It is with great pleaasure that we announce...

ROUND 4 of the IRISH SLALOM SERIES,

Irish National Windsurf Racing Championships

is being held within

Bantry Bay, Co. Cork, on the weekend of the 14-15th August 2010.

The Event main sponsors are...bigsurf.ie and Cully & Sully, with support from MauiSails, RRD, Tushingham, Starboard, Marlow & O'Neill.

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For a number of reasons already eluded to on the Irish Slalom Series website, such as race crew safety, rescue boat safety, competitor safety and the presence of seaweed in the race area, the event has been relocated from the original calendered location of Garrylucas to the new location of Bantry Bay.

At this event, we are fundraising for the local BANTRY HOSPICE, a very worthy local cause.

EVENT ORGANISER (EO)
Pearse Geaney is the event organiser.  Contact email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BANTRY BACKGROUND
Bantry Bay is located approximately 60 minutes from Cork city, 45 minutes from Clonakilty, 25 minutes from Skibbereen and 90 minutes from Kinsale.  Bantry is a deep water harbour, with Whiddy Island positioned in the centre.  The town is a popular holiday location, incredibly scenic, with Glengarriff approximately 20 minutes drive away.  The town is famous for its production of mussels (a must try during your visit), and the Whiddy Island oil terminal disaster in 1979 (google this if you have a minute...very interesting and as a windsurfer you are likely to see the oil terminal remains).

There are lots of restaurants in Bantry, lots of pubs, shopping for all tastes and lots of accomodation.  Please contact Pearse at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need assistance with sourcing accomodation.  On the Friday morning before the event there is a market on the town square.  For sight seeing purposes, the drive to Glengarriff is scenic, while the longer trip to Bere Island or Sheep's Head is also enjoyable.  Garnish Island can be accessed by boats from Glengarriff harbour.

Geting there...
From Cork city, use the South Link Dual Carraigeway to get to the Bandon Road Roundabout.
Drive to Bandon via Halfway and Innishannon.  Note: Roadworks are planned, so follow diversions to Bandon if they are in place.
Drive to Dunmanway via Enniskeane and Ballineen.
From Dunmanway, drive to Bantry via Drimoleague.
As you approach the outskirts of Bantry town, the Westlodge Hotel is on the right hand side.  The road leading to the beach is approximately 50m before the Hotel entrance, on the left.  Follow signs.  Please do not speed.  Bantry is 5 minutes drive past the Westlodge Hotel.

THE EVENT LOCATION
The event will be held at the Bantry Airfield, or locally known as the "Bantry Beaches".  A lot of windsurfing has been completed from the public car park end (Westerly end) of the airfield, but never has a windsurfer been rigged at the other end.  So this is the first time not only a windsurfing event has been run from the location, but also the first time a windsurfing sail has been rigged there!

Bantry airfield is a privately owned stretch of land and therefore we must respect the wishes of the land owner.  The EO has worked hard to secure this location, and we feel that all restrcitions are manageable.  It is an amazing oppertunity to showcase Irish windsurfing at its best, to support a small country town and to help the town open up an amazing natural resource.

These are the restrictions...
1) ABSOLUTELY NO DRIVING OR PRESENCE OF ANY KIND ON THE RUNWAY. This is an active airfield that takes both regular and emergency landings.  Failure to comply will result in expulsion. 
2) On entry to the airfield, we will be using the Beach Road...this will be signposted.  Surface is stones, hard compacted, and fairly even (...feels like you're off roading to get to the event site!).  This will take all vehicles. 
3) The walkway road is only for walkers, public and the event emergency vehicle.  No exceptions.  DO NOT DRIVE on the walking road.
4) Entry to the event site is through a locked gate (to prevent public from driving on the airfield, etc.).  Competitors must arrive to the gate between 08:30 and 09:30 on both mornings of the event.  You may get locked out.
5) The gate will not be opened during the day, unless the emergency car must leave the area.
6) All cars must leave the event site between 16:00 and 18:00.
7) No camping / sleeping in cars at the event site.  You can camp / sleep at the public car park end of the event site.  There are no facilities.
8) Parking area will be indicated...please comply.

It might seem a bit restrictive, but rest assured, it is for the good of the event and the location.  A good impression by the Irish windsurfers to the land owner, will help our case in securing this location for the coming years.

THE RACING
Some notes for the racers...

Bantry has Jellyfish.  There are generally 2 types...
The Purple Jellyfsh are harmless...no tentacles, no sting...can be picked up easily.
The Orange Jellyfish have a nettle sting from their tentacles.  You can pick them up by holding the jelly end...don't grab the tentacles!  If you do get stung, vinegar is useful to ease the sensation.  The sensation fades after 30 minutes approx.  They cannot sting through a wetsuit. Don't let them stop you from windsurfing...forget about them, and they will not bother you.

The Western end of the airfield beach has large slippy stones (football sized, which makes launching difficult.  The Eastern end, where the event will be held, has small stones.  There are 2 no. large concrete obstacles...we suggest you familiarise yourself with them.  A pair of boots is not mandatory, but advised.  Also rigging is in long grass...bring a pair or wellies or high sailing boots to stop your shoes getting soaked through.

Other obstructions include fishing lines...we have requested the local fishermen to remove them.  If you see one, slow down and sail downwind of it to avoid htting the floating rope that is upwind of it.

A large grass rigging area (long soft grass) will be sectioned off for our use.  It is ideal.  From car park to rigging area to launch is max. 30m.

We will have rescue boats in the water.

The racing will be upwind or downwind of the event site, dependent on the daily conditions.

There will be a Gold and Silver fleet.  No bronze fleet at this event.  The aim will be to run both fleets on the same course.

IWA membership is mandatory...without it, you cannot race.  You can join on the day of the event.

If you have never raced before...you are very welcome! This will be an excellent location to take your plunge into racing. You don't need to be an expert to enjoy it...if you can plane in 15 knots of wind, and can try a gybe, you are good enough to have a go in the Silver fleet! To make it easier for you, please tell us it's your first time, and we'll pair you off with a Gold Fleet sailor who can guide you through on how to setup and how to know what is happening at any time during the event.

THE ENTERTAINMENT (...and the FOOD!)

There is a super friendly atmosphere at the Irish Slalom Series events, and what better way to relive the days racing, than by us all gathering at "the local" for a bite to eat and a few drinks.  Please when you meet him, all thanks go to Stephen Williams (IR66) for organising the Saturday evenings entertainment...Steve is another windsurfer to have learnt how to windsurf in Bantry Bay.  Saturday night festivities will
be at Ma Murphy's pub / beer garden in the centre of Bantry town.

Tickets are €20 per person for food.  Tickets to be purchased on Saturday morning.  Lots of great food being prepared...you won't be hungry after it!  A percentage of your food ticket is being donated to the Bantry Hospice.

Cullen Allen of CULLY & SULLY has this year again stepped up to provide soup and sandwhiches for the racers and event crew on Saturday and Sunday.  Please thank Cullen when you meet him at the Cully & Sully van!

Also, the tallest competitor on the circuit, our masters champion, who is also ALWAYS smiling, is turing 40 in the days following the event...Happy Birthday Hannes!  His 'ol man, who is...as he says himself..."a harmless old man", suggests we all wear something pink!

ANYTHING ELSE...
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS - we need help with flags, racing marks, beach cleans, event reports, security, first aid...if you can help or be available to help, then please email Pearse at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  All help much appreciated.

If there is an aspect to the racing you'd like introduced or for us to try out, please email Pearse at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  If it's feasible to include, we'll do our best.

We need to make this event as good as possible to help our case in securing the location for future years to come.  Please respect the land owner wishes, maintain the area clean and comply with the parking area.

Bantry is a super friendly town...please mingle / talk to the public as they walk through the event site.

If you are asked for an interview, please do so!  There will be camera's at the event, both still's cams and video cams...you could be famous!

Above all else...enjoy the event!  It's a super oppertunity to showcase Irish Windsurfing and to help Bantry realise its full potential!