Team Oystercatcher Update!

We are officially entered into the Round Ireland Yacht Race as of yesterday. The majority of the yachts entering the Round Ireland usually hold out of officially entering until the closing date. This is in case any problems arise with boat or crew which would stop them from racing. However, the race office received our payment yesterday along with all the other relevant information.

Since our last post we have completed our mandatory 300 miles that is required for entry into the race. This was our first double handed passage in Oystercatcher and fortunately there were no problems. Except for the weather, but that is to be expected in Ireland!

We set off from Dun Laoghaire on Friday the 3oth April at around 7pm and headed north. Starting with a close reach in about 10knts of breeze. It was a beautiful evening and Oystercatcher was cruising at 5 to 6 knts with easy.

By the following morning the wind shut off. This left us with blue skies and a mirror like sea. It was frustrating at first but by 11am we realised that this could work in our advantage. It gave us time to do some maintenance and rope work.

It was about 10pm that Saturday night before the breeze filled back in. Its gradually grew to about 25knts from the north east and Oystercatcher was loving it! We had a reef in the main and our new (new to us) number 3 jib up. It was about 1am on Sunday morning by the time we reached our waypoint. This meant we could turn around a surf (try to) back down the Irish sea with the breeze in our aft quarter. Ideal conditions to rack up the miles!

We returned to Dun Laoghaire later that night at around 5pm. Just in time to see the SB3's finish racing in Dublin Bay.

The trip was overall a great success. We had completed our miles and had learned a few lessons in double handed sailing. We also got a better understanding how Oytercatcher will preform in certain conditions and hopefully can use this to our advantage.

Few people I want to thank,

Lucozade for there product sponsorship which gave a massive boost in both myself and Brian's performance during this qualifier.

Bob Hobby & Barry Hurley for the number 3 that we tested out and have since bought.

Crowleys DFK who have recently given their support to the Oystercatcher team.

Also like to thank Denis Hewitt for lending us there spare spinnaker pole for the race. This is very important to us and were extremely grateful to have it.

We also completed our first aid training with Sailing West on the 9th May. This is an essential course for any sailor and was extremely well run by Paul Adams.

Picture will be posted soon of our trips and progress.

Oystercatcher's Launching Day

Hi guys, we finally got Oystercatcher in the water last weekend, the 17th of April. Huge thanks to everyone that helped - Graeme, Brian Matthews, Dave and his dog, and all the guys with the crane from the Dublin Motor Yacht Club. Also a massive thank you to Tim Costello for allowing us to borrow his marina berth until Tiamat returns.

Thankfully everything went without a hitch, despite having to launch Oystercatcher from the road, over several parked cars.

We are very grateful to Aaron O'Grady from Leaders Charter Ltd for kindly supplying us with new dyneema halyards for the boat and safety equipment. He has given us essential advice and been a constant source of knowledge.



Check out the photos below.

Just completed Sea Survival Course last weekend, 24th- 25th April with Sailing West. Excellent course! Thanks to everyone in Sailing West.

Almost ready!

Engine started first time!

Great finish on hull!

Finally finished scrapping and sanding! Now we just need to apply the anti-foul and attach a folding propeller. We would really appreciate if someone could loan us a folding prop for the race as they are very expensive to buy....!

"Oystercatcher" is then being launched in Arklow this coming Saturday and then hopefully will be brought to Dun Laoghaire that afternoon or during Sunday! Will keep you informed.

Also Graeme has treated us by buying an asymmetrical spinnaker that is connected to a furler. This will help reduce the time it takes to put up and take down the spinnaker. It also has the added bonus of being able to sail high angles to the wind, giving us a slight edge in reaching conditions over symmetrical spinnakers.

Graeme's knowledge of working on yachts has proved vital to getting "Oystercatcher" in the water on schedule. Here he is lending a hand..

We decided that the rudder bearings were not tight enough. So a mission went under way to drop the rudder.. However, the pin holding the rudder in place was corroded. Here we are trying the heat the rudder stock to get the pin out. In the end we got the expertise of Peter Plunkett to get the rudder pin out. Thanks again.

The hole for the rudder shaft.

One of the rudder bearings.

The rudder is out.. Any chance in making a carbon rudder in time?... ha!

Finishing the sanding on the keel.

Fairing the rudder.

Heating a repair.

Currently we are stripping the hull of its old cruising anti-foul and reapplying VC offshore racing anti-foul. This will greatly increase the boat speed of "Oystercatcher" and will give us a competitive edge. Also lots more work has gone into fixing the water pumps, servicing the engine and tightening the steering gear.

We are currently searching for a spinnaker pole and two spinnaker socks. This is vital equipment that will give "Oystercatcher" a chance at winning the double handed class and the overall Round Ireland.

Progress made

Scrapping starts.....

Tightening the steering gear

Working hard over the Easter Weekend

Instruments for the race

Here's Brian....

And here she is...

Good Friday working on the boat

Bryan getting stuck in....

Older bro Barry lending a hand

Bryan and his Dad getting a new prop sorted....