Thursday, 19 September 2013
Monday, 9 September 2013
Rainy Day For The Second Dundrum Sailing Club’s Regatta
Extract from Down News
he second, recently-formed Dundrum Sailing Club regatta took place on Saturday 7 September.
Weather conditions were unsettled but given the forecast earlier in the week conditions were far better than expected. A supportive crowd gathered at the Quayside to watch the two races get under way organised by starter Angela Gilmore of Killyleagh Yacht Club.
Some of the yachts that took part in the Dundrum Sailing Regatta at the weekend.
The first race was for Lightning Sailing Boats won by Ian and David Groves from Dundrum in The Elk, and second was Roger Noblett and Mark Andrews from Dundrum in Stars and Stripes. The race was sponsored by Frenchies Coffee Shop, Clough.
Ian Groves, club chairman, said: “This was the second Regatta for newly formed Dundrum Sailing Club and one of the reasons for forming the Club apart from encouraging people from the local area to take up sailing is to preserve the Lightning class of sailing boat.
“This boat is of American design and was first raced in Strangford Lough by Killyleagh Yacht Club in the 1940’s, but recent years have seen a change of venue from Killyleagh to Dundrum as the place where Lightnings now sail. 2013 sees the 75th Anniversary of the birth of this famous sailing boat designed in 1938 by Sparkman and Stephens, well-known American Naval Architects.
“The Second race was a Handicap race for Sailing Dinghies won by Clive Coffey of Newcastle Yacht Club in Braalyriggit and second was Frank Campbell of NYC in a Laser 12774. In third spot was Lucy Grainger in Terpsicore in a Laser Radial. The race was sponsored by The Dundrum Inn.
“Lucy also won the best Junior sailor award sponsored by Armstrong and Armstrong Opticians of Newcastle and Kilkeel.
“John Flynn and Ollie Forsythe deserve a prize for most memorable moment as their Dart 18 Catamaran dismasted at full speed in a broad reach!
“Dundrum Sailing Club would like to thank all our sponsors and everyone who helped in any way to make the Regatta possible, and a Special Thanks must go to Down District Council for use of their Car Park and for sponsorship and support for the club throughout the year.”
Thursday, 1 August 2013
Thursday, 6 June 2013
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTNING CLASS
WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHTNING CLASS
The Lightning, a 19-foot trailerable centerboard sloop, designed by Sparkman & Stephens as an affordable family day sailor and racing boat. She has evolved into one of the most popular and competitive one-design racing classes in the world. The Lightning's rig is simple, but offers sophisticated sail shape controls. The hull features a unique hard chine design that combines the stability that provides sail-carrying power, with flat bottom sections that promote planing. There's room in the cockpit for two couples or a family to daysail. The Lightning is easy to launch and light enough to trailer with ease. In the event of a capsize, she can be righted and sailed dry by her crew. Get "The Best of Both Worlds." Get into a Lightning!
The Lightning, a 19-foot trailerable centerboard sloop, designed by Sparkman & Stephens as an affordable family day sailor and racing boat. She has evolved into one of the most popular and competitive one-design racing classes in the world. The Lightning's rig is simple, but offers sophisticated sail shape controls. The hull features a unique hard chine design that combines the stability that provides sail-carrying power, with flat bottom sections that promote planing. There's room in the cockpit for two couples or a family to daysail. The Lightning is easy to launch and light enough to trailer with ease. In the event of a capsize, she can be righted and sailed dry by her crew. Get "The Best of Both Worlds." Get into a Lightning!
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Isambard Kingdom Brunel - SS Great Britain aground at Dundrum Bay in Northern Ireland in 1846
When the SS. Great Britain was launched she was the largest ship in the world weighing in at a colossal 1930 tons. Her maiden voyage to New York on 26 July 1845 was completed in an astounding fourteen days and showed her ability to do safe and speedy passages. Although she could take up to 252 passengers served by 130 crew, her voyages did not generate much money for her owners as they had miscalculated the demand for their services. When the Great Britain ran aground at Dundrum Bay in Northern Ireland in 1846, her engines were ruined and the expense of re-floating her so drained the finances of her owners that she was sold to Gibbs Bright and Company, who used her to great effect on the Australian run.
S.S. Great Britain
Gold had been recently discovered over there and so the Great Britain was remodelled as a fast luxury emigrant carrier and her accommodation was rebuilt to accommodate 750 passengers. Between 1855 and 1856 the British Government chartered the ship to transport troops to and from the Crimea War. Over 44000 troops were carried during the course of the conflict. Later she was again chartered to carry troops, this time to quell the Indian Mutiny. In 1861 she carried the very first English cricket team to tour Australia. The tour was a great success with England playing twelve games of which she won six, drew four and only lost twosource - http://www.submerged.co.uk/great-britain.php
Friday, 28 September 2012
Dundrum Harbour October 1967 - "Yarvik" along side
Photograph courtsy of the Roy Cressey Collection
http://www.themackenzies.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/puffers/VIC42.htm
Monday, 24 September 2012
Dundrum Harbour - Harbour Information - from Visit My Harbour for Free Nautical Charts and Pilotage, UK Wide Coverage
Courtesy Flag
Flag, Red EnsignWaypoint
54˚13.35N 005˚ 48.4W This is within D401 but it is impossible to get into Dundrum without infringing this Danger Area.Charts
AC 044-0 Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin point. Imray C62 Irish SeaRules & Regulations
D401 is used for small arms up to Mortar and Anti Tank weapons and the seaward side of it is essentially a safety area for “over throws”. When the range is active they fly Red Flags by day and red lights by night. The presence of these flags does not prohibit passage through the danger area. The authorities can expect that you will not linger in the area and they operate on the “Clear Range” principle. Range control is not contactable either by phone or VHF but, if you need to cross the range and the red flags are being flown, call Belfast Coastguard on #16 and they can contact the RSO.Hazards
Drying and awash rocks, see "Approach and Entry"Tidal Data Times & Range
HW is HW Belfast +0005 MHWS 4.8m MHWN 3.8m MLWN 1.8m MLWS 0.8m The streams into and out of the lagoon and in the anchorage are quite strong but unspecified.This site is designed for slower, roaming broadband connections, like you would get at sea, so it needs JavaScript enabled to expand the text. Click here to show the fully expanded version
General Description
Dundrum harbour lies in a lagoon approached through a narrow channel with a sand bar at the seaward end. The harbour was a fairly busy port and at one stage they tried to operate a ferry service from here to England but the tidal access limited that developement. Nevertheless it remained active as a port until the 1980’s but the competition from the other harbours on the East Coast finally brought that period of its history to an end.
At various stages during the last two centuries there have been ambitious plans by its successive owners to enhance its attraction to the tourist trade; at one stage they had even hoped to build baths and turn it into a spa town for the rehabilitation of invalids et alia but these were never followed through to their conclusion. The result is that the main attraction here is its castle and the total lack of more raucous resort “amenities”!! ... read more
At various stages during the last two centuries there have been ambitious plans by its successive owners to enhance its attraction to the tourist trade; at one stage they had even hoped to build baths and turn it into a spa town for the rehabilitation of invalids et alia but these were never followed through to their conclusion. The result is that the main attraction here is its castle and the total lack of more raucous resort “amenities”!! ... read more
Approach
Between the entrance to Dundrum channel and St John’s Point, all the way round the bay there is a scattering of rocks, drying, awash and hidden up to a mile off the shore; you need an offing of at least a mile and it is not possible to route in a straight line from the Point to the channel. From the southern side the only rock to look out for is the Roaring Rock off Dunmore but is only two and a half cables off the shore so in the normal way of things should not cause a problem. The main hazard here is the depth of the unbuoyed channel into the anchorage; it is recommended that the approach should only be undertaken by shallow draft boats in settled conditions. That’s not to say it is not possible for fin keel boats; it has been done in recent years, at HWS and very, very carefully. ... read more
Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring
If you need to take on water, fuel of other stores it is possible to tie alongside the quay for a couple of hours either side of HW. The harbour is unmanned, so no harbour dues.
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Bembridge Illusions - yes it may be winter soon but sailing most certainly doesn't have to stop
see also links to International 2.4 class as used in recent paralympic games
Sailability - a scheme run by the Royal Yachting Association
example videos
Sailability is a scheme run by the Royal Yachting Association. It enables people with disabilities to take up sailing under the supervision of specially trained instructors
Sailability is a scheme run by the Royal Yachting Association. It enables people with disabilities to take up sailing under the supervision of specially trained instructors
The "Gwen" project - Dundrum Sailing Club to get it's first sailability modified Lightning
A visitor to our open day is now in possession of the derelict Lightning "Gwen" very kindly donated by another member.
It is to note that this new owner has given me permission to reveal that he suffers with M.S. & accordingly within the aims of our club has very interestingly decided to enter into a project of modifying Gwen to meet his needs.
Given the current state of "Gwen" ...........well anything is possible & if you have the opportunity to meet this gentleman at his home then you will get an idea of the scale his inventiveness & willingness to adapt to his circumstances.
In order to meet the needs of the Gwen project other members will be donating some masts & spars & probably some sails suitably cut down. (anyone else who has old sails they don't need ....size about Flying15, 5o5 etc please chirp up)
It is also to be noted that the new owner of Gwen has kindly donated to our club a 420 dinghy, which though in need of some repair could very well be of great use to us as an intro / trainer.
Good luck to Gwen
click on links to ... Sailability
click on links to .... Dundrum Sailing Club constitution
click on links to .... application for membership
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Monday, 17 September 2012
Olin J Stephens - (1908-2008) - Lightning designer - mystic seaport video
Olin J. Stephens II, America's preeminent yacht designer of the 20th century -- died September 13, 2008 -- five months to the day after celebrating his 100th birthday
Widely recognized as the most respected, admired and accomplished yacht designer of the 20th century, Stephens once said, "I was lucky: I had a goal. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to design fast boats." And this is exactly what he did. He began his career at the age of 19 working as an apprentice for successful 6-meter yacht designer Phillip Rhodes. On November 11,1929, the 21-year-old Stephens joined forces with well-known yacht broker Drake Sparkman and Sparkman & Stephens, Inc. was formed. The naval architecture and yacht design firm's first major design -- a yacht named Dorade -- won the much-publicized 1931Trans-Atlantic Race. She then went on to win the 1936 TransPac, finishing first in class and first overall. A new era of yacht design had begun.
Stephens' name is most often associated with the prestigious America's Cup Race. In 1937, he collaborated with W. Starling Burgess to design the Super-J, Ranger, which was later selected to defend the Cup after only seven races. Sparkman & Stephens went on to design many of the most revered 12-Meters that raced for the Cup, including Columbia, Constellation, Freedom, Intrepid and Courageous. In 1993, Stephens' and his winning designs were honored when he was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame.
Stephens designed more than 2,000 boats throughout his career, many of which still grace the water today. After eight decades of brilliant work, he has left a lasting impact on the maritime community. His numerous designs, contributions and commitment to the worlds of yacht racing and cruising are cherished, as is he.
This video is a tribute to his life and legacy
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Early photo with Doris D (K15) @ Strangford
SP 106 - Multi-Purpose Epoxy System
Local supplierMB Fibreglass
What ever happened to the "Doris D"
Doris D - International Lightning K15, (photo 16/09/2012) undergoing extensive renovations to fore deck & plate case. Not shown is the re-glueing & epoxy coating of the mast.
Incidently Doris D was first constructed 1957 by Bertie Murphy of Killyleagh and therefore is testament to the potential durability & restorability of these interesting craft.
Incidently Doris D was first constructed 1957 by Bertie Murphy of Killyleagh and therefore now is testament to the potential durability & restorability of these interesting craft.
extract
" ...The two youngest boats, with the advantage of their new sails, still continued to dominate the weekly racing. A report on Killyleagh Yacht Club‟s Invitation Races of 1958 states:-
"In the Lightning race, Bertie Murphy in Doris D, one of last year’s new boats, romped away from the line showing a clean pair of heels to the end; never at any time was he given opposition". ...."
" ...... In 1970 another new Lightning joined the fleet. Hustler, built by Denis Bennett during the winter and she was the third boat to be officially registered and proved to be very successful winning several regattas that year including Killyleagh regatta, ahead of Janice B and Elk.
Spinnakers became the new must-have accessory in the early 70‟s, with the fleet members ordering these in. Bertie Murphy in Doris D was the first to receive his and this increased sail area "blew the Lightning out of the water" .........
Incidently Doris D was first constructed 1957 by Bertie Murphy of Killyleagh and therefore is testament to the potential durability & restorability of these interesting craft.
Incidently Doris D was first constructed 1957 by Bertie Murphy of Killyleagh and therefore now is testament to the potential durability & restorability of these interesting craft.
extract
" ...The two youngest boats, with the advantage of their new sails, still continued to dominate the weekly racing. A report on Killyleagh Yacht Club‟s Invitation Races of 1958 states:-
"In the Lightning race, Bertie Murphy in Doris D, one of last year’s new boats, romped away from the line showing a clean pair of heels to the end; never at any time was he given opposition". ...."
" ...... In 1970 another new Lightning joined the fleet. Hustler, built by Denis Bennett during the winter and she was the third boat to be officially registered and proved to be very successful winning several regattas that year including Killyleagh regatta, ahead of Janice B and Elk.
Spinnakers became the new must-have accessory in the early 70‟s, with the fleet members ordering these in. Bertie Murphy in Doris D was the first to receive his and this increased sail area "blew the Lightning out of the water" .........
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Can't get your Lightning off it's trailer ....but have you seen what Lidl sells for about £60?
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