WM Nixon
William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.
With Ireland's diverse selection of women sailors achieving an extensive range of success locally, nationally and internationally during 2022, interest in getting involved is running at a high level across the population generally, and this Friday evening (August 26th), the…
With a fleet of 20 boats and crews drawn from 15 different clubs, including Seattle to the far west and Poole to the nearer southeast, the Irish J/24 Easterns over the weekend at Howth set the ball rolling towards the J/24…
A breezy session to round out a rugged series today (Friday) saw Patrick Boardman's immaculate Classic Half Tonner King One from Rush SC and Howth confirmed as overall winner of the RORC Half Ton Classics 2022 at Cowes from a…
Ireland’s Volatile Late Season Weather Increases Challenge For Race Officers
20th August 2022 W M Nixon
So where are they? The hurricanes, we mean. Or more accurately, the “decaying tropical storms” which occasionally make their ominous and often unpredictable way towards Ireland as the Summer progresses and morphs into Autumn. For as it happens, back in…
The three top Fingal-based classic Half Tonners - Patrick Boardman's King One from Rush, and Harmony (Jonny Swan) and Checkmate XV (Dave Cullen) from Howth - are having themselves a rare old time in the17-strong fleet in the RORC's Half…
Finished At Last! Medallia Is The Least Slow Of The RORC Round Britain & Ireland 2022 Fleet
18th August 2022 Rd Britain & Ireland
There has been so much enthusiasm and energy put into setting new sailing speed records in every discipline over the years that it may well be the only way to make a breakthrough is to see just how slowly you…
When we remember that as recently as 1576, the most memorable visit to the Dublin area by the Connacht Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley resulted in her kidnapping of the heir to Howth Castle in a dispute about the hospitality -…
“Mixed feelings” might describe the ordinary host club members’ feelings in contemplating the results of the Squib Easterns at Howth. For although Derek Bothwell, one of HYC’s elite squad of Race Officers, managed to pull a very complete set of…
Dun Laoghaire Gets South Sea Dreams and North Sea Reality With Historic Ketch Sandefjord
17th August 2022 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
There’s a small but sure glow of stardust in Dun Laoghaire Marina at the moment. Rugged stardust perhaps, but unmistakably genuine stardust nevertheless. The Norwegian gaff ketch Sandefjord, the quintessential Colin Archer-created rescue vessel of 1913 vintage which added ocean…
Tall Ship Grace O’Malley’s Stately Inaugural Progress Along Irish Coast Promises Worthwhile Maritime Future
13th August 2022 W M Nixon
In recent days, we’ve seen celebrations honouring the super-star young sailors who have brought major international sailing medals of gold, silver and bronze home to Ireland and their rightfully-delighted families and cheering local clubs. These are sailors whose special talent…
Ultra-slow Progress in Round Britain & Ireland Race is Leading To Retirements “Owing To Time Constraints”
12th August 2022 Rd Britain & Ireland
The clockwise 1800 miles Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race has been dogged by light winds and calms ever since it started from Cowes at the weekend, and the bulk of the 30-strong fleet is still struggling along Ireland’s southwest…
The Carlingford Oysterman Provided A New Round Ireland Record With A Difference
11th August 2022 Round Ireland Speed Record
Most of us thought that all Round Ireland Sailing Records at the lower end of the size scale had been long since put to bed. After all, it was way back in 1961 that Kevin & Colm MacLaverty with Mick…
Kinvara is Back! Cruinniu na mBad Leaps To Life This Weekend With The Festival Of The Traditional Boats
10th August 2022 Galway Hookers
When the highly-respected Organising Chairman Dr Mick Brogan declared - in May 2020 - that the annual Cruinniu na mBad - the Gathering of the Boats - could not be held in August at Kinvara in face of the spread…
Howth 17 Nationals: Davy Jones’s Locker Is Now The Champion’s Trophy Cabinet
7th August 2022 Howth 17
Even by the long-view standards of the 124-year-old Howth 17 Class, the 48-year owning partnership in the 1907-vintage Rosemary between David Jones and George Curley - with David Potter more recently joining the strength as George turned 90 last year…
Eve and Rocco’s Youthful Gold Medal Success Invigorates Howth Yacht Club’s Vision of Itself
6th August 2022 W M Nixon
In some ways, Howth Yacht Club has it easy. It isn’t hampered by being the senior sailing centre in Ireland. That particular burden has been carried since 1720 by Cork. Nor is it sailing’s premier centre. Since the active first…
Lady's Day at Cowes Week may sound like a charmingly old-fashioned Victorian concept, but there was nothing old-fashioned about the way that top women sailors of the calibre of Laura Dillon of Howth contested the time-honoured event yesterday in the…
When it came to painting the new St Ayles skiff Ealu built by Seol Sionnas (the owners of the much-admired traditional cutter Sally O’Keeffe) under the direction of Steve Morris in Kilrush Boatyard, it was “No Contest” as regards décor…
It can sometimes take quite a bit of tough windward slugging to get to the islands out in the Atlantic off the Connacht coast. But those boats that do are usually well rewarded, as rain-bearing clouds from the west will…
Eve McMahon (18) returned to top form for Ireland with two more bullets in today (Saturday's) final three races in the ILCA6/Laser Radial Youth Worlds 2022 at Houston in Texas. After six straight wins in the first four days, there…
Shannon One Designs Emerge Refreshed From Their Action-Packed Twin Centenary Regattas
30th July 2022 W M Nixon
The unique 18ft Shannon One-Designs have lived through some decidedly mixed times in Ireland during their hundred years of setting the sailing pace on the great lakes of our lordly river. And the two special Centenary Regattas at their main…
