Kenneth Rumball from Optimist Sailing to Offshore Racing and running Sailing School.
“I still remember my first day sailing, it was a typical miserable so called summers day in Sutton north of Dublin. Dad (Alistair Rumball) was helping to get a sailing school going over there. There was a group of us in shortie wetsuits and buoyancy aids freezing standing in chest deep water waiting for our turn to take command of probably a heavily reefed topper dinghy. I had already figured out what the tiller did and on the way to sailing that day had figured out what the piece of rope at the back did, apparently it made the boat go faster. I hopped in on my go, held the tiller and pulled on the rope, accelerated away and capsized! I was hooked!
From those early days it has been a whirlwind 22 years learning, teaching, racing and above all sailing a huge variety of boats including 420s, 49ers, Rs200s RS400s, Fireballs, J109s, J80s, the list is pretty endless. Taking the teaching from a hobby to a full profession and career has been an adventure in itself aiming to do it all better and faster than anybody can imagine.
Above all sailing has thoroughly taken over my life and if you would like to hear some of my experiences sailing dinghies around the cans or racing thoroughbred race boats offshore at the highest level or even hear what it is like to pursue a career in the industry, I invite you to The Lakeside Hotel Killaloe/Ballina on Thursday 16th February where you more than welcome to ask as many questions as you please.”
