Welsh J109 'Sgrech' is Latest of Six Yachts Out of Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race

15th June 2017

Retired – Sgrech is in Rosslare after a hull fitting delaminated Credit: Afloat.ie

Welsh offshore champion yacht Sgrech skippered by Stephen Tudor is the lastest retiral from the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race.

The former ISORA champion retired last night just hours in to the race as a precautionary measure after discovering a 'hull fitting was delaminating'.

The yacht, a J109, was a pre-race favourite and was vying for the lead in fifth place on IRC and possibly higher when the decision was made to pull into Rosslare Port in County Wexford.

ISORA chairman Peter Ryan, one of nine crew onboard the Pwllheli–based entry, told Afloat.ie that while there was a leak onboard, circumstances were 'all very manageable'.

Big seas gave the 43–boat fleet a pounding as they headed for the Tuskar Rock. The fleet are expecting more upwind sailing for the duration of the race along the south coast too.

Up to six boats – and possibly more – from a record entry of 45 are now out of the 275–mile race due to finish late tomorrow.

Lobster_yacht_kinsale_gary_horgan Lobster (Gary Horgan) returns to Dun Laoghaire Harbour after a problem with a headsail shortly after the start of the D2D. Photo: Afloat.ie

Aurelia and Spirit of Jacana both withdrew before last night's 'vigorous start' on Dublin Bay.

Shortly after the gun, Kinsale Yacht Club two handed entry Lobster (Gary Horgan) returned to Dun Laoghaire Harbour after a problem with a headsail. White Tiger, a Beneteau First 44.7 skippered by Tony O'Brien, also of Kinsale Yacht Club pulled out with a reported torn mainsail.

prima luce Dingle

Another double–hander, the Dun Laoghaire based Prima Luce (pictured above), a First 35, skippered by Sean Lemass, has also retired.

French Mini entry Gemo is also back in Dun Laoghaire harbour and is also officially retired, citing concerns for south coast weather forecast.

The vintage gaff cutter Maybird has returned to Dun Laoghaire harbour due to a thumb injury sustained, according to the National Yacht Club organisers. Skipper Darryl Hughes damaged thumb as a result of door below slamming shut when he was checking things off Bray Head, County Wicklow.

The tracker shows the yacht Thisbe has pulled into Arklow but organisers have no further information on her status.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Live Tracker 2023

Track the progress of the 2023 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race fleet on the live tracker above and the leaderboard below

Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Live Leaderboard 2023

The 16th edition of the 280-mile race organised by the National Yacht Club starts at 2 pm on Wednesday, June 7th, on Dublin Bay.

Read the full 2023 race preview by WM Nixon here
Read all the D2D Race News in one handy link here
Listen to Lorna Siggins's interview with Race Chairman Adam Winkelmann on Afloat's Wavelengths here

WM Nixon will be posting regular race updates and analysis throughout the 2023 race here

Published in Dun Laoghaire Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire to Dingle

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Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race Information

The biennial Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race is a 320-miles race down to the east coast of Ireland, across the south coast and into Dingle harbour in County Kerry.

The race is organised by the National Yacht Club.

It never fails to offer a full range of weather, wind and tide to the intrepid entrants, ranging from a 32ft cruiser to a 79ft all-out racer.

Three divisions are available to enter: cruiser (boats equipped with furlers), racing (the bulk of the fleet) and also two-handed.

D2D Course change overruled

In 2019, the organisers considered changing the course to allow boats to select routes close to shore by removing the requirement to go outside Islands and Lighthouses en route, but following input from regular participants, the National Yacht Club decided to stick with the tried and tested course route in order to be fair to large and smaller boats and to keep race records intact.

D2D Course record time

Mick Cotter’s 78ft Whisper established the 1 day and 48 minutes course record for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race in 2009 and that time stood until 2019 when Cotter returned to beat his own record but only just, the Dun Laoghaire helmsman crossing the line in Kerry to shave just 20 seconds off his 2009 time.