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James and David Dwyer of Royal Cork YC are “Sailors of the Month (Inshore)” for June

1st July 2023
“Not a dry eye in the house….” James and David Dwyer and many others receiving the Sovereign’s Cup after a clean sweep in Kinsale
“Not a dry eye in the house….” James and David Dwyer and many others receiving the Sovereign’s Cup after a clean sweep in Kinsale. Credit: Bob Bateman

Boats may be inanimate objects, but those who sail them seldom see them that way. The classic Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble certainly arouses special emotions, for there are senior sailors in Ireland who sailed her to success as ISORA Champion in 1980, when she was owned by the late Bruce Lyster of Dun Laoghaire’s Royal St George YC.

Forty-three years ago, she was quite a basic boat. But now, after surviving many vicissitudes and at least one unsuccessful attempt to get her to a landfill site, she is back in Ireland in a superbly re-furbished style, and her proud owners are James and David Dwyer of the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Almost from the moment the first races started in the Simply Blue Sovereign’s Cup 2023 in Kinsale, it was clear that Swuzzlebubble and her crew were on a roll, and they took the title with a clean sweep of six wins, getting our Inshore Sailors of the Month for June title with it. 

Probably the coolest boat in Ireland – Swuzzlebubble making windward work in an Atlantic chop look easy at Kinsale. Photo: Robert BatemanProbably the coolest boat in Ireland – Swuzzlebubble making windward work in an Atlantic chop look easy at Kinsale. Photo: Robert Bateman

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