Maritime events set sail in Dun Laoghaire

IT has been a busy few weeks out on the water off Dun Laoghaire as the seaside town celebrated a number of key maritime events.

The Royal St George Yacht Club celebrated its 174th regatta with a fabulous fun filled family day out for young and old recently.

Hundreds of spectators gathered on both piers to watch boats of all classes from wooden mermaids and squibs to dinghies and cruisers, large and small, take to the water.

On shore the Royal St George family fun boasted a bucking rodeo bull, face-painting and bouncy castle.

There was Summer Jazz by Stedfast marking the sailors’ return ashore that was followed by a pig on the spit BBQ.

It was a special occasion as in Galway, Damian Foxall, an honorary member of the yacht club, won the Race Around the World.

While in London, two young club hopefuls Ger Owens and Scott Flanagan will be competing in the Olympics having trained in Dun Laoghaire.

Meanwhile, racing at the 2012 Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship got under last Saturday. Ireland’s Sophie Murphy along with Norway’s Hermann Tomasgaard are hoping to use their experience to win gold at the event.

At just 18-years-of-age Sophie has already sailed at the ISAF Youth Worlds in 2010 before she headed to the inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

The following year she sailed at the 2011 ISAF Youth Worlds in Zadar, Croatia followed by the World Laser Radial Youth Championship in La Rochelle, France.

“Sailing has been my favourite sport and the memories and friends I have made are the best part,

? she said. “Every time you sail the circumstances change. It’s so exhilarating.

?

Her fellow competitor, Tomasgaard has set the standard with two ISAF Youth Worlds behind him, a fifth at Istanbul 2010 and ninth at Zadar 2011.

The championships run all this week until July 20.