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Ireland Coastal Adventure Sailing and Sail Training

Ireland Coastal Adventure Sailing and Sail Training
on board Cypraea

23meter (80ft) Adventure Cruising Yacht
(take a look)

2011 sees the launch of Cypraea on the irish waters.
A superb sloop equipped to provide a range of adventure sailing opportunities in comfort.

Join this wonderful yacht on a 5 day Sail Training Adventure along the Cork or Kerry coastline.

Adventure at an incredible price
€450

1-5 August; 8-12 August; 15-19 August; 22-26 August

So what is Sail Training all about?

See detailed information on how the course is run you role and movement of the boat etc.

Private charter for groups of friends or family also available - 5 days for only €2850.

Detailed information on Sail Training On Board Cypraea

You will be aboard Cypraea, an 80 foot ocean going cruiser racer, that has been modified to take sail trainees. You will be cruising by day to beautiful locations in West Cork and Kerry where we will find anchorages among the many small bays islands and harbours. Ireland’s premier cruising ground. Cypraea is a powerful sailing machine which demands the best from her crew so as a full team member aboard you will be expected to help keep the boat going using your existing and newly learnt skills. You will be helping with hoisting sails, reefing, steering, adjusting sheets, using the big coffee grinder winches, tidying lines, running the backstays as well as domestic duties during the day. In the evenings we will be anchoring so you will be using the anchor and learning how to best position the boat in harbour.

After a safety brief in Adrigole on the first day of your cruise we will head off to our chosen anchorage for the evening. This sail will be our shake down to get all the crew used to the boat and her systems. It will not be too strenuous and will be based on weather and sea state. Lunch will be on route and dinner will be had once we stop. On board there may be experienced trainees who will be hoping to achieve their Coastal Skipper certificate. They will be given a group of trainees (called a watch) to manage regarding the deck and domestic duties and be responsible for navigation and general sailing duties.

Food will be simple and prepared by the trainees each day. Breakfast consists of cereal with tea or coffee. Lunch is a sandwich a piece of fruit, biscuits and tea or coffee. Dinner is spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con carne, chicken curry, pork casserole or beef bourguignon. Served with rice or pasta. Special dietary requirements cannot be catered for but students are welcome to bring their own special requirements, snacks, drinks etc. If you need to eat a lot then bring extra. Provided are 4 lunches 4 dinners and 4 breakfasts.

What to bring- Although Cypraea is big there are not huge amounts of storage space so leave the wardrobe at home. Make sure you pack your gear in a soft bag without wheels. You will need soft light coloured soled deck shoes or trainers (which might get wet) willies, good waterproof sailing jacket and trousers (Cypraea can go quite fast and gets very wet particularly if you are working on the foredeck). A torch, sea sick tablets, book, and any medication you need. Bring some comfortable track pants, tee shirts a fleece or two, jeans for going ashore in, wash bag towel, swim togs, wetsuit (if you have one) under wear, sun screen, shades, woolly hat. In winter you will need thermals and summer shorts (hopefully). Also remember to bring any special foods or snacks you want.

Duties –Trainees will be divided into watches and as mentioned above will be kept busy with the running of the ship, direction may come from trainee coastal skippers who will act as watch leaders and intern be taking direction from Niall the skipper and instructor. Each day a watch will be given the job of looking after the domestic duties on board. These will include preparing meals and clearing up after them vacuuming the saloon each day flushing out the cockpit and wiping down surfaces above and below deck. After breakfast each morning sandwiches are prepared for lunch so that no catering will need to be done while on the move. Flasks of hot water will be filled for tea and coffee at lunch. Once we are at anchor at about 1730 the dinghy is launched wetsuits/togs are donned for those who want a swim and the evening meal is heated up (these are pre-prepared at the base) rice or pasta cooked and served by the watch on domestic duty.

The evening is a dinghy ride ashore weather permitting for those who wish to go and/or a swim of the back of the boat, a walk along a beach, a bit of exploration or a visit to the local pub for adult groups. The dinghy will return to Cypraea at 22.30 or thereabouts. Lights out at 2300 ready to be up at 0800 to move on. An anchor watch may well be scheduled throughout the night, which will involve taking shifts to sit on deck and report to skipper if she is shifting.

Where we go is largely dependant on the wind and weather.  Our locations may include south to the world renowned Fastnet Rock, or north to the lively craic at Dingle.  To name some of the fantastic locations we can explore - Kinsale’s buzz, haunting Killmacalogue, pretty Kenmare, Portmagee’s fishing village, Valentia where the first transatlantic telecommunications line began, the awe Blasket Islands, Crookhaven with its beaches, cosmopolitan Schull, the other world of Cape Clear, typical West Cork old fishing towns of Baltimore, Glandore and Castletownsend with its old world charm.  The Cork and Kerry coastline is full of many more treasures to discover and enjoy.

On the last evening of your cruise we will be returning to Adrigole harbour where upon the next morning we pack and clean Cypraea’s cabins, heads, saloon, galley, deck, cockpit, tidy lines and stow all gear ready for her next trip. You will be finished at approximately noon of the last day.

2011 Sail Training Schedule

January - February - 4 week Caribbean Cruising
April - May - Transatlantic (Guadaloup, Bahamas, Azorres, Ireland)
June - July - August - Irish West Coast Adventure Sailing Expeditions

Contact Gail to receive details hot off the press.

Sealwatching by
Kayak or Canoe
From €10call to book 027 60132
click here to watch a little relaxed paddling

West Cork Sailing Blog

The RYA have a great range of books to help you with your sail training. Click below.