Wow, what a start to the season ‘proper’! Well done to everyone involved in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race and more besides, writes Maurice O’Connell.
This year’s D2D was one of the most enjoyable offshores I have ever done an epic upwind tactical battle to the Tuskar Rock, followed by a flat-out boat speed race to the Fastnet Rock, some fast reaching in the dark to the Skelligs and then downwind into Dingle.
The full North Sails Ireland team were racing with my colleague Nigel Young and Shane Hughes aboard Bob Rendell’s beautiful new GS 44, Samatom.
We were delighted to see North Sails powering the top five places in a fleet jam-packed with great sailors and fantastically well-prepared boats.
Congratulations to Denis Murphy and Annamarie Fegan’s team on Nieulargo for taking first overall. She flew her North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail and Code 2.5 jib all the way to the Fastnet.
She then deployed her North Sails furling genoa staysail inside the outboard-sheeted J2.5 for the close reach and finished off the race flying her North Sails A GRADE Contender Superkote 60 symmetric S2 kite for the run into the finish. Brilliant performance, guy!
Joint second overall was Conor Doyle’s majestic Xp50 Freya. She flew her North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE mainsail and Code 2 jib also before switching to their North Sails Norlon A2 for the run into Dingle.
Congratulations also to Conor and his team for some excellent seamanship in rescuing an errant kitesurfer off Arklow and, as crew member Malcolm Moir said, “thus saving a life in the process”.
Sam O’Byrne aboard JPK 1080 Rockabill VI in the 2021 D2D with North Sails 3DL Offshore Mainsail | Credit: Marty O’Leary
Also joint second was Paul O’Higgins and his great team on the JPK 1080 Rockabill VI. They flew their 2016 (yes, 2016 — still going strong!) North Sails 3DL Offshore mainsail and 3Di RAW Code 2 jib all the way to the Fastnet. I was racing on Searcher and we had an epic battle with them all the way.
Third overall was John O’Gorman's Jeanneau Sunfast 3600, Hot Cookie. She flew her North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE offshore mainsail, North Sails 3Di RAW Code 2 jib, her NPL Xi Code Zero and her A GRADE Superkote A2 asymmetric runner. Congratulations to John and his team on his second podium position in the D2D following his third in 2019.
Fourth overall was Chris Power-Smith and his team on the J122 Aurelia who flew their North Sails 3Di ENDURANCE offshore mainsail, 3Di RAW Code 2 jib, A GRADE Contender 75/90 A2 and A GRADE Contender 130 A5 asymmetric spinnakers. Well done to you all guys for saving the mast when a shroud came loose late on in the race, costing you some time.
Fifth overall was Andrew Algeo’s J99, Juggerknot 2. Andrew and his team had a fantastic start and hung doggedly on on what was essentially a ‘big boat’ race. Juggerknot flew his NPL Xi Offshore main, Code 2 jib and A GRADE Contender Superkote 60 A2. Congratulations Andrew and your team.
Elsewhere, North Sails were crucial in a tie-break at the Dragon South Coast Championships in Glandore Harbour Yacht Club.
Cameron Good, Henry Kingston and Simon Furney, powered 100% by North Sails, took the title after a titanic battle with Phantom, also powered by North Sails. Congratulations, guys.
The previous weekend saw North Sails power class winners in Howth Yacht Club’s historic Lambay Race (click HERE for the full results).
Scorie Walls and team on Goldust placed first overall in the Puppeteer 22 class in this year’s Lambay Race
Stephen Quinn on Lambay Rules, powered 100% by North Sails 3Di RAW upwind sails and A GRADE Contender asymmetric spinnakers, won the Howth Regatta’s IRC 1 class, while the Kelly family — racing the iconic North Sails-powered King One — took the winner’s spot in IRC 2, beating the accomplished Mata and Checkmate team in the process. Great results, guys.
Colm and Therése Bermingam, flying their 2015 North Sails 3DL mainsail and No 1 genoa, won the White Sails IRC class by a massive 4m59s. Congratulations guys on yet another Lambay victory.
In the Puppeteer 22 one-design class, first overall was Goldust, sailed by Scorie Walls and Declan Browne — flying their brand new North Sails upwind sails and their not-so-new North Sails spinnaker!
First overall among the J80 one-designs, and powered by North Sails, was 1976 470 Olympian Robert Dix — well done, Dixie!
We are really pleased to see so many of our clients on the water, having fun and going fast.
Please do get in touch with us at North Sails Ireland if you’d like any help, assistance or guidance in how we might to help you go faster.
