Mayo Sailing Club upgrade plans to alleviate safety hazard

MAYO Sailing Club is seeking to improve facilities for members at its Rosmoney base, outside Westport.

The existing slipway presents a health and safety hazard.

The club has applied to Mayo County Council for permission to construct a hardstand/boat storage area, along with a floating pontoon with a link to the shore.

Altertations to the existing slipway are also part of the proposal, along with rehabilitation works.

A report submitted to council planners on behalf of the club, established in 1976, set out how there is inadequate space on the existing hardstand for all the yachts, with many being stored at Westport Quay. However, there are issues with space at Westport Quay as the boat storage area also serves as a car park.

During yacht races and junior sailing courses there is a high volume of dinghy and punt traffic using the club slipway. The slipway can only be approached from its seaward end owing to the sides being sloped.

The sloped sides present a health and safety issue with a risk of people falling off the edge.

It is proposed to construct a vertical wall on the western side of the slipway and to extend the existing slipway to meet this wall.

A floating pontoon is also proposed to be installed, to be used throughout the sailing season and particularly during the summer when youth sail training is undertaken during July and August.