30/08/2004

Baltimore Sailing Club Lifeboat Auction

Maybe it’s because we’re the closest sailing club to the notorious Fastnet Rock or maybe it’s because this year is the 25th anniversary of the “Fastnet Disaster” when fifteen yachts men lost their lives and 140 people were plucked from the mountainous seas. These might be contributory factors that saw the most successful Baltimore Sailing Club lifeboat auction ever.

Mrs. Sally Duggan founded “The Lifeboat Cocktail Party” In the 1970s. The event started as a formal cocktail party and fundraiser and later in the 1980s an auction was added.
Successive Commodores over the years have added to, and changed the event. This year the new Commodore Peter Murphy and his Vice Commodore Eric Geary were exceptional in their efforts to make a success by persuading local artists (some with international clients) to donate their work for the “Lifeboat Auction”.

One of the most important components for the success of our auction over the years is our auctioneer Gerald O’Flynn and his wife Margo. Gerald is a past Commodore of the Club and Margo is past Secretary of the Club and has served as the Honorary Treasurer Baltimore Lifeboat Fund-Raising Committee for the last eight years.
The top price paid at the auction for a painting was €3.600. The painting was of a seascape by Kordula Packard, there were many more fine art lots that made prices over €1,000.

All in all there were twenty-five official lots for auction however there was extra two unofficial lots added.
The first was when Ger saw that the room was over crowded and decided to take advantage of the situation by introducing a new lot number one” I’ve two seats up on the stage what am I bid” this eventually raised €400 and set the tenor of the event.
After the official auction Gillian O’Sullivan offered €100 to hear a very shy and embarrassed member sing the bids came in hard and fast and when somebody offered €250 not to have to listen to poor singing. I saw this a wonderful opportunity that could not be missed and continued to up the bidding not to have to sing however when I reached ¤400.00 there was a bid of €410 for the song. Ger seized the opportunity and gave the quick knock “Sold”. The result was I had to sing in front of everybody and then Ger informed me the winning bid was from my wife Brigid, Thanks a lot Brigid.
The total raised by Baltimore Sailing Club auction was €26,000, the cheque was presented by Commodore Peter Murphy to Brigid Cotter, Chairperson Baltimore Lifeboat Fundraising Committee, at the annual laying-up supper in the Club at the end of August.
Congratulations to Baltimore Sailing Club it’s very generous members and all of the contributors and supporters. I should point out that the Club has a policy of free Club membership for all actively serving Baltimore Lifeboat crewmembers. This illustrates the important relationship the sailing club and the Lifeboat community in a small village next to the Fastnet Light.

Declan Tiernan

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