Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Sailor of the Month
Time to celebrate – Damian Browne achieved a stupendous “first” by rowing from New York to Galway
Ocean rowing has come up before in our Sailor of the Month listings. But it’s an understandably rare feat, and noted former rugby player Damian Browne’s huge achievement of rowing from New York to Galway is put into deeper perspective…
Another day, another medal – Sea Craig (right) on the podium in Spain
When you see Dun Laoghaire’s Sean Craig (RStGYC) racing a solo dinghy, the last thing that springs to mind would be categorising him as a “Senior” or “Masters” sailor. Yet it was way back in 1993 – nearly thirty years…
2022 Champions of Champions – Ger Owens (RStGYC, left) with Ciara O’Tiarnaigh (Commodore, Sutton DC) and crew Mel Morris (Newtownards SC)
So many factors came into play for the 75th Anniversary of the Champions’ Cup (aka the Helmsman’s Championship or the All-Ireland) in GP 14s at Sutton Dinghy Club on October 8th/9th that its weather-imposed compression into a one-day series made…
Another day, another gold….Andy Thompson of East Antrim BC at Drominer after winning crew Gold in the 2022 Fireball Worlds on Lough Derg
Andy Thompson (50), originally of Larne and East Antrim Boat Club, is one of the most successful international dinghy crews in the world. Yet he is equally successful at keeping himself under the radar, as he never has to spread…
Vicky Cox and Peter Dunlop of the successful J/109 Mojito with ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan of the National YC
In this its Golden Jubilee Season, the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association lived up to its reputation of the points championship being contested right up to the final race. It was the immaculately-prepared J/109 Mojito (Vicky Cox & Peter Dunlop)…
Finishing on a high – the Kinsailor bronze-winning crew at the conclusion of the J/24 Euros at Howth with Micheal O Suilleabhain on the right
Micheal O Suilleabhain may well be the name that goes into the records books. But he will be the first to point out that not only was it a team effort, in fact, it was an entire Kinsale Yacht Club…
Event Organiser Colman Grimes and crewman Ross Gingles finishing fifth in Entry #1 in the GP14 Worlds at Skerries
There can have been few things more dispiriting in recent years than being in the key role in organising a major international sporting event in Ireland as it hung in the balance in the face of changing pandemic restrictions. Yet…
First look - Arctic enthusiast and dedicated nutritionist Nick Kats aboard his much-travelled ketch Teddy in Clifden Harbour
When the workmanlike-looking 39ft ketch Teddy returned to her familiar drying quayside berth in the deep shelter of Clifden Harbour in mid-September, it marked the completion of skipper Nick Kats’ tenth voyage to the Arctic, and his third detailed visit…
The David Harte-developed West Cork-built TR 3.6 Class at Schull proved ideal for the National Junior Title
Although it will be Fiachra Geraghty-McDonnell’s name on the main trophy in the Junior Helms Nationals 2022, winning it was a family team effort, as his sister Caoilinn – a proven Optimist star – forsook her own place as of…
Tom Dolan won the Vivi Trophy for the top non-French participant in the Figaro Solo 2022
Tom Dolan is from a farming family in Meath, and started his sailing on Lough Ramor plumb in the middle of Ireland, but thanks to Glenans Ireland (now Glenua) he has been totally committed to France’s challenging solo and two-handed…
Lucia Cullen (Royal St George YC) and Alana Twomey (Royal Cork YC) won Gold and took the U17 29er Female World Title in Spain
Lucia Cullen of Dun Laoghaire and Alana Twomey of Cork - both 16 - have combined to form one of Ireland's most successful 29er teams to such good effect that during August at El Bais in Spain, they became the…
Hannes Louet-Feisser completed the first Round Ireland Windfoiler Circuit, supported by a shore team but usually completely in his own afloat
There have been some remarkable round Ireland circuits in extra-small and often unusual craft over the years, but a new standard has been set in 2022 by Hannes Louet-Feisser of Carlingford Lough, who completed the challenge – usually unaccompanied afloat…
Serious business. Patrick Boardman’s Classic Half Tonner King One (Rush SC) closing in on victory in August’s RORC Half Ton Cup 2022 in the Solent
They’re renowned for growing good things in the fertile hidden lands of Fingal up around the Rogerstown Estuary, and the local Rush SC is right on message with an expanding stream of talent in all branches of sailing. In 2022,…
Designed and built by Maurice O’Keeffe in Schull in 1902, the restored Lady Min has been collecting silverware for Simon O’Keeffe throughout the summer
It’s a mixed blessing being the curator-owner of a boat designed and built by a direct ancestor in your home-port town 120 years ago. But Simon O’Keeffe of Schull has turned a challenge into a triumph by commissioning classic boat-builder…
Laura Dillon is one of Ireland's most accomplished sailors in many disciplines
Laura Dillon of Howth is one of Ireland's most accomplished sailors under so many headings that it seems almost superfluous to point out that during August, she was at the sharp and of success in both Cowes Week and at…
The tops. Fiachra McDonnell with Tralee Bay SC Commodore Anthony Clifford at the conclusion of a successful ILCA/Laser Nationals 2022
The most numerous and widespread dinghy class in Ireland is the ever-young ILCA/Laser. Yet even though a large fleet turned up for their Nationals in August at Tralee Bay, the fact that several sub-divisions took part with the class’s different…