Me and the Sea - Cha McCormack, Sailing Enthusiast - Rahoon

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Wednesday, 08 August 2007

Me and the Sea - Cha McCormack, Sailing Enthusiast ? RahoonThe proud owner of 'Minoe', a 40ft Beneteau, Cha McCormack has been sailing since he was nine years old.

Growing up in Laois, Cha's first experience of boating took place on rafts he and his brothers built and sailed on the local lake.

When Cha was nine, his father (a Wicklow man and lifelong sailor) bought a sailing dinghy, which the family sailed when they went on holidays to Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry. With eleven children, there was no shortage of crew members, and most of the family still sail to this day.

Having lived 'all over', Cha's sailing experience is widespread, and he has sailed in Europe and Australia, where he lived for two years during the 1980's. Sydney Harbour, he says was a fantastic place for sailing, and couldn't be more different to Galway Bay.

A stonemason, Cha is owner of Corrib Memorials located beside Rahoon cemetry, Cha's love of sailing only increased upon moving to Galway in 1989. He says he joined Galway Bay Sailing Club almost straight away and has enjoyed both the sailing and the socialising that comes with membership.

Last year Cha traded up to a 40 ft Beneteau, 'Minoe' which he bought in Athens. The boat previously belonged to a female airline pilot, he says and was called 'Destiny'.

"I loved everything about the boat except the name", he adds with a wry smile. Changing the name back to its original 'Minoe', the name of an ancient Cretan King and also that of a fish, Cha was anxious to get her back to Ireland.

Along with some friends, Eamonn Beatty and Tony Murphy, he sailed it across the Mediterranean via the Corinth Canal, Ionian Sea, Straits of Messina and the Straits of Bonafacio and onward to Marseille. He then spent time sailing the boat through the French canals, along with his partner Edel, also a keen sailor. They sailed 'Minoe' up the Rhone, the Saone and through four Canals until they finally reached Paris, where they motored right up the Seine and through the heart of Europe's most romantic a. It's a view of Paris afforded to only a lucky few, and Cha says it was amazing to see the Eiffel Tower from the water. They then motored 'Minoe' through Northern France and departed from Honfleur for Ireland, assisted by Mark Norman and Tony Murphy.

Although Cha loves the communal aspect of sailing, he has also been a member of Galway Flying Club and adds that "sailing is my first love". Due to inclement weather, he adds, 'Minoe has not been utilised as often as he'd like.

On the level of investment required to get involved in sailing Cha advises to buy a boat that you can sell again easily if your requirements change. Boats do not usually depreciate like cars and as well as getting a few years use from a boat it is possible to get your money back when you sell it. He has found Galway Bay Sailing Club a great outlet, and says that the elitism sometimes associated with sailing isn't present there. He raced his previous boat but says that Minoe is more of a cruiser than a racer.

Although Cha hasn't taken 'Minoe' for a long voyage since the Athens to Ireland voyage last year, he is planning some big trips over the next few years, and would love to retire perhaps on the Mediterranean, "just sailing around".

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