Cork Sub Aqua Club

Cork Sub Aqua Club were designated ‘club of the week’ in yesterdays Cork Independent.

Click HERE for the full article.

Well done Tim for organising this exposure for the club.

Start of the 2007 Sherkin Island to Baltimore Swim. Three Cork SAC members: Paul O’Brien, Mags Buckley, and Pat Monahan took part. Pat, in his first serious ocean swim, decided not to attempt the full distance (about 2Km) . Don, Clare, Steve and Dave provided boat cover.
This looked to be less grueling than the previous week’s Blackrock to Cobh swim.
John Kearney brought the participants out to Sherkin, and provided boat cover too. We had planned to dive later, but with good diving in prospect the following day, and anxious not to delay Don so that he would be towing after dark, we went for a walk at the beacon, and then a meal, instead of diving.

One of the swimmers passes the Irish Navy base at Haulbowline near the end of the Blackrock to Cobh swim, 30 September 2007. Most swimmers were in the river for about 3 hours, and each was covered by a kayak. There was one RIB to three kayaks. Cork SAC provided a RIB. Steve, Rene, and Dave took turns at driving and monitoring the swimmers. The fitness, hardiness and endurance of the swimmers is impressive. The kayakers must constantly check that their swimmers are not lapsing into a sort of semi-conscious autopilot due to hypothermia, by talking to them from time to time.
Later that day we had a dive at the wreck of the Celtic, near Roches Point.

A pleasant day out on a lake near Inchigeelagh Co. Cork providing boat Cover for the Cork 20 International Rally. Rene and Dave went along, Steve volunteered too but there wasn’t enough room on the boat. This is the second year we covered the event, and Mark kept us entertained again with stories, and commentary on the rally. For those who are interested in these things, French driver Sebastien Loeb won the event. We didn’t have to rescue anyone. If we did have to go into the lake, our first task would have been to wake up Rene, who managed to doze off despite the noise of the cars. The photograph shows one of the back markers (not Loeb). It was very considerate of him to move slowly enough to be photographed, and not startle the sheep.

Cork Sub Aqua Club’s Open Night will be held upstairs in Counihan’s Bar on Thursday the 18th of January, 2007. All welcome.

Please let us know if you’re coming, by filling in this form.

Cork Sub Aqua Club provided boat cover for the “Escape from Spike Island” swim last Sunday 17th September. About 25 swimmers were involved in the event which was part of a fund-raising programme for ARC House. ARC House provides emotional support and practical help for people with cancer and their families. The swimmers collected in excess of €1000 on the day. This however is only the first part of the fund raising effort. These same swimmers will form part of the 100 strong Irish contingent competing in the famous Alcatraz swim race on 30 September and plan to raise an additional 10,000 Euro for the ARC House.

We launched our boats in the morning at Monkstown slip and met Steve and Allie in their rib before driving over to meet the swimmers outside the Quays Bar in Cobh. It was a lovely sunny day, perfect boating weather. We tied up at the new pontoon outside the Quays before introducing ourselves to the enthusiastic swimmers!! Once everybody was ready to go, we gave them a lift over to the shores of Spike Island on the boats. Mercy and Jim provided shore cover from the comfort of the Quay Bar verranda! We had a slight delay because the swimmers had to wait until a large ship (Grimaldi) passed through the shipping channel between Spike and Cobh but aside from that everything went smoothly! And all the swimmers finished the 1.5 mile course!

Afterwards, everyone met up for a few refreshments in the Quays pub.

We later took a spin out to Roches Point before heading back to recover the boats at Monkstown.

Fiona

A more sombre trip west for the club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last. To assist in the search for the remains of Jonathan Herlihy drowned off Owenahincha beach earlier that week.
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