Great workmanship as new boat unveiled

A NORTHSIDE sailing club reeled in the years by unveiling a unique wooden dinghy model that was constructed to mark the 70-year anniversary since the first one of its kind was built.

A team from the Contarf Yacht and Boat Club came up with the idea to create the IDRA14 dinghy.

The project took over 6,000 hours, the work of 30 plus volunteers, and help and support of many people from within Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and outside. 

The two-man, 14-foot wooden boat is still raced by a handful of sailing clubs across the country, but it was project leader Ronan Melling’s idea to handcraft the vessel which has been vastly replaced by fibreglass models since.

Explaining the history, Mr Melling said: “The IDRA14 dinghies have a unique Irish history. 

“They are single design wooden boats that were designed by an Irish naval architect, George O’Brien Kennedy, in the winter of 1938 in Dorset.

“The design was adopted and adapted by the Irish Dinghy Racing Association in 1945 to regulate small boat sailing and encourage more people into the sport.”

Project PR Officer Louise Coulter said that the group has gotten ultimate satisfaction following the project completion which was finally unveiled on June 25.

“It has only been in the last couple of days where it has really finally been ready and the final tweaks have been happening,” said Ms Coulter.

“It’s a thing of beauty and I never thought I’d get excited about a boat like I am.”

Ms Coulter added that what is most impressive about the clinker boat is the clean lines along the outside of her and the quality of workmanship. Everyone who was involved in the construction of the dinghy were all novice boat-builders who received expert advice from places like Rush, Balbriggan and even from the UK. Ms Coulter said the core team involved six people who met on Tuesdays and Thursdays, adding that she was welcome to go in and help whenever she liked.

“It has been all ages and all sorts of people who have went in and helped,” she added. “It has been a great team spirit because everyone has been involved.” 

The weather held during the boat-launch ceremony which took place at the slipway across from the Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club clubhouse, the same slipway where the first IDRA14s were launched all those years ago.

Numerous members within the club made speeches at the launch before a performance from the Harold’s Cross Brass Band took place on a good day weather-wise.  Afterwards, Dublin musician Bryan Smyth entertained guests in the clubhouse with live music along with food and face painting. 

On the day, the name of the IDRA14 was revealed as ‘Wicked Sadie’ from Rory Gallagher’s song ‘Tattoo’d Lady’, which was kept top secret during the three-year process.

REPORT: Brein McGinn