Despite the extreme weather a well attended ICRA Conference took place on Saturday 21st November in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny under the Chairmanship of ICRA Commodore, Barry Rose.
Sailors from Sligo, Galway, Foynes, Tralee Bay Sailing Club, Schull, Cork,Wicklow and Dublin engaged in vibrant discussion on a wide range of issues.
Among those in attendance were Mike MacCarthy, Admiral Royal Cork Yacht Club, Peter Crowley, President ISA, Liam Lynch, Commodore TBSC, Tim Costello, Commodore DBSC, Simon Mc Gibney Commodore WIORA and many top performance sailors from all Classes and event organisers promoting their 2010 events.
The ICRA Nationals to be held in The Royal St George Yacht Club, DunLaoghaire from 21st to 23rd May, 2010, will accept entries on line from this week while payment of discounted entry fee €125 can be made later, but before March 31st, 2010. After that date entry will be €175. Early entries are encouraged to help organisers decide Class Bands. Lifts in and out will be free and as many boats as possible will be
facilitated on Club pontoons in Dun Laoghaire.
The Round Ireland Race will start on Sun 20th June, 2010, and ICRA announced at the
conference that it would respond to the suggestion on Afloat Forum that they would support the race by offering a Perpetual Trophy for the best ICRA IRC Boat of 40 Feet or under in the results.
Copies of Cork Week Notice Of Race were snapped up at the Conference sending a
clear message that enthusiasm for the event remains strong. Cork Week will take place from 10th to 16th July and promises a superb Regatta with great racing afloat on a wide variety of course types and a good social scene ashore in the unique specially constructed tented village. WIORA also had their NOR available.
Developments in IRC and Progressive Echo systems were discussed and an ICRA Whitesail Committee was promised under the chairmanship of ICRA Secretary Denis Kiely to address issues in whitesail development and to decide if a National Championship or alternative Corinthian type event might take place on a separate course at the same time and venue as the ICRA Nationals.
A very informative and highly organised professional presentation was made by John Murphy of Kinetic on campaigning a boat to win Championships.This was followed by another interesting, amusing and with lots of learning tips on competing, high level presentation from Prof O’ Connell of North Sails.
The final talk was an intriguing insight into the amazing challenges encountered by Ger O Rourke in competing in and completing the Volvo Round the World Race.
The work put into these presentations included full slide back up on overhead projectors adding to the impact and appreciation of each contributor.
The conference finished with the presentation of the ICRA Boat Of the Year trophy being presented on merit to Class 2 ICRA National Champions John Murphy and Richard Colwells Corby 25 Kinetic. She had to beat stiff competition from a final short list of Dave Dwyer’s Mariners Cove, Eamonn Rohans Blondie 1V and Paul O Higgins’ Rockabill.
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