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5th February 2021 At the double. Anthony O Leary of Crosshaven and Annalise Murphy of Dun Laoghaire are the only contenders to be Afloat.ie Sailors of the Year twice – himself in 2010 and 2014, and herself in 2012 and 2016 Credit: Robert Bateman and IOC In these long-lived times, a Silver Jubilee is not what it used to be in an era when Golden Jubilees, Centenaries, Tricentenaries and whatever you re having yourself are cascading around us in an almost continuous nostalgia-fest. Nevertheless the healthy Quarter Century of the Afloat.ie Sailor of the Year contest deserves celebration, as it has evolved since its inception to give a true reflection of Irish sailing in all its historic and extraordinary variety. And it has done this by being based on monthly awards which – at an early stage – weren t found to be enough to truly reflect our sport s exceptional diversity, and so in some months the adjudicators have allocated two or even three awards. ....
Paul Rowan, Renowned GP14 Dinghy Champion 25th January 2021 Paul Rowan (EABC) and Ricky McArthur (Coleraine YC) at the GP14 Worlds in Howth in 1988 Paul Rowan was a renowned member of the GP14 class, a staunch supporter of East Antrim Boat Club at Larne and a talented helmsman sadly passed away on Saturday (23rd Jan). Paul was a highly successful sailor despite carrying a weakness in his shoulder muscles on one side, a legacy of childhood polio. Paul had a number of coping mechanisms to overcome this - such as using his whole body to heave in the mainsheet. Paul s prowess in the GP14 world came to prominence in 1965 when he and crew Graham Gingles won the Northern Ireland Championship. He was runner-up in the British Nationals in 1968 and 1973. ....