#baltimore – BMC/Glenua was formed in 2013, in order to continue the sailing activities of Les Glénans in Baltimore, West Cork, and we have now completed our first season in operation writes Chairman Michael O'Meara. 

Baltimore Maritime Centre ran a limited number of residential keelboat courses in Heir Island, adjacent to Baltimore, using a  fleet of Glénans 570s. The courses proved to be a great success, with excellent on-shore facilities provided by John Moore of Heir Island Sailing School, a new and exciting sailing area and easy access for sailing in-company to the other islands in Long Island Bay. We also ran a limited number of cruising courses between Kinsale and Baltimore using a chartered Hanse 360 from Sovereign Sailing.

For 2015 we are expanding our residential courses in Heir Island and will have 7 day, 5 day and weekend courses in June, July, August and September. We will run 4 cruising courses in July and August out of Baltimore. The 2015 Sailing Programme is included in our latest newsletter.

The Baltimore and Collanmore bases are still for sale by Fáilte Ireland with some modest offers standing on the Baltimore premises. The West Cork Maritime Heritage Company has been formed in Baltimore with a view to raising funds to make an offer for the old railway station property. If this is successful the property would be developed and used for sail training, traditional boat building, maritime archaeology courses and become the location of a maritime heritage data base. BMC/Glenua would then have the possibility of becoming part of a new and exciting multi purpose maritime centre for the West Cork region.

Attached is a copy of our latest member's newsletter, The Beacon.

Fair winds for 2015,

Michael O'Meara

Chairman

Baltimore Maritime Centre/Glenua