In 1903, the clinker built 14–foot 3 inch long Water Wag dinghies from Kingstown, travelled by rail to Dromod Station, from where they were offloaded by their owners, and wheeled on a flat trailer, pulled by a horse, to the Jamestown Canal where they were all launched. The boats then sailed down river to Lough Boderg, for the Annual North Shannon Yacht Club Regatta.
Some one hundred and thirteen years later, Ireland is a very different place. There has been huge improvement in the prosperity of the country, growth in literacy, decline in the rural population, Irish independence, entry into European Community. However some things remain unchanged.
On 15 October 2016, the Water Wag dinghies from Dun Laoghaire (formerly Kingstown), will travel by road to Lough Boderg, where they will be offloaded by their owners, and launched. The boats will race on Lough Boderg, for the two days of the Annual North Shannon Yacht Club Regatta.
The Water Wags which are expected to partake will include a boat built in 1906, boats built in the 1930s, and Water Wags built within the past five years.
How many boats are expected? Although entries are not finalised yet it is to be expected that 16 Water Wags will be racing on the lake. This will be delightful sight for the people of Leitrim and Roscommon, in particular when the distinctive colourful spinnakers are flown. For more information contact [email protected]
