Upcoming events.
Irish Ruffian National Championships
Irish Ruffian Association National Championships
The 2024 National Championships will be held in Dun Laoghaire hosted by the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club form the 12th to the 14th of July
All Ireland Team Racing
All Ireland Team Racing Championship 2024
This year the All Ireland Team Event moves to Dun Laoghaire, hosted by the DMYC. More detail to come closer to the event.
Ruffian All Ireland Team Racing - Mayo
Ruffian All Ireland Team Racing is a competitive sailing event held in Mayo, Ireland, in September 2023. It is open to all members of the Irish Ruffian Association and is a unique opportunity for sailors to showcase their skills and compete against other teams in the Ruffian 23 class. The event is expected to feature challenging and exciting racing conditions, as well as opportunities for camaraderie and socialising with fellow Ruffian enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned racer or new to the sport, the Ruffian All Ireland Team Racing is a must-attend event for anyone looking to push their limits and have a great time on the water.
More details to follow…
Ruffian Captain’s Prize
Join the Irish Ruffian Association for the annual Captain’s Prize race, where skippers of Ruffian 23 boats compete for the title of Captain’s Prize winner. Open to all members of the association, this exciting event is a great opportunity to showcase your sailing skills and test yourself against other Ruffian enthusiasts. Don't miss out on the action - sign up now!
Ruffian Crew race
The Ruffian Crew Race is an annual sailing event organised by the Irish Ruffian Association. It takes place on the 15th of August at Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland. This race is a great opportunity for sailors to show off their crew racing skills and to compete against other Ruffian enthusiasts. It's a fun and competitive event that is sure to be a highlight of the summer sailing calendar.
Ruffian National Championships
Join the Irish Ruffian Association for the annual Ruffian National Championships in Dun Laoghaire. This exciting event is open to all Ruffian 23 sailors and promises to be a weekend of thrilling racing and camaraderie. Don't miss out on the opportunity to compete against some of the best sailors in the country and show off your skills on the water. Be sure to mark your calendars and sign up to participate in this annual event.
Notice of race.
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
Ireland’s largest regatta will take place from Thursday, July 6th to Sunday, July 9th 2023 and is planned to coincide with ‘Coastival’, a new week-long festival celebrating Dun Laoghaire’s Maritime heritage.
Big plans are afoot for 2023, and the committee is working closely with the four clubs along the waterfront, the wonderful team in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, and our fantastic sponsors to make this the biggest and best VDLR yet! Watch out for more announcements soon, with the Notice of Race and so much more almost ready to be unveiled…
Notice of race here
Ruffian 50th Anniversary Event
This the premier event of the year, our 50th Anniversary!
The Irish Ruffian Association is thrilled to announce that we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beloved Ruffian 23 sailboat. This iconic vessel, designed and built by brothers Dickie and Billy Brown in Portaferry, County Down, has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by sailors around the world.
In honour of this milestone, we are planning a trip back to the home port of Portaferry where it all began, where we will meet members of the builders family and more. We invite all Ruffian 23 owners and fans to join us for a weekend of celebration and nostalgia as we reminisce on the early days of the Ruffian and its storied history. We'll be taking part in sailing events on Stanford Lough and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow sailors as we celebrate this historic vessel.
There is a cruise from Dublin Bay, but all Ruffian owners no matter where you are located are invited to join the weekend. We can help with trailers and lifting in your boat at Stanford Lough.
Event details:
Ruffian 23, 50th Anniversary 1973 - 2023
The Ruffians 50th Anniversary year is being celebrated with a Regatta Weekend in Portaferry, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, this summer. Designed and built by the Brown Brothers from Portaferry, the home and birthplace of the Ruffian 23.
The event schedule is as follows:
Thursday 15th June
Assemble at the entrance to the Narrows leading into Strangford Lough 17.45, sail in convoy to Portaferry, berthing at Portaferry marina 19.00
Friday 16th June
Cruise in convoy up Strangford Lough calling into Yacht Clubs, lunch stop at Yacht Club, cruise back to Portaferry late afternoon
18.00 Boat Inspection and Ecumenical blessing of boats at Portaferry marina 19.30 Talk in Portaferry Sailing Club (PSC) on history of Ruffian 23
21.00 Music and craic venue TBA
Saturday 17th June
Morning Ruffian racing in Strangford Lough followed by prize giving in afternoon at PSC
19.30 / 20.00 Dinner at PSC
Sunday 18th June
Early depart 07.00 to catch tide or at each boats discretion
Boats sailing from Dublin Bay
Wednesday 14th June - afternoon
Sail in convoy to Skerries or Clogher Head Thursday 15th June
Sail in convoy to Ardglass and thence to Narrows
Ruffians, please make every effort to get your boat to Portaferry for this event, if you're stuck for crew or would like some additional crew with cruising background, please contact the Irish Ruffian Association and we will endeavour to put you in touch with crew.
If you are trailering your boat there will be a crane available (modest fee) at Whiterock, SLYC, details from Ruffian Association. Alternatively, if you can't get your boat there (and we hope you do !!) come along and join a Ruffian for cruising or racing, there will also be spectator boats cruising the Lough for the event. All Ruffians from Great Britain most welcome to join us.
Lambay Race
The Lambay Yacht Race is a sailing event held annually in Howth, Ireland. It is typically a one-day race that starts and finishes at Howth Yacht Club. The race is organized by the Howth Yacht Club and is open to all types of sailing boats. The route of the race is around the Lambay Island, which is located off the coast of Dublin. The race attracts sailors from all over Ireland, with a mix of experienced and novice sailors taking part. The race is known for its challenging conditions and beautiful scenery. It is a popular event among sailing enthusiasts in Ireland.
Passage Planning Talk
I'm pleased to announce that Philip Scallan from the ISA will be giving a talk on Wednesday 31st May NYC 7pm.
He will cover the topics listed below.
I would strongly advise anyone planning to make the trip to Portaferry, especially novice crew,to attend.
Regards,
Feena
An hour and half with Philip on brushing up on your skills for a safe passage.
What is safety
Why do we plan
Plot a course with Safe havens
Travel together or singularly
What to bring
Let someone know
Brief Bio of Philip Scallan
Philip is an Advanced Powerboat Instructor
He is a National Safety leader
He has worked with the RNLI both in his home town of Wexford but also in theTower station in London.
He has been boating from a very early age.
His three boys all sailed in dingy classes but when they all moved on he wanted to keep involved in sailing support.
He teaches Navigation up to yacht Master standard.
He is currently teaching Safety Leadership at local and regional level.
He has just returned from a trip to America to exchange ideas with his colleagues there.
When he is not looking after all the above, he is a family business support consultant after 40 years running his own business.
History of the Ruffian
HISTORY OF THE RUFFIAN
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Michael Cutliffe of DMYC Dublin will give a talk at the club this Thursday 19th January at 8pm. The talk will also be available on zoom, link to follow.
Michael is the owner of the Ruffles, well known in Dublin Bay as the winner of many DBSC trophies & several National Championships.
He purchased Ruffles from Weatherly Yachts in 1978 as a kit boat hull & deck complete with keel. He completed the inside work himself & has cruised Ireland, Scotland & the Isle of Man.