Skerries Sailing Club

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March/April/May 2002 Social Events

Porpoise Probably Drowned

A young porpoise found floating in the bay in July 1999 probably drowned, according to zoologists in UCC who performed a post-mortem on the creature. The animal, a harbour porpoise, was found by Ross McCorry, acting boatman. It was juvenile, probably less than a year old, whose teeth had not yet erupted and was probably still being nursed, according to a letter sent on behalf of Dr Emer Rogan of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group at UCC. There was evidence of a worm infestation in the lungs but this was unlikely to have killed it. Froth was also found in the heart and lungs which, according to Dr Rogan, often indicates the animal drowned. Most drowned animals are caught in nets but this one had no signs of the bruising usually associated with being netted. Click here for picture of the dead Skerries porpoise.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and the Marine Mammals Unit in UCC are involved in investigating strandings and sightings of cetaceans (porpoises, dolphins and whales) around the Irish coast. Dr Emer Rogan is in charge of the research on cetaceans in UCC. They carry out the post-mortems on the animals reported stranded, looking at aspects of their biology such as age, diet, parasites and reproduction. There are also two PhD students carrying out resdearch on dolphins: one on the Bottlenose dolphins in the Shannon estuary and the other on the biology of the Common dolphin. They welcome reports of any sightings and will be supplying the club with details of how to log them.

For further details about harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) visit these sites:

http://www.cetacea.org/harbour.htm

http://phocoena.org/factsheets/harbourporp.html

Royal St George Trophies come to SSC

Skerries juniors took first place in two classes at the breezy Royal St George Yacht Club Junior Regatta (July 14). Romping home first in Mirrors was Art Malone with crew Ian McGonigle taking a break from his Optimist. Conor Byrne, in his first ever competitive outing in the boat, was outright winner in the Laser 4.7 class. Conor McGonagle was 5th in the Optimist class.

Skerries prizewinners at the George: L-R Ian McGonigle, Art Malone, Conor Byrne

Three Skerries Cadets in Top 10 at Oppie Ulsters

Posted 12 May 1999

Three Skerries Cadets made it into the top ten at the Optimist Ulster Area Championships at Carrickfergus this month. Ray Otto was placed sixth overall in the very difficult conditions with races run in winds up to 28 knots. Conor McGonagle was 9th and Jack Grimes 10th. Amy Grimes (15th) was top Skerries girl and Ian McGonigle came 16th overall.

Ronan Malone was placed third in the Silver Fleet and came 35th overall in a fleet of 76 entries. Caragh Shiels was 5th in the Silver Fleet (41st overall). Simon McGrotty was 43rd and Darrach Dineen 50th. Fionn Jenkinson (52nd) was best sailor under 12. Other Skerries results were: Martin McGonagle 63rd and Shane O'Toole 70th. [Full Results]

Top 10 Result for SSC in Mirror Northerns

Eoin Jenkinson and Conor Byrne finished 7th overall in the Mirror Northern championships held in the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on 3/4 April. Other SSC results were: Conor O'Toole/David Taylor26th, Nick malone/Clodagh O'Sullivan 27th and Caroline Mason/Colm McGuinness 35th.

Skerries Junior 3rd in Oppie Munsters

Conor McGonagle came 3rd overall in the Optimist Munster Championships held in Kinsale in June. Ray Otto finished 9th, Aimee Grimes was 21st, Ian McGonigle 38th, Kate Grimes 42nd, Martin McGonagle 46th, Fionn Jenkinson 48th, Darach 'Dineen 53rd and Caragh Shiels 60th.

Three Skerries Sailors on Optimist National Squad

Posted 28 April, 1999

Skerries Optimist sailor, Ray Otto, is outright winner of the trials to select teams for the Optimist World and European Championships.

Otto, who was selected for last year's Irish team for the European Championships in Croatia, is now top-ranked Irish sailor on the 1999 Team which will represent Ireland in the World championship in Martinique this summer. After 14 races he had a score of 34.25 points with his nearest rival, Nicholas O'Leary (Royal Cork), at 46.75 points and third placed James McCarter (Strangford Lough) at 57 points.

Otto won the event overall with thirteen out of fourteen top ten places which included three firsts. The trials were held in varying conditions in Wexford (mostly light), Skerries (moderate) and Dun Laoghaire (fresh).

A second talented young Skerries sailor, Conor McGonagle, had also been battling for a place on the World Team which at one stage in the trials appeared within his reach. McGonagle was a member of last year's World Team but a series of setbacks have pushed him down the rankings to 9th place with 98 points. He needed to be in the top five to make the World Team but has been selected for the European Team.

A third Skerries sailor, Jack Grimes, has also been selected for the international squad. He will now train with the teams and is first boy substitute should anyone drop out.

Other Skerries Sailors who have been taking part in the Trials are Ian McGonigle (19th), Aimee Grimes (23rd), Kate Grimes (41st) and Martin McGonigle (50th). [Full Results]

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