Next Sunday the ‘Altair’ trophy will be presented to the highest placed crew in the Irish 12-foot dinghy championships to be held in the Royal St George Yacht Club writes Vincent Delany.

This trophy was originally won at the Dublin Coast Championship for International 12 Foot Dinghies, an event held in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on 21 September 1931 (although the engraving on the trophy describes it as Kingstown). This was probably the first ‘open meeting’ for a one-design class ever to be held in the Republic of Ireland. Despite none of the owners having road trailers, and the dinghies sailing from their home ports, there were fifteen entries from Howth Sailing Club, Sutton branch of Howth Sailing Club, Seapoint Boat Club and Malahide (where a sailing club was yet to be established). The event took place despite there not being an overall Class organisation to encourage entries. Perhaps things were done by word of mouth in those days. After four rounds of the Water Wag course, in a single race, the event was won by A.W. (Billy) Mooney in ‘Altair’ from Howth Sailing Club, followed by Mr. G. Bayly Spencer’s ‘Kittiwake’ from the Seapoint Boat Club, and Mr. Mc Cracken's ‘Snipe’ from Howth in third place. Mooney went on to win many races in other classes such as the Howth 17 foot class and in International Dragons.

The ‘Altair’ trophy was held by the Mooney family until 1970 when it was represented to the D.B.S.C. 12 Foot Dinghy fleet as a prize, for crews steering 12-foot dinghies. The trophy was competed for every year until 1977. It was represented to the International 12 Foot Dinghy Association of Ireland this week by the McGloughlin family.

Under event rules, 12-foot dinghies may sail either single-handed or two-handed.

"Curious George" from the host yacht club emerged the winners of the fifth Elmo Team Racing Trophy sailed this weekend at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. 22 teams from all over Ireland competed in the event, with most of Ireland's top youth sailors enjoying sailing with and against each other in almost perfect team racing conditions.

Despite a slight delay waiting for wind on Sunday morning, the race team successfully completed almost 120 races over the two days.

Almost 120 races took place over the two days

After the initial round-robin on Saturday, the teams were split into seeded fleets for racing on Sunday. Curious George (Toby Hudson Fowler, Kathy Kelly, Henry Higgins, Isabelle Kearney, Jack Fahy and Emily Riordan) narrowly beat Goats in Boats, led by last years winning captain, Tom Higgins. Showing the competitiveness of the sailing, and how our youth sailors are developing as keen team racers, the next three places had to be decided on count backs, with Morgan Lyttle's 420 Blaze it just edging ahead of George Clooney (captained by Helen O'Beirne) and Atlee Kohl's 3 Amigos. First in the Silver Fleet was Harry Twomey's RCYC team.

22 teams from all over Ireland competed in the event

Raced in four flights for the first time in its 5 year history, the organisers hope this event will grow to a fifth flight and even more teams next year as youth team racing grows around the country.

Were it not for a 'DSQ' in race three, Dublin Bay helmsman Jonathan O'Dowd of the Royal St. George Yacht Club may well have been further up the podium when racing was cut short at the J80 UK National Championships in Lymington yesterday. Instead, the Irish boat took bronze in the 11-boat fleet.

As Afloat previously reported, racing in Christchurch Bay at Royal Lymington Yacht Club, in 5 - 8 knots of breeze, the Royal St. George Yacht Club entry 'Jabs' stayed third overall when the final races were abandoned.

Chris & Hannah Neve of the host club were overall winners with Nick Haigh's Slighty Steamy in second. 

Overall results in the 11-boat fleet are downloadable here

Today's second day of racing at the Sailability President’s Cup and Hansa National Championships was cancelled in anticipation of more than 20 knots of breeze forecast at the Royal St George Yacht Club on Dublin Bay this morning.

As Afloat reported yesterday, the Ulster team of two Squibs, a Hansa and a 2.4m clinched the overall Presidents Cup Trophy on 36 points, just ahead of the Munster team on 37. 

Just one point separated the first three places in the eighteen strong Hansa fleet. Cara O‘Sullivan (Munster) won the Hansa Nationals in style on just 6 points. Best performing youngest junior girl in the fleet went to Lucy Kinner (Ulster). Best junior boy was awarded to Jack Cunningham (Connaught) and best newcomer to Cian Nolan (Leinster).

The Spirit of Sailability trophy went to Mary Duffy for her determination and sportsmanship for competing solo in very challenging conditions yesterday. 

Special thanks to our sponsors including Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Gold Partner Softcat also Dun Laoghaire based.

Also a huge thank you to all our volunteers, in particular, the buddy sailors, race officers and everyone who has supported the event throughout the weekend.

Royal St George YC Commodore Peter Bowring and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Cathaoirleach Shay Brennan presented the prizes. See photos below:

Cara O'Sullivan, Munster, winner of the Hansa Nationals

Anne Blair Chairman of Belfast lough Sailability collecting the trophy for Team Ulster

Cian Nolan, Leinster wins Best Newcomer Lucy Kinner, Ulster, best performing youngest junior in Hansa

Jack Cunningham, Connaught, wins Best Junior boy

Royal Saint George Yacht Club and Under 17 sailor Tom Higgins won the Andalusian Olympic Week regatta in the Laser Radial class earlier this month.

Higgins recorded three first places and three-top three finishes overall to secure a five-point net winning margin. Sailed over four days in mixed conditions in the Bay of Cadiz Tom was part of the Academy sailing team of five sailors coached by Sean Evans. Since his return, Higgins was part of the Gonzaga Sailing team which won the Leinster Team Racing Championships held in the RStGYC earlier this month.

As well as some Europa Cup events over the next number of months the team are preparing for the Laser Radial World Championships in Kingston, Ontario. Tom finished second U17 and seventh overall at this event in 2018.

With four days to go on discounted early entries to the ICRA National Championships, a strong fleet representing fifteen clubs and all four provinces have already entered the June Championships at the Royal St. George Yacht Club on Dublin Bay.

Stepping out of a committee meeting finalising the social programme (pictured above) Event Chairman Ian Simington commented "We are really encouraged to see early entries from crews in Ulster, Connacht and Munster.

A large travelling contingent makes racing more exciting and the social more lively. We are planning a social and catering programme that will provide for all sailors and really looking forward to a great event. With the first U-25 crews of an emerging class entered we expect them to add to the atmosphere on and off the water".

The ICRA National Championships will be staged from 7th – 9th June.

The three-day ICRA Championships being held in Dun Laoghaire from June 7 will comprise of four fleets accommodating offshore, traditional and white sail racing. Each fleet will get its own race areas with race management lead by International PRO David Lovegrove.

Back on shore, there will be a lively social programme, the renowned Royal St. George Yacht Club welcome and hospitality for all.

‘’The Royal St. George Yacht Club is delighted to be hosting the ICRA National Championships and Corinthian Cups and to welcome sailors from around the island of Ireland and internationally. Together with ICRA and a large team of Royal St. George Yacht Club volunteers, we look forward to creating an environment for enjoyable and competitive racing for these prestigious Championships, said event Chairman Ian Simmington.

"ICRA and RStGYC have worked hard to create a format of World Class racing that sailors want"

ICRA and the Royal St. George Yacht Club have worked hard to create a format of World Class racing that sailors want. We believe in particular, that the addition of the offshore/coastal series for class 0 and 1 and the creation of 2 non-spinnaker classes will provide suitable racing for all classes of boat and crew preference, he added.

There is an increased focus on U25 crews with an U25 prize category, as well as prizes for all female crews.

To achieve this, there may be four fleets and race courses as outlined below:

• Cruiser Division 0 and Division 1 (offshore): Fleet 0
• Cruiser Divisions 1 and 2: Fleet 1
• Cruiser Divisions 3 and 4: Fleet 2
• Cruiser Division 5, Non-Spinnaker 1 and 2: Fleet 3

The new Entry Fee structure as follows:

Entry Before 15 March: - Boats rating 0.895 and under: €165 - Boats rating between 0.896 and 0.985: €195 - Boats rating 0.986 and above: €225

- Under 25 Crews: Complementary. After 15 March: - All boats: €245

Notice of Race and online entry are now available on the event website here with early entry discount available for entries received online by March 15th.

With the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race taking place the following week (12th June), there will be a limited number of complimentary visitor berths available from Sunday 9th of June for yachts competing in both events.

“It's been truly impressive to see the Royal St George event management team kick into action. The 2019 ICRA National Championships are certainly going to benefit from the Club’s experience running major international regattas over the last few years. It's great to see the level of co-operation there is between the Dublin clubs and in particular, we'd like to thank DBSC for making space in their traditional calendar for us. As well as top class racing, we're putting a lot of focus on the social side, making sure that everyone is well fed and watered as soon as they come ashore and have a chance to relive the day’s events into the evening. We have some great prizes lined up care of North Sails, UK Sails, Rope Dock, Racegeek, Dubarry of Ireland and Viking Marine. Everything is set for an event to remember, " said Ric Morris, ICRA Technical Delegate

The mixed Dublin Bay dinghy fleet will have a four-race final race day on September 29th to round out the summer sailing season.

According to organiser Ross O'Leary, the event will provide 'fun sprint racing' for all levels with a party afterwards at the Royal St. George Yacht Club. 

Regular Dublin Bay classes such as the new foiling Waszp, the IDRA 14s, Laser, Fireball and Fevas are targeted but all are welcome.

The Notice of Race is downloadable below. Online entry is here.

 

The Frank Keane BMW Royal St. George Yacht Club Regatta brought to a close June's Dun Laoghaire Waterfront Regatta weekends with yet another stunning set of sailing conditions for the two-race racing festival on the first Saturday in July.

Full results in all 28 divisions are downloadable below in a PDF file.

A 10-14–knot south-easterly gradient produced T-shirts and shorts sailing conditions for most of the crews in the cruiser classes and for some of the one design classes too as the heatwave continues across Ireland. Race officer Eddie Totterdell ran the cruiser divisions from DBSC's Mac Lir Committee Boat, Barry O'Neill was in charge of the One Design keelboats onboard DBSC's Freebird and Suzanne McGarry ran the dinghies, Flying Fifteens and Squibs in Seapoint Bay.

Double wins for Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera from Greystones Harbour gave the County Wicklow helmsman the Royal St. George Yacht Club Class Zero title. In a hat-trick for the former pedigree racer 'Holmatro', Whelan adds this to similar victories achieved at the National Yacht Club Regatta (NYC) and the Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) Regatta last weekend. Paddy McSwiney's Royal Irish Yacht D-Tox (X35) was second in the four boat fleet with the National Yacht Club's Beneteau 40.7 Tsunami (Vincent Farrell) third on IRC.

Class Zero winner – Frank Whelan's Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera from Greystones Harbour. In a past life, the Judel Vrolijk design was a Cowes Week 2003 winner, a Rolex Fastnet 2003 class winner, an Antwerp Race 2003 and a Gotland Rund Sweden race winner too Photo: Afloat.ie

A first and a third was good enough for Tim and Richard Goodbody to wrap up an impressive 19-boat class one IRC fleet. The first five places went to J109s who dominate one of the Bay's most competitive classes. Second was another father and son combination, John and Brian Hall from the National Yacht Club in Something Else who scored a five and a one. Third was the Howth Yacht campaigned J109 Indian (Simon Knowles and Colm Buckley). Knowles will take up a role next month in The Round Britain and Ireland Race with co-skipper, Conor Fogerty, the Irish Sailor of the Year. 

Finishing Fourth overall was the East Coast J109 Champion, HYC Wave Regatta winner and DMYC King of the Bay, Andrew Algeo's Joggerknot. The RIYC boat, helmed for the George regatta by Mark McGibney, took fourth overall. Missing from today's potent class one line up was J109 national champion Storm, the Kelly family's Howth based boat, that is contesting Bangor Town Regatta.

Class One winner – The J109 White Mischief (Tim and Richard Goodbody) took race one by a fine margin after an early tack on to port after a black flag start paid dividends Photo: Afloat.ie

J109 Juggerknot (white spinnaker) and Dear Prudence (black spi) prepare for a gybe and a tight second each (below) in race one Photo: Afloat.ie

John and Brian Hall from the National Yacht Club in Something Else Photo: Afloat.ie

J109 Indian Simon Knowles and and Colm Buckley from Howth Yacht Club Photo: Afloat.ie

The Kirwan Family's Beneteau 36.7 Boomerang (pink spinnaker) takes on a downwind challenge from Paul Barrington's J109 Jalapeno. The pair finished ninth and eighth respectively overall in class one. Photo: Afloat.ie

The First 35 Prima Luce (Patrick Burke) of the RIYC was the Class one ECHO winner Photo: Afloat.ie

Jonathan Nicholson's DBII Red Rhum from the Royal St. George YC. Photo: Afloat.ie

The 12-boat class two division was wrapped up again this month by Howth entries. Wave Regatta Champion David Cullen (Afloat's Sailor of the month for June) sailing his Half–Tonner Checkmate XV took both wins to claim the Royal St. George prize from clubmate Mike Evans in The Big Picture. Third was Anthony Gore-Grimes' Howth-based X332 Dux. 

David Cullen's Half–Tonner Checkmate XV from Howth rounds South Bull mark Photo: Afloat.ie

Mike Evans' Half Tonner The Big Picture Photo: Afloat.ie

Nigel Biggs' new Checkmate XVIII  Dillon Photo: Afloat.ie

Anthony Gore-Grimes' Howth-based X332 Dux Photo: Afloat.ie

In Class three, and in another regatta haul, Ken Lawless and Sybil McCormack's Cartoon from the RIYC was the winner of a five-boat fleet. Royal St. George's Peter Richardson was second in Dubious with clubmate Starlet (K Byrne) third.

The Beneteau 31.7 race one start Photo: Afloat.ie

Frank Heath and Ivan Schuster in Crazy Horse of the RIYC were the scratch winners in the Beneteau 31.7s with a one and a two scored. Royal St. George National Champion Jean Mitton in Levante was second with two thirds. Chris Johnston's Prospect from the NYC was third. 

The Beneteau 21 Chinook (A. Bradley) crew celebrate an RStTGYC regatta class win Photo: Afloat.ie

A. Bradley's Chinook won the eight boat scratch battle in the Beneteau 21 class from P. Kingston's Plan B. Third was Greystones Sailing Club's Pete and Anne Evans in Anemos. 

A close finish in the Shipman class Photo: Afloat.ie

Justin Burke (3717) to weather of a bunch of SB20s moments after the start of the second race Photo: Afloat.ie

After the disappointment of fifth overall scored in the SB20 National Championships last weekend on the Bay, Michael O'Connor and his Sin Bin crew were the winners of their own regatta yesterday. The 2017 Corinthian World Champions took the Regatta prize with two straight wins in the eight-boat class that will host its European Championships at the RIYC on the Bay in September. 

The Troy McNamara skippered Royal St. George Yacht Club U sail 1720 was third in the Sportsboat class Photo: Afloat.ie

Merlin (I Cummins) from the RIYC was the Sportsboat winner in a seven-boat contest that included some of the waterfront's club-owned 1720s. Andrew Sarratt's Jheeta was second with the RStGYC's Usail 1720 skippered by Troy McNamara third.

The NYC's women on water crew in the club's 1720 Photo: Afloat.ie

Tom Murphy's Flying Fifteen 'fFlagella' from the NYC Photo: Afloat.ie

On the dinghy, Flying Fifteen and Squib course, Niall and Nicky Meagher were winners of a reduced 12-boat Flying Fifteen fleet. Second was DMYC's Neil Colin and Cormac Bradley in Deranged. Third was Chris Doorly's Frequent Flyer.

Howth's David Quinn was the winner of the 11-boat Laser fleet, Ronan Wallace was second and Eoin Delap third.

Masters Radial Champion Sean Craig of the host club was the Radial class winner.

Sean Craig of the host club was the winner of the 8-boat Laser Radial division Photo: Afloat.ie

IDRA 14 Dinghy No 122 (Ascoop & Henning) Photo: Afloat.ie

In the five-boat IDRA 14s, B Murphy was the winner from Ascoop & Henning in the distinctive yellow-hull number 125.  Frank Hamilton was third in 140, Dunmoanin'.

Full results in all 28 regatta divisions are downloadable below in a PDF file.

This biennial tri-club team racing event championed by the late Harry Maguire for many years was run over the weekend in the Gareloch, Scotland and hosted by the Royal Northern and Clyde YC. The holders Royal St George YC travelled to do battle with Royal Thames and the host club in Sonars. The cumulative age of the team boat crew of four must be 160 years with an opposite gender requirement also providing for a senior more social event. Thames was led by sharp shooter Tom Hebbert (he who wrote the original Team Racing call book with his father Bruce when aged just 16). Fast club sailor and event organiser Nicole McPherson led the RN&CYC. The George helms comprised Ben Cooke and Dragoners Martin Byrne and Neil Hegarty with a supporting crew of nine.

After intensive social interaction the previous night in the Rhu Inn Saturday dawned sunny and with little promise of wind on the glassy Clyde. The towed Sonars were treated in the Gareloch to the sight of a sinister black submarine of unknown nationality and class sailing to base. The George faced Thames in the first match and took early blood. As the racing continued intermittently in the shifting light easterly it required constant course changes. Missed opportunities were rued and windshifts regretted in the tight racing many times only an point deciding the win. The George came out with three wins tied with the hosts and Thames on two; all to play for the following day. A scrumptious dinner was enjoyed in the beautiful Victorian clubhouse which alas is to be vacated by the RN&CYC in 2020 as they are relocating to the Rhu Marina in a new clubhouse. The large overhead in maintaining and preserving a listed building being the driver.

Racing continued intermittently at the Millennium Bowl event on the Gaeloch in the shifting light easterly

Sunday provided even lighter conditions and frustration to the race committee and sailors alike. The first race was abandoned being out of time and the subsequent racing was conducted in zephyrs taxing the concentration of crews. The draw continued with the George and Clyde on 4 wins but the hosts had two races yet to sail. The hapless Thames fell to the Clyde’s superior light weather skills giving them a winning score of 6 wins. A great event in the stunning surroundings was the sailor’s verdict as we bid a sad farewell to the grand old clubhouse.