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Website © Peter Scallan 2009. Photographs, Newsletter and Racing Results © Mermaid Sailing Association 2011 unless otherwise stated. No responsibility taken for external links. |
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NEWS ARCHIVE 2010: · Weather is the conversation topic of the moment as we prepare for the return of the BIG FREEZE later this week. Check out the Tide & Wind page for updated weather links. Have you photos and stories of life in Arctic Ireland—are you trying to do some woodwork in a shed at –9⁰C, did you take the camera out and photograph some boats or sailing club in the snow…. Send what you have to web@dublinbaymermaid.org. 15th December 2010. · The AGM has been postponed until early 2011, due to the current weather. Check www.dublinbaymermaid.org for updates. 29th November 2010. · Sailing in Sunshine! Vincent McCormack organising a regatta in Cascais, Portugal in February 2011. There is a yacht charter company there that specialises in organizing regattas. The company has 6 one design 35 ft racing yachts there (Jeanneau 35’ Grand Surprise). He is hoping to get a team of six for each boat. Ideally the 6 teams would be from different clubs. That would really spice it up. The programme would be: Thurs - Fly out from Dublin, Fri - Race for 4 hours, Sat - Race for 4, Sun – Relax, Monday – Fly home. The cost will be about €500 a head. Are you interested in putting a team together? Have a look at www.tuttamania.com. Contact Vincent (vincent@dublinbaymermaid.org) for more information or expression of interest. 29th November 2010. · Met Éireann has launched a new Animated 5-day Forecast with information on Pressure, Rainfall, Temperature, Cloud and most important to a Mermaid sailor, the Wind!. Check Met Éireann or the Mermaid Tide & Wind page for more information. 26th November 2010. · The 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Mermaid Sailing Association will take place on Tuesday 1st December 2010 at 8pm at Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club (by kind permission). Notice of Meeting and Agenda are available on downloads page. 11th November 2010 · The 2010 Annual Dinner and prize giving will be held in the National Yacht Club on next Friday 5th of November. Limit is 75 places, so book early. Contact the NYC to book. The cost is €35. 2nd November 2010 · Tiller Girl No. 77 won the NYC Frostbites followed by Lively Lady No. 73 in second place. See the Results page. 2nd November 2010 · Leinster Championship results now available on Results page. 5th October 2010 · Tiller Girl No. 77 won the Leinster Championship and consequently the Norman Hodgson Memorial Trophy. The Message No. 185 was second. Congratulations to Jonathan O’Rourke of NYC and Ross Galbraith of Skerries SC (and their respective crews of course). 45% of those who entered the poll to predict the winner, correctly nominated Tiller Girl. There’s a new poll (right of this article) to predict the winner of the Frostbite. Results of the weekend’s racing will be available shortly. 4th October 2010 · Five boats are competing Leinster Championship—results to follow. Mick Hanney, President of MSA must have been composing his speech for the annual dinner instead of concentrating on putting his feet in toe straps, while crewing for his wife Geraldine on Dublin Bay today in (or should I say out of) No. 73 Lively Lady. This is turning out to be an annual swimming event for Mick. Also the crew of Helen No. 76 are looking for a new mast and sails… 2nd October 2010 · After a successful season, more Wexford Cots are under construction. In the past few decades, the Cots have copied the Mermaid rig. Do you have any gear or sails for sale? Check out the ad on For Sale / Wanted. 2nd October 2010 · This Weekend— all the action is at the National Yacht Club with both the Leinster Championship and the NYC Frostbites kicking off. 30th September 2010 · NYC Frostbite Series—There is an amendment to the Sailing Instructions now available on the download page. 30th September 2010 · Leinster Championship—The Notice of Race for the Leinster Championship at National Yacht Club on the weekend of 2nd & 3rd October is now available on the downloads page. 29th September 2010 · All-Ireland—Jim Dempsey didn’t reach the final after all. With light winds curtailing racing, the places in the final were decided on two instead of three races in each heat. The ‘cut off’ was 5 points, with Jim at 8 points. In the Juniors Kerri-Ann Boylan had two DNFs and Cian O’Regan is 12th with a 10th and a 15th yesterday sailing Laser Radials in light airs. 26th September 2010 · All-Ireland—Jim Dempsey is currently lying 5th in flight 2, after 2 races (4th place in each). Race 3 has been postponed due to light winds. Jim needs to come 1st or 2nd overall to be guaranteed a place in the final, and a 3rd place would put him through if he has a better score than 3rd in the other flights. To have a realistic chance of reaching the final he has to come 2nd or better in the race 3. See ISA for more info. 25th September 2010 · Web Award. The Mermaid Week website has been nominated for Best Microsite in the 2010 Irish Web Awards. The winners will be announced on 16th October. 23rd September 2010 · Dempsey, Boylan & O’Regan in the All-Ireland! Jim Dempsey will represent the Mermaid Fleet at the All Ireland Sailing Championship at Royal Cork Yacht Club 24th to 26th September. Jim is drawn to sail in Flight 2 with his heats taking place on the morning of Saturday 25th Sept. Firm favourite and last year’s winner Nicholas O’Leary of RCYC will compete in the same flight. Kerri-Ann Boylan (crew of 38 Zeila) will compete in the Junior All Ireland this weekend at the same venue, representing the Mirror class. Jim’s championship crew Cian O’Regan will also sail in the Juniors, representing the 420 fleet. The fleet used will be the ISA Sailfleet J80’s. See Afloat and Irish Sailing Association for more information. 22nd September 2010 · Mermaid National Champion Crew Scott Flanigan and Cian O’Regan have repeated their success by winning the 420 National Championship. Well done guys! Check out the Afloat and ISA websites. 15th September 2010 · The 2010 Annual Dinner and prize giving will be held in the National Yacht Club on Friday 5th of November. The cost is €35. 15th September 2010 · National Yacht Club will host the Mermaid Leinster Championship and the Frostbite Series in October. The Leinsters take place over the two days of the first weekend in October (2nd and 3rd). The Frostbite series takes place on the five Sunday’s in October, two races each day back to back, with warning signal shortly after 11 each Sunday. The racing on Sunday 3rd counts towards both events. The Norman Hodgson Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Leinster Champion, and Anthony Carthy (188 Innocence) of Rush is the current holder. Can he retain his title? Further details on the NYC site or download Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. 14th September 2010 · No. 148 Nimrod is for sale. See For Sale / Wanted. 13th September 2010 · Eoin Butterly won the Youth Championship Trophy with three straight wins at Rush Sailing Club on 12th September. Eoin from Rush, last year’s Peter O’Rourke Trophy winner, sailed Anthony Carthy’s 188 Innocence. Club mate Rory Grimes, sailing 131 Wild Wind was second followed by Andre Berg in 93 Swallow (also from Rush) in third. Andre is also winner of the Peter O’Rourke Trophy. Last year’s winner Clara Hynes (123 Vee) from Rush was fourth. Nine boats competed, see Results page. 13th September 2010 · Thought for the day! What is it about the Grieves boats and romance? Harry and Tom Grieves built four boats together in 1960. Of the three still sailing, all are now sailed by married couples! Mick Hanney crews for his wife Geraldine O’Neill on 73 Lively Lady, Kevin McHugh crews for his wife Therese on 76 Helen and Carol Cronin crews for her husband Jonathan O’Rourke on 77 Tiller Girl. However, Mermaids need three to sail them, and it’s worth bearing in mind the advice of an experienced ‘third hand’ on one of the above boats: “When they argue, it’s safest to disagree with them both” - you have been warned! See pictures of Jonathan and Carol’s recent wedding on the Gallery. 6th September 2010 · The next event is the Youth Championship, taking place in Rogerstown, hosted by Rush Sailing Club on Sunday 12th September. This being the Mermaid Class, youth means under 25 years. Who will beat current champion Clara Hynes (who sailed 123 Vee last year)? There is also the Peter O’Rourke Memorial Trophy for helms under 18, last year’s winner was Eoin Butterly sailing 188 Innocence. 6th September 2010 · There is a link Gallery to the photos of Rush Regatta 2010. 6th September 2010 · Wedding Bells! Congratulations to Jonathan O’Rourke and Carol Cronin (of Tiller Girl) who are getting married today. Best wishes to you both. 3rd September 2010 · NYC Frostbite series takes place on the five Sunday’s in October, two races each day back to back, with warning signal shortly after 11 each Sunday. Further details on the NYC site or download Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. 30th August 2010 · Geraldine O’Neill with crew Mick Hanney (her husband!) and Ailbhe Smith sailing No. 73 Lively Lady repeated their recent success in Foynes by winning the Daniel Perpetual Memorial Trophy. The trophy is scored over four regattas (NYC, Wexford, Skerries and Rush) and Geraldine finished the series on equal points with Rush’s Patrick Boardman (No. 26 Thumbalina). Lively Lady’s best result was a 2nd at her home event at NYC, whilst Thumbalina’s 4th in Rush was not enough to beat her on equal points. This continues an amazing season for Geraldine, who won the Munster Championship in June, achieved her first top 10 result in Mermaid Week (ninth) at the same time winning the Daphne Perpetual Cup. See Results. 29th August 2010 · Paddy Dillon, with his crew Rory Grimes and Alice Carthy sailing No. 131 Wild Wind extracted sweet revenge on Rush club mate Jim Carthy in No. 123 Vee. Paddy and crew won the Rush Regatta with two wins and a second, pushing Jim and crew into second place. This reverses the Skerries Regatta positions where Jim came out on top. Nineteen boats competed in blustery conditions. Shay O’Toole’s No. 182 Dolphin was third and the only non Rush boat in the top five. See Results. 29th August 2010 · No. 85 Akita has been re-launched in Dungarvan after an extensive rebuild. See the Gallery. 29th August 2010 · Only just over a week to go to Rush Regatta on 28th and 29th August. This will the final event in the Daniel Perpetual Memorial Trophy series, with a battle for supremacy to be fought out among 185 The Message on 38 points, 76 Helen and 73 Lively Lady each in 41 points and Thumbalina on 46 points. Will Lively Lady repeat the success of a top 10 and a Daphne Cup win during Mermaid Week or can The Message or Helen spoil the party? There’s no discard in the Daniel, so like the old Irish Sweeps, ’if you’re not in, you can’t win’. Rush sailors have some unfinished business, particularly the crew of 131 Wild Wind who came second at the Skerries Regatta, being beaten on equal points by 123 Vee. Details on the RSC website. 19th August 2010 · The Foynes Yacht Club website has been totally redesigned—well worth a look with lots on the site of interest to Mermaid sailors. 14th August 2010 · Photos are now available on Picasa. 12th August 2010 · Full details and photos of winners of each completion in Mermaid Week are now available in the Winners Enclosure. 11th August 2010 · Next two events are in Rogerstown, the Rush Regatta and the Mermaid Youth Championship —see below. 10th August 2010 · Jim Dempsey sailing Paul Winters’ No. 183 Wannago is the new champion. See Mermaid Week for full story. 5th August 2010 · The National Championship has started at Foynes. See the Mermaid Week website. 31st July 2010 · Pearl No. 161 is for sale. Details to follow. 31st July 2010 · Free WiFi will be available in Foynes during Mermaid Week, both in the Clubhouse and on the committee boat, thanks to communications company 3 and their new MiFi system. This means that live racing commentary and photos will be posted on the web during racing and results available within minutes of the last boat finishing. 28th July 2010 · There is a correction to the NYC Regatta results as the original results posted on the NYC website were incorrect. This changes the Daniel Trophy, with Geraldine O’Neill’s Lively Lady now in 2nd place on equal points with 3rd placed Therese McHugh’s Helen. With Geraldine and Therese both contenders for the Daphne Cup and now for the Daniel Trophy, any racing between these boats should be interesting to say the least! See results and also Mermaid Week commentary. 28th July 2010 · “Grieves Boats at Mermaid Week”, “Who Will Win the Daphne & Designer”, “Mermaid Championship Wide Open”, “Women Skippers to Lead the Way” are some of the articles recently posted on the Results/Commentary page of the Mermaid Week Foynes 2010 website. Send your comments for publication to MermaidWeek@dublinbaymermaid.org 27th July 2010 · Ross Galbraith in No. 185 The Message leads the Daniel Perpetual Memorial Trophy. It’s all to play in Rush on 28th/29th August, with Therese McHugh in No. 76 Helen and Geraldine O’Neill in No. 73 Lively Lady hot on his heels. See results page for Skerries Regatta Results and the Daniel table. 26th July 2010 · Jim Carthy’s No. 123 Vee won the Skerries Regatta, having finished on same points as former crew member Paddy Dillon in Wild Wind, both from Rush Sailing Club. 26th July 2010 · Paddy Dillon in No. 131 Wild Wind went well at Skerries today, winning both races. Also going fast are Shay O’Toole in No. 182 Dolphin and Jim Carthy in No. 123 Vee. Despite Jim’s experience (being a four times national champion), he still can’t work out in which order to sail the marks, having mistaken a gybe mark for a windward mark. Conditions were described as flukey. 24th July 2010 · Two races at Skerries today in light SW winds and drizzle. This is the last test before Mermaid Week. Skerries Regatta is often a good guide to form during the Championship. Last year the top five boats at the Skerries Regatta were 188, 131, 189, 123 & 77. At the Nationals the same boats were 9th, 1st, 3rd, 7th and 6th respectively. All eyes will naturally be on Paddy Dillon’s Wild Wind No. 131. Two more races again tomorrow, with results available shortly after. 24th July 2010 · Clontarf ‘At Home’ took place on 9th/10th July and not in August as advertised in the MSA Spring Newsletter and on this website. The dates of all other events will be continuously checked with the host clubs. Apologies to those inconvenienced. 21th July 2010 · Notice of Race, SI’s and Entry Forms for Mermaid Week now available on Foynes 2010 site. 20th July 2010 · The Mermaid fleet’s favourite band are playing Mermaid Week—click here. 20 July 2010 · Mermaid Form Guide available for download now. This gives number, name, builder, year first launched, recent racing history and spinnaker colours. A must for following this year’s Mermaid Championship. 20th July 2010 · Mermaid Week results will be posted on www.dublinbaymermaid.org/foynes2010 within approx 20 minutes of the last boat finishing each race. There will occasionally be mid race updates. To be included on the mailing list email MermaidWeek@dublinbaymermaid.org. 19th July 2010 · Eugene Burke has sent dublinbaymermaid.org some more interesting photos of his restoration of Akita No. 85. See the gallery for more details. 19th July 2010 · Don’t forget to complete your Declaration and pay your MSA sub before competing. 16th July 2010 · Recently restored Akita No. 85 will be launched in Dungarvan on 24th July. More details here. 16th July 2010 · Fugitive No. 146 is for sale. For Sale/Wanted. 16th July 2010 · Foynes Yacht Club members are busy preparing for Mermaid Week. Check out the dedicate Mermaid Week website at www.dublinbaymermaid.org/foynes2010, download the press release or check out the Foynes Yacht Club website. 16th July 2010 · Skerries Regatta takes place on 24th/25th July. For Notice of Race and Entry forms check the downloads page on the Skerries website. 16th July 2010 · Jonathan O’Rourke wins again at the RStGYC Regatta, this time gaining from the last race rule having achieved equal points with Paul Smith’s Jill No. 134. See the results page. 16th July 2010 · NYC’s Jonathan O’Rourke won the RIYC Regatta convincingly, winning both races sailing Tiller Girl No. 177. See the results page. 16th July 2010 · Geraldine O’Neill, crewed by MSA President (and her husband) Mick Hanney with Luke Murray won the Munster Championship in Lively Lady No. 73. Does this foretell of things to come? Can Lively Lady repeat this at the same venue in early August? Could we have an unprecedented situation where the President of the MSA will present the Mermaid Championship trophy to his wife? Local boat Zest No 100 sailed by Clare Lowes with Ailish Chawke & Bev Lowes won the Silver Fleet and the Manfred Uhlemann Memorial Dolphin Trophy. Check out the FYC report and photos and see the results page. 16th July 2010 · Local win by Derek Joyce sailing No. 187 Zuleika at Mermaid Regatta in Wexford on the June Bank Holiday Weekend. 7th June 2010 · Mermaid Regatta in Wexford on the June Bank Holiday Weekend. Registration Fri 4th 19:00-20:30, briefing Sat 5th 11:30, warning signals: Sat 12:30, Sun 11:00. Courses will be windward/leeward triangle and trapezoid. This is a Daniel Perpetual Memorial Trophy Event. Entry fee €70.00. See Downloads for Notice of Race. 1st June 2010 · No. 163 Tuskar built in 1973 by Joe Boylan of Skerries is now based in Spiddal, Co. Galway. 1st June 2010 · No. 134 Jill wins NYC Regatta. See Results. 30th May 2010 · Good article on Afloat site about recent Mermaid sailing in Foynes. 30th May 2010 · Paul Smyth’s book The Dublin Bay Mermaid, A History 1932-2000 is still available. This is a great read and a must for any Mermaid sailor. See the For Sale page. 30th May 2010 · More photos and articles from the late 1960’s and 1970’s available on the History page. 30th May 2010 · Eugene Burke of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford is restoring Akita No. 85 on behalf of Martin Landers. He has sent a fascinating narrative of the restoration with detailed photos. See Gallery for more information. 30th May 2010 · I have added a link to a supplier of Stainless Steel screws bolts and nails—check the Links page. If you know of suppliers of hard to get parts for Mermaids, send me details web@dublinbaymermaid.org and I will put a link on this site. 30th May 2010 · Get practicing for the Nationals at the Munster Mermaid Championships with 3 races over 2 Days. Saturday 19th June: Registration 11:00, Briefing 12:00, First Gun 13:00. Sunday 20th June: Briefing 10:30, First Gun: 11:30. Entertainment on Saturday evening includes Mid-Summer BBQ on Cooleen Point and Live Music Entertainment. On Sunday there will be a Prize Giving Buffet Lunch (complimentary). Entry Fee: €35 per boat. Free on-site Camping/Camper-van accommodation. More info on www.foynesyachtclub.com or on the Facebook. 28th May 2010 · Sailing starts next Sunday 2nd May, at Rush check out www.rushsc.ie or see the Downloads page on this website for a printable version. 26th April 2010 · Crew Wanted / Available—see the For Sale / Wanted page. This doesn’t imply a return to slavery (though many a forward ‘hand’ would disagree), I will create a separate page later. 26th April 2010 · Trailer for Sale: See For Sale / Wanted. 26th April 2010 · Paddy Dillon has placed some great Mermaid photos on the Facebook site. Click on the Facebook link on top left of home page above the photo of the yellow spinnaker. Why is Wildwind always in front…… Thanks Paddy. 26th April 2010 · See the History page for an article from the now defunct Irish Boats and Yachting magazine, reporting on Mermaid Week 1977, hosted by Foynes Yacht Club. 12th April 2010 · Patrick Boardman of Rush Sailing Club has launched No. 26 Thumbalina at Rogerstown yesterday, making her the first of the fleet in the water. See his photos on Facbook, click on the link on the left of this page. 11th April 2010 · Rumour has it that No. 26 Thumbalina is at Rush Sailing Club and ready for the water this weekend—will this be the first of the fleet to launch in 2010? 10th April 2010 · There are two new Wexford Cots under construction. In the past few decades, the Cots have copied the Mermaid rig. Do you have any gear or sails for sale? Check out the ad on For Sale / Wanted. 10th April 2010 · Crewing. If you are seeking crew or wish to crew on a Mermaid, why not advertise on www.dublinbaymermaid.org. Email your requirements to web@dublinbaymermaid.org. 10th April 2010 · Patrick Boardman and Eoin Butterly of Rush Sailing Club have put some cracking photos of Mermaids on Facebook. Thumbalina No 26. and Isadora No. 166 are looking particularly sleek. Keep up the good work lads. 6th April 2010 · Now that Summer Time is back, the Tidal predictions are now set for IST or UTC+1. 24th March 2010 · Dick Ward, multiple champion in 76 Helen during the 1970’s has just made his archive available to www.dublinbaymermaid.org. Over the next few weeks this rich source of photograph, newspaper articles and Mermaid Week documents will be posted on the History section. 24th March 2010 · New wind information from Windfinder on Tide & Wind page. 18th March 2010 · Have you a Mermaid for sail, buyer available for good boat. Check For Sale / Wanted. 15th March 2010 · There’s now a Mermaid page on Facebook. Great place to share photos and comments. 15th March 2010 · Former National Champion, No. 20 Nereid is for sale. See For Sale / Wanted. 14th March 2010 · Don’t forget to submit your declaration and membership fee before you go racing! The 2010 Declaration Form is available on the downloads page. 10th March 2010 · The Daniel Perpetual Memorial Trophy this year will be scored over four events: NYC, Wexford, Skerries, Rush. 10th March 2010 · Mermaid Week 2010 takes place in Foynes during the first week of August. See the Mermaid Week microsite or click on Foynes 2010 above. 10th March 2010 · See the Spring 2010 Newsletter on the downloads page. 10th March 2010 · 2010 Mermaid Events—dates published—see below. 10th March 2010 · New Mermaids under construction. Three intrepid North Dublin sailors Paddy Archer and brothers Enda and Anthony Weldon are building a Mermaid each. Watch this space for news and photos of the build project. 26th February 2010 · It’s sanding and varnishing time again! Why not send in your tips for Mermaid maintenance and some photos of work in progress to web@dublinbaymermaid.org! 12th February 2010
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News Archive 2010 |
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Dublin Bay Mermaid |