The Early Years

On May 8th 1960, twelve men and four women met at the Downshire House Hotel with the purpose of setting up a sailing club at Blessington Lake. They were a mixed bunch, including the local parish priest, the Rev Fr Crinion, Michael Rigby Jones, MD of Irish Ropes from nearby Newbridge and Capt Paddy Harboard, a former German prisoner of war in North Africa. He was to be the first Commodore and a driving force behind the new venture. Many of the others were involved in the bloodstock industry. All had some experience of sailing and a determination to introduce the sport into a community with little knowledge of sailboats. It was after all less than twenty years since the building of Poulaphouca Dam and the creation of Blessington Lake. To many of the local people sailing must have seemed somewhat alien if not downright dangerous

The following were present at the Inaugural Meeting of the Blessington Sailing Club held at 6.30pm on May 8^th 1960, at the Downshire Hotel, Blessington:

An apology was received from Lt Col JPW Samuelson .

Almost all present applied for Founder Membership.  In addition, the following were elected Founder Members:

Sir Alfred Beit

Mr P McKeever

Clr J Miley

A committee was duly elected and the meeting decided on the name Blessington Sailing Club as opposed to Blessington Yacht Club by eight votes to six. (In this they anticipated the Irish Yachting Association by over thirty years.)  The group then adjourned, perhaps to contemplate the size of the job which they had just taken on.

The first task was to secure the approval of the ESB, Wicklow County Council, and Dublin Corporation, without whose co-operation not a single boat could be launched on the lake. In the climate then prevailing, the idea of allowing the general public onto state property for the purpose of recreation was not too well advanced. There was obvious concern at the possibility of pollution, talk of limiting numbers and permits being required for visitors to regattas. However they were a determined bunch and over the next two years, with the assistance of people like local councillor Jim Miley and hotelier Louis Byrne the various official bodies were brought onside.

The present clubsite is ESB property, and it was with their co-operation and goodwill that the club found a home, a situation which happily continues to this day.

Having got the go-ahead, a site had to be found, basic facilities installed and new members attracted. With family membership in mind from the outset it was agreed that the club should be a low cost venture. Members themselves would, wherever possible, create the facilities and run the enterprise without the benefit of professional staff.  In year one, numbers reached twenty-one and subscriptions £98 so there was really little choice in the matter. This policy of self-help and the appeal to children and adults together has enabled the club to grow and flourish, funded by very modest subscriptions.

The first Secretary was Dr Brian Freeman. He carried out a survey of all likely sites before recommending the present one.  Much of it was then wet and swampy with the present grassy field a former quarry. The possibilities nevertheless were obvious.

A recruitment drive was launched and the work commenced.  Quite a number of Army officers joined, especially welcome for their engineering skills and their enthusiasm for hard work.

The first job was to build the access road, known as the Burma Road, because it was built by officer labour. In quick succession a slipway followed and the harbour was excavated with considerable effort. The idea was to provide berthing for some fifteen to twenty small cruisers.  Unfortunately the entrance soon silted up and the cruisers never materialised.  Because money was short, an elsan loo had to suffice for several years. This meant limiting membership and, of course, cash intake. These developments were financed by loan notes

Sailing got going almost immediately from a base below Blessington Bridge. Plans to launch the club with a two-day open regatta were postponed until 1962.  In May of that year, with the blessing of the IYA, racing for Enterprise, Heron and Firefly class dinghies was successfully organised and the club was officially in business. 

In the following years, the annual open attracted entries from all over Ireland as Finns, 505s, IDRA 14's and Fireballs were added to the  programme.  Despite the rather primitive facilities on offer, Blessington Sailing Club quickly became part of the then sailing circuit. A reputation for good organisation and the magnificent setting established the venue in the minds of serious dinghy sailors.

The need for a clubhouse was now becoming more and apparent. In late 1964 a decision was made to purchase an “extended chalet“ from the firm of Barney Heron Ltd of Leixlip at a cost of £590. It was delivered in the following Spring and assembled and erected by the members. This humble building served the needs of the members for over twenty years and continues in use as junior HQ.

A Growing Club

The following year saw the election of Col Ned Doyle as Hon Secretary. The club had survived the difficult early years and Ned proceeded to build on progress to date.

A new rescue launch was purchased to replace the rowboat cum seagull outboard which had served so far.

A rulebook was published. Further landscaping and drainage was completed, giving the site its present appearance. This included the reclamation of the quarry area, at very little cost with the help of debris left over from County Council road widening.

The ablution block was built, incorporating quite advanced technology, solving what had been a major problem since day one.  It was also financed by loan notes.

A brochure was published listing the amenities including the clubs Enterprise “Venturer“, available free to members.  Sailing instruction for beginners and juniors was also on offer. The ease of access by car for family sailing and for picnics round the extensive and beautiful lakeshore was noted. 

Wednesday and Sunday racing were promoted and standards and numbers continued to improve. GP14s, Lasers and Mirrors made their appearance and quickly established themselves as serious classes in the club.

By the 1970's, the seasons programme had been established, the general outline of which has survived to the present day.  Proceedings commenced with the May work day and ended with the October clean up and rescue boat recovery. The June club regatta represented the high point of the season and the O'Rahilly and Harboard trophies added some spice to the racing. A cruise in convoy to Blessington village and a ladies race filled in the calendar. Unfortunately neither of these events survived the years, the latter perhaps a victim to political correctness.  A less cynical view is that ladies were now quite capable of beating the men. The children’s sports day has shown greater staying power and continues to be one of the most popular events in the club year.

The minute books (all of which happily survive) record an ongoing debate as to the best way to organise rescue and OOD duties. The argument was between those who believed that a rota, drawn mainly from active sailors, should be published at the start of the racing season and those who wanted a more ad hoc approach.  The second group favoured recruiting the necessary people from the floating population of non-combatants who, with suitable training, would be capable of doing the jobs. They had also, it seemed, little faith in members' commitments to long term rotas.  The debate continues.
 

The 1970’s also saw the advent of the Sunday Barbecue. A large barbecue was set in a half barrel following the Sunday race. Members brought their own food to cook on the barbecue and they enjoyed good food and good company on many a warm summer evening. In the early years some of the more energetic parents, (John Sheridan, Sidney Rowell and Eddie Deevey come to mind), organized the juniors in games of rounders. While the rounders has long since passed into memory the Sunday Barbecue is still very much a part of the on shore social scene at the club.

The New Clubhouse

With the passing years the facilities looked more and more inadequate. The tiny changing rooms and the absence of showers and hot water were an embarrassment to members and visitors alike.

A survey in 1986 confirmed that the time had come for action. The likely costs looked daunting for a small club with little surplus income or reserves.  The good news was that club member David Pym had agreed to act as Architect.  Vice Commodore and Master Builder Dick Roche was also willing to take on the role of Building Supervisor. Both would work in an Honorary capacity.  Spirits began to rise and a special meeting of members  agreed that planning should proceed as quickly as possible.

Within three months David had produced outline drawings and costs in the order of £60,000 were assumed as a basis for funding. It was proposed to finance this level of expenditure by means of a members levy, the sale of a limited number of life memberships and special fund raising activities.  In the event the total cost, including fittings and electrics came to £92,000. The difference was covered by greater fund-raising efforts and a five year bank loan. The loan was guaranteed “jointly and severally” by all of the then serving members of the committee.

Pressure to clear the debt proved a great motivator.  Quiz and race nights and various other money-making schemes did their bit. But it was the Mid Summer barbecues that hit the jackpot. Up to four hundred fee paying guests enjoyed the experience of partying by the lake on balmy Summer nights. Of course not all were balmy, but when the weather changed the tented village of bars, music and dancing created its own magic.

While all of this hectic activity was going on, David Pym was progressing the plans and the planning permission. The contract was won by Mick McGrath & Co Ltd of Ballymore Eustace who completed the work on time. The clubhouse was opened in June 1989 by Mr Dick Roche, TD (no relation of the Vice Commodore) in the presence of a large gathering with music supplied by the Tallaght Band.

Was it worth the money?  A commentator wrote at the time: “A huge budget for a project like this might have been expected, but in spite of extensive site works and selection of custom made materials, the end cost was below the original budget - surely a tribute to the committee and its Architect.  Club members and guests appreciate their dramatic and spectacular new building. They have a clubhouse which is not only practical, it is bright and happy in appearance. This vivacious pavilion is perfectly at home in its truly marvellous location and never more so than when surrounded by the brilliant colours of people in yachting gear and the bright bustle of sails and boats. It is unique". 

The clubhouse has worn well with some internal modifications.  Were the same building to be erected today, a cost of three times the original might well be expected.  Requests to stage National and Provincial class championships have multiplied. Sponsorship has been successfully sought.  The contribution of Heineken Breweries has enhanced many a post regatta party.

Blessington was host to the GP14 Junior Championships in 2003 and the GP14 Leinster Championships in 2006 and 2008.

The Club has become the home of the Catamaran Inland Championships and was host to the Catamaran National Championships in 2007.

Since 2000 the Club has become an established stop for the Topper Traveller series as the junior Topper Fleet has developed. The Club hosted the Topper Leinster Championships in 2002 and 2004, the Topper National Championships in 2003 and 2009. Topper Inlands in 2007. Topper Europeans in 2005.

The 420’s were the latest visitors to Blessington when the Club hosted the 2009, 420 Leinster Championships.

 Twinning

In 1996 the club entered into a Twinning arrangement with Newtownards Sailing Club. This was meant to lead to an increase in across the border sporting contacts and to reinforce the already strong relations between the two clubs. 

GP14 crews from each club compete for a beautiful Waterford Glass Trophy each year. The two clubs are open to and welcome each other's members. It is hoped that as a result, sailing rivalry and friendships will grow and multiply.

On the Water

The founders' policy was to promote sailing on the reservoir and all other activities were ancillary to this objective.

They had the idea that some sort of boat standardisation would be a good idea and decided on the Enterprise but this did not work out. 

Three classes, GP14’s Mirrors and Lasers, dominated racing for the first half of the club’s existance, and their popularity has endured over the years. The Catamarans arrived from Bray in 1987 and the Topper fleet got started in 2000.

The Mirror has always been popular with the juniors, whose enthusiasm for serious sailing has tended to fluctuate.  The seventies probably saw the greatest number competing when Sean Kenny won the National Junior Championship. And now in the new millennium we have a lot of young people sailing again.

The Laser made its appearance about the same time as the Mirror. Numbers were helped by special introductory prices.  Con Murphy, Cathy McAleavey and Martin Carey also represented Ireland at the Laser Europeans in Norway in 1982. The club was also represented in the USA in 1983 when Con Murphy was selected as one of a team of six to travel to Gulfport, Mississippi to compete in the World Championships.

GP14's have always enjoyed a very loyal following who are prepared to race and travel whenever an opportunity offers.  Peter Hannon’s enthusiasm never faltered.  He was National Masters Champion and was known, throughout the country, for both his racing and organisational skills. In 1983 Paul and Mark Phelan competed in the World Junior GP14 Championships in Mumbles, England as part of the Irish Team.

Cathy McAleavey with Ashling Byrne of the National Yacht Club represented Ireland at the Seoul Olympics in the 470 class in 1988. They acquitted themselves very well in difficult conditions at a time when there was little government funding for Olympic sailing.

Club veterans David Coote and Dave Constant recorded another very fine performance finishing in the top ten in the World J 24 Championships held in Dun Laoghaire in 1988.

The arrival of the catamarans from Bray in 1987 added a new dimension to Blessington Sailing. In its new home the fleet has grown rapidly and has been particularly successful in National competitions.

Con  Murphy and Cathy McAleavey experienced the thrill of a lifetime when in 1993 they were invited to join the late Steve Fossett (USA) on his 60ft Trimaran “Lakota” in his record breaking non stop round Ireland trip. They sailed north from Dun Laoghaire at lunchtime on Wednesday on the “Lakota“ and got back for breakfast on Friday, shattering the existing record, in a time of 44 hours, 42 minutes and 20 seconds. The Cork Dry Gin perpetual challenge cup was their prize.  This magnificent trophy is displayed at the National Yacht Club and the record stands unbroken 17 years later.                     

In 1995, Dermot Mangan and John Sheeran established a Dun Laoghaire/ Holyhead dinghy speed record of 7 hrs, 14 mins in a Dart 18.

The Blessington Catamaran fleet made a clean sweep at the National Championships which took place at the Lough Derg Yacht Club in Dromineer in September 1999.

Neil Mangan and Carl Smith won the Dart 18 and Cathy McAleavey and Con Murphy the Hurricane 5.9 National Championships. Gary Mangan and Amy-Jane Lawrence are the Dart 16 National Champions and Dermot McHugh and Julie McGuire the Dart Hawk National Champions.

Blessington’s Catamarans went from strength to strength achieving success in the UK and Europe in 2002. Neil Mangan and Aisling Clarke took 3^rd place in the British Spitfire Nationals. Neil also took 2^nd place in the British Inland Championships this time with Raithnait Long. Aisling Clarke and Matt Causon and, Neil Mangan and Amy Jane Lawrence took 10^th and 11^th place respectively in the European Championships.

The new millennium has seen a renewed focus on junior training and the development of the Club Topper fleet. A new generation of sailors has enjoyed great success at both a national and international level.

Julie Ryan placed the top 10 in the 2003 Topper Nationals. She went on to take 5^th place in Bronze Fleet at the  European Topper Championships in 2004. Simon MacAree and Laura Ryan competed in the Silver Fleet.

Maria Dolan was the ISA Junior National Champion in 2007. Ben Lynch finished 2nd Laser Class. Finn Lynch finished 4^th.           Finn was also the best under 12 in the British Midland World Topper Championships. Rory Lynch won the Killaley Topper Traveller the same year.

A year later in 2008 Ben Lynch took 5th overall 1st Place in the European Junior Laser Championship in Switzerland, while Finn took 1st place in the Topper Traveller series.

In 2009 Finn took the Silver Medal in the Topper World Championship in Austria. In February 2010 Finn became the first Irish Sailor to win a UK Topper Event when he won the Magic Marine Winter Regatta in Rutland, UK. There were 188 boats competing, in this first regatta of the Topper season.

Training

Sail training for both adults and juniors have been a feature of the club from the beginning. Through the annual Summer training school several generations of young sailors have learned the skills of sailing from the basics to advanced levels.

Over the years a number of people have taken the responsibility for organising and managing the Club’s junior training.

In the 70’s Colonel Doyle brought his own inimitable military style to bear. Those of us who completed our training in the mid seventies will recall work details organised to clear the beach of stones on days when the wind was too strong for sailing.

In the 80’s the baton passed first to Sean Page and then to Anna White. In the 90’s Ted Bowe,  Declan Scallan and Noel O’Brien took on the responsibilities.

For a brief period the Blessington Sailing School provided training for the clubs Juniors along with providing training to non club members. By offering training to non club members the Sailing School was able to provide more flexibility for the timing of Junior Training. However, the Committee realised that the bonds that formed between each year’s course participants was being lost.

Laterly Gerry Ryan and Peter Dolan have taken responsibility for running the junior training programme. The programme has gone from strength to strength as evidenced by the success of the Club’s Topper Fleet.

Safety

The emphasis throughout the club’s history has been on safety and respect for the lake in all its moods. 

We should never forget the  fatal tragedy that happened in April 1972. Two young men were drowned on a Saturday afternoon at a time when there were no other sailors on the lake. They had apparently put out in deteriorating conditions with unsuitable equipment. Their empty car led to the raising of the alarm and early the following morning an Air Corps helicopter located the bodies near to the opposite shore. This is a tragedy that must never be repeated.

Our Late Friends

Baron Martin de Robeck (1941-1996)

The Baron Martin de Robeck was elected Commodore in 1968, a position he held until his untimely death in 1996. Under his leadership the club enjoyed twenty eight years of progress, on and off the water. The great ambition of building a proper clubhouse was finally realised.

Martin was an exceptional man whose talents covered a very wide range of accomplishments.  No task was too great or too small for his attention. Whether the plumbing needed fixing or problems with the authorities had to be sorted out, he was always willing and able.

His contribution to Blessington Sailing Club is incalculable.

Peter Hannon ( 2008)

Peter Hannon , served as the club’s honorary secretary for many years and as club Commodore between 1996 and 1998.

Peter was an accomplished sailor and was well known amongst the GP and Sailing community. Peter officiated at several of the major competitions hosted by Blessington. His great knowledge of sailing combined with his organizational skills ensured the success of many national and international events hosted at the club.

Peter will be missed by his friends and fellow sailors.

Col E.D. Doyle (1919 – 2009)

COL E.D. (Ned) Doyle, was a distinguished military and foreign affairs analyst who served with the Defence Forces at home and abroad with the United Nations.

Col Doyle took up sailing during his time in the Curragh. As a result, he and his family became active members of Blessington Sailing Club in Co Wicklow, where the Curragh sailors were based.

Col Doyle served as the club's honorary secretary for many years, and encouraged many young sailors to develop skills on the lake and to compete in dinghy sailing.

Col Doyle was a real gentleman and he was a great presence during his time in the club. He set a simple and honourable standard in everything he did: "Never ask anyone to do something that you would not do yourself."

Hugh Browne (2010)

Hugh Browne steered the club through the development of the new clubhouse in 1989 as  the Club’s first non sailing Honory Secretary. Hugh was also club commodore between 1999 and 2001. The hall mark of Hugh’s tenures as Secretary and Commodore was his committment to both the family and volunteer ethos of the Club.

Website

The clubs Website may be visited at www.blsc.ie

Na Blianta Luatha

Ar an 8 lá Bealtaine 1960, tháinig dhá fhear déag agus ceathrar ban le chéile in Óstán Teach an Downshire chun club seoltóireachta a bhunú ar

na lochanna i mBaile Coimín. Grúpa mheasctha a bhí ann, Rev Fr Crinion an sagart paróiste,  Michael Rigby Jones, Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta

de Rópa na nGael i nDroichead Nua agus Captaen Pádraig Harboard, a bhíodh ina phríosúnach cogaidh Gearmáinis san Afraic Thuaidh. Bhí Pádraig mar fhórsa tiomána taobh thiar den chlub seoltóireachta agus ba é an chéad Commodore ann. Bhí an chuid is mó de na daoine eile páirteach i dtionscal póraithe na gcapall. Bhí taithí seoltóireachta acu go léir agus bhí sé ar intinn acu an spórt a chur ar fail don phobal áitiúil. Bhí sé níos lú ná fiche bliain ó thógáil an damba i bPoll an Phúca agus cruthú an locha Bhaile Coimín. Gan dabht cheap na daoine áitiúla gur radharc ait é an seoltóireacht gan trácht ar an gcontúirt.

Bhí na daoine seo a leanas i láthair ag an gCruinniú Tionscnaimh de Club Seoltóireachta Coimín, a thionóladh ag 6:30 ar Bealtaine 1960, ag an Óstán Downshire, Baile Coimín:

Fuarthas leithscéal ó Lt Col JPW Samuelson.

Beagnach gach láthair i bhfeidhm maidir le Baill Bhunaitheacht. Ina theannta sin, chuir na daoine seo a leanas iarratas mar Baill Bhunaitheora:

Sir Alfred Beit

Mr P McKeever

Clr J Miley

Thogh siad coiste agus chinn siad ar an ainm Club Seoltóireacht Baile Coimín i leaba Club Luamh Baile Coimín, ocht vóta chun a sé. (Bhí said níos mó ná tríocha bliain roimh Cumann Luamh na Gaeilge). Siar said ansin, b'fhéidir chun smaoineamh ar mhéid an phoist a bhí rompu.

An chéad tasc a bhí rompu ná formheas as an ESB a fháil, chomh maith le Comhairle Contae Cill Mhantáin agus Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath.  Gan a gcomhoibriú ní féidir bád amháin a sheoladh ar na lochanna. Ag an am sin ní raibh cead ag an bpobal i gcoitinne úsáid a bhaint as maoin stáit i gcúrsaí spóirt.   Bhí imní soiléir faoi féidearthacht truailliú, agus phléigh said ar uimhreacha a theorannú agus ceadanna a bheith

ag teastáil ó chuairteoirí i gcomhair comórtais. Mar sin féin, ba ghrúpa díongbháilte é agus tríd an gcéad dhá bhliain eile, le cuidiú ó dhaoine cosúil

le comhairleoir Séamus Miley agus úinéir an óstáin Louis Byrne tháinig comhlachtaí oifigiúla éagsúla ar bord.

Tá an clubtheach suite ar thalamh ESB.  Lena gcuid comhoibrithe agus dea-thoil d'aimsigh an club Seoltóireachta a bhaile, rud a leanann go dtí an lá seo.

Tar éis cead a fháil bhí orthu suíomh a aimsiú, áiseanna bunúsacha a chur isteach, baill nua a mhealladh.  Le ballraíocht clainne

san áireamh ón tús, aontaíodh é gur chóir an club dul ar aghaidh ar chostas íseal. Nuair ab fhéidir ba iad na baill féin a chruthódh na háiseanna agus a leanfadh ar aghaidh leis an bhfiontar gan cabhair ó fhoireann gairmiúil. Sa chéad bhliain, ní raibh ach aon bhall fiche, ocht bpunt nócha ó shíntiúis agus mar sin ní raibh rogha acu.  Tríd an bpolasaí seo de chuidiú féin, agus an slí ina tharraingíonn sé daoine fásta agus páistí tá an club tar éis fás agus rath air, maoinithe ag síntiúis measartha.

Ba é Dochtúir Brian Freeman an chéad rúnaí. Rinne sé amach suirbhé de na suíomh is fearr agus ansin mhol sé an ceann a úsáideann an club anois.. Ag an am sin bhí cuid mhaith de fluich agus seascannach agus an páirc a úsáidtear anois ba chairéil é. Mar sin féin bhí na féidireachtaí le feiceáil.

Lainseáladh feachtas earcaíochta and thosaigh an obair. Thóg a lan oifigigh ón arm ballraíocht.  Cuireadh fáilte mhór rompu de bharr a scilleanna innealtóireachta agus a ndíogras d’obair chrua.

An chéad phost a bhí acu ná bóthar rochtana a thógáil, ar a dtugtar an Bóthar Burma, toisc gur saothar oifigeach a thóg é. I gcomharbas mear ina dhiaidh sin tógadh caoí agus bhí cuan á tochailt le hiarracht mór. Bhí rún ann áit a chur ar fáil do leaba ancaire.  Faraoir, go luath ina dhiadh sin bhí an slí isteach líonta le glár agus níor tháinig na cursóirí. Toisc nach raibh a lán airgid ag an gcumann ní raibh le húsáid ach leithreas elsan le roinnt bliainta. Mar sin, bhí teorainn ar bhallraíocht agus ar airgead.  Maionaíodh. na forbairtí le nótaí iasachta.

Thosaigh an seoltóireacht ó bhunáit taobh thíos de Dhroichead Baile Coimín. Bhí na pleananna chun an club a láinseáil le comórtas oscailte curtha ar ceal go dtí 1962. I mí Bealtaine na bliana sin, le beannacht an IYA, eagraíodh comórtas rathúil do bháidín Enterprise, Heron agus Firefly, agus bhí an club i mbun gnó go hoifigiúil.

Sna blianta a leanas, mheall an comórtas oscailte bliantúil iontrálacha ó gach cearn d'Éirinn mar a cuireadh Finns, 505s, IDRA 14’s agus

Fireballs leis an gclár. Tháinig Baile Coimín Club Seoltóireachta mar chuid den chuaird seoltóireachta go tapaidh, in ainneoin na háiseanna

bunúsacha a bhí ar fáil. Chuir an clú d’eagraíocht maith agus na radharcanna iontacha an áit in aigne an mhairnéalaigh dáiríre.

Ba léir anois go raibh gá do chlubtheach.  I ndeireadh 1964 rinneadh cinneadh ar sealla fadaithe a cheannach ó chomhlacht Barney Heron Ltd. de Léim an Bhradáin, ar chostas £590. An t-Earrach seo a leanas bhí sé ar fáil agus chur na baill le chéile é. Usáideadh an foirgneamh umhal seo ag na baill le breis is fiche bliain agus anois tá sé in úsáid mar clubtheach sóisearach.

An Club ag Fás

Sna blianta seo a leanas toghadh Col Ned Doyle mar Rúnaí Onórach. Mhair an club na blianta crua seo agus lean Ned ag tógáil ar an dul chun cinn.

Ceannaíodh seoladh tarrthála nua a chur in ionad an bád rámhaíochta le outboard seagull a bhíodh againn ag an am.

Foilsíodh leabhar rialacha. Críochnaíodh níos mó tírdhreachú agus draenáil, agus sin fáth an chuma atá air anois. Tógadh ar ais píosa den chaireil ar chostas beag mar úsáideadh bruscar ó leathnú bhóthar a rinne an Chomhairle Chontae.

Tógadh an bloc leithreas, ag baint úsáide as teicneolaíocht nua, agus réitíodh fadhb mhór. Úsáideadh nótaí iasachta anseo freisin. 

Foilsíodh bróisiúr ag liostú na háiseanna, mar shampla bhí cead ag na baill úsáid a bhaint as Enterprise "Venturer" an chlub, saor in aisce.

Bhí teagasc seoltóireachta ar fáil do thosaitheoirí agus sóisearaí. Tugadh faoi deara go raibh sé éasca do chlann i gcarr teacht i gcomhair picnic agus seoltóireacht.  

Eagraíodh rásaí DéCéadaoin agus Dé Domhnaigh agus lean caighdeán agus líon na mball ag feabhsú. Tháinig GP14’s, Lasers agus Mirrors agus níorbh fhada gur ranganna tábhachta iad sa chlub.  .

De réir na 1970í bhí an clár séasúir socraithe agus tá imlíne ghinearálta fós in úsáid sa lá atá inniu.   Thosaigh na himeachtaí lá oibre i mBealtaine agus lean sé go dtí glanadh agus fail ar ais an bháid tarrthála i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Ba é pointe ard an tséasúir ná an club regatta i Mí an Mheithimh agus chuir trófaithe O'Rahilly agus Harboard blas iomaíochta ar an  rásaíocht.  Chomh maith le sin bhí cúrsáil i gconmhaigh go sráidbhaile Baile Coimín agus rás na mban. Faraoir ní eagraítear na rásaí seo anois b’fhéidir de bharr cirte polaitiúla. Nó b’fhéidir go raibh na mná in ann an bua a fháil ar na fir ag an am sin.  Mhair lá spóirt na leanaí agus fós tá sé ar cheann de na himeachtaí is

mó a bhfuil tóir air i rith an tséasúir.

Sna leabhair nóiméad tugtar cuntas as diospóireacht ar an slí is fearr dualgais tarrthála agus OOD a eagrú.  De réir grúpa amháin ba cheart dúinn róta, déanta suas de sheoltóirí gniomhacha, a fhoilsiú ag tús an tseasuir rásaíochta.  Bhí grúpa eile sásta le sistéim neamhfhoirmeálta.  Bhéidís sásta grúpa a earcú ó na daoine a bhíodh ar an gcladach agus iad in ann an post a dhéanamh leis an oiliúint oiriúnach. Is léir gur cheap said nach leanann daoine rótaí fadtéarmach.  Leanann an díospóireacht.

Sna seachtóidí thosaigh an Barbecue Domhnach..Cuireadh barbecue mór i leath bairille díreach tar éis an rás Domhnach. Thug na baill 

a gcuid bia féin chun cócaireacht ar an mbarbecue agus bhain said taitneamh as bia maith agus comhrá suimiúil sa tráthnóna.  D’eagraíodh cuid de na tuismitheoirí a raibh an fuinneamh acu (tagann John Sheridan, Sidney Rowell agus Eddie Deevey ar intinn), cluichí corr í gcomhair na sóisirigh. Níor mhair na cluichí corr ach tá traidisiun an bhairbiciú fós beo. 

An Clubtheach Nua

Mar a rith na blianta thart, ba léir gur ghá dúinn na háiseanna a fheabhsú.  Bhí na seomraí feistis ró-bheag agus ní raibh ceathanna nó uisce te ar fáil. 

Rinneadh suirbhé í 1986 agus ba léir go raibh sé in am rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi sin.  Ach bheadh sé daor agus ní raibh a lán airgead ag an gclub.  Ach bhí roinnt dea-scéal, bhí ball den chlub sásta a sheirbhísí a thairgeadh mar ailtíre, agus bhí an Leas Commodore agus tógálaí máistreachta Dick Roche sásta bheith i mbun an tógáil.  Bhí gach duine sásta leis sin agus socraíodh é go ndéanfaí tosach ar an bplaineáil láithreach. 

Laistigh de thrí mhí, bhí líníochtaí imlíne ag Davis agus neasadh go mbeadh £60,000 punt mar chostas air.  Gheobhfaí an t-airgead seo ó  thobhach speisialtaí, líon teoranta de comhaltas saol a dhíol agus gníomhaíochtaí eile. Sa deireadh tháinig an costas iomlán, lena n-áirítear feistis agus electrics go £92,000. Eagraíodh níos mó gniomhachtaí chun airgead a fháil agus tógadh airgead ar iasacht ón mbanc.  . Bhí baill an choiste "i gcomhpháirt

agus go leithleach" mar ráthaitheoirí ar an iasacht.

D’oibrigh an fiach mar ionspráid mór do na baill.  Eagraíodh oícheanta rásaí, tráth na gceist, agus rudaí eile.  Ach ba iad na bairbiciú samhraidh na rudaí ba thabhachtaí.  Bhain níos mó ná ceithre chéad aoi taitneamh as na hoícheanta seo.  Uaireanta ní raibh an aimsir rómhaith agus bhí deoch, ceol agus rince faoin bpuball agus chruthaigh sé sin a dhraíocht féin.

Agus na gníomhaíochta seo fuadracha seo ar siúl, bhí David Pym ag leanúint ar aghaidh leis na pleananna agus an cead pleanála.

Bhuaigh Mick McGrath & Co Ltd as an Baile Mór, an conradh. Chríochnaigh siad an obair in am agus d’oscail Dick Roche, TD (ní gaol é don leas commodore) an clubtheach i Meitheamh 1989.  Bhí slua mór ann leis an gceol ar fáil ó Bhanna Tamhlacht.

Arbh fhiú an t-airgead é? Mar a scríobh tráchtaire amháin ag an am: “D'fhéadfá bheith ag súil le buiséad ollmhór do thionscadal mar seo,

ach in ainneoin na n-oibreacha fairsinge suíomh agus na hábhair saincheaptha a úsáideadh, bhí an costas deireadh níos lú ná an chéad búiséad a rinneadh - moladh chun an choiste agus a ailtire. Tá meas mór ag na baill agus a aoíanna ar an foirgneamh nua drámaíochta. Tá clubtheach

acu atá níosmó ná praicticiúil, tá sé geal agus sona freisin. Ta an clubtheach seo an-oiriúnach dá suiomh, go háirithe nuair atá dathanna geala d’éadaí seoltóireachta timpeall air chomh maith le fuadrach geal na seolta agus na mbád. Ní fheicfidh tú a leithéad”.

Mhair an clubtheach go maith le roinnt athrú taobh istigh.   Dá mbeadh an foirgneamh céanna á chur suas sa lá atá inniu, bheadh costas trí huaire níos mó air. Iarrtar ar an gcoiste bheith i mbun rásaí Náisiúnta agus Cúigeach. Bhí an club in ann urraíocht a fháil agus bhí go leor cóisir iontacha tar éis comórtas le cabhair ó Heineken.

Bhí Baile Coimín i mbun GP14 Craobh Shóisearaigh i 2003 agus an GP14 Craobh Laighean i 2006 agus 2008.

Anois tá an Club ina bhaile ar an gCraobh Intíre Catamaran agus bhí se i mbun an Craobh Náisiúnta Treabhadóireachta Catamaran i 2007.

Ó 2000, is stop socraithe é an club do sraith an Lucht Siúil Topper agus tá an Chabhlach Topper Sóisearach ag forbairt. Thionóil an Club an Craobh Laighean Topper i 2002 agus 2004, an Croabh Náisiúnta Treabhadóireachta Topper i 2003, 2005 agus 2009.

B’iad na 420’s na cuairteoirí is déanaí chuig Baile Coimín nuair a d'óstaigh an Club  Craobh Laighean na 420’s i 2009

Nascadh

Tháinig an club isteach i socrú le nascadh le Club Seoltóireachta Baile Nua na hArda i 1996. Bhí sé i gceist againn teagmhálacha spóirt thar an teorainn a mhéadu agus an caidreamh láidir a bhí ann cheana féin idir an dá chlub a threisiú.

Téann foireann GP14 as an dá chlub in iomaíocht le haghaidh trófaí álainn ó Waterford Glass. Tá an dá chlub oscailte agus cuirtear fáilte mhór roimh baill an chlub eile.  Tá súil ag gach duine go bhfásfaidh cairdeas agus iomaíocht seoltóireachta idir an dá chlub.

Ar an Loch

Ba é polasaí na mbunaitheoirí seoltóireacht ar na lochanna a chur chun cinn agus eagraíodh gníomhaíochtaí eile coimhdeacha le súil ar an gcuspóir sin.

 Shíl siad go raibh caighdeánú bád riachtanach agus chinn siad ar an Enterprise, ach níor éirigh leo.

B’iad GP14’s, Mirrors agus Lasers a d’úsáidtí sna rásaíocht don chéad leath de saol an chlub, agus b’shin an scéal thar na blianta. Tháinig na Catamaran ó Bhré i 1987 agus thosaigh loingeas na Toppers i 2000.

Bhí tóir i gcónaí ag an  Mirror leis na sóisearaigh. Ach, d'fhás agus thit a ndíograis thar na blianta. Sna seachtóidí bhí an méid is mó diobh san iomaíocht nuair a bhuaigh Seán Kenny an Teastais Shóisearaigh Náisiúnta Treabhadóireachta. Agus anois sa Mhílaois nua tá a lan daoine óga ag seoltóireacht arís.

Tháinig an Laser chun cinn ag an am céanna leis an Mirror. Bhí praghasanna speisialta ar fáil. Thóg Con Murphy, Cathy McAleavey agus Martin Carey páirt ag Craobh na Laser d’Eorpa i 1982. Agus i Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá i 1983, bhí Con Murphy roghnaithe mar cheann d’fhoireann seisear a thaisteal go Gulfport Mississippi Páirt a thógáil i gCraobh an Domhain.

Tá lucht leanúna dílis ag na GP14’s.  Bíonn said réidh taisteal agus rás nuair a bhíonn an seans acu. Nior laghdaigh fonn Peter Hannon.  Bhí sé ina sheaimpín máistreacht náisiúnta agus a bhí clú air ar fud na tíre de bharr a chuid rásaíocht agus a scileanna eagrúcháin. Bhí Paul agus Mark Phelan, ar fhoireann Eireannach a thóg páirt í gCraobh an Domhan Soisearach GP14 i Mumbles Sasana i 1983.

Sheol Cathy McAleavey agus Ashling Byrne (as an Club Náisiúnta luamh), ar son Eireann sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha  i Seoul sa rang 470 i 1988.

Rinne said an-mhaith i gcoinníollacha deacra cé nach raibh a lán cabhair ón rialtas maidir le hairgead ag an am sin.

Chríochnaigh seanfhundúir an club David Coote, agus Dave Constant ar an deich is fearr sa J24 Craobh Domhanda a thionóladh i nDún Laoghaire i 1988.

I 1987 thainig catamarans ó Bhré, gné nua do Chlub Seoltóireachta Baile Coimín.  D’fhás an cabhlach go tapa ina bhaile nua agus

d’eirigh leis i gcomórtais náisiúnta.

I 1993 bhí áthas an domhain ar Con Murphy agus Cathy McAleavey nuair a fuair said cuireadh ó Steve Fossett bheith ar an bhfoireann a bhris an curiarracht do thuras timpeall oileán na hÉireann gan stad ar an 60ft Trimaran “Lakota”.  Sheol siad ar an “Lakota” ó thuaidh ó Dhún Laoghaire ag am lóin ar an gCéadaoin agus d’fhill said i gcomhair an bhricfeasta ar an Aoine. Scríos siad an curiarracht a bhí ann, i 44 uair, 42 nóiméad agus 20 soicind. Bhuaigh siad an Corn Cork Dry Gin. Tá an trófaí iontach seo á thaispeáint sa Chlub Náisiúnta Luamh agus seasann an curiarracht fós 17 bliain níos déanaí.

Sa bhliain 1995, bhris Dermot Mangan agus John Sheeran an curiarracht luas dionga ó Dhún Laoghaire go Holyhead i 7 uair agus 14

nóiméad i nDart 18.

Rinne cabhlach catamaran Coimín scuabadh glan ag an Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta a bhí ar siúl ag an Club Luamh Loch Derg i nDrom Inbhir mí

Mheán Fómhair 1999.

Bhuaigh Neil Mangan agus Carl Smith an comórtas Dart 18 agus bhuaigh Cathy McAleavey agus Con Murphy an Comórtas Náisiúnta Hurricane

5.9. Bhuaigh Gary Mangan agus Amy-Jane Lawrence an Comórtas Náisiúnta  Dart 16 agus bhuaigh Dermot McHugh and Julie McGuire an

Comórtas Náisiúnta Dart Hawk.

Chuaigh na Catamarans ó Bhaile Coimín ó neart agus d’éirigh go hiontach leo sa Bhreatain agus san Eoraip i 2002. Ghlac Neil Mangan agus

Aisling Clarke an 3ú áit i gComórtas Spitfire na Breataine. Ghlac Neil chomh maith an dara háit i gCraobh Inland na Breataine an uair seo le Raithnait Long. Ghlac Aisling Clarke agus Matt Causon agus Neil Mangan agus Amy Jane Lawrence an 10ú agus 11ú áit i g Craobhchomórtais na hEorpa

Le teacht an Mhílaois nua cuirtear béim nua ar oiliúint sa sóisirigh agus ar fhorbairt an chabhlaigh Topper sa chlub. D’éirigh go maith le glúin nua de mhairnéalaigh ag an leibhéal náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta.

Fuair Julie Ryan áit sa chéad deich sa Chomórtas Topper i 2003. Thóg sí an cúigiú áit sa Loingis Chré-umha ag  Craobhchomórtais Topper na

hEorpa i 2004. Thóg Simon MacAree agus Laura Ryan páirt sa loingis airgead.

Bhuaigh Maria Dolan an Comórtas Shóisearaigh Náisiúnta ISA i 2007.  Críochnaigh Ben Ó Loingsigh sa dara háit sa Laser Class. Críochnaigh Finn Lynch sa cheathrú háit. Freisin ba é Finn an seoltóir is fearr faoi 12 i gCraobh an Domhain don Topper Lár British Midland. Bhuaigh Rory Lynch an Killaley Topper Traveller an bhliain céanna.

An chéad bhliain eile i 2008 thóg Ben Ó Loingsigh an 5ú áit iomlán i gComórtas Laser na hEorpa san Eilvéis, agus thóg Finn an chéad áit i sraith an Topper Traveller.

Bhuaigh Finn an bonn airgid i gCraobh Domhanda an Topper san Ostair i 2009. Ba é Finn an chéad mairnéalach Eireannach a bhuaigh comórtas Topper sa Bhreatain i Feabhra 2010 nuair a bhuaigh sé an Magic Marine Winter Regatta i Rutland.. Bhí 188 báid in iomaíocht sa

chéad comórtas den séasúr Topper.

Oiliúint

Ó thús bhí oiliúint seoltóireachta ar fail do dhaoine fásta agus do na sóisearaigh.  Trí scoil oiliúna an tsamhraidh d’fhoghlaim glúine mairnéalaigh óga na scileanna seoltóireachta ó chaighdeán bunúsach go caighdeán ard.

Thar na blianta ghlac roinnt de na daoine an fhreagracht a eagrú agus a bhainistiú oiliúint sóisearach an Club.

Insna 70's thug Coirnéal Doyle a stíl féin míleata shlí uathúil a íoc. Cuimhne sin againn a chríochnaigh ár oiliúna i lár na seachtóidí sonraí obair eagraithe chun soiléir ar an trá na clocha ar laethanta nuair a bhí an ghaoth chomh láidir le haghaidh seoltóireachta.

Insna 80's ritheadh an baitín go Sean Page ar dtús agus as sin go dtí Anna White. Insna 90's ghlac Ted Bowe, Declan Scallan agus Noel O’Brien na freagrachtaí.

Ar feadh tréimhse gearr ar na Seoltóireachta Scoil Bhaile Coimín oiliúint ar fáil do na Daoine óga chomh maith le clubanna oiliúint a sholáthar do bhaill an chlub neamh. De réir chuireann oiliúint ar fáil do bhaill an chlub nach Seoltóireachta na Scoile a bhí in ann níos mó solúbthachta a sholáthar maidir le hamanna na Sóisearach Oiliúna. Mar sin féin, thuig an Coiste go bhfuil na bannaí a chéile idir na rannpháirtithe an chúrsa gach bliain a bhí á caillte.

Níos déanaí glacadh Gerry Ryan agus Peter Dolan  freagracht as an clár oiliúna a reáchtáil sóisearach. Tá an clár ag dul ó neart go neart mar is léir ag an rath a loingeas na Topper's don Chlub.

Sábháilteachta

Cuirtear béim ar shábháilteacht agus ar chúram gan cuimhneamh ar aoibh an locha.

Níor chóir dúinn dearmad a dhéanamh ar an tragóid marfach a tharla in Aibreán 1972.  Bádh beirt fhear tráthnóna Dé Sathairn gan mairnéalach eile ar an loch. Bhí an aimsir ag dul in olcas agus iad ag fágáil agus ní raibh trealamh oiriúnach ar bord acu.  Chonaic duine an gluaisteán folamh agus cuireadh fios ar na húdaráis sabháltachta.  An mhaidin dar gcionn d’aimsigh héileacaptair ón Aerchór na coirp gar don chladach. Ba cheart duinn déanamh cinnte nach dtarlaíonn tragoid mar sin arís.

Ár gCairde, trócaire orthú.

Baron Martin de Robeck (1941-1996)

Toghadh an Baron Martin de Robeck mar Ceannasóra i 1968, post a bhí aige go dtí go bhfuair sé bás i 1996. Faoina cheannaireacht bhí rath mór ag an gclub le hocht mbliana fiche, ar an loch agus ar thalamh. Baineadh uaillmhian mór amach nuair a togadh an clubtheach faoi dheireadh.

Fear iltréitheach ab ea Mairtin.  Ní raibh tasc ar bith ró-mhór nó ró-bheag dó.  An pluiméireacht a dheisiú nó fadhbanna leis na húdaráis, bhíodh se gcónaí ar fáil.

Ní féidir luach a chur ar an obair a rinne sé ar son Club Seoltóireachta Coimín.

Peter Hannon ( 2008)

D'fhóin Peter Hannon, mar Rúnaí Oinigh an chlub ar feadh blianta fada, agus mar a club Ceannasóra idir 1996 agus 1998.

Bhí Peter an mairnéalach cumasach agus a bhí eolas go maith ar i measc na GP agus na pobail Seoltóireachta. Feidhmeoidh Peter ag roinnt de na comórtais mór-óstáil ag Baile Coimín. Eagrúcháin a eolas mór chinntigh seoltóireachta i dteannta a chuid scileanna an rath go leor imeachtaí náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta óstáil ag an gclub.

Beidh Peter caillte ag a chaired agus mairnéalach eile.

Col E.D. Doyle (1919 – 2009)

Bhí Col E.D. (Ned) Doyle, a anailísí cúrsaí míleata cáil agus coigríche a sheirbheáil ar Óglaigh na hÉireann sa bhaile agus thar lear leis na Náisiúin Aontaithe.

Thosnaigh Col Doyle ag seoltóireachta le linn a chuid ama ar an Churraigh. Mar thoradh air sin, chuaigh sé féin agus a theaghlach ina mbaill ghníomhacha de Bhaile Coimín Club Seoltóireachta i gContae Chill Mhantáin, áit a bhí bunaithe ar an mairnéalach Churraigh.

Bhí Col Doyle mar rúnaí an chlub oinigh ar feadh blianta fada, agus a spreagadh go leor mairnéalaigh óga scileanna a fhorbairt ar an loch agus dul san iomaíocht sa dionga seoltóireacht.

Bhí Col Doyle duine uasal réadach agus bhí sé ina láthair iontach le linn a chuid ama sa chlub. Bhunaigh sé caighdeán simplí agus onórach i ngach rud a thug sé: "Ná iarraidh rud éigin a dhéanamh do dhuine ar bith nach mbeadh tú féin."

Hugh Browne (2010)

Stiúraigh Hugh Browne an club trí thógáil and clubteach nua i 1989, mar Rúnaí Oinigh an Chlub. Bhí Hugh Ceannasóra an Club freisin idir 1999 agus 2001. Bhí  tiomantas Hugh chun an t-éiteas teaghlach agus deonacha don chlub an sainmharc ar a thréimhse mar Rúnaí Oinigh agus Ceannasóra.

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