Newsletter July 08
Lambay Regatta
Ruffin'It sailed to Howth for the weekend of June 13-15 to compete in the annual Lambay regatta. Here is a report and pictures from our racing correspondent Carlos.
DBSC Dinghy Racing Winners!
Congratulations to Simon and Wyn who won the DBSC evening race on June 17 in Vago 814.
They finished first of eleven boats who started in the PY class in what were testing conditions.
You will find all the results on DBSC site. Our dinghies race in the "PY class" Jane-814, Georgina-816, Simon-2660 and Ruffin'It-472 in the "Ruffian 23" class. I didn't realise that the Vagos now have names.
The Ruffian is racing regularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Saturdays and will also take part in the Ruffian Nationals in Dun Laoghaire on July 25-27. We also had the only full ladies crew competing in the annual ladies race on June 14. There is a full crew roster for racing until the end of July, but if you would like to take part after that contact Damien.
Yamamori Dinner
We sampled the delights of Japanese cuisine last Wednesday with a midsummer outing to Yamomori.
After the copious helpings of sushi and saki we retired to Pravda to celebrate another Germany fussball triumph.
Arigatô gozaimasu Jane.
Improve your skills
A guide to the appropriate skills you
need to develop as novice, crew, vice captain or captain within
SID can be found in the members area of our website and was featured in
the April newsletter. Has anyone used them? – if yes can you pass on
any comments to Damien.
Regatta Season
We had our best turnout so far this year for the Royal Irish Regatta with Chris & Bernd, Nicola & David, Brenda & Sheenagh racing Vagos in the PY class, Cearbhall and Tina competing in the IDRA class, while Brian captained the Ruffian with his gallant crew John, Annette, Fabian and Mags. The winds were changeable but never quite as strong as forecast, so it turned out to be a great day for racing.
Next weekends Royal St.George Regatta will be the last of the season (apart from the famous Royal Coal Harbour SID Dinghy Regatta) . If you are interested in dinghy racing next weekend contact Brenda by Tuesday 1'st at the latest. The Ruffian will also be racing and already has a full crew.
Dalkey Island Picnic
Fancy having a picnic on Dalkey Island? The date for this summer's Dalkey Picnic is Sunday 13th July!
The plan is to get the entire SID Fleet on the water with as many members as possible.
We will meet around 11, head off about mid-day, anchor the keelboats, beach the dinghies and come ashore for picnic, footie, fun, frolics! and finish the day off with the compulsory quiet pint in the Purty Kitchen.
We will need a few 'shoppers' to swing by the shops to get some picnic goodies on their way down to Dun Laoghaire, so let me know if you can do this. And of course if you want to make some home-made treats for the day please do!
Please contact Mags if you would like to come along
Sunday Sailing
Two weeks ago we set off for Lambay Island but hardly got past Howth Head due to lack of wind, we were tempted to drop anchor and join the Mexican's party on Cuauhtemoc.
This weekend there was no shortage of breeze, so having heard reports of Viking marauders operating on the Liffey, we headed south instead. The westerly wind was perfect for a fast reach down to Wicklow where we went ashore briefly and called into the Lifeboat shop for supplies before the trip home.
We were about a mile south of Dalkey Island on the way back when the Coastguard requested assistance for two kids blown off Killiney beach in an inflatable dinghy. A motor cruiser close by responded first, so we had a grandstand view of the rescue. A few minutes later and we would have been more directly involved.
There was almost a mutiny approaching Dun Laoghaire when the crew were forced into their first tack after 40 miles of sailing. Order was restored and we were soon back on the Marina in good time for the match.
Obsession is cruising on most Sundays. Check your e-mail for details.
Sailing Sessions
Monday dinghy sailing is now at 6.30 to facilitate people who have to work for a living.
|
Session |
Organizer |
|||||
|
Dinghy Sailing |
|
|
|
|||
|
Monday |
18:30:00 |
Catherine Pierse | ||||
|
Wednesday |
18:00:00 |
Jane Holland | ||||
|
Sunday |
12:00:00 |
Juliane Pelz | ||||
|
Keelboat Sailing |
|
|
| |||
|
Monday |
18:00:00 |
Peter McIntyre | ||||
|
Wednesday |
18:00:00 |
Michael McEntee | ||||
|
Thursday |
18:00:00 |
Bronagh O'Leary | ||||
|
Sunday |
14:00:00 |
Bryan O'Grady | ||||
------------------
Coastal Skipper Practical Training
Report from Bryan...
"Following on from the arrival into the fleet of 'Obsession',
Morgan and Bryan headed up to Michael Caine's 'Sea School' in Carlingford
to complete the 5 day (over two weekends) Yachtmaster Coastal Sea based course. The basic plan was to skill up on the techniques required to handle a larger Marina based Cruising boat ahead of the main sailing months. The course was 'all-in' with
meals provided on board and sleeping on board at the Marina. the boat used was
an Elan 36 which was very well equipped. Having the course spread over two
weekends was especially useful as the techniques learnt during the first
weekend could be practiced during evening sailing sessions in the intervening
period. With just five trainees on the course, the Instructor to trainee ratio
was ideal.
Most of the training took place on the Lough itself although we did complete a
trip to Clogherhead. The weather for each weekend was exceptionally warm and
sunny.
Techniques taught included the following:
· Boat
safety equipment
· Use of safety equipment
· Leaving the Marina
· Arriving at the Marina
· Tacking and Gybing
· Reverse / forward figures of eight
· Heave to
· Man overboard
· Anchoring
· Chart reading
· Blind Navigation
· Tides and tidal calculations
· Pilotage /Buoyage
The course was mainly practical in content and well worth doing.
The facilities are excellent and Michael is himself an excellent communicator;
his knowledge of matters nautical is impressive. Apart from that, he's a great
sense of humour and will entertain you with his amazing repertoire of stories
and jokes during those periods when the wind drops. So, if you do decide to go
up to the 'Sea School', make sure to bring with you some stories of your own to
exchange with Michael. Contact Morgan or Bryan for further information
or visit http://www.carlingfordsailingsc
-------------------
Scotland Trip June 2008.
Report from
Damien...
Cruise
organisation and preparation
The first tasks of
organising a cruise is to decide on when it will happen, the duration and
then to organise a crew. A proposal was put forward in early April for a one or
two week cruise in June on "Dodger", a yacht which I regularly race
on during the Summer. Work commitments and holidays were shuffled and
finally a crew of 4 was assembled for a week long cruise to Scotland. To make the most of the Scotland trip a mini cruise to Bangor was
organised. This mini cruise with another crew the previous weekend would
deliver Dodger to Bangor and knock over 120 nautical miles and 2/3 days off the
trip and allow further exploration in Scotland. Next came the preparation
of the boat, extra equipment is required for cruising that is normally not kept
on a yacht used for racing such as spare sails, tender, tender engine in case
one is anchoring or mooring, fuel, spray hood, extra anchor, charts, cruising
guides, Reids etc. A safety check of the boat and all its safety equipment is
also required and a liferaft was hired. Before the trip emails were
circulated as to the personal items that would be required and the all
important shopping list to stock the boat for a week. The boat was provisioned
for 3 to 4 days so that in the event we arrived somewhere late or were not in a
position to go ashore, we would not go hungry! Arrangements were made to get to
Bangor by land and to get the shopping done. Shopping included provisions for
breakfasts, lunches and dinners. To allow for limited fridge use/space, only
one or two fresh meals are bought with most diners/lunches being of the
non-perishable type e.g. tinned food/dinners including "tinned steak and
kidney pies". And as Thea was on board there was a special order in for
extra supplies of Chocolate!
Sunday 8/6/2008 16:00 : Bangor Marina. Finally we were ready to go, 4 crew and food on board, water and fuel tanks full and a provisional plan to head to Lough Ryan in Scotland a 30Nm trip which would take about 6 hours. Final check on the weather – light winds forecast so head out in Belfast Lough and check the winds. Out in the Lough the winds were very light and engine was required to make any progress, so a change of plan, head to Carrickfergus just 7Nm away. Check on the weather again, F4 to F5 NW winds forecast so plan to leave at 7:30 in morning.
Monday: Light winds and head out on engine. 2 hours later the winds pick up and we head north along the Ulster coast. Wind builds to F4/5 and we head to Port Ellen in the Isle of Islay, with breakfast, snacks and a chicken curry dinner freshly cooked with the boat well heeled on the way we arrive at 8:30pm. A 13 hour trip, with 82Nm on the clock. After a quick bite to eat we head up the local village and find a lovely pub where we meet fellow sailors from Dun Laoghaire and discussed the weather for the following day. Forecast was for F5/6 winds with F7 gusts.
Tuesday : Weather as forecast so no sailing today and now we have time to explore the island and restock the food and buy more Brie. Although Islay is only about 25 miles long by 15 miles wide the island has 7 different whiskey distilleries! As we have now missed out on a day and the winds continue from the NNW, a plan to head to Isle of Mull is dropped in favour of heading to Cambletown via Mull of Kintyre or a passage through the Crinin Canal.
Wednesday : Forecasts NNW F4/5 so change of plan – head to Cambletown via the Mull of Kintyre. Sun comes out as we a heading around the Mull. Beautiful sail almost 8 hours long and 50Nm.
Thursday: Late start to get favourable tides so time to head for a swim in 28degree water (indoor pool not the sea!) Leave at 1pm and head to Glenarm back in Northern Ireland. NNW winds so favourable tack but F4/5 gusting F6 so hard sailing. Arrive in Glenarm after 5 hours and 31Nm.
Friday : Leave Glenarm at 6am to sail to either Ardglass or Carlingford. Favourable NW winds bring us steadily on way and make it possible to meet the tidal gate at Carlingford. Sail under spinnaker for 2 hours and also have a cheese and wine party on the way. Have a brief visit by HM customs en route. Arrive in Carlingford Marina at 21:00 and make the restaurant for last orders. 15 hours and 115Nm averaging 7.6 knots!
Saturday : Lazy day in sunny Carlingford. Have the much talked about "tinned steak and Kidney pies" for evening dinner. A treat! Then plan the passage and check out all the lights that we will encounter leaving Carlingford Lough. Leave at 10:30 pm for a night sail to Dun Laoghaire. All hands are kept busy spotting the many lights in the channel. Outside the Lough we head south and start our 2 hour on 2 hour off watch. First 2 hours are busy with 10+ fishing boats near by. Second watch experiences the fabulous sunrise.
Sunday : Arrive in home port of Dun Laoghaire at 8:30am. A 10 hour and 56Nm trip. Have breakfast on deck in glorious sunshine. Make plans to unload the boat and get it back into race setup.
Epilogue : Total miles 338Nm. An excellent trip, well organised and changed to suit the prevailing weather conditions. A happy and well fed crew with many firsts – Thea's first cruise, first visit to Scotland and first night sail and my first tinned Steak and Kidney pie lived up to the expectations that it had been built up to over the week! Many thanks to Michael for the well equipped boat, the excellent organisation and expert advice. See Pictures
Carlingford
and beyond Cruise 25 to 29 June.
After much
planning, preparation, maintenance, collection and purchase of equipment and
safety items and buying food for a planned 5 day trip to Carlingford and
beyond, it had to be cancelled at the last minute due to adverse weather. Met
Eireann were forecasting F5/6 and up, small craft and gale warnings, rain
and more low pressures to sweep across the Atlantic over the weekend. We
don't always get the weather forecasted as on Thursday June 26’th, F5/6 with F8
later was forecast but racing was cancelled due to lack of wind! However plans
have to be made based on forecasts! The weatherman on RTE news made a
comment that the series of low pressure was following the same pattern as last
summer – let hope not!.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cearbhall Daly
Sailing In Dublin Club
http://sailingindublin.ie