In second place was Skerries boat 189 Azeezy, sailed by Sam Shiels, Doire Shiels and Con Bissett, followed by another Skerries boat 36 Elizabeth sailed by veteran Jim Dempsey along with Sean Collins and Paul Emerlynk. Roger Bannon from National Yacht Club, after showing strong results early in the week, was fourth in 102 Endeavour with Enda Weldon of Rush sailing 186 My Di finishing in fifth place.
Unusually there were five winners in five races over the week with Jonathan O'Rouke of NYC sailing 77 Tiller Girl winning the first race. The subsequent races were won by Wild Wind, Endeavour, Elizabeth and Azeezy respectively. Conditions during the week were mixed and presented achallenge not only to the competitors, but to Principal Race Officer Gus Henry and his team.
No. 131 is now four times champion. The National Championship was based on cumulative results in regattas until 1969, and No. 131 won in 1968. The first Mermaid Week was held in Skerries in 1970 and Paula (now Wild Wind) was the winner then and again in 1971 in Wexford, under the helm of long time owner Leslie Downes of Dun Laoghaire. Paula was built in Dun Laoghaire by John Brennan in 1964 and after a number of years in the ownership of Leslie Downes, she was purchased by the stylish John Millar who sailed here for many years with long time crew Paula Stafford. Paddy Dillon bought her in 2007, renaming her Wild Wind and has been improving ever since.
Wild Wind now joins the elite company of the other four times winners: 32 Elf, 138 Zeila, 102 Endeavour and 123 Vee. However it’s 76 Helen with seven wins and 187 Zuleikawith five wins, that are the most successful Mermaids.
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