AFLOAT ANNUAL 09 NOVEMBER//DECEMBER Editorial Making our own luck. There are plenty of people out there talking down the economy, but Irish sailing can remain buoyant CONTENTS More guests for Aran Islands; war veteran visits Malahide Marina; IRISH SAILING ANNUAL 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing for Ireland; Lord Nelson and Tenacious for NOVEMBER//DECEMBER Irish ports, plus lots more Santa for Sailors All you need, for the sailor who has everything... Skip the frostbite and settle down by the fire with some, er, educational material 016 Irish take on the world – Tom MacSweeney visits Alicante for the start of the Volvo Ocean Race Markham Nolan measures the shock waves after Ireland’s sail 032 Club Profile – St Brendan’s folly Afloat profiles Tralee Sailing Club, so beautiful it’s a wonder the sailing saint decided to leave! Second leg, second wind 046 Green Dragon will need to stay competitive as the Volvo Taking on Water WM Nixon casts his eye over 2008, with an A to Z of what Bottom of the world 054 Digby Fox sails way off the beaten track in South America Your days are numbered Get out your diary for Afloat’s preview of the 2009 season Tracking the fleet Afloat checks out the Middle Sea Race, the Dublin Bay season 076 and Cork’s student triumph in the worlds There’s a reason why the J109 is now Irish sailing’s ‘blue-eyed boy’ 088 Cork dominates with winning O’Leary family Final voyage Irish sailing lost many stalwarts this last year: Afloat pays tribute Winds frustrate 092 The RCYC Autumn League fell victim to the weather Full circle on the canals Brian Goggin looks forward to the year ahead on the inland waterways Boat Reports Irish Marine Press Publications Ltd., 2 Lr Glenageary Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland. t: +353 (1) 284 6161 f: +353 (1) Afloat takes a spin in the Archembault 35, Dehler 34RS and the Fairline 55 Squadron Produced by sailors for sailors Afloat’s new angling column celebrates Screaming Reels Marine Marketplace Thousands of boats at your fingertips Get Cross Get cracking on the Dubarry Jumbo Christmas Crossword protected by Irish copyright law. Copyright Irish Marine Press 2008 Cover Shot: Green Dragon at the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. WM Nixon wonders what distinguishes rubbish from cherished possessions 1 AFLOAT ANNUAL 09 NOVEMBER//DECEMBER Great start: Mayor of Cape Town Helen Zille presents Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker with the Waterford Trophy for third place at the VOR leg one prize giving. Only days into leg two there was bad news for Walker’s men when the boom broke. See page 24 Photo: Rick Tomlinson MAKING OUR OWN LUCK Painting a boat green and the quality of her build who would talk down every ISAF Youth Worlds in 2012 is bad luck, apparently. allowed her to complete her sector of the economy. is another shot in the arm Superstitious sailors don’t journey to Cape Town. But it’s an indication of the for the port that hosts the allow the colour to be used on resilience of Irish boaters that 500-boat Volvo Dun Laoghaire board anywhere, right down But worse was to follow, the industry outlook for 2009 Regatta (VDLR) next July. It to the smallest detail. when a 50-knot squall broke remains buoyant. is a worrying development, the Dragon’s boom just three however, that no club is Anyone studying news reports days into the second leg to Afl oat magazine is also staging a World or European over the last few weeks India, around 1,500 miles thumbing its nose at the championship in Irish waters might believe that there’s from Mauritius. As Afl oat recession with this 120-page in 2009. something to the superstition. went to press, the crew was issue, packed with news of Within the space of a month, scrambling to use anything the major events around the Before then, both the VOR two famous Irish boats on board – including bunks coast next season. and VDLR will also be – both painted green – hit – to splint the boom back centre stage at the fi rst underwater objects, one with together to make it to Cochin. All credit to event organisers boating event of the season. catastrophic consequences. that the various regattas and The National Boat Show Whatever happens, Ireland races around the coast have in February sees the Irish Asgard II is now the subject of has produced a boat that been coordinated next year Marine Federation brave the salvage operation, as experts held its own against the best, to bring as many boats as economic chill with its 25th consider whether she can be in the toughest race on the possible to the west coast show at the RDS. raised from the sea bed in the planet. This country’s ability in May for the Volvo Race Bay of Biscay. Thanks to the to compete with the best on stopover in Galway. Minister of Community, quick actions of her captain the world stage was again Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and crew, there was no loss refl ected in the stunning win The ICRA national Eamon O’Cuiv was right of life when she began to take by CIT sailor Nicholas O’Leary championship heads to Fenit when he said we undervalue water in the middle of the at the World University and, although there are those the oceans around us. Now, night and subsequently sank. Championships in October. who will question the 100- with a packed season ahead, Thousands who had sailed on boat target, the competitive there’s a unique opportunity her mourned her loss. It may be a cliché, but there’s boats will be there. for us to exploit the incredible a very real sense in Irish resource that our coastline The Green Dragon also hit sailing circles that you make Dun Laoghaire is on a high offers. an underwater object that your own luck. We are all after receiving so many brought her to a standstill aware that the country is international plaudits for during the fi rst leg of the facing challenging economic the National YC’s staging of Volvo Ocean Race (VOR). Good headwinds, and there is no the inaugural SB3 Worlds. COMMENT? LET US KNOW YOUR fortune, the skill of her crew shortage of commentators And news that it will host the VIEW ON AFLOAT.IE 2 AFLOAT ANNUAL 09 NOVEMBER//DECEMBER IN HISTORY ARRIVES NEWS BRIEF IN MALAHIDE DERG CLASSICS GRAHAM SMITH REPORTS ON A WW II VETERAN LAUNCH GO LARGE The third Waterways Ireland A new attraction in duties for the Navy in 1943 Classic Boat regatta attracted Malahide Marina in recent and three years later was more than 100 boats to Lough Derg Yacht Club at Dromineer weeks has been the HSL decommissioned once the on September 13–14. For Next stop Boston: The new harbour at 102, a 64ft wooden-hulled War had ended. the fi rst time ever, one of InisMeain the Howth Seventeens was high speed launch with persuaded onto fresh water. a history that dates back She is one of only 60 Ian Malcolm and his family BOOST over 72 years when she vessels included in Britain’s brought the 1898-vintage Aura to Dromineer, and promptly was the largest and fastest ‘core collection’ of historic won the keelboat class. 17 FOR ARAN production powerboat of boats which are described Water Wags and more than 15 her time. as “of pre-eminent national Shannon One-Designs took part (see Soundings, page 120). VISITORS importance, meriting a The completion of a new harbour During the Second World higher priority for long on the Aran Islands will provide War, the retrieval of pilots term preservation”, but SAFETY FIRST an important tourism link for the and aircrew shot down over because she is privately IN RCYC island. The new harbour, at Inis the sea around the British owned, she doesn’t qualify A series of near collisions Meain, was built at a cost of €14m, Isles was the responsibility for any public funding. between yachts and shipping this summer in Cork Harbour will improve local transport access of the Royal Air Force Air led to a mandatory briefi ng as well as promoting business and Sea Rescue Service which Now the sole remaining for yachtsmen at the Royal encouraging new visitors to the operated launches and example of her class, Cork Yacht Club. All skippers competing in the club’s island. The cost for Cé an Chalaidh aircraft in co-operation having been lovingly annual October league were Mhóir included works such as with the Royal Navy. restored by her owner, addressed by the Port of Cork dredging, the construction of a Phil Clabburn, she has at a pre-event briefi ng to stress the collision regulations. In one pier and breakwater and parking The RAF commissioned the appeared in fi lms, at incident in the lower harbour facilities. design of the HSL by Fred festivals and boat shows. area a dredger skipper had Cooper, who also designed However, after some 30,000 to go full astern to avoid two yachts competing in a club The development was opened by Donald Campbell’s water- man hours of restoration race. the Minister for Community, Rural speed record Bluebirds, work, he can no longer and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó and the British Powerboat afford the upkeep of such Cuív, and the Minister for Energy Company built 22 Class a remarkable craft and has McGROTTY WINS and Natural Resources, 100 high speed launches put her up for sale, at an MUNSTERS Éamon Ryan.