Shannon One Design
The Shannon One Design (SOD) is an 18 foot boat unique to the
lakes of Derg and Ree on the Shannon. On the 29th January 1920 a
meeting of delegates from the Lough Derg, Lough Ree and North
Shannon Yacht Club was held in the Prince of Wales Hotel in
Athlone to set about the introduction of a one-design class racing
boat on the Shannon. Up to that point there were many different
types of boats, in particular 18 footers sailed and raced on the
lake. The SOD 'Design 102' by Morgan Giles was based on his Essex
One Design both in profile and in sections
The first Shannon One design trial boat was ordered in 1921 from
Walter Levinge by L. Graham (Boy) Toler, and named 'Phyllis' later
numbered SOD 43 and renamed 'Red Boat' in 1923. The new class
should have commenced numbering at No 1, but this did not happen.
Numbering of the following boats began at number 32.
The Shannon One Design began to race in earnest in 1992. New hull
and sail specifications were adopted in 1989 to take into
consideration emerging marine technologies. There is keen
competition in the two major regattas at Lough Derg YC and Lough
Ree YC in August. The Shannon One design boat register now stands
at No 156 as of 1999.
The Shannon One Design Class Association (SODA) was
established in 1961 and can be contacted by writing to either:
SODA, The Lough Derg Yacht Club, Dromineer, Nenagh, Co.
Tipperary or SODA, Lough Ree Yacht Club, Ballyglass, Coosan,
Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Ireland.
LM Goodbody and Ruth Delaney have recorded a wonderful and
full history of the Shannon One Design Class in book form, it
has however been printed only for private distribution among
members of the Shannon One Design Association. This exert was
taken from this book.
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