Cruising Blog

May 14th 2012

Dear Cruising Member

If you did not manage to get to the NYC on Saturday last it was a great evening and good value at 20 euro per head. About 15 boats turned up on the pontoons and almost 90 diners enjoyed a first class meal in the clubhouse. It was also our AGM which we kept mercifully short but nevertheless there was business to be done.

Saturday.... great weather. Light westerly breezes.

Here is the chart for noon Sunday

It shows SW force 5 Temp 13. Ideal for northbound boats

Not ideal for southbound although the wind is offshore so flat seas prevail if you stay in close to shore.

Gale 8 overnight with rain

Monday (see chart) gale gone through with moderate NW winds – ideal for southbound boats.

Note: The information below is not a forecast - just an interpretation (in consultation with John Leahy), a summary of forecasts freely available on the web (as of Thursday evening). Please do you own checking on the forecast, and let us know if we've read it wrong below !  

• It looks like being predominately fine weather over the weekend, though "a bit windy" on Sunday.
• "Lots of sunshine expected" on Saturday, with the exception of some rain on Sunday afternoon mostly dry over the weekend.
• Winds on Saturday W 10-12 knots, although potentially up to 30 knots SW on Sunday... if it does blow, at least it's an off-wind ride for the howth & malahide boats, but something to watch for anyone going south on Sunday.

I visited the event on Friday and it is well worth the journey to Belfast. It is a journey through the industrial development of Belfast that led in turn to the ability to build the finest ships in the world.

It is a moving and sometimes emotional journey. The event is massive - much bigger than you think it will be and with lots of excellent areas with different themes.

Who goes out in weather like this ?

The Cruising Association is affiliated to the Irish Sailing Association (www.sailing.ie)

If you are not already signed up for the ISA weekly newsletter, then make sure to take the chance to sign up here.

The changes include an annual bill for €250 a metre for yachts, compared to a previous levy of 30 cent for each gross registered tonne (GRT) a week for the first seven days and €1 for each GRT after 28 days.

There was a public meeting in the Beach house in Greystones on 14th March, with SISPAR (the developer) and councillors in attendance. I went along as an interested boat owner (Greystones is much closer to me than Dun Laoighaire).

What I recall from the meeting (most of the communication from Brendan Sheey on behalf of the developer) is:

This years summer cruise details just published on the site here...

Registration now open for the Spring Rally on 12th May - click here for details.

MARITIME INSTITUTE OF IRELAND        

2011 lecture series                                                                      

THE EAST INDIA COMPANY IN KINSALE  

by Paddy O'Sullivan

Marine Diesel Engines : Installation, Operation & Maintenance

Seán will have an engine on display to support his lecture and will speak in detail on Inboard Diesel Installation best practice and talk about the proper Running and Operation of Diesels in Yachts and finally cover the Maintenance needed to keep your diesel engine in top shape. He will conclude with a list of spares required for Coastal Cruising, and will also cover the more comprehensive list of spares and tools required for Blue-Water cruising.

diesel_lecture__march 2012.pdf

The course design provides for one complete day covering all aspects of sea survival, and an afternoon wet-session in a warm pool. The second day covers the balance of subjects with interactive hands-on practical work, audio-visual presentations and group discussion.

Covers the full ISAF/ISA approved programme required for offshore races.

Check out our new Facebook page. You can find it by clicking here

Copy of presentation made to Dublin Chamber of Commerce recently, sent by our friend Cian Gallagher (public link on chamber of commerce site).

tall ships dublin 2012.pdf

From the RYA web site we read "The Ministerial statement indicated that, from 1 April 2012, the use of marked 'red' diesel to propel private pleasure craft will be allowed only within UK territorial waters.

Okay but what if we want to go to France, Belgium, the Netherlands or further afield?

Cruising enthusiasts throughout Ireland, Britain, Europe and even further afield are all invited by Howth Yacht Club to participate in the inaugural Fingal International Family Cruising Festival between July 7th and 15th for what is the first event of its kind ever staged. 

The Festival - "Family Cruising Week", for short - has been designed to encourage sailors from far and wide to sail to Howth, berth in the marina for the week (up to 100% discounts will apply depending on distance travelled from Home Port to get to Howth, see entry details) and engage in a varied programme of activities, tours, talks and entertainment in the Howth area as well as tourist attractions in Dublin city and surrounding counties, (see draft programme). 

 For full details, see http://www.hyc.ie/familycruisingweek/