Winter Reports 07/08

Leinster Regional Training at Malahide - Sunday 4th November

With the End of Seasons over, the real winter training got under way at Malahide's Broadmeadows on Sunday.  However, the expected re-emergence of the drysuits and ski gloves didn't materialise and everyone enjoyed a very mild day on the water.  Unfortunately winter clothing wasn't the only thing that didn't appear.  With zero wind in the morning session and only a fraction more in the afternoon it was a day of frustration and light airs training.  The excitment level was raised somewhat during the lunch break when an impromptu rugby match got under way.  An inkling of a breeze terminated the game before Eddie O'Sullivan arrived to talent spot but with four coaches being firmly beaten by the 20-odd sailors it was hardly a fair match.  Here's hoping for more wind next week.  Photos of the millpond activities can be seen here

Our adventure started very early on Friday morning at Cork airport where I meet up with the Cork group of the ISA squad, Colm, Killian, Katie, Richie & Alan.  Accompanied by my very capable assistant Valerie Kingston, we took our flight to Dublin where we hooked up with our excited Dublin contingent Tara, Holly, Ali, Fiona and Patrick.  Some quick group photos were taken before checking in for the next part of our trip to Stansted.  After a short time there, it was on with the final leg of the journey to La Rochelle.  We arrived at La Rochelle in great spirits where we were greeted by a cheerful Thomas Chaix, our French coach Solene, and the French head coach Fred.  After loading ourselves and our gear bags into the vans we headed off to the sailing club.  While travelling to the club we even managed to take in some of the scenic parts of La Rochelle port.

At the club we met up with Eoghan & Aodh who had travelled separately and were glad to join us. The full squad had now arrived and the next stage was for the sailors to be introduced to their French host families.  There were a few nervous moments when the team was being paired off and meeting the hosts but that soon disappeared and everybody departed for a good nights sleep.

The first day of sailing started off excitedly and nervously, but once into the boats everybody relaxed and focused on the coaching.  Unfortunately the weather was not on our side, with no wind everybody battled on to make the most of the day. 

On the second evening we decided to have a night out to really get the French and Irish groups mixing. Off we ventured to the nearby local aquarium and then onwards afterwards to McDonalds.  At McDonalds friendships were really cemented and any semblance of a language barrier began to disappear.  We then went on to a games arcade where the competitive side of the sailors came back to the fore when playing on the air hockey table.  All the kids went home happy and much more relaxed, and all agreed the evening was a great success.

The next few days the friendships got better as well as the sailing – good breeze arrived.  Singing & excited banter was heard from the changing rooms and the children enjoyed the coaching and racing on the water. 

The last day was a busy one as the Irish team came off the water early to start gathering their gear to load the trailer. Everyone was busy packing sails, boats and gear bags.  Photos were taken and email addresses were swapped, the end of the trip was coming all too quickly.  So when the time came to load ourselves into the van to head to the airport there followed lots of waving, shouting and the sound of car horns blaring in the normally quiet yacht club.

Our trip home was a very smooth one thankfully as some of us had three flights to catch.  The group were a credit to travel with at all stages and indeed were complemented by the check-in staff at Stansted, noting how well behaved they were. 

A lot of tired but happy children were returned to welcoming parents that night.  Many thanks are due to the French host families, the Irish coaches Thomas and Solene and sailors and coaches of Team Optimist Poitou Charentes.  Roll on Palma.

Louise O’Keeffe, Squad Mum

There are some pictures on the IODAI website and one of the French parents has pictures on a website at http://europeopti2007.skyrock.com/21.html

Click here for the IODAI website photos.

Click here for Thomas's daily reports on the ISA website.

Click here for Full report and pictures on the Cobbler League

ISA National Opimist Squad head off for La Rochelle Clinic

12 Sailors from the ISA's National Optimist Squad headed off for La Rochelle on Friday morning for four days intensive coaching.  ISA Oppie coach, Thomas Chaix, headed off earlier in the week with the IODAI trailer laden with the Squad's boats and gear.  All looked aprehensive as they posed for photographs at Dublin Airoprt but with Oppie mums, Louise O'Keeffe and Valerie Kingston looking on they will be well looked after.  Although they will all miss the End of Sesaons this weekend, the squad members are hoping that the four day clinic will improve their sailing. (Not all the squad are seen in the photograph as some are travelling via an alternative route.) Photo 

Killian O’Keeffe Dominates in Windier Conditions for 3^rd Week of Cobbler League

Killian O’Keeffe of the Royal Cork had a great day with two first places out of a fleet of 50 in today’s windier conditions moving him up to first place overall in the Cobbler League.

Winds gusting up to 20 knots provided a stern test for our young Optimist sailors this weekend. Race officer Ronan Lyden, assisted by Nuala Lyden set two good length races which almost all completed without incident (the only notable exception being a protest by Ronan’s eldest son against the race officer!).

Katie-Gambier Ross of Kinsale also had excellent results with a 3^rd and a 2^nd.  Next best on the day was Amy Harrington with a 4^th and a 6^th.Overall in the Gold Fleet, Killian O’Keeffe leads from Aodh Kennedy, closely followed by Colm O’Regan and Katie Gambier-Ross all of Kinsale. However, with the leading 5 sailors away in France next weekend, Amy Harrington, with only three races to go, looks set to take overall honours.

In the Silver Fleet, Amy Clarke of Kinsale (8^th overall and also in contention for overall honours) has a comfortable lead over Cian Byrne and Brendan Lyden of the Royal Cork.The Bronze Fleet is being led by Alexandra Morehead (11^th overall) from Patrick Crosbie (both Royal Cork) with Ruairi Finnegan from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club only a few points adrift. Full Main Fleet results are available here .

The Regatta Fleet were given a separate course inside the river due to the adverse conditions. Larrie Martin gave them two races also and all returned happy from the experience. Michael O’Donovan (Royal Cork) continued his fine form by taking a 3^rd and a 1^st to lead overall from Ciara Judge of Kinsale who had a 1^st and a 6^th. Peter Healy of Kinsale didn’t fare quite so well today but manages to maintain 3^rd place on the same points as Ciara.Full Regatta Fleet results are available here.

The Cobbler League concludes next Sunday with racing again due to commence at 12 (launching at 11). Please note that conditions at this time of year can get quite cold and therefore dry suits are advisable, particularly if it is windy.There will be a prizegiving for the Cobbler League on Sunday 28^th October at 17.00 or as soon as possible thereafter. 

Kinsale sailors Colm O’Regan and Katie Gambier-Ross are lying second and third after scoring consistently well in the light and shifty conditions. The leader from the opening weekend, Killian O’Keeffe, had a difficult day. In the first race he was 27^th, having been up with the leaders, followed by a 1^st and a 14^th. 

Other notable results from the local fleet were a 3^rd in the first race from Patrick Crosbie and a 6^th for Jamie Tingle. Jamie’s result was particularly special as this was his first foray in to the main fleet. 

The complete main fleet results are available here………………. . 

The regatta fleet is being lead by Michael O’Donovan from RCYC who had three podium finishes today. However, he is only one point ahead of Peter Healy of Kinsale. The regatta fleet results are available here……………… . 

Racing continues on Sunday 21^st and 28^th when I’m sure that some of the sailors will be hoping for some of the traditional windy stuff that is usually on offer in October. 

On Saturday 13^th over 40 sailors took part in regional coaching organised by IODAI in Crosshaven. The coaching was given by an experienced team led by Olympic aspirant, Maurice (Prof) O’Connell. Prof gave the sailors the benefit of his wisdom and experience (though it should be noted that the “obligatory” warm-up run to Limekiln Corner and back was deemed too much for this finely tuned athlete!).  

Coaching continues next Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm.

Monday 8^th October:  Leinster Regional Training got under way on Sunday 7^th October with over 30 boats taking part, 22 Main fleet and 10 regatta fleet.  A slow start to the day with zero wind gave coaches John, Dave, Fionn and Mark a chance to remind everyone of those little points of theory that they’d forgotten about since their last training session. The theory was not confined to the classroom.  The coaches got everyone on the water and carried on with the theory on the water well away form those interfering parents.  Just as the first groups were coming in for lunch the wind started to appear and by the time everyone was fed all groups returned to the water in a steady but light breeze.  The session ended with two short races which will count toward the award of The Polar Trophy later in the season.  Some photographs are available here