competed in that year’s Summer Games in London (sailing off Torquay). Except for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Ireland has sent at least one sailor to every Summer Games since then.

  • 1948 – London (Torquay) — Firefly: Jimmy Mooney; Swallow: Alf Delany, Hugh Allen
  • 1952 – Helsinki — Finn: Alf Delany * 1956 – Melbourne — Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1960 – Rome — Flying Dutchman: Johnny Hooper, Peter Gray; Dragon: Jimmy Mooney, David Ryder, Robin Benson; Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1964 – Tokyo — Dragon: Eddie Kelliher, Harry Maguire, Rob Dalton; Finn: Johnny Hooper 
  • 1972 – Munich (Kiel) — Tempest: David Wilkins, Sean Whitaker; Dragon: Robin Hennessy, Harry Byrne, Owen Delany; Finn: Kevin McLaverty; Flying Dutchman: Harold Cudmore, Richard O’Shea
  • 1976 – Montreal (Kingston) — 470: Robert Dix, Peter Dix; Flying Dutchman: Barry O’Neill, Jamie Wilkinson; Tempest: David Wilkins, Derek Jago
  • 1980 – Moscow (Tallinn) — Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson (Silver medalists) * 1984 – Los Angeles — Finn: Bill O’Hara
  • 1988 – Seoul (Pusan) — Finn: Bill O’Hara; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; 470 (Women): Cathy MacAleavy, Aisling Byrne
  • 1992 – Barcelona — Europe: Denise Lyttle; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; Star: Mark Mansfield, Tom McWilliam
  • 1996 – Atlanta (Savannah) — Laser: Mark Lyttle; Europe: Aisling Bowman (Byrne); Finn: John Driscoll; Star: Mark Mansfield, David Burrows; 470 (Women): Denise Lyttle, Louise Cole; Soling: Marshall King, Dan O’Grady, Garrett Connolly
  • 2000 – Sydney — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, David O'Brien
  • 2004 – Athens — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, Killian Collins; 49er: Tom Fitzpatrick, Fraser Brown; 470: Gerald Owens, Ross Killian; Laser: Rory Fitzpatrick
  • 2008 – Beijing (Qingdao) — Star: Peter O’Leary, Stephen Milne; Finn: Tim Goodbody; Laser Radial: Ciara Peelo; 470: Gerald Owens, Phil Lawton
  • 2012 – London (Weymouth) — Star: Peter O’Leary, David Burrows; 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; Laser Radial: Annalise Murphy; Laser: James Espey; 470: Gerald Owens, Scott Flanigan
  • 2016 – Rio — Laser Radial (Women): Annalise Murphy (Silver medalist); 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; 49erFX: Andrea Brewster, Saskia Tidey; Laser: Finn Lynch; Paralympic Sonar: John Twomey, Ian Costello & Austin O’Carroll

Ireland has won two Olympics medals in sailing events, both silver: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson in the Flying Dutchman at Moscow 1980, and Annalise Murphy in the Laser Radial at Rio 2016.

The current team, as of December 2020, consists of Laser sailors Finn Lynch, Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon, 49er pairs Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle, and Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson, as well as Laser Radial sailors Annalise Murphy and Aoife Hopkins.

Irish Sailing is the National Governing Body for sailing in Ireland.

Irish Sailing’s Performance division is responsible for selecting and nurturing Olympic contenders as part of its Performance Pathway.

The Performance Pathway is Irish Sailing’s Olympic talent pipeline. The Performance Pathway counts over 70 sailors from 11 years up in its programme.The Performance Pathway is made up of Junior, Youth, Academy, Development and Olympic squads. It provides young, talented and ambitious Irish sailors with opportunities to move up through the ranks from an early age. With up to 100 young athletes training with the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway, every aspect of their performance is planned and closely monitored while strong relationships are simultaneously built with the sailors and their families

Rory Fitzpatrick is the head coach of Irish Sailing Performance. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and was an Athens 2004 Olympian in the Laser class.

The Performance Director of Irish Sailing is James O’Callaghan. Since 2006 James has been responsible for the development and delivery of athlete-focused, coach-led, performance-measured programmes across the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. A Business & Economics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he is a Level 3 Qualified Coach and Level 2 Coach Tutor. He has coached at five Olympic Games and numerous European and World Championship events across multiple Olympic classes. He is also a member of the Irish Sailing Foundation board.

Annalise Murphy is by far and away the biggest Irish sailing star. Her fourth in London 2012 when she came so agonisingly close to a bronze medal followed by her superb silver medal performance four years later at Rio won the hearts of Ireland. Murphy is aiming to go one better in Tokyo 2021. 

Under head coach Rory Fitzpatrick, the coaching staff consists of Laser Radial Academy coach Sean Evans, Olympic Laser coach Vasilij Zbogar and 49er team coach Matt McGovern.

The Irish Government provides funding to Irish Sailing. These funds are exclusively for the benefit of the Performance Pathway. However, this falls short of the amount required to fund the Performance Pathway in order to allow Ireland compete at the highest level. As a result the Performance Pathway programme currently receives around €850,000 per annum from Sport Ireland and €150,000 from sponsorship. A further €2 million per annum is needed to have a major impact at the highest level. The Irish Sailing Foundation was established to bridge the financial gap through securing philanthropic donations, corporate giving and sponsorship.

The vision of the Irish Sailing Foundation is to generate the required financial resources for Ireland to scale-up and execute its world-class sailing programme. Irish Sailing works tirelessly to promote sailing in Ireland and abroad and has been successful in securing funding of 1 million euro from Sport Ireland. However, to compete on a par with other nations, a further €2 million is required annually to realise the ambitions of our talented sailors. For this reason, the Irish Sailing Foundation was formed to seek philanthropic donations. Led by a Board of Directors and Head of Development Kathryn Grace, the foundation lads a campaign to bridge the financial gap to provide the Performance Pathway with the funds necessary to increase coaching hours, upgrade equipment and provide world class sport science support to a greater number of high-potential Irish sailors.

The Senior and Academy teams of the Performance Pathway are supported with the provision of a coach, vehicle, coach boat and boats. Even with this level of subsidy there is still a large financial burden on individual families due to travel costs, entry fees and accommodation. There are often compromises made on the amount of days a coach can be hired for and on many occasions it is necessary to opt out of major competitions outside Europe due to cost. Money raised by the Irish Sailing Foundation will go towards increased quality coaching time, world-class equipment, and subsiding entry fees and travel-related costs. It also goes towards broadening the base of talented sailors that can consider campaigning by removing financial hurdles, and the Performance HQ in Dublin to increase efficiency and reduce logistical issues.

The ethos of the Performance Pathway is progression. At each stage international performance benchmarks are utilised to ensure the sailors are meeting expectations set. The size of a sailor will generally dictate which boat they sail. The classes selected on the pathway have been identified as the best feeder classes for progression. Currently the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway consists of the following groups: * Pathway (U15) Optimist and Topper * Youth Academy (U19) Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and 420 * Development Academy (U23) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX * Team IRL (direct-funded athletes) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX

The Irish Sailing performance director produces a detailed annual budget for the programme which is presented to Sport Ireland, Irish Sailing and the Foundation for detailed discussion and analysis of the programme, where each item of expenditure is reviewed and approved. Each year, the performance director drafts a Performance Plan and Budget designed to meet the objectives of Irish Performance Sailing based on an annual review of the Pathway Programmes from Junior to Olympic level. The plan is then presented to the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) where it is independently assessed and the budget is agreed. The OSG closely monitors the delivery of the plan ensuring it meets the agreed strategy, is within budget and in line with operational plans. The performance director communicates on an ongoing basis with the OSG throughout the year, reporting formally on a quarterly basis.

Due to the specialised nature of Performance Sport, Irish Sailing established an expert sub-committee which is referred to as the Olympic Steering Group (OSG). The OSG is chaired by Patrick Coveney and its objective is centred around winning Olympic medals so it oversees the delivery of the Irish Sailing’s Performance plan.

At Junior level (U15) sailors learn not only to be a sailor but also an athlete. They develop the discipline required to keep a training log while undertaking fitness programmes, attending coaching sessions and travelling to competitions. During the winter Regional Squads take place and then in spring the National Squads are selected for Summer Competitions. As sailors move into Youth level (U19) there is an exhaustive selection matrix used when considering a sailor for entry into the Performance Academy. Completion of club training programmes, attendance at the performance seminars, physical suitability and also progress at Junior and Youth competitions are assessed and reviewed. Once invited in to the Performance Academy, sailors are given a six-month trial before a final decision is made on their selection. Sailors in the Academy are very closely monitored and engage in a very well planned out sailing, training and competition programme. There are also defined international benchmarks which these sailors are required to meet by a certain age. Biannual reviews are conducted transparently with the sailors so they know exactly where they are performing well and they are made aware of where they may need to improve before the next review.

©Afloat 2020

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition

Where is the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition being held? Sailing at Paris 2024 will take place in Marseille on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea between 28 July and 8 August, and will feature Kiteboarding for the first time, following a successful Olympic debut in 2018 at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. The sailing event is over 700 km from the main Olympic Games venue in Paris.

What are the events? The Olympic Sailing Competition at Paris 2024 will feature ten Events:

  • Women’s: Windsurfing, Kite, Dinghy, Skiff
  • Men’s: Windsurfing, Kite, Dinghy, Skiff
  • Mixed: Dinghy, Multihull

How do you qualify for Paris 2024?  The first opportunity for athletes to qualify for Paris 2024 will be the Sailing World Championships, The Hague 2023, followed by the Men’s and Women’s Dinghy 2024 World Championships and then a qualifier on each of World Sailing’s six continents in each of the ten Events. The final opportunity is a last chance regatta to be held in 2024, just a few months before the Games begin.

50-50 split between male and female athletes: The Paris 2024 Games is set to be the first to achieve a 50-50 split between male and female athletes, building on the progress made at both Rio 2016 (47.5%) and Tokyo 2020 (48.8%). It will also be the first Olympic Games where two of the three Chief roles in the sailing event will be held by female officials,

At a Glance -  Paris Olympics Sailing Marseille

July 28th – August 8th Paris Olympics Sailing Marseille

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