RS "Propoganda" in Afloat, makes for a good read.

If Santa Brings you an RS200 or an RS400 this Christmas

A great article on the growth of the RS fleets in Ireland this year.

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Lasers: New Years Day Race, Howth, 1st Jan 2014, Warning signal 11:55

Testing your resolve..

More information and an entry form on hyc.ie
http://www.hyc.ie/openevents14/default.asp

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David O'Brien in Irish Times

Sailing as we know it is “officially over”. That was the dramatic message coming from the two-day World Yacht Racing Forum and Yacht Racing Design and Technology Symposium held in Gothenburg.

Admittedly the statement was aimed at a professional yacht racing audience rather than the vast bulk of enthusiasts who continue to enjoy their sport as normal, but increased concern about waning numbers at home was expressed at the same time in Dún Laoghaire at the recent Dinghy and One Design Keelboat Racing Advisory Group (Dokrag) convention at the National Yacht Club.

Read whole article on irishtimes.com

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Mad Moths!

The Irish Moth fleet got onto the water on Sunday, despite the strong winds.

 

The Irish Moth Tour- "The Curra dinghy Christmas Cracker 2013"

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Frostbite Series 1 - it's a wrap!

While the weather hasn't been kind over the last few weekends, the calendar has marched on and we have come to the end of Series 1 in the Frostbites.

The results are here.

PY Dinghies - http://goo.gl/Uli4eu

Junior PY Dinghies - http://goo.gl/8EMhLz

Laser class - http://goo.gl/rCzYd8

Laser Juniors - http://goo.gl/ZGXkIQ

RS class - http://goo.gl/34VNtv

Fireball class - http://goo.gl/BI2H2r

Thanks again to Olivier and all the helpers at the DMYC!

Onwards to Series 2!!

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Abersoch Dinghy Week - 20th-25th July 2014, Wales

South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club is proud to announce that Crewsaver will be the title sponsors of Abersoch Dinghy week in 2014.

There is dinghy racing for the Laser, Solo, Single Handed Mixed dinghies, Laser Radial and Phantom classes and a handicap race for Toppers, Tera's, Cadets, Mirrors, Miracles and Fevas in the morning. In the afternoon there is racing for RS 200s, Asymmetric Dinghies, RS400s, Fireballs, Slow Mixed Dinghies and Fast Mixed Dinghies.

For the younger beginner sailors there is Oppie and Tera training in the afternoon and for the younger more advanced Optimist sailors there will be coaching in the mornings with a national coach followed by racing in the afternoons.

Racing Starts on Sunday 20th July 2014 at 11am for the morning fleets and 2pm for the afternoon fleets. Races are usually 2 hours long and extended over 6 days with the normal 5 races to count.

Plans for a lively entertainment program are in motion with Dinghy Weeks favourite band Elephant Juice already confirmed, a paddle boarding competition, and a quiz night to test your physical and mental strength.

For further information about Crewsaver Abersoch Dinghy Week please contact:
Andy Teague: +44 (0) 7971 785527
Jude: +44 (0) 1758 712338
E: info@scyc.co.uk

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No Racing Sunday 8th Dec

There was no racing on Sunday 8th December due to strong winds.

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December 1st challenges

What a set of challenges we all faced!

K1 - 1st place in PY

The committee faced a very unstable wind, changing direction far to much and too frequently. The sailors faced a chilly day with large fleets and confused breezes.

Who would handle it best? The answer was clear in all the fleets.

In PY Tom Murphy walked away with it. His K1 and his tactics had great effect and he finished more than 5 minutes ahead of a tight group of two IDRA 14s.  The OK Dinghy and the 470 were a minute further back from them and only 5 seconds apart. After that there was a gap of 15 minutes on corrected time to the next finishers!  Unusually large gaps in PY, which is typically very tight.

PY Results - http://goo.gl/QGICtS

PY Juniors - http://goo.gl/BgIqqA

The Laser fleet saw new challenges to Dave Cahill's dominance. Richard Harding won, with Cahill second and a returning Graham Elmes showing his speed to come in 3rd. With 22 boats on such a quiet day it was a challenge to keep the boat moving, and the leaders deserved their results.  It was interesting to note that the Lasers didn't catch the IDRA 14s, which they would normally do.  Sloops faster than cat rigged boats in such light airs, perhaps?

Laser Results - http://goo.gl/KOUnjt

Laser Juniors - http://goo.gl/Hx3MHA

The RS400s had their way in the RS fleet again, taking the top 3 spots. Actually rather a surprise in such light airs to see the RS200s so far back. Emmet Ryan finished clear ahead in his cool grey boat, with O'Leary next and Algeo 3rd. These top 3 finished just 3 mins apart, impressive in such light airs.

RS 200 and 400 - http://goo.gl/4tTNR8

Rumball, Clancy and Malcolm took the top 3 spots in the Fireballs, and it's a tight battle on the overall results there too. First, second and third are on 12, 15, and 16 points respectively. Tight stuff!

Fireball - http://goo.gl/muQFba

Again, the number of juniors was truly impressive and a great day was had by all. 

Roll on Xmas!

Post by Dun Laoghaire Dinghies.

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Light wind, light fleet

With many of the Toppers sailing in Dun Laoghaire in their own event rather than the Frostbites and several other people staying onshore to watch the rugby, the fleet was a little light this weekend. A light fleet matched the light wind, which was a classic example of Frostbite Flukey.  You can see the slow speeds in the OK Dinghy's GPS track here.

Nice roll tack, but what's the bit of duct-tape?

In the PY fleet the IDRA14s and the OK Dinghy sailed away on the water, with Frank Hamilton's IDRA14 taking the win by more than 2 minutes over Sheehy's OK Dinghy, but all four of these finishing more than 6 mins clear of the next boat.  This pattern was repeated in all the fleets.

PY Results - http://goo.gl/QITtgj

Dave Cahill continued his domination in the Lasers, taking a huge win from Conor O'Leary.  Even in a reduced fleet there were 15 boats racing.

Laser Results - http://goo.gl/JGG90e

The RS fleet saw Emmet Ryan sail to a monster win in his RS400. He finished legs ahead and more than 4 mins clear on corrected time.  Andrew Algeo was 2nd in another RS400.

RS Results - http://goo.gl/0PrkZ0

Victory in the Fireballs went to Conor Clancy, with Butler and Rumball taking 2nd and 3rd.

Fireball Results - http://goo.gl/yJocA4

All in all a quiet day for sailing, but good fun again!

Post by Dun Laoghaire Dinghies.

Dinghy & One Design Keelboats Convention (Rescheduled) - Saturday 30th November, NYC, Dun Laoghaire

The ISA Dinghy / One Design Racing Advisory Group would like to hear from you, the sailors, on matters relating to the future of Dinghy and One Design racing in Ireland. On behalf of the chairman Margaret O’Donnell the ISA would like to extend an invitation to all sailors to attend and to contribute at the Dinghy & One Design Keelboats Convention.

Dinghy & One Design Keelboats Convention

• Date: Saturday, 30th of November
• Time: 10.15am
• Venue: JB Room in the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire
• Chair: Margaret O’Donnell

This is a follow on meeting to the Classes Forum held in March which led to the ISA Board establishing a Dinghy / One Design Racing Advisory Group. At this meeting the Advisory Group will seek to inform and be informed by classes and clubs on some of the matters affecting their strategic growth.

Part 1 – Data: 10.30am – 11.15am

1. Advisory Group presents its participation figures.
2. Classes to provide their figures for boats racing in fleets nationally.
3. What are the trends, are the figures reliable?
4. Feedback is needed from classes and clubs; what can they provide? How can we easily collect data on an ongoing basis?

Coffee/Tea Break
Part 2 – Events: 11.30am – 12.15pm

1. Are there too many events or not enough? Ideas for some events discussed.
2. Should / could some regional events be merged?

Part 3 – Growth:  2.15pm – 13.00pm

1. How can we encourage youths in to senior classes? How can classes manage the transition?
2. How can the ISA help classes to help themselves?

13.00pm, wrap up