Seascapes News Summary - 16th March 2006

Patches and TP52 Racing

Click here to listen to the programme.

TOM MACSWEENEY'S MARITIME MONITOR

GALWAY SUCCESS IN MIAMI
Galway man Eamon Conneely's TP52 yacht, Patches, has won the Rolex TP52 Global Championship, sailed in conjunction with Acura Miami Race Week in the U.S. His team won the regatta from tough competition, underlining how the TP52 class is now one of the most competitive and hardest fought classes in world sailing. Once again, it is great to report the success of Irish seafarers in world competition. Eamon Conneely is a member of GALWAY BAY SAILING CLUB and his boat is making a huge impact on the world sailing scene. Professionally-crewed, British double-Olympic medallist Ian Walker, led the PATCHES team at MIAMI, underlining the high level of ability which Eamonn Conneely recruits for his yacht. Like many sports, sailing at this level has gone professional.

CLICK on this link to hear CLARE McNAMARA, of RTE News Sport report on the victory.

IMPORTANCE OF SEABIRDS TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
If you have any interest in seabirds, which tell a lot about changes in the marine environment, a new website compiled by the COASTAL and MARINE RESOURCES CENTRE of UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CORK, will be of interest.  This is the website of the Cork Harbour Birds Atlas, compiled by the Coastal and Marine Resources Centre of U.C.C. and it has gone on-line. It is based on 25 years of studying seabirds and bird counts in Cork Harbour and can be found at www.corkharbourbirds.ucc.ie  There is also great coverage of seabirds in WINGS MAGAZINE, which is published by BIRDWATCH IRELAND. Beautifully produced in colour it contains a huge amount of information about their habitats and what they can tell us about the maritime environment.

'SHANGHAING' OF THE SEAFARER
There is many a seaman who has been 'shanghaied' a term used in the days of merchant sailing ships to describe a seafarer who might have been forced to join the crew against his will, something akin to the 'press gangs' employed by the Navy. But in more recent times, it was used to describe the treatment of a seafarer who might have signed-on to a ship, thinking his contract was for a few months, but it turned out to be a few years.

CLICK on this link to hear NORMAN FREEMAN recall what happened to him. and how it resulted in his spending quite a few St.Patrick's Days far from Ireland's shores :

MUSIC  
PAT AND JOE BYRNE with BAXTER WAREHAM, sing 'TOWARDS THE SUNSET' from their CD of the same name.

THE METAL MEN
 Several listeners have written to us about the METAL MAN on the Waterford coastline at Tramore whose story we told a few weeks ago and who is in need of repair, while his 'brother' at the entrance to Sligo Harbour is in fine condition. Two others had been made at the same time in the late 1800's and we asked listeners if anyone knew anything about them. DERMOT REIDY Emailed from DUN LAOGHARIE to say that he remembered his father discussing the METAL MAN and that he thinks one of them may be in DALKEY overlooking the MUGLINS ROCKS and DALKEY ISLAND, while PETER McILWAINE says that the MAN in Sligo may be in good condition because he is maintained by the IRISH LIGHTS.  There has also been a lot of listener-response to the shortage of marinas and spaces to moor pleasure boats which we discussed last week. The situation seems to be increasingly difficult on many parts of the coastline, though there are now plans for a marina at SCHULL in West Cork, but it may be some years before it becomes reality and it seems that a legal decision is awaited on a marina proposal for COBH in CORK HARBOUR.
CLICK on this link to hear ROBERT DIX, President of the IRISH SAILING ASSOCIATION, outline why his Association favours more marinas.

MARINA PROBLEMS TOO IN BRITAIN
IRELAND is not the only country with a problem in having enough moorings. In the UK the BRITISH WATERWAYS company has announced that over 11,000 new moorings will be required over the next ten years to remedy the shortage.

VOLVO ROUND THE WORLD RACE
CLICK on this link to hear JUSTIN SLATTERY of Cork, bowman onboard ABN AMRO ONE, the Dutch yacht which is leading the VOLVO ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE. It was first again on the latest leg into RIO DE JANEIRO where JUSTIN spoke about the tough job of being bowman on a boat that can hit speeds of over 25 knots and that is very fast indeed for a yacht. JUSTIN SLATTERY is another Irishman setting a headline in world sport. While JUSTIN is at the top of the VOLVO race, Kerry sailor DAMIAN FOXALL is at the bottom, crewing aboard TEAM ERICSSON which is last overall. Damian and Justin previously sailed together in setting a world sailing record, now they are in opposition, but it is good to see Damian back in action after his injury in the accident last year when the ocean-going catamaran he was racing over-turned several hundred miles offshore and he had to be rescued. Everything that could go wrong did so for Damian's boat on the 6,700-mile section of the race from Wellington in New Zealand across the Southern Ocean to Rio, including lightning hitting the mast.
CLICK on this link to hear DAMIAN FOXALL.

CLICK on this link to see the route of the race (.pdf format).

THIS WEEK'S MARINE NOTICES
· KISH FISH of BOW STREET in DUBLIN has won the BIM RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD, for the sale of quality seafood in a professional manner and twelve Irish seafood companies are taking part in two of the world's leading food trade fairs this week, at FOODEX in Japan and the BOSTON SEAFOOD SHOW, with the support of BIM.

· The IRISH SAILING ASSOCIATION and the CRUISING ASSOCIATION are organising a CRUISE-IN-COMPANY to NORTH WALES between June 18 and July 2. WELSH boats, cruising in Irish waters will link up with Irish boats between Dalkey and Skerries and then sail to Holyhead. More details from the ISA at 01 2800239.

· At the AUSTRIAN MUSEUM of FOLK LIFE and FOLK ART in Vienna Marine Minister John Browne has opened an exhibition on Irish currachs. It was organised by the National Museum of Ireland, Country Life Section from Castlebar.
     
IRELAND SETS NEW WORLD LIFESAVING RECORDS
NORMA CAHILL from CLARE, competing in the WORLD LIFESAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS in Australia, has set two new world records in 50 and 200-metre races. Another Irish marine success to report this week and proving the forecast which Team Manager Michael Cuddihy gave to us on SEASCAPES when the team set out for Australia, that they would set a few records. 5,000 competitors are taking part in the event.

RISING SUN TRAGEDY FUND-RAISING
The fishing community of Wexford has banded together to help the families of those who died in the RISING SUN fishing boat tragedy at Kilmore Quay last November. Skipper Pat Colfer is still missing. Crewman Jimmy  Meyler was lost and New Ross diver, Billy O'Connor, died while diving on the wreck. CLICK on this link to hear Martin Murphy is Chairman of the Rising Sun Committee explain how the fishing community is, as always happens in the case of tragedy, supporting those bereaved.

The RISING SUN fund-raising account is at the AIB Bank, North Main Street, Wexford, Sorting Code 93-333-41, Account No. 12795126.

SHIPS' ENGINEERS - THE UNSUNG HEROES
Last week we told you about the plans for the 50th anniversary of the first IRISH SHIPPING MARINE ENGINEERING Course held in the then CRAWFORD TECHNICAL INSTITUTE in Cork and how the organisers want to hear from engineers who trained there. Former seafarer Bill Byrne was moved to contribute his memory of ships' engineers whom he calls, the UNSUNG HEROES.
CLICK on this link to hear BILL BYRNE

MARINE ENGINEERING CELEBRATIONS
This year is the 50th anniversary of the first IRISH SHIPPING MARINE ENGINEERING Course held in the then CRAWFORD TECHNICAL INSTITUTE in Cork. PETER OTTER says that celebrations will be held to mark the occasion on the weekend of May 5 and 6. They are anxious to contact the many people who trained as marine engineers in Cork over the past half-century and, if you are one of those - phone 021/4543551 for more information - that's 021 4543551 or Email PETER OTTER at: otterpp@eircom.net

AN ISLAND GALE
CLICK on this link to hear CHUCK KRUGER contribute a few thoughts on the gales that have been hitting that West Cork outpost on the edge of the Atlantic and some good news for those who intend to visit Cape this year, is that the new pier extension has been completed and is open for use.

SEASCAPES ON TELEVISION
There is a SEASCAPES teletext service on AERTEL on RTE1 Television at page 388.

YOUR COMMENTS WELCOME
Your comments on matters raised in this week's programme, or on any maritime matters are welcome on the SEASCAPES 24-hour line 1850 715 170 - at a local call charge from anywhere in Ireland or by Email to: seascapes@rte.ie