The weekend just gone saw the first foray of the George Cruising Group, expertly convened by Derek Ryan on Brizo. Rather than an exotic voyage to a far flung destination we decided to keep it simple and accessible to all, and instead planned an overnight trip to Malahide. This also had the advantage that boats could return on Saturday to participate in DBSC or go to the rugby match in Croke Park.

So on Friday afternoon Shearwater and Brizo prepared for departure into a grey sort of day with a nice 12kt NNW breeze which was perfect for our course to Malahide. Shearwater departed Dun Laoghaire at 16:45 and Brizo about 30 minutes later. We had a very pleasant sail on Shearwater going outside Ireland’s eye on a close reach with a few tacks to get us upwind to the Malahide safe water mark. We waited there for Brizo, she went inside Ireland’s Eye, and we proceeded upon the channel together to Malahide Marina with all made up at 19:30 hrs.

Then followed a lovely meal in Old Street restaurant with the usual volume of wine, chat and debate. There was talk of going to Gibney’s for a late pint but in the end we all repaired to Shearwater for more wine chat and debate. Funny how that goes.

High tide in Malahide on Saturday was at approximately 10:00 hrs and as we both draw 2 meters we had to be up and out sharpish to clear the shallow bar. Shearwater departed at 10:45 hrs with Brizo a little afterwards. We both had a cracking sail back through Howth Sound and around the Bailey into the Bay. The wind was Westerly about 15-19 Kts and both boats were really charging. We were back on berth in Dun Laoghaire at 13:00 hrs with Brizo close behind.

All in all a very sociable, enjoyable and successful trip.

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Last weekend the Bi-Annual team racing event between the Royal St George, Royal Thames and Royal North & Clyde was hosted by the Royal Thames at the Queen Mary reservoir.  The event started as might be expected on Friday evening as teams gathered at the fine Royal Thames clubhouse in Knightsbridge where some of the most generous pourings of rum measures outside the Caribbean can be experienced.  Needless, to say the piano in the bar was tested and found to be in good tune.

Racing on Saturday, unfortunately, had to be abandoned due to 30+ knot winds so the teams enjoyed the opportunity to watch the England vs New Zealand rugby match and then retire to the comfort of the Grenadier pub for lunch. The formal event dinner of the Millennium Bowl is always a spectacular evening, not least because each of the teams and race officials group are required to perform some sort of entertainment after dinner.

This year didn’t disappoint – probably due to the Thames trying to drown its competitor teams in champagne pre-dinner.  Despite there being no potatoes served with dinner (taken as a deliberate act as mental warfare on the Irish team by our esteemed Commodore who, like many, viewed the lentils with some concern), the George team got right underway by organising a wheelbarrow race around the dining room using the Millennium Bowl itself as the weather mark of the course whilst singing Molly Malone.  The race officials won the after-dinner entertainment with a unique rendition of the Haka in an operatic style – quite something!   Once again spectacular hospitality found in the bar by the teams after dinner as you might imagine.

On Sunday morning the teams managed to stop partying and apply themselves to the main reason we were all in London, and racing got underway promptly in light conditions.  After numerous round robins the Royal Thames team emerged with the most wins and the Clyde team beating the George to second by just 1 race.  The George mounted a late charge towards the end of the racing and were able to claim a moral victory by being the only team to take a race off a very polished Royal Thames team.

Excellent race management throughout and thanks again to the Royal Thames team for hosting such a fine event.  In fact, the teams decided that it was a pity the event is only run every 2 years, and as such, it was decided to modify the deed of gift for the even. (yes, the Thames still like to use ‘deeds of gift’ where the rest of us mortals just have a notice of race) and as a result the next event will be hosted by the Royal St George in October 2020.

The 2019 Millennium Bowl RSGYC Team were:

Boat 1: Marshall King, Heather Craig, Peter Bowring, Moselle Hogan
Boat 2: Martin Byrne, Steph Bourke, Owen Laverty, Edward Cook
Boat 3: Max Treacy, Sarah Dwyer, Charlie Bolger, Ben Cooke
Umpire: Ailbe Millerick

By Ben Cooke

The post Millennium Bowl Report 2019 appeared first on Royal St George Yacht Club.

Photo Credit Afloat.ie

Gwilli Two skipper Paddy Maguire (left) is presented with the Class’s Nightcap Trophy by Greystones Sailing Club’s Darragh Cafferkey. DBSC Cruiser Two Captain Adrienne Jermyn (centre) won the ECHO prize on Helterskelter

Dermot Clarke and Patrick Maguire’s Sigma 33 Gwilli Two  was the winner of Dublin Bay Sailing Club’s Cruiser 2 Coastal Race to Greystones Harbour in County Wicklow on Saturday by the narrowest of margins.  

After nearly two hours of racing in 20–knots, Gwili Two won by less than one foot at the finish from clubmate Richard Lovegrove in the sister ship, Rupert. In a clean sweep for the Sigma 33 design under IRC rating, Henry Leonard’s & Bobby Kerr’s Leeuwin from the Royal Irish Yacht Club was third. 

RSGYC’s Helter Skelter sailed by DBSC Cruiser Two Captain Adrienne Jermyn  won the ECHO prize on Helterskelter.

Well done to all that competed in what was a very exciting race.

Thank you to our friends at Afloat.ie for the report and photo above. More photos and details can be found at www.Afloat.ie

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RSGYC boats had a strong showing in the first of the ISORA race series on Saturday in Dun Laoghaire.

IRC Class Zero 2017 Champion, the J122 Aurelia (pictured), skippered by Chris & Patanne Power Smith of the RSGYC was second with The IRC Class one First 35, Platinum Blonde skippered by RSGYC’s Vice Commodore Paul Egan was fifth overall. Welcome to Dublin Bay for Club member Brendan Coghlan and his new boat YOYO which had her first race. 

Well done to all sailors.

Results can be found by clicking here:

For some great shots of the boats racing and full report please click here from our friends over at www.Afloat.ie   

The post ISORA Race 1 report- strong RSGYC showing appeared first on Royal St George Yacht Club.

We would like to thank our sponsors Lee Overlay Partners, Viking Marine and MGM Boats for their support on this event and look forward to working with them this Wednesday.

If you have registered but are unable to attend this date, please advise us ASAP
by emailing us at juniorsailing@rsgyc.ie or call us on (01) 280 1811.

If you have yet to register and or pay for your single or double hander,
Please Click HERE

The post ***RSGYC Junior Regatta Wednesday 2nd August 2017*** appeared first on Royal St George Yacht Club.

RSGYC Weekend Sailing Wrap Up

Last weekend was a busy one for RSGYC sailors with sailors competing in Howth Yacht Club in both the RS Feva, RS200 and RS400 Eastern Championships along with SB20 Sailors competing for their SB20 Eastern Championships. Also last weekend up in Ballyholme the ISA Youth Pathway National Championships 2017 took place. All events had strong representations of RSGYC Sailors.

Congratulations to all RSGYC sailors who proudly flew the Flag for the RSGYC.  

RS Feva Eastern Championships 2017

Particular mention to the newly crowned RS Feva Eastern Champions 2017 Henry Start and Morgan Devine who sailed a superb regatta. Well done also to fellow RSGYC sailors Marcus O’Leary / Oscar Lubliner who were 5^th overall and their Club fellow Club members also competing Elysia O’Leary / Lorcan Little in their first Easterns together with Robert O’Connor / Harry Roche all who had a great time. The Feva class is enjoying continued popularity at the RSGYC with the mix of a good double hander boat which promotes friendship along with fun racing and good times ashore.

SB20 Eastern Championships

Congratulations also to Royal St. George Yacht Club sailors Michael O’ Connor and Owen Laverty with Ed Cooke aboard ‘Sin Bin’ who also proudly took the silverware this past weekend in Howth Yacht Club. ‘Sin Bin’ was the overall winner of the  2017 SB20 Eastern Championships at Howth Yacht Club. As is often the case with the SB20 fleet, racing was tight and came down to the final day. RSGYC was also proudly represented by the crews of ‘Timber’ (Marty Cuppage, David Bailey and Chris Chapman)  and ‘Sunday Brunch’ sailed by David Dwyer and crew along with Chris Arrowsmith aboard ‘Sacrebleu’. Full details can be found here on Afloat.ie.

An awesome turnout of sailors, volunteers, and parents at the ISA’s Youth Pathway National Championships this year, with a record turnout for new hosts Ballyholme Yacht Club in Bangor.

The RSGYC was very well represented at the ISA Youth Pathway National Championships this year with 28 sailors proudly flying the flag for the Royal St George Yacht Club in what was a super regatta.

Laser 4.7 Class

Congratulations to National Champion Jack Fahy who took first in the Laser 4.7 class, closely followed by Tom Higgins in 5^th with Helen O’ Beirne hot on their heels in 11^th. Sarah Fogarty, Finn Walker,  Ben Hogan , and Luka Flanagan followed in a very competitive fleet.

420 Class

In the hotly contested 420 fleet, the Royal St. George Yacht Club was represented by Kate Lyttle and Niamh Henry who were third overall, with only one point separating them from 2^nd place. Grace O’ Beirne & Katherine Kelly sailed a great regatta and were 6^th overall out of the 16 boat fleet.

Laser Radial Class

In the uber competitive Laser Radial Class there was a scattering of past champions battling it out in the 43 boat fleet. The Royal St. George Yacht Club was proudly represented by Peter Fagan, Henry Higgins and Hugo Kennedy who finished 5^th, 6^th and 7^th respectively. Followed by Toby Hudson-Fowler and Tara Coveney in 16^th and 17^th respectively.

Well done to all Royal St. George Yacht Club sailors, you’re Club is proud of you.

Photo Credits to the RS Feva Ireland Facebook page
and to Afloat.ie

Full event report, photographs and videos can be found here: https://www.sailing.ie/2017youthchampions/

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This regatta is a “bucket list” event for sailors all over the globe, attracting Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners and Volvo winners to join professional and Corinthian sailors alike. Is there a better place to sail in January than the Florida Keys writes skipper Nigel Biggs

This was the second instalment of Checkmate’s US tour, following the Annapolis Fall Regatta last October. We joined ten other evenly matched C&C30’s for 5 days of highly competitive windward/ leeward racing where regular place changes were to become the norm. A high scoring regatta is often a testament to close racing, which was this case as this true one design fleet battled for the slightest advantage.

After losing a much-needed practice day due to high winds, the first day of racing was a tough one. Starting in 20 knots of breeze that reduced during the day, the waves were up and the water warm for a great day of sailing. Boat handling is vital in any fleet, but when a flogging kite can be the difference between five and fifteen knots, it is crucial. Although happy with our pace, our lack of time in the boat and a couple of breakages meant we struggled to take the results we had hoped for in the first two races. However, we were improving and our efforts were rewarded with a hard earned win in the last race of a long day.

After a long discussion about where we could improve, the boat job list was finished and we headed off for Conch Fritters, Mahi-mahi and Shrimps… with maybe a cold beer.

Tuesday brought big winds, big waves and no racing. After more work on the boat, we had a day of sightseeing, swimming, and relaxation. The nippers took the opportunity to get up close to the Maxi 72’s and take a dip in a the ocean… slightly more pleasant than the beach at Dalkey in January.

Day three brought a 15 – 18 knots from the NE, an offshore wind that held steady enough to provide the closest racing of the week. With a swell left over from the previous day, it was tough to get upwind without slamming around and kept the fleet close together all day. The first windward mark had 10 of the 11 boat fleet overlapped, but our early start to the day and practice session paid off and we were in the mix all the day.

Finally, we got some proper sunshine for day four of racing. Starting in a 10 – 14 knot breeze from the NE, the racing was as close and intense as Wednesday with no room for mistakes. Race 3 of the day had us in the middle of the leading bunch heading for the line, but a slight shift had us heading back in on port….hero to zero in 5 boat lengths!

For the last day of racing, we headed out into a torrential downpour, 20 + knots from the south and a monster swell. Just like home – only warmer! After a conservative start at the committee boat, we headed right in a clear lane and were in our element……wind, waves and rain, all very reminiscent of Duna Laoghaire Regatta last summer! With confidence in our boat handling, we worked the boat hard to round the windward mark in first place, hoisted the spinnaker and headed off downwind at speeds approaching 20 knots as the breeze continued to build. Neil Mackley called a perfect lay line for our gybe into the bottom mark and we rounded with a good lead which we extended on the next round to take a thoroughly deserved and applauded win. With the breeze now a solid 25 knots, gusting to 30+, racing was abandoned for the day as we surfed back to the shelter of the dock at 15 knots plus with smiles all round….a great way to end a great week.

Key West Race Week 2016 was certainly very good to us both on and off the water. With a huge range of age and experience on board, we took every opportunity to learn from each other and improve and develop our skills. Our 2 race wins were rewarded for our efforts (the last being particularly satisfying) and whilst disappointed to only finish 6th out of the 11 competitors in our class, in the no discard series, we will continue to improve.

Our next event is the Miami Ocean Challenge in February where we will continue our 30 year plus Checkmate campaign of working hard, racing harder, but more importantly, having fun and making new friends.

Article courtesy of Afloat.ie

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Attached is the schedule of Feva events for this season. The next event will be in Galway on July 8th/9th, as part of Galway Sailing Clubs Dinghy West, which looks like being a great event.

The post Feva Class News 2016 appeared first on Royal St George Yacht Club.

UCD Sailing Club has finished third overall at the Student Yachting World Cup in France.

The post UCD Students Finish Third Overall In Yachting World Cup appeared first on Royal St George Yacht Club.

The end of the Irish Fireball Regatta Season came to a rather damp end when a reduced fleet took to the water after today’s rugby and the dry weather of recent days gave way to drizzle and then rain.

The post McCartin & Kinsella Close Fireball Season With A Final Win appeared first on Royal St George Yacht Club.