Cruising Conference
Jim Wilson telling what is known of the first Antarctic Explorer, Irishman Edward Bransfield Yesterday, we got up long before dawn to attend the Irish Sailing Cruising Conference. Held at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, it was a sellout. Driving there was a chore for Alex, as storm Dennis had arrived that morning with lashing rain and high winds. But as we got closer to Dublin, the weather cleared a bit. It rained most of the day, so it was a good one to spend indoors. Driving to Dun Laoghaire as Storm Dennis approaches. Note the masses of cranes marking Dublin's skyline. After a warm welcome from Harry Hermon, CEO of IS, and Gail MacAllister, organiser of the conference, the packed agenda kept the pace up the entire day. Harry opened by acknowledging that there are far more cruisers than racers in the world of sailing and that cruisers have been underrepresented and underserved by the sailing world representational bodies. He asked for input on how IS can...