Over 120 people turned out for the ISORA lynx metmAst Pre-Season talk held in the National Yacht Club on the 27th March.
The first speaker was Capt Mick Liddy who gave a talk on “Offshore Navigation & Tactics"
Capt. “Mick” Liddy is an Air Corp Helicopter pilot / flight instructor with extensive Search & Rescue experience. Mick has recently spent time flying the Garda Air Support Helicopter and served with the UN in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He has also flown politicians and heads of state as part of his government service duties.
On the water, Mick has received even more plaudits. As one of Ireland’s most accomplished amateur offshore yachtsmen, he has held two World Sailing Records, including the record for the fastest solo sailing time around Ireland, and won the Double-handed Round Britain and Ireland race in 2006. He added a win in the Maxi World Championships in 2009, one of his many successful appearances for Ireland on the international yachting stage.
In 2010 he completed the Round Ireland Race with, visually impaired sailor, Mark Pollock.
The second speaker was Maurice “Prof” O’Connell,, North Sails Ireland who covered the topic of "Offshore Trim". Maurice has competed successfully in the Sydney Hobart, Fastnet and Round Ireland offshore races, has won numerous one-design national and international titles, was a member of the coaching team at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and campaigned for selection for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He skippered “Legally Brunette” to victory in the 2009 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. He currently assists teams from dinghies to big boats in maximising their performance on the water and also represents North Sails in Ireland. Prof is a member of the RCYC and RStGYC.
On completion of the talk, all those present were invited to the after talk reception. It was a great social event and a great start to the "ISORA lynx metmAsts 2013 Offshore Series".
Copies of the presentations:
Capt. Mick Liddy - Offshore Navigation and Tactics (pdf)
"Prof" O'Connell - Offshore Racing Trim (pdf)
