13 September 2009

Summer is here…..for a while!

 We have been using the sun here at SailCork - we got lots of work done on our boats at mid week and had a big crew afloat on Friday and Saturday between adults and juniors. On yesterday (Saturday) I sailed "Holy Grounder" with my trusty crew, Ian Scandrett, in the White Sail fleet in the "Navy Race" - a really great days sailing - light easterlies and plenty of sun!

After an enjoyable sojourn at the officers mess in Haulbowline we headed home for East Ferry via "the Quays" where we met the crews of "Querida" and "Elsie" o the two Cork Harbour one designs - built in 1896 and still racing! Yes they are 113 years old and still going strong!

I'm trying to do a bit of catch up here in the office and am looking out at an amazing harbour full of boats - the rowing boats are just completing their marathon - the Round the Great Island row - 15 miles Cove Sailing Club have just started their September Sunday Sailing race - a smashing southerly breeze and about a dozen cruisers racing. 

On the other side of the Atlantic my buddy Anthony O' Leary and his crew are limbering up in Newport RI for the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup - the very best of luck to them!

Anyway - I can't stand being indoors for another minute ...................I'm going afloat for a sail on the "Holy Grounder" and hopefully a swim in White Bay - I want to make the best of our summer - it is only a week long this year!

 

Monday evening....... I'm back - yes I did have a great sail to White Bay and Fox's Cover but it was back to business today with a VHF course - well done to all who attended. We keep on making strides to improve this course and the qualification and tomorrow we have a special conference in Dublin, chaired by Dept Transport, to this end. Then it's Southampton Boat Show - to my mind the best boat show. I'm looking forward to this show and will have a report on industry trends at a later stage.

I'll barely get back to the SailCork office before I'm off again on one of our premier weeks - our annual cruise in Croatia! News from the Adriatic coming soon. Then it's our biggest task of the year to work on our Navigation Courses which will keep me busy until late February - I'm shivering already thinking of the winter!

The ISA champion of champions or All Irelands or Helmsman's Championships - whatever you want to call it is a very important weekend - it will be held in the RCYC on 26+27 Sept - best of luck to all concerned- especially our former head instructor Andrew Gallagher who got the cat nomination......................by the way it's rumoured that Justin Slattery (Green Dragon) will play a visit!

Eddie English Blog