Club Updates and Events for October 2025

Hello, well it's been quite a time since the last post!! sincere apologies but I'm an IT moron and do not go near the site in fear that I may damage or destroy it. Which of course may imply that I'm a bit of a old salty sea dog. The definition of such being 'someone who is somewhere between mad and eccentric and happier in the middle of the Atlantic, or at the very least sailing in Dublin bay, than being onshore'. So while it's in keeping with the spirit of what I do, I do need to be reminded to be a bit more attentive to things outside the boat. Fortunately younger and saner people have reminded me of the websites existence again and forced me to drop my sails and write an update. 

So to the news or at least an update. Since I last wrote, the Squibs have been retired, in part due to their age and also because the 1720s we had, have also been replaced, with a fleet of eight J80S. The J80 is still a sports boat but their handling characteristics are more gentle, making them more forgiving and easier to sail. This allowed them to fill the gap previously occupied by the Squibs, as well as their also replacing the 1720 fleet. 

In the dinghy area we have increased our fleet, we now have six Neos and four quests. As well as many dinghies we can charter from the sailing school. 

The club has gone from strength to strength, with a large and growing membership. Club members sail for a variety of reasons. Some have just learnt the beginnings of sailing and are embedding their skills. Others who get the basic skills sorted, have continued on the educational route. Going on to qualify as day Skipper's and then onwards to become yacht masters. One of our members has even gone on to become a cruising instructor. Many are happy just to interact with sailing as one of their hobbies. Enjoying the sailing experience when time allows. Enjoying tuning in to that feeling of freedom and sociability that sailing offers. Some club members have travelled across the Atlantic and on to many other parts of the world. Sailing on all sorts of vessels, from small yachts to tall sailing ships. Some have trained  Some have gone on to pursue a career in sailing or the marine industry. 

Currently we have a training program to instruct some club members in preparation to become keelboat instructors. We are also running sessions that teach the skills involved in racing keelboats. We supply an online educational area about racing in connection with the session. As well as some posts about the use of sail controls and another that runs over the winter and covers how to understand weather, as it relates to sailing. 

Running into the winter months we have darker evenings and so our summer Wednesday evenings have finished for now. However our sailing sessions at the weekend continue and I'm sure we will get our social activities, such as the historical tours around Dun Laoghaire, some talks and a few nights testing the local pubs soon. As well as the Christmas party and club AGM.  

So as we enter the winter months I hope we can continue to grow and develop. It is everyone's club and it is good to see us supporting each other to develop and pay forward our sailing. Like a sail boat the club only works well if we pull together and work as a team. 

                       Regards,

                                The salty old sea dog.