#waterwags – In celebration of the 1000 years since Brian Boru the High King of Ireland fought against an alliance of Irish and Viking troops, Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club decided to organise a special event to celebrate such an important year with a two day classic boat event. Two Water Wags, Pansy and Good Hope left from Dun Laoghaire at 12.30 hrs. with a fair wind and fair tide and arrived in Clontarf about one hour later. A triangular course had been laid for a variety of different clases who were to sail together. They consisted of E boats, Lasers, Optimist, plastic IDRA 14s and a number of bilge keeled cruisers none of which would be classed as Classic. The real Classics were Dorade an international 12 footer, the two Water Wags and a wooden IDRA 14. Ian Malcolm was there in his Howth 17 footer but he didn't race. It was interesting to compare the speeds of the various boats, with the Water Wags being almost the same speed as the E Boats and slower than Lasers or IDRA 14s.
After the racing was over, we were escorted to a mooring. (When was the last time you picked up a mooring in a Water Wag? ) The club launch took us ashore, and advised us that barmbrack was available if we moved quickly. Fortunately there was some alcoholic beverage, strawberries and ice cream as well as the barmbrack. After lunch Ceolthas Cluain Tarbh provided us with some traditional music, but none of the Wags took the opportunity to dance. We were delighted to meet Jonathan and Carol O'Rourke again.
By 16.00hrs it was time to return home, so the Commodore kindly presented Hal and Vincernt with a banner in memory of the occasion. Vincent reminded the audience of the occasion (probably in the 1950's) when Pansy sailed all the way from Dun Laoghaire to Contarf, only to be told that dinghy racing had been cancelled, because it was too windy.
After admiring Dorade and compimenting its owner, Aidan Henry on his fine boat in the dinghy park, we headed back out to the moorings.
Rigging the Pansy and hoisting the yard wasn't easy as the strong ebb tide was holding the boats stern-to-the-wind on the mooring. Hal was more smart, as he had kept the yard hoisted and wrapped his mainsail tightly and didn't have the same problem. The return trip was a beat all the way so it took about 90 minutes in the force 2 breeze from the east.
The trip was a reminder what a fine boat the Water Wag is for cruising.
About The Author
Vincent Delany
Sailing historian Vincent Delany is a member of the Association of Yachting Historians, and an active sailor in Water Wag, SOD and Squib classes. He has written a thesis on 'Yachting and yachtsmen on the River Shannon 1830-1930.' He has lectured on the history of The Water Wag Club, Royal St.George Yacht Club, and the Killinure Yacht Club, He has written two sailing books 'The Water Wags 1887-2012' and 'The International 12 foot class in Ireland' both of which are available from blurb.com
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