Displaying items by tag: Water Wag

23rd August 2023

DBSC Water Wag Wednesday Racing Cancelled Due to Lack of Wind

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Race Officer Chris Moore was forced to cancel Wednesday night's weekly Water Wag racing due to a lack of wind on the Dun Laoghaire Harbour race course.

Racing continues next Wednesday, with just four races left to sail in the 2023 season.

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16th August 2023

Craig’s Puffin Pips Pearson’s Little Tern in Water Wag Race at Dun Laoghaire

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a three-round windward leeward course for the Water Wags race on Wednesday, August 16th.

Twenty-three boats competed in a 5-7kt SE breeze inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Seán and Heather Craig’s Puffin from the Royal St. George Yacht Club just pipped clubmates Tim and Gillian Pearson’s Little Tern on the finish line. Little Tern had led the race from the start.

Results were:

1. No. 52 Puffin, Seán and Heather Craig
2. No. 36 Little Tern, Tim and Gillian Pearson
3. No. 47 Peggy, David & Patricia Corcoran

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9th August 2023

Pearsons Take the Gun in DBSC Water Wag Race at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Royal St. George's Tim and Gillian Pearson sailing Little Tern took the gun out of 18 starters in a nice 6 to 8 breeze in Wednesday night's DBSC Water Wag race staged inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Overall, Puffin, sailed by Sean and Heather Craig, lead the DBSC Water Wag Summer Series on 30 points from Guy Kilroy on 44 in Swift. John O'Driscoll's Moosmie on 57.

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3rd August 2023

Royal St. George's Puffin Has Big Points Advantage in DBSC Water Wag Series

A 2,1 scored in Wednesday night's DBSC Water Wag races in Dun Laoghaire Harbour has put Royal St. George's Sean and Heather Craig in Puffin 14 points clear at the top of the Summer Series.

Second overall is Guy Kilroy's Swift on 44 points, with John O'Driscoll's Moosmie third on 57.

The results for Wednesday's races are below:

Race 18 2 Aug 2023

1 Number 42 William Prentice
2 Number 52 Puffin Sean Craig
3 Number 45 Mariposa Cathy Mac Aleavey

Race 19 2 Aug 2023

1 Number 52 Puffin Sean Craig
2 Number 45 Mariposa Cathy Mac Aleave
3 Number 3 Pansy Vincent Delany

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26th July 2023

Royal St George Water Wag 'Puffin' is DBSC Wednesday Race Winner

Royal St. George's Seán and Heather Craig – the winners of this month's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Water Wag Regatta – were in top form again on Wednesday evening when they sailed Puffin to victory in Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Water Wag Series race.

Guy & Jackie Kilroy of the Royal Irish were second in Swift in the in-harbour Dun Laoghaire race.

Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly observes the Wednesday Water Wag racing st Dun Laoghaire Harbour from the deck of DBSC Committee Vessel, Freebird Photo: Ann Kirwan

DBSC Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a three-round windward leeward course for the single Wag race.

The wind was SE 10kts, and 20 boats competed.

Guy & Jackie Kilroy of the Royal Irish were second in the DBSC Water Wag Race in Number 38 Swift Photo: Brendan Briscoe Guy and Jackie Kilroy of the Royal Irish were second in the DBSC Water Wag Race in Number 38 Swift Photo: Brendan Briscoe

Results were:

1. No. 52 Puffin, Seán & Heather Craig
2. No. 38 Swift, Guy & Jackie Kilroy
3. No. 33 Eva, David Sommerville & crew

David Sommerville and his crew were third in the DBSC Water Wag Race in No. 33 Eva, Photo: Brendan Briscoe

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Water Wag

19th July 2023

Water Wag Raced Cancelled on Wednesday Due to Lack of Wind at Dun Laoghaire

Every effort was made to get a light-air Dublin Bay Sailing Club Water Wag race underway at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Wednesday evening.

Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly cancelled racing at 7.15 pm following a postponement (AP) to see if the wind would fill in, but unfortunately, it didn’t.

Many of the Wags rowed back to their respective yacht clubs such was the lack of wind.

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Water Wag

12th July 2023

Water Wags Get Brisk Breeze for DBSC Wednesday Race at Dun Laoghaire

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a two-round windward-leeward course for the first of two races for the DBSC Water Wags on Wednesday evening, July 12th.

The 23-boat fleet got off to a clear start in Dun Laoghaire Harbour in a brisk 13-19kt WNW breeze.

Results were:

1. No. 45 Mariposa, Cathy MacAleavey & Con Murphy
2. No. 41 Mollie, Claudine Murphy & Cian Bailey
3. No. 6 Mary Kate, Mike & Ian McGowan

One boat retired.

The leaders in the DBSC Water Wags second at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Ann Kirwan

The Race Officer got the second two-round race underway with a reduced fleet of 21 boats.

Two boats were OCS in a hotly contested start, and both failed to return to restart correctly.

Results were:

1. No. 6 Mary Kate, Mike & Ian McGowan
2. No. 52 Puffin, Seán & Heather Craig
3. No. 41 Mollie, Claudine Murphy & Cian Bailey

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Water Wag

9th July 2023

Royal St. George's Puffin is Clear Winner of Water Wag Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Royal St. George's Sean Craig and Heather King sailing number 52 Puffin continued their winning form from Friday in the Water Wag class of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and completed the series with five wins from eight races to be easy winners with a cushion of some 12 points on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday afternoon was their only blip when they retired from race six in the 14-boat fleet.

A 14-boat clinker Water Wag fleet raced inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta honours Photo: Afloat

Racing inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the husband and wife duo were clear ahead of Tralee Bay Sailing Club's Mike and Ian McGowan sailing, number six, Mary Kate in second on 23 points, two points ahead of Cathy MacAleavey's number 45, Mariposa.

There was praise for the organisers of Ireland's largest sailing event, who managed racing for a fleet of 400 boats on three of the four days of the regatta despite being in the full grip of the northern jetstream. Winds from a southerly quadrant blew hard again on Sunday to bring a blustery ninth edition of the biennial event to a successful close at lunchtime.

The next Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta will be sailed from July 10th–13th, 2025.

Published in Volvo Regatta

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Water Wag

7th July 2023

Craig's Puffin Takes Three Wins From Three Races of Water Wag Fleet at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Royal St. George's Sean and Heather King sailing Puffin have three wins from three races in the Water Wag class of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Racing inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the husband and wife duo are six points clear of Guy and Jackie Gilroy in Swift in the 13-boat fleet.

13 Water Wags are competing at the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

In an eventful week for Water Wag number 48, which capsized in Wednesday evening's DBSC race, as Afloat reported here, aptly named Dipper lost her crewman overboard in Friday afternoon's VDLR race. Happily, he was promptly retrieved over the transom by his helmsman, as Michael Chester's photos show (below)

After rounding the leeward mark, Water Wag Dipper crew is going well upwind, until......her crew goes overboard..... and is recovered over the stern Photos by Michael Chester but is safely recovered over the stern Photos by Michael Chester

Published in Volvo Regatta

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Water Wag

5th July 2023

Annalise Murphy Wins Water Wag Race as Class Captain Capsizes

Olympian Annalise Murphy and her crew were the winners of a breezy Water Wag race at Dun Laoghaire Harbour this evening.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club race officer Tadhg Donnelly set a three-round windward/leeward course for the Water Wags in a westerly 14-22 knot breeze.

Due to the squally conditions, the Wags all carried one reef.

The race officer abandoned the first race after the first lap when the majority of boats rounded the leeward to starboard instead of to port.

The race was restarted 20 minutes later, and all bar 2 of the 20 boats had a clear start.

There was an individual recall, but the two OCS boats failed to return.

Wag Class Captain David Williams, sailing Dipper no. 48, capsized at the windward mark on the final round. (See photo sequence of the righting of Dipper below by Brendan Briscoe)

Water Wag Class Captain David Williams, sailing Dipper no. 48, capsized at the windward mark

Results:
1. No. 41 Mollie, Annalise Murphy
2. No. 38 Swift, Guy & Jackie Kilroy
3. No. 52 Puffin, Seán & Heather Craig

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About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth