Hands-on ethos earns just reward Sailing

SAILING: One of the most remote venues in Ireland is the latest winner of the Mitsubishi Motors Sailing Club of the Year trophy, awarded at a celebration reception earlier this week. Lough Derg Yacht Club (LDYC) at Dromineer received the award in recognition of its recent achievements, ranging from a new clubhouse to staging major events.

Although 26 years in existence, it's only recently that the criteria for winning this much sought after award have become evident, and "Derg" provides a useful model for other clubs with a eye out for national recognition.

The club was founded in 1835 and predates most of the established clubs, with the exception of Lough Ree and the Royal Cork.

Yet its location on the eastern shore in North Tipperary provides a spectacular venue, massively popular in summer months with boating tourists and city escapologists alike.

Only in rare instances does a single, over-riding achievement secure the judges' favourable decision. In LDYC's case, last summer's Mirror European Championship, sponsored by Waterways Ireland, was made possible by a long-term strategy of development.

Boasting one of the finest clubhouses in the country with space for changing-rooms, instruction areas and entertainment, combined in a unique location on the lake shore, the €500,000 construction project three years ago was made possible only by the members joining forces to self-build most of the new premises and dock facility.

According to Commodore Niamh McCutcheon, the ethos of the club of "hands-on and inclusivity" provides the key to the vibrancy of the place.

Other members agree, though some privately express fears that the erosion of the voluntary ethos may eventually succumb to modern pressures and days of members tending to the garden or doing bar duty could be numbered.

But regardless of development plans, major events and champion sailors, the judging panel, led by the Irish Independent's WM Nixon, seem to default to community contribution as the final deciding factor.

The previous winner was the Royal St George YC in Dún Laoghaire when that club hosted the regatta of the Special Olympics World Games in 2003, as well as various club developments and sailing achievements by its members.

In the case of Lough Derg YC, located in a largely rural area where the sport historically attracted a "them and us" tag, the introduction of a schools programme based at the club with students from 10 local schools involved in instruction at the club has helped change old attitudes. Pico dinghies are also available for rent for introductory year sailors during summer courses.

Meanwhile, 151 boats will compete in the Sovereign's Cup regatta at Kinsale from June 22nd to 25th following the closing date for entries last Friday.

A waiting list has now been put in place by the organisers for the series that incorporates the second Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) Championships 2005.

This week also saw Finian Maynard, the Irish-born British Virgin Islander who holds the world speed sailing record, beat his best with a new top speed of 48.5 knots set in Mistral winds in France last Sunday. The speed is submitted to the world speed sailing record council for ratification.