Dempsey's 'Wannago' Consolidates Lead in Mermaids

3rd August 2010

There was a stiff NW breeze with gusts on the Lower Shannon today, where Mermaids sailed the third Championship race of Mermaid Week.

The early part of the race saw a tussle for first among Paddy Dillon (131 Wild Wind), Jonathan O'Rourke (77 Tiller Girl) and Enda Weldon (186 MyDi). Dillon took the wrong line on the run (5th of 9 legs) and saw his early lead slim down as O'Rourke came chasing. Jim Dempsey (183 Wannago), Shay O'Toole (182 Dolphin) and Enda Weldon (186) were hot on their heals. Be the end of the next beat, O'Rourke had grabbed first position, followed closely by Dempsey, Dillon and O'Toole.

The next three legs saw further sorting out. Ross Galbraith (185 The Message) retired with rigging damage. At the beginning of the last beat the order was O'Rourke, Dillon, Dempsey, O'Toole, Weldon and Anthony Carthy in 188 Innocence.

More place swapping on the last beat with Dempsey (183 Wannago) getting the gun followed by O'Rourke (77 Tiller Girl), Dillon (131 Wild Wind), A.Carthy (188 Innocence), S.O'Toole (182 Dolphin) in 5th.

Overall 183 Wannago is in the lead with 5 points, 131 Wild Wind 2nd on 10 points, 123 Vee 3rd on 12 points, 188 Innocence 4th on 14 points and 182 Dolphin 5th on 19 points.

In the Daphne fleet (equivalent of silver fleet), Geraldine O'Neill in 73 Lively Lady has a commanding lead with 5 points, followed by Martin O'Toole in 179 Bean Adhmaid with 13 points and in third place Patrick Boardman in 26 Thumbalina with 14 points.

In the Designer fleet (bronze), thing are very close. Mark Boylan (177 This is It) at 6 points is in first place on equal points with Mark McCormack (54 Hycilla). Mark's father James McCormack (38 Syrena) is third with 9 points and Paddy Archer (18 Clare) is lying fourth, also on 9 points.

All the above is provisional, as there is likely to be some protests, protest time has just closed at time of writing. The Crew Race continues.

Further information on www.dublinbaymermaid.org/foynes2010

Published in Shannon Estuary

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Shannon Foynes Port Information

Shannon Foynes Port (SFPC) are investing in an unprecedented expansion at its general cargo terminal, Foynes, adding over two-thirds the size of its existing area. In the latest phase of a €64 million investment programme, SFPC is investing over €20 million in enabling works alone to convert 83 acres on the east side of the existing port into a landbank for marine-related industry, port-centric logistics and associated infrastructure. The project, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years, will require the biggest infrastructure works programme ever undertaken at the port, with the entire 83 acre landbank having to be raised by 4.4 metres. The programme will also require the provision of new internal roads and multiple bridge access as well as roundabout access.