The strong westerly winds that provided such testing championship conditions since last Thursday in Dublin proved a little too much on Sunday (August 25th), bringing the curtain down a day early on four national championships, a key offshore cross-channel race and a weekend regatta in County Wicklow.
While there seemed to be little doubt that no one could catch Lawrie Smith for the Irish Dragon title, no seventh race chance was possible at the Royal St. George on Sunday, and one of Britain's best-loved skippers – who led overall since last Thursday – walked away with the Irish title by a margin of nine points.
Both of Howth's weekend championships were reduced to one-day affairs, and the inaugural Melges15 championships went to Howth's Darragh O'Connor and Teddy Byrne (pictured top) after four races sailed on their home waters after four races sailed on Saturday.
Likewise, the Puppeteer national trophy has been lifted again by Paul and Laura McMahon's 1978-vintage prototype Puppeteer 22 Shiggi Shiggi after Saturday's four races and one discard applied.
And at the combined ILCA National Championships at the National Yacht Club, the three national titles on offer in the ILCA 4, 6 and 7 rigs were decided after six races sailed. In the 33-boat ILCA 4 division, Tralee Bay Sailing Club's Riona McMorrow Moriarty was a clear winner. Andrew Kingston from Royal Cork YC topped an impressive 48-boat ILCA 6 fleet. Sienna Wright won the Ladies division. Ballyholme's Dan McGaughey won a 32-boat ILCA 7 division.
There is no news yet on the rescheduled date for ISORA's James Eadie Race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire, which was cancelled on Sunday due to 'potentially dangerous' conditions in Bardsy Sound.