Ireland has done it. After mounting multiple teams, considered favourite going into both the 2006 and 2008 events but failing to win either, so the Irish boats Antix, Marinerscove.ie and Roxy 6 today secured the Rolex Commodores' Cup for the emerald isle.
"It is delightful to finally have a chance to get our hands on the trophy," declared Anthony O'Leary, owner and helmsman of the Ker 39 Antix, the Irish team's big boat. "For all three boats, the Rolex Commodores' Cup has been the absolute pinnacle of what we have wanted to do this year. While Antix and Marinerscove have been around, it is a credit to the guys on Roxy because they had a new build and got the boat in the water, and then there were all the attendant things you have to do. Owner Rob Davies, in fairness to him, didn't take a huge amount of persuasion to sign up and make the extra effort required to do it. We owe him a huge debt."David Dwyer and his Marinerscove.ie team were equally ecstatic. "I bought this boat in 2006 and we have been waiting since then for the right time. This time it worked. It was absolutely brilliant."Roxy 6's pro sailor Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell added: "We put in a massive effort and it is nice to have got the reward. Cowes is going to go ballistic tonight!" BKP RORC http://commodorescup.rorc.org/2010-news/ireland-has-done-it.html

Published - 23 August 2010

For the first time in almost two decades the 'Patriots' was not run in Newport Rhode Island last September and is being revived by the Alfred which ran the return event on this side of the Atlantic up until 2006. The Alfred is planning to run the event in conjunction with the waterfront Yacht Clubs in late September utilising the J80's of the ISA Sailfeet. Sailing host will be the Royal Irish YC. The format agreed will be four boat team racing using two flights. Four teams will be invited from North America, two Irish teams -Sigma and Royal Alfred and two UK teams Royal Thames and Hamble River SC. The event has a strong social dimension and saw many suppoters from the US travelling to the event in Dun Laoghaire. Ida Lewis YC has won the event in recent years after breaking the longtime stranglehold of Hamble SC. New York Yacht Club, Storm Trysail and Larchmount will likely comprise the US contingent with the holders. The event is sponsored by Dublin Port. Notice of race link below or access from downloads.

Published - 20 July 2008
Attachment - Patriots NORc Prog 08.doc

Ian Walker, skipper of the Green Team, has officially announced the majority of the Green Team's squad for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008 - 09. The team along with 15 shore crew and boatbuilders are already hard at work at Endeavour Quay, Gosport, UK preparing their new Volvo Open 70 for sea trials.
The sailing squad members announced are: Ian Moore IRL, Navigator; Damian Foxall IRL, Watch Leader; Justin Slattery IRL, Bowman; Tom Braidwood AUS, Trimmer/Driver; Andrew McLean NZL, Bowman; Phil Harmer AUS, Trimmer/driver; Scott Millar IRL Trimmer; Freddie Shanks GBR, Bowman. Amongst the crew, four of the team have competed in the Volvo Ocean Race previously, with Foxall (ERICSSON), Slattery (ABN AMRO ONE), and Braidwood (ERICSSON) all racing in the last edition.
Watch Leader Damian Foxall is the team-member with the most Ocean miles under his belt, 310,000nm to date. He was the winner of the inaugural Barcelona World Race earlier this year with Jean-Pierre Dick aboard Paprec Virbac and has competed in 7 Round the World Races and completed 18 Trans-Atlantics crossings.
Walker is pleased to be working with Ian Moore in the all important navigator and skipper relationship. The pair have sailed together on and off for the last 10 years.
The shore management team is an all Irish affair with Johnny Smullen RAYC member and well known Dun Laoghaire sailor as Shore Manager, Johnny Mordaunt as Technical co-ordinator and James Carroll taking the position of Boat Captain. The teams Media Specialist (will Marcus Hutchinson be in the frame) and further squad members will be announced over the coming weeks.
Once initial sea trials have been completed the Green Team will sail to Ireland for an official christening in Dublin. The team will then be based in Galway until leaving for Alicante at the end of August. www.volvooceanrace.org

Published - 18 June 2008

The Alfreds 150th AGM will be held by kind permission of the National Yacht Club on Friday 28 March 2008 19h00. The agenda for the meeting is as follows.

1. Apologies
2. In memory of past members
3. Minutes of previous AGM
4. Report from the Commodore
5. Election of Flag Officers
6. Election of Committee Members
7. Finance Report
8. Election of Honorary Auditor
9. Any other business

Published - 23 February 2008

RAYC Lee Overlay and ISORA will start the Irish Coast components of their race programmes contemporaneously allowing offshore sailors the opportunity of sailing in both Offshore series in 2008. ISORA will continue to maintain the Irish Sea tradition with two cross channel races comprising the Jim Poole Trophy Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli race in May and the James Eadie Trophy Howth to Abersoch.

Published - 21 January 2008