Dublin City Marathon for Saracura Project

   As a result of my travels in Brazil earlier this year, I hooked up with a very worthwhile project working with favela (slum) kids in Sao Paulo, aiming to teach them about their environment, developing life skills and also learning to sail. Hence, I have taken on trying to raise awareness of their project by walking the Dublin City Marathon which I did last October Bank Holiday. Any help you can give will be most welcome - check this link.

 Yachtmaster Offshore Successes

   We are delighted to report 2 more candidates have passed the ISA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical exam this year - Ivan Alcorn and Eoin Christiansen, to add to the growing list of South East Cruising School trained Yachtmasters. Others who we know about in recent years are - Jim Grey (now an Instructor), John Ahern, Colm Mac Fhionnlaigh, Ciaran Doyle, Nicky Keogh, Tommy Mc Aulay, P J Swaine and Ansis Dimiters.

  This Certificate is the highest practical cert available to Yachtsmen wishing to sail or motor vessels in offshore waters (YM Ocean is mainly a Celestial Navigation Cert) and is due reward for building up experience with over 2500 miles logged and your ability to take full charge of a vessel up to 24 metres in length.

 Happy 150th Wicklow RNLI

    Wicklow RNLI Station celebrates 150 years of service to seafarers in 2007 and Saltee Dog has assisted in its celebrations - we spent 2 hours training with the Annie Blaker Tyne class lifeboat and Sheringham Shantymen ILB on Sunday 12th Aug, practicing towing and coming alongside exercises - see photos above.  

Saltee Dog

  After 10 years of comfortable and safe sailing with Saltee Dog, I am upgrading my boat for 2008 and hope to have another faithful servant to ply the waves.

  Sail train on our safe and comfortable yacht Saltee Dog, from Wicklow to all corners of the Irish Sea and beyond................ We offer courses from beginner to Yachtmaster Prep. in the ISA Cruising Scheme. Whatever level you are at, we should be able to match your training needs. Check out details of Courses offered above or see our Schedule for dates pencilled in. If a particular date suits your needs, drop us an e-mail or phone us now. Remember, Toesun usually comes too.

 .

Autumn/Winter 2007/8

I hope to run a basic  Introduction to Navigation course in late January/February over 2 weekends, probably from Wicklow Sailing Club.

Canaries

A happy crew in La Gomera

  We will hopefully be in the Canaries in early January 2008, get in quick - several enquiries in already. This is usually a popular trip to help offset the winter blues - only suitable for those with previous experience. There are likely to be 2 trips - 5/12th Jan (full) and 12/19th Jan (probable).

Summer 2007

   Due to my UCD studies and Wicklow Sailing Club responsibilities, Summer 2007 has been rather quiet for scheduled trips and with the weather we've had, thats been a blessing. Most of our trips have been weekends with a few 5 day or specials thrown in for good measure. We've been to Carlingford, Caernarvon, Porth Dinllaen, Portmadoc (by taxi) and Lambay Island as well as Dublin/Arklow.

   Have a look at these photos to get a flavour of life aboard a Sail Training boat - thanks to Ken O Toole.

   At time of writing, all spaces for 2007 courses are full - waiting list can be held if you wish.

Tough times from BA to Rio

   The life of a Yachtmaster Instructor has its share of ups and downs, and this year it was the ups that came my way. I was asked to help my pal and also one of my star pupils, Ansis Dimiters, to graduate from 1st Mate on board the luxury 72' ketch Celtic Spirit of Fastnet to being its professional skipper. Having already sailed with the owner/ skipper Michael Holland to Greenland and Iceland including a dip above the Arctic Circle and then down through the Atlantic to Antarctica over 4 years, he had a serious amount of experience and miles under his belt.

   I am happy to report that he has taken to the role of professional skipper with flying colours and by the way, I joined the boat in Buenos Aires in late March, helped get her to Piriopolis in Uruguay for some necessary maintainence and on up the Brazilian coast to Paraty (near Rio) and then had a fabulous 36 hours exploring the wonderfully diverse city of Rio de Janeiro.

  Tough times indeed spending 3 weeks on a luxury yacht with all mod cons, a young and able crew, including some talented musicians and to cap it all a wonderful 36 hours getting a handle on Rio. Well done Ansis. Anyone else out there needing to train up a skipper, keep me in mind (especially if the boat is in the Caribbean, Thailand or South Pacific).