#national18 – With 8 to 10 knots of a westerly breeze saw the first day of the National 18s Irish Championships sponsored by North Sails in Cork Harbour yesterday writes Claire Bateman. This is the largest one design fleet in the harbour and 18 boats came to the line. Certainly the top half of the fleet showed just how competitive this class is. Sailing off Trabolgan with the weather mark off Roches Point, the fleet got in three good races. The first race was a windward leeward and this was followed by an Olympic course that took a black flag to get the fleet away cleanly.

Racing continues today with FG 11.55hrs as per the Sailing Instructions and not 10.25hrs as per the Notice of Race.

Also in the harbour yesterday a fleet of twenty or so Optimists were heading out to get in some practice for the Cobbler League that will commence next weekend. These intrepid young sailors can never seem to get enough of the water!

Today also sees the start of the highlight event of the Autumn Season the CH Marine Autumn Regatta with this event counting for the SCORA League.

ASGARD rises again .. Can you help to find goose barnacles? ... Irish brothers wrap up the 18s in Scotland... Commercial fishermen want bass fisheries re-opened.... The weather hasn't really been so bad – do you believe that? The Channel Tunnel buys ferries ... Lusitania artefacts are assigned to the States and the oceans are saving humans ashore. That is the TIN mix this week.... Read on ....

 

ASGARD IS MAGNIFICENT

I have reported the conservation of Asgard since it began five years ago under the leadership of John Kearon from Arklow who formerly headed up restoration work at Liverpool Maritime Museum where I saw him direct the refurbishment of the Wolfe Tone Bantry Longboat. Both are now on public display at the National Museum in Collins Barracks, Dublin. Asgard looks magnificent, painted on the port side, the varnished hull gleaming on starboard. Standing under the port side at the opening ceremony as she went on public exhibition, I remembered how she had looked when I first saw her, raw, much in need of attention so many years back when John told me with confidence that she would be restored to what she had originally looked like. There was painstaking tracing of artefacts, of locating many items which had been removed from the vessel in previous years. There was a lot of controversy and opposition to the restoration from those who wanted her to go afloat again. They opposed the concept of a vessel being preserved ashore, out of her natural environment. There is no doubt in my mind that the correct decision was taken, to make her a national treasure, on display, open for viewing free-of-charge to the public, a reminder of the birth of our nation and her pivotal role in the 1914 Howth gun-running from which weapons unloaded were later used in the Easter Rising. She will also be remembered as Ireland's first national sail-training vessel. All those memories flowed from the large attendance present when she went on display. I met many friends from the maritime sphere. A common comment was the regret that there is not an Asgard 3 to carry on the great tradition of this name in Irish sail training. The former government and Minister responsible at the time, Willie O'Dea, destroyed Irish sail training, a denial of Ireland's maritime role and of the educational and cultural, formative role of young people through the sea. Is there anyone, any wealthy Irish businessman or business group, who would provide the funding for an Irish sail training vessel. It would have been possible to purchase a new vessel for the €3.8m. compensation paid for the sinking of Asgard 2 but Willie O'Dea handed over that money to the Department of Finance, a blow against Ireland's maritime sphere.

 

COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN WANT BASS FISHERIES OPENED

The Irish Fishermen's Organisation has called on Marine Minister Simon Coveney to re-open bass fisheries to commercial fishermen. They have been closed for several years but that may lead to Ireland being excluded forever from fishing bass, while foreign vessels in the EU can catch the fish in Irish waters. The EU has begun a process to put controls on the catching of bass by commercial boats, known as the TAC - Total Allowable Catch. Officials have proposed that this be based on commercial landings of bass over a ten-year period. But Ireland will have no adequate record to claim part of this TAC, so once again the Irish government approach will damage the Irish fishing industry and allow foreign nations to continue catching in Irish waters, while Irish boats cannot. The leisure angling industry demanded and got the ban and has benefited from non-commercial catches. While Irish fishermen are banned from catching bass, foreign boats have targeted the species off the South coast and will be allowed continue, even if a TAC is imposed because they have a catching record. "The Irish Government is again handing national resources to foreign usage," said the commercial fishermen's organisation. Anglers are only allowed to have two bass in their possession in any one 24-hour period and they must be over 40 cm. in total length.

 

CAN YOU HELP RESOLVE A STICKY SITUATION?

Humans have not managed to create glues that can be used successfully in wet environments, but sea creatures have and Irish marine researchers are trying to find out how they do it. The secrets of the goose barnacle are being sought so that a synthetic version of their natural underwater glue could be used in surgery and dentistry. This barnacle is mostly at sea so examples are difficult to find ashore. Although goose barnacles look like giant shellfish attached to a long neck, they are in fact filter-feeding creatures.They have an ability to attach themselves to practically every surface and researchers have found they can even do so to non-stick frying pans! The glue-like substance they emit, which hardens into a strong "cement", consists of several proteins. Scientists based at the Martin Ryan Marine Institute in Galway hope to study the glands emitting the glue and the protein composition. The team needs a large supply of goose barnacles and has asked for public help from people on the beaches, swimming, surfing and from divers. The barnacles sporadically wash ashore in Summer along the Irish coast. "It might seem perfectly ordinary that a sea creature can stick to a surface, but if you stop to think about it, it's actually quite an incredible innovation by nature," say the researchers. "Humans haven't managed to create glues that can be used successfully in wet environments, but nature has done it over and over again."

 

TUNNEL BUYS FERRIES – UK GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KNOW WHY

Eurotunnel, the company which operates the Channel Tunnel, has bought three of SeaFrance's former vessels. The move surprised the UK Government where the Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation to decide whether the purchase is in contravention of merger rules. Eurotunnel Chief Executive Officer Jacques Gounon Jacques Gounon said: "There's an evolution in traffic, notably towards heavy goods vehicles, which can't be fully captured by the Channel Tunnel."

 

CORK BROTHERS WRAP UP THE 18S IN SCOTLAND

Cork Harbour Monkstown Bay Sailing Club members, brothers Ewen and Colin Barry won nine of the ten trophies up for competition at the National 18 Class Championships in Findhorn in Scotland, a stunning achievement.

Colin is the Club's Rear Commodore and Ewen is Hon.Treasurer. Another MBSC member, Dave O'Connell, a long-time stalwart of the Class was fifth overall in a fleet which included entries from the Scottish host club, from Temasis Yacht Club in London, the Isle of Man YC and the Royal Cork.

Ewen and his crew were sailing 'Good Bad & Ugly' and were top overall boat on nine points, six clear of brother Colin and his crew sailing 'Purple Warriors' on 13 points in second place. They finished on the same number of points as Colin Chapman from the RCYC. A tie-breaker, used in sailing to establish final positions from the best individual race placings, favoured the Monkstown crew. The National 18-foot dinghy has survived several assaults on its popularity, one of which was from the development of the 1720 Class, named after the founding year of the Royal Cork and which it was once thought would replace the 18. That did not happen and, after a surge of popularity, the 1720 declined for a number of years locally though gaining a lot of support internationally. It is now regaining popularity as a sportsboat.

 

STATE GETS LUSITANIA ITEMS

Items recovered from the last survey of the wreck of the Lusitania have undergone conservation and maintenance in Ireland and been assigned to the State. They include part of the steering mechanism, a bronze telemotor, four portholes, two of them from the first-class passenger area and an indicator used for finding the ship's direction. The items were recovered during the filming of the recently-transmitted National Geographic Channel television documentary. The company sponsored the last survey carried out a year ago.

There have been legal disagreements between American millionaire Greg Bemis who owns the wreck and the State, but there were negotiations involving the National Museum, the National Monuments Service and his representatives after the survey in which Irish maritime archaeologists were involved.

 

A BAD SUMMER - BUT IT COULD BE WORSE!

It has been a bad summer but history shows that there have been much worse! 1783 for example when there was so much volcanic activity around the world and a fog that lasted most of the summer in England, leading to predictions that it was the end of the world! Between June 23 and July 20 of that year the skies over the UK were covered by a smoky fog and there was regular thunder and lightning which terrified people. There were volcanic eruptions in Italy and Japan and a massive eruption on Skaptar Jokull in Iceland where 9,500 people were reported to have died after being smothered by the immense dust cloud which drifted south and covered much of Europe.

Remember the last Icelandic cloud?

 

OCEANS ARE SAVING US

If the oceans were not soaking up carbon dioxide from land, global warming would be much worse. A new report this week shows that industrial production and human living requirements on land are now creating so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that the oceans and plants ashore are having to absorb more than twice the amount they previously soaked up. They are the only brake on global warming, but having to absorb so much CO2 is changing seawater, a process called ocean acidification. "This change will have profound effects on life in the ocean and those who depend on it," according to the report from the University of Colorado in the USA which confirms data from the Global Carbon Project, linking scientists around the world. Carbon soaked up from the atmosphere by the seas has risen to 5 billion tonnes. Twenty years ago the figure was 2.4 billion.

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I can only start by thanking everyone who made the effort to make it to the event this year, we had people come from far and near and because as we all know without them an event like this cannot happen, so thanks again to all.

The practice race, was on Sunday the 24th of July and all 52 boats made it to the first start of the practice day, the largest number of National Eighteens ever to compete for one start line, in the history of Class Championships ever, the practice race was raced about half a mile south of Roaches Point. Colin Barry in Happy Days won the first practice race and Colin Chapman won the second practice race, a dual that would continue till the last and deciding race of the championships.

That night we had our opening ceremony with the class's most successful helm Summers Payne raising the class flag, which was centred between the eight country flags being represented at the event this year. The 2011 class games followed and you will just have to ask someone who was there but trust me it was good, really good.(well done to the bar staff!!).

Race one day one, and in a very light northerly breeze Colin Barry takes first blood with Colin Chapman in a very surprising tenth, but Antony Ellis (2010 champion) was very much in the frame again this year with a close second, but when he went on to win the second race from Colin Chapman and Colin Barry back in fifth, it gave the Antony Ellis the overnight lead but Tom Crosbie was also now in the mix with a very consistent third in both races.

That night we all convened for the class Christmas dinner and Carroll singing with about 120 people all dressed in Christmas jumpers and Santa giving out the prizes for that day, the night was a great success and the festivities went on till the early hours of the morning.

Race three day two, Colin Chapman was first out of the blocks, but Colin Barry was not far behind in second spot, I think you can see the pattern that is starting to develop; unfortunately Antony Ellis and Tom Crosbie had a sixth and a seventh respectively. But the top four where very close indeed with Nick Walsh not far back in fifth. Race two saw a big upset for Colin Chapman with an eighth, and Colin Barry getting another second from Tom Crosbie this time in first, Antony Ellis had a Seventh which meant if Colin Chapman or Antony Ellis where to have any chance of winning the event there would have to be at least eight race to enable them to discard the two bad races they had accumulated so far, Colin Barry was now leading after day two with Tom Crosbie in Second and Antony Ellis in Third.

That Night We had poor old porky on a spit for dinner, for any of you that don't know porky is the pig that the class was fattening up all summer, so he could be cook on the Tuesday night for dinner, this was followed by the National Eighteen Supreme Court with the honourable judge Bartter and some very well dressed bailiffs we even had a national TV star as one of the accused but again you really need to talk to someone present because I could go on forever, also a special thanks to the Rubber Bandit for his guest appearance truly class!.

Day three, the Wednesday brought rain and cold but no wind and at around 1pm Dave O Brien the OOD called all racing off for the day, which was met by a big cheer from the now very wet and cold fleet.

Onshore you could tell it was the midpoint of the event, because the club was deserted, bar a few hard core guys like myself and Peter, the plan was to have a boat building nations cup, but due to the lack of teams available for the afternoon we postponed this till next year in Findhorn. That night we had piano man and open Mike it was a great night again and all had good fun.

Race Five Day four, the breeze was up to 10 or 15 knots from the north and the OOD had made an amendment to allow three races today so we were in for a long day at the office, race one went to Colin Chapman with Colin Barry in fifth so he was closing the gap all the time (but after race five and half the week was over Colin Barry was crowned the Cock O The North, but at this stage eyes were firmly fix on the overall prized the Cork Harbour Trophy) the only other top five boat to feature in race Five was Nick Walsh, but to little to late as he produced a fifth in race six, Colin Barry had a second and Colin Chapman a fourth, but it was Antony Ellis with the race win in race six to jeep him in what was now after becoming a three boat race for the 2011 title. Race six shortened the odds even further with Antony getting a sixth and with three results outside the tip five it was now a two horse race and Colin Barry had a two point advantage over Colin Chapman over night into the final day and hopefully two more races.

Thursday night was the class dinner, and three hundred current and past members put on the glad rags for a fabulous night of fun speeches good music and fine wine.

Race eight day five, we all got towed out to the race area and prepared for the start but just as the gun was to be fired the postponement flag was raised and stayed up for a long time, most people were ready to get a tow home again, I would say Colin Barry was within ten minutes of being the new champion, but the breeze started to build very slowly from the south and after half an hour there was enough to send us off, due to the discards Colin Barry needed himself and Colin Chapman both to be fifth or worse or if they both ended up in the top five he needed to beat Colin Chapman by 2 or more, but unfortunately Colin Barry spent the majority of the race recovering from a bad start to finish fifth, and Colin Chapman Finished third in what was now very light breeze. The OOD decided that was that and Colin Chapman became the 2011 National Eighteen Class Champion.

It was truly an amazing week for the National Eighteen foot class with all sorts of records being broken (including the takings at the bar) all the thank you were done at the event but I must finish by thanking the RCYC for all they did in helping making this event happen and the help in making it such a Hugh success and of course our sponsors (North Sails, Planning Inc. And Ferring Pharmaceuticals) without them it would not happen. So hope to see you all next year in Findhorn for another massive week of sailing and fun.

Classic Report

The total entry of 52 was split with 35 boats in the modern Ultimate Division and 17 boats in the Classics, with racing over 6 days incl the practice race.

In the Classics, out of a series of races over 5 days, we managed 7 races with a further 2 lost because of the lack of wind. We enjoyed some wonderful racing in variable winds, improved our kite handling skills no end, got to know spectacular Cork Harbour, enjoyed some great company and hospitality by the Class Association and RCYC and made new friends in the wider National 18 community. The Classic series was won by Colman Garvey, Roy Darer and Ross Levis in 'Nimrod 233 ' a beautiful and very fast local wooden classic competing for her first time with new owner and his crack crew. The white sail classic division was won By Stephen Barter and Crew in 'Good Question', even after a capsize during the week which saw them having to abandon ship and leave the rescue crew to right the boat and tow it home (I think this was due to the high average age of the crew rather than the weather conditions) . In the week the classics spent two days on harbour trips, which entailed them having a race in the morning and in the afternoon they all raced to East Ferry for some light refreshments and on the Thursday afternoon they took a trip to Cobh for another liquid lunch. It was a great week for the classics and it was also great to see so many of them in one place for an event like this.

 

If you missed our e-news bulletin yesterday (sign up) here's a chance to catch up with all the Irish sail racing news from the weekend. Diane II Races to Ruffian Success on Dublin Bay. McKee and Smyth Lead Irish hopes at Flying Fifteen Worlds. Largest Ever Fleet of National 18s Assemble at RCYC. Latest pics here. Optimist Sailor Hyland Wins Howth Dinghy Regatta. Butler and Andreasson 16th at 470 Youth Worlds. Lula Belle Wins ISORA Night Race. McGrotty is the Ulster Fireball Champ from a fleet of 19. The World beat Ireland in Match Racing. Pics here.

Every four years the National 18 Championship or as it is known, the Cock O'the North, comes to Crosshaven and this year Class Captain Peter O'Donovan had the brainwave to stage a reunion for the Class writes Claire Bateman. Much endeavour by Peter and his willing band of helpers has gone into the 2011 event. Indeed, many boats that were lying discarded only a month ago have been dug out and revamped to arrive at Crosshaven looking like new. The fulfillment of this dream was the largest ever start line of 18s in the capable hands of Race Officers David O'Brien and Peter Crowley for the practice races today (Sun) and it included very welcome visitors from IOMYC, RFYC, Tamesis, Blackwater SC, Lymington Town SC, Cologne from Bofham SC, Gloucester SC, Baltimore SC and our near neighbour Monkstown Bay.

It was decided to give the fleets a long start line to cater for the differing speeds of the categories of 18s involved. A south west breeze of some 12 knots made for nice sailing and there was plenty of close competition as the boats rounded the weather and spreader marks.

For the racing proper starting tomorrow the fleets will be split with the Classics FG at 11am and will sail round the cans courses with plans to have the morning races finished in time to visit the local hospitality centres. The Ultimate fleet will start racing at FG 11.30am and it is expected that, weather permitting, they will sail outside the harbour.

At Royal Cork Yacht Club there is a great air of activity and a palpable excitement in the air writes Claire Bateman. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS BY BOB BATEMAN.

Hacksaws were sawing at a great rate, fittings were being screwed into place, 18s were on their sides, bows were being taped over and new sails were being unfurled before being rolled up again. Their enthusiasm was certainly infectious with some sailors going out testing boats they had borrowed or restored and rigs were being given final adjustments and their was a tremendous spirit of camaraderie throughout the club. However, no doubt this will disappear during the hours of racing during the coming week only to be rediscovered during the Aprés Sailing activities as only the 18 sailors know how!!

All this because somebody had the clever idea of having a class reunion to mark the 2011 Cock O The North. A practice race will be held today (Sun) when all 53 entrants including five Classics and Penultimate and Ultimate boats take to the water. Tomorrow's practice race day race may even be the most interesting day of the week with the entire fleet taking part together before splitting into their respective classes on Monday for the commencement of the Championship proper.

The National 18 ft Class is the largest one design senior dinghy sailing class racing in Cork Harbour writes Kieran O'Connell. It is a three person single trapeze boat. Originally designed in the 1930's by the legendary Uffa Fox, its design has evolved over the decades to ensure it continues to provide performance racing at club level thus attracting a wide range of ages and skill levels.

The Royal Cork YC aims to host the largest ever gathering of National 18's this summer. The 2011 class championship, better known locally as the Cock O' The North, will take place at RCYC in Crosshaven from Sunday 24th to Friday 29th July. In excess of 50 boats are expected to participate. Latest Royal Cork News here.

The class has roots all over Ireland and the United Kingdom. Traditionally the event sees entries from Scotland, London, Cork and Isle of Man. While strong numbers will travel as always from those centres, a feature of this year's event is the addition of entries from Lymington, Gloucester, Swansea, Lough Derg, Lough Neagh, Waterford, Schull, Ballydehob and Baltimore.

The event will cater for all National 18s whether old or new. The fleet will have three distinct divisions at this year's championships. The modern fleet will be known as Ultimate's, with the older fibreglass boats going into the Penultimate division while the original wooden clinker boats will race in the Classic division.

At the front of the ultimate fleet the competition will be intense with Anthony Ellis and crew from the Isle of Man doing their best to retain the crown that they won on home waters last season. However they will face a huge challenge with the likes of Colin Chapman, Nick Walsh and Tom Crosbie from the host club as well as the Barry brothers, Colin and Ewen from Monkstown Bay.

In the penultimate's class the fleet is seeing many older fibreglass boats being refurbished and brought out for the event. Expect to see Willie Healy on 'Break Even' and Grattan Roberts on 'Manniken P' feature strongly.

While the intention among the classics is that racing will not be as intense this division expects to see approximately ten boats from both home and abroad. Wolfgang Felder is travelling from Germany to participate alongside well known Cork sailors like Dick Gibson, Dan Cross and Tom Kirby. An interesting piece of history is that John Murphy of Baltimore SC will race in 'Tornado' which was the first winner of the Cock O'The North back in 1952.

Many former 18 sailors are making their way back to the class in recent times. The likes of John Crotty, Patsy O'Mahony and Bobby Kerr are expected to make it to the start line for this season to add a further element of experience to the fleet.

Among the many trophies to be raced for will be two trophies originally won by the late Richard Lane in Doldrum at the 1961 Championships sailed at Mumbles. The Lane family has kindly donated the trophies to the class and they will be raced for 50 years after Doldrum swept the board at the Welsh venue. While there has been no 18 activity at Mumbles in recent years it is expected that a crew from the club will race this year after the launch of a new pilot project by the class to stimulate 18 sailing in Wales.

Another interesting note to this event is the recent approval of carbon fibre masts and with up to 20% of the fleet already having switched over, eyes will be focused on any improved performance.

Like any good sailing event as much effort has been put into the social aspect. A full week's social programme has been planned ranging from a Christmas party to the Class Dinner. The Class Dinner will also serve as a reunion for former 18 sailors and it is expected that 300 people will attend what will be an historic occasion. All this sailing and socialising is thirsty work and so the class has commissioned a special beer for the week to be known as 'Cock a Doodle Brew' to mark the event.

For more information on the event go to www.national18.com.

Royal Cork YC aims to host the largest ever gathering of National 18's. The 2011 class championship, better known locally as the 'Cock O' The North', will take place at Crosshaven from Sunday 24th to Friday 29th July 2011.

The club hopes over 50 boats will participate across three separate divisions:-

Ultimates - The modern fibreglass boats of the racing fleet.

Penultimates - The older fiberglass boats that have been hiding in garages waiting to be taken out for the 2011 championship.

Classics - The beautiful wooden clinker-built boats that have re-surfaced in Crosshaven, West Cork and further afield in recent years.

More on this class by Tom MacSweeney HERE

My first experience of racing was in a National 18 wooden dinghy and it was rough. Inexperienced as a crewman during a race in Monkstown Bay, I slit the top of a finger across a chain plate while pulling in the headsail sheet.

Blood started to pour out of the cut. With the dinghy having only a short freeboard I did what seemed best. To avoid getting blood on the sail which is a heinous crime aboard sailing boats, I put my hand in the water to wash away the blood.
A roar from astern heralded the Skipper's response:
"Get your b....hand out of the water, you're causing drag," which meant I was being accused of the crime of slowing the boat down in a race where there was little wind and every bit of forward momentum was important.
I began to explain and made the mistake of asking where I should put my bloodied finger!
The answer is not printable, but taught me that National 18s didn't take competitive sailing lightly.
I grew to love those boats, their beautiful lines, their speed and their demands on the crew with a spinnaker up. Inevitably, with the cost of maintaining wooden boats, the glass fibre boats (GRP), took over, but the National 18 Class kept going, primarily based in Crosshaven.
Then the 1720s arrived, named after the year when the Royal Cork Yacht Club was founded, powerful new boats which were predicted to wipe out the National 18s. They didn't. Despite becoming very popular for a time, their support declined and the National 18s continued, not alone surviving, but strengthening
This week the Class has announced that it intends to host "the largest gathering of National 18s in the history of this legendary boat."
Next year's Class Championships, better known as the Cock O' the North and sailed in alternative years in Ireland and the UK, where the National 18 is also popular, will be held in Crosshaven from July 24 to 29.
"We are calling on everyone interested to get in touch and take part in what is going to be a great occasion, whether you are a former 18 sailor or someone looking for a new challenge," Class Captain Peter O'Donovan told me. "We are putting in a big effort to get former 18 sailors and their boats back on the water."
It is hoped that at least 50 boats will take part "and perhaps even more," said Peter who has been trawling class records to find former owners and boats which will be arranged in three divisions for the event.
"We decided to include a Classics section, which will encourage those who owned the beautiful wooden, clinker boats, to sail again with us. Some of these boats have reappeared in Crosshaven, we know of others in West Cork and further afield," said Peter.
There will be a section for the "Penultimates," the older fibreglass 18s which "have been hiding in garages, just waiting to be taken out again" and the "Ultimates," the modern fibreglass boats at the front of the present fleet.
"We want to make this a special event and so far there has been interest from Schull, Baltimore, Waterford, Wexford, Arklow and Lough Derg. Further afield, we expect to see visitors from Scotland, the Isle of Man, Essex, Tamesis and Chichester Harbour and we have even had a request for information from Germany."
One of the famous boat building family in Arklow, James Tyrrell, is amongst those who have owned and sailed a National 18. Another sailor of the boats was Peter Crowley, present Chairman of the Irish Sailing Association.
He sailed with Tommy Dwyer from Monkstown who is regarded as an icon of the National 18 fleet in Cobblerod. Tommy now sails Das Boot.

Fun in the National 18. Photo: Bob Bateman

"She was recovered from the bottom of Cork Harbour and I refurbished her. said Tommy, "We named her after the U-boat which featured in the film of that name."
Tommy has been sailing National 18s for over 40 years. Every year his name has been amongst the trophy winners.
"For those interested in sailing, we would like to hear from those who would like to crew in the championships," Peter O'Donovan told me. "In addition, we are compiling a list of boats available for charter across the three divisions. For anyone not looking to sail, but just to be part of the event, we will also require assistance with rescue vessels, committee boats and other aspects of the event. It is also hoped to put together a collection of photographs from days gone. We would like to hear from anybody with material. Former 18 sailors who cannot get involved in the event could join us at the Class Dinner and renew acquaintances."
Anyone interested can contact the National 18 class by Emailing Peter O'Donovan at [email protected] or on phone 087 2491720 or Email Kieran O'Connell at [email protected]
The original idea for the building of National 18s was that of Frank Knowling of Whitstable YC in the UK, who later became known as the 'father' of the class. In 1938 he wanted an 18-foot dinghy, suitable for day sailing, yet fast enough to be of interest to racing sailors and at a reasonable cost.

The UK national sailing association and Yachting World magazine organised a design competition won by well-known designer Uffa Fox with a proposal for a clinker-built wooden boat. Another major designer, ¸, had also submitted a proposed boat. The first National 18 was named 'Hurricane,' owned by Stanley Beale and sailed at Whitstable.

It was not until after World War that building of 18s got underway. The Class Association was established in 1947 and by 1950 fleets had appeared at clubs around the coast of Britain and Ireland.

Seventy-two years after the first moves to build National 18s they still survive, a tribute to a great boat.

This article is reprinted by permission of the EVENING ECHO newspaper, Cork, where Tom MacSweeney writes maritime columns twice weekly. Evening Echo website: www.eecho.ie

A dry sailing facility would make the Royal Cork Yacht Club one of the best in the world. It's a pity it may be too expensive, says Patton. It is a pity too about the lack of highly competitive racing in a club full to the brim with seriously talented sailors, he says. Read more HERE

Panz is looking for help identifying a location of a sailing venue. A photo shows a National 18 on the hard at a clubhouse that might be in Derry? Can you help identify this club house? HERE