New Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Course Record Set by Windfall

13th June 2019

Mick Cotter on the wheel for Windfall's record breaking D2D finish in Dingle. It takes an impressive number of people to race a 94-footer, and there was jubilation across the board when Windfall crossed the line to pip the Dingle Race course record this evening Credit: Dominick Walsh

Day #2 - 7 pm While the current boat is bigger, everyone on the 94ft Windfall knew that the conditions were exceptionally favourable when Mick Cotter’s 78ft Whisper established the 1 day and 48 minutes course record for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race in 2009.

After a frustrating day’s sailing, it was touch and go whether they would manage to get any better in 2019, but this evening Windfall did it. Only just, admittedly – the word is the gap was about 20 seconds. But after a challenging sail in demanding conditions, that 24 seconds was a pearl beyond price, and tonight’s celebrations will be mighty.

Windfall 3 New record set - Windfall crew in celebratory mood Photo: Rachel and Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race 10 Skipper Mick Cotter (beige jacket waving) salutes the finish line team after breaking the course record Photo: Dominick Walsh

Dingle Windfall The natural amphitheatre of the Dingle Harbour entrance provides a suitable setting for the drama of Windfall’s record finish. Photo: Brian Farrell

Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race 5s Windfall eases sails for her record finish Photo: Dominick Walsh

Windfall 2 Windfall sails into the unmistakable backdrop of County Kerry Photo: Richard and Rachel Langdon/Ocean Images

Read all the D2D Race News in one handy link here

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

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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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.