Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot 2010

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's ever popular Turkey Shoot is back. This year's event has once again been kindly sponsored by loyal supporter Viking Marine. Assistance is also being provided by Dun Laoghaire Marina.

The seven race modified ECHO series for cruisers, cruising boats, one-designs and boats that normally don't race will be held between 07 November and 19 December 2010.
Entry Forms are available from the marina office and waterfront clubs or can be downloaded HERE. Entries to the marina office before Tuesday 02 November.

First gun will be at 10:10 hrs on Sunday morning, 07 November with food available to competitors after racing in the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

Raging Bull wins ISORA 2010 by a nose

Raging Bull - IRL 9666, ISORA 2010 Champion (Copyright 2010 Sailpix Ireland)

Congratulations to Raging Bull - IRL 9666, skipper and crew, ISORA 2010 Champions having pipped Just Enough - GBR 6912T by a mere two points in the overall rankings.

This year's successful, challenging and memorable eight offshore race series would not have been possible were it not for the determined vision and enormous organisational and co-operative skills demonstrated by all at the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association and Royal Alfred Yacht Club. Take a bow!

Seconds from disaster

In challenging conditions, Pwllhelli RNLI  lifeboat prepares to tow the yacht Galasma. (Photo: Hanna Nuuttila)

Today I received through my letterbox a letter from Ken Robertson, ALB (All-Weather Lifeboat) Coxswain at Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Station, appealing for support.

Included in the envelope was a small print of the above award-winning photograph entitled: 'Seconds from disaster'. It brilliantly captures the rough sea state and bad weather conditions during the rescue of the 35-foot Southerly yacht Galasma by the combined efforts of New Quay and Pwllheli RNLI Mersey Class all-weather lifeboats. The drama unfolded in the Irish Sea on the 6th September 2008.

I came across some controversial but interesting opinions held by one Oliver Shaw about the options he suggests the skipper of the Galasma had on the day at 'Rescue Photograph wins Award for Volunteer' (on the website sail-world.com); well worth the read if you have the time and proof that a good photograph can spark off a lively debate.

It was good to see that the print of the photograph was properly credited to the photographer - Hanna Nuuttila. Hanna is a volunteer crewmember at New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales. The photograph deservedly earned her the accolade of 'RNLI Photographer of the Year 2008'.
A marine biologist by profession, Hanna Nuuttila has been carrying out some interesting research into the behaviour of dolphins and porpoises in Cardigan Bay of which you can read more at: 'Dolphins bully porpoises, researcher discovers' (link to an article in The Guardian newspaper on 11 May 2010). Further information about Hanna's interesting marine activities can be found at www.seamor.org 
Credit: Photo of Hanna Nuuttila with her award courtesy RNLI.

Back to RNLI Coxswain Ken Robertson's appeal...

Our volunteers are unpaid and risk their lives to save others. Without your help they couldn't rescue anyone. It costs over €30 to keep one of our lifeboats running at full speed for 5 minutes. The 5 vital minutes that your €30 (donation to the RNLI) could buy might make the difference between life and death for someone freezing in the icy waters off our shores.

Interested in making that difference? If so, please click on How to Support the RNLI (link to RNLI official website).