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  • Mermaid Sailor 01:57 on 24 February 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Blue Book, Boom, , Galway, Howth, Mainsail, MSA, Reefing, Skerries, Spars, Weighing,   

    The Annual General Meeting was well attended with 32 present.

    Tralee Bay Sailing Club at Fenit has been confirmed as the venue for Mermaid Week 2011, 30th July to 5th August.

    Two applications in for Mermaid Week 2012 – Howth Yacht Club and Skerries Sailing Club. Galway Bay Sailing Club unable to host in 2012 due to a clash with the Volvo Ocean Race, but Galway may be a possibility for 2013. Jim Dempsey spoke, making the case for Skerries, particularly the possibility of a large fleet. Meeting voted in favour of Skerries by a large majority.

    Proposed rule change: to permit mainsail without reefing points. Meeting approved the rule change. Further discussion on minimum size of mainsail – committee to examine the issue and revert. (See also commentary on Technical Forum from Roger Bannon and Des McWilliam.)

    Youth Championship. Numbers have dropped in recent years – letter from Rush Sailing Club, suggesting change, particularly as the event is dominated by Rush sailors. RSC is unwilling to continue in the same format. Suggestion to move the event to a more central date in the season, avoiding exams. Another suggestion is to change to another type of event, such as the Rush Invitation Event (popularly known as Peter Dunne’s Potato Race). The option of changing to a team event or match racing event was discussed. Committee to discuss and revert.

    Weighing of boats – a fleet wide weighing exercise will be conducted is season, with the load cell to be circulated around clubs. Class measurer to supervise.

    Boom construction. Meeting considered laminated spars. Class Measurer to recommend rule changes – see also Roger Bannon’s comments on the Technical Forum. Committee to make and publish interim ruling on interpretation of the whether or not the rules allow laminated spars, before the racing season.

    The Blue Book is being revised. Please send your suggestions to secretary@dublinbaymermaid.org. See also the Blue Book thread in the Technical Forum. You can also down load the Blue Book on the Downloads page.

    AGM Concluded.

     

     

     

     

  • Mermaid Sailor 10:31 on 13 February 2011 Permalink
    Tags: , Howth,   

    AGM – Championship 2012 – HOWTH, SKERRIES or GALWAY 

    Howth Harbour and Marina

    Howth Harbour and Marina

    At the AGM on 23rd Feb, the Venue for National Championship 2012 is on the Agenda.  The  location next year could be be Howth, Skerries or Galway.

    What are your views?

    Add your comments by clicking on Reply above right.  Ensure that your name and/or boat is identified in your comment.  Anonymous and offensive comments will be removed.

     

    • paddy dillon 11:09 on 8 February 2011 Permalink

      this will be a great venue. this is one of the best clubs in the country and run
      excellent events. eg: etchell worlds last year and the upcoming J24 europeans and worlds over the next two years, this is the type of club we need to have our mermaid nationals

    • Seafox 01:05 on 9 February 2011 Permalink

      Does it tick all the boxes?
      Sailing: yes
      Camping: ?
      Parking: ?
      Late Bar: ?
      Good Craic: ?
      Cheap Drink: ?

      I don’t know anything about Howth just asking.

      • paddy 00:30 on 10 February 2011 Permalink

        Camping : NO
        Parking : YES
        Late bar : I don’t think so
        Good craic : The mermaiders make there own craic
        Cheap drink : It’s ok

    • kinearly 01:23 on 10 February 2011 Permalink

      Should we not be holding the championship in the clubs that still have mermaids to try and increase interest in the class, last year i sailed in Skerries and we averaged only 4 boats every week (clontarf averaged 0 boats) a lot of boats just get wet for the championship and dont see the water from one end of the year to the next, maybe present format is incorrect and needs to be reviewed. just a thought.

    • Roger Bannon 19:24 on 20 February 2011 Permalink

      We should avoid Dublin based locations as the true spirit of Mermaid Week only emerges when we travel and make it a holiday. As the prior corrospondent correctly points out, club based Mermaid saling virtually is non existent so we depend on good events, notably the Championships to get the boats out of the garage for a few days use each year. Consequently it is important we pick good holiday locations.
      Whilst Howth can provide great sailing facilities, outstanding race management and has a decent if somewhat atmospherically cold clubhouse, I do not think it will make a good location for a championships because:
      It is Dublin Based with poor and expensive accomodation options for travelling boats.
      It is a long sail to the racing area.
      They are very formal and structured when hosting an event with lots of rules and regulations.
      It would be an unattractive location if the weather is light with strong tides.
      The harbour is tricky to get in and out of when the weather is light.
      It lacks most of the essential ingredients to generate the typical Mermaid Week craic which is so important.

      We should not go the Skerries as it has been used to frequently as a location and “it is Dublin based”.

      Galway is great location, particularly if the boats were to be based in the city harbour. We did an event last year with the SB3s and it was acknowledged as one of the best events ever held in the class. The sailing area is 1 mile from the harbour and has fair tides with regular breeze uninterrupted by any adjacent land mass.
      The craic in the city is wonderful and camping facilities are readily available either in Oranmore or nearer the city The club now has a vibrant membership base with good race management skills and support boats. Accomodation is plentiful and inexpensive.
      Moving to the city harbour would avoid the hassle of sailing in and out of Oranmore and provide ready access to exellent sailing waters which are much better than that available near Oranmore.
      .
      For me it would be a no brainer option to go to Galway.

    • Vincent Mc Cormack 23:50 on 21 February 2011 Permalink

      I like Clifden, Co Galway for the nationals in 2012. I’ve sailed there before at cruiser events and it’s a great place to sail. The club there are looking for a national event for next year. It definitely ticks all the box’s for Sea Fox as well having beautiful scenery and a holiday town that’s really buzzing in August.

      • Mermaid Sailor 15:01 on 22 February 2011 Permalink

        I also like the idea of Clifden, having done an event there years ago. It’s great craic and the sailing area would suit Mermaids. The only drawback is that it’s a long haul from the east coast, particularly the bad road from Galway to Clifden. However the motorway from Dublin to Galway more than makes up for this.

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