The inaugural Moneley Oyster Pearl regatta was held in 1979 and has been an enduring feature of sail racing in Carlingford Lough ever since, bar the Covid lockdown years. The people of Carlingford have been harvesting oysters since medieval times.
Last weekend saw the return of the regatta, which celebrated the renowned Oyster to the Lough, which lies on the border of Co Down and Co Louth between the Mourne and the Cooley Mountains, and it was far travelled Arklow competitors who made a big impression.
Glorious sunshine and a steady sea breeze gave perfect conditions for the event, which provided racing for dinghies, day boats and cruisers, with many visiting boats from as far away as Arklow in a stunning setting between the mountains.
Humdinger from Arklow
A fleet of twelve cruisers competed over four races for the coveted Pearl Trophy on a triangular port course in mid-Lough. The Race Officer was Brian McConville. John Conlon’s Sunfast 37 Humdinger from Arklow lived up to its name, taking line honours in all four races. Supersonic, Thomas Kearney’s Beneteau 25 Platu from Carlingford SC and the J92 J’zus Outhaul (Brian Dempsey, Arklow) took second and third respectively in the Echo 908 class and Dempsey won the CPH class.
The dinghy and day boat fleet raced on a course between Carlingford Marina and the entrance to Carlingford Harbour. The event combined single and doublehanded boats, with the results for each race being decided by the average lap time for each boat. The wind was light and variable in the morning, but racing got underway in a steady sea breeze after an hour’s delay. The leads changed frequently, and the final positions came down to the wire with seconds separating winners in each race. Flying Fifteens dominated the first race with the Commodore of Carlingford SC Diarmuid and Aine Gorman in Ffree Ranger first, followed by Jim Garvey and Johnny Duffy with Stephen Callan and Marcos Simpson third.
The single-handers fought back in the second race, with the honours going to Fiachra McCormick in a Laser with anger second and Donal McCormick taking third. This left it all to play for in the third and final race. After multiple changes of lead, the win eventually went to Fiachra McCormick (CSC), just ahead of his brother Dónal.
The prize for the double-handers went to Diarmuid, and Áine Gorman in Ffree Ranger and the single-hander prize went to Fiachra McCormick.
The overall Moneley Oyster Pearl Dinghy trophy came down to a countback as both Diarmuid and Áine, and Fiachra each had eight points; however, Fiachra’s two wins gave the decision in his favour and made him the Moneley Oyster Pearl Dinghy Champion for 2022.
Skipper John Conlon and the crew of Humdinger with the coveted Moneley Oyster Pearl Trophy. Photo: Mark Slater
The presentation ceremony took place at Carlingford Marina, courtesy of the Moneley family, who generously sponsored the event. It was agreed that the success of this year’s event would help to re-establish the Oyster Pearl as the premier cruiser regatta on Carlingford Lough.
Winners of the Adult Fleet, Diarmuid and Áine Gorman (Commodore of Carlingford Sailing Club) receiving their trophy from Mrs Pamela O’Connor Moneley
On Saturday next (20th), the fleet competes in the Warrenpoint Regatta for the Whistledown Trophy.
