Following the recent easing of restrictions, and having had to cancel two early season regattas, Bray Sailing Club held a “Back to Sailing” dinghy regatta on 25th July. COVID-19 restrictions meant a number of changes to normal arrangements (no race office - online registration only, no changing rooms and showers, no bar, no paper documentation, and a brief outdoor prize-giving following racing.
38 sailors in 31 boats registered for the event in a 23 boat single-handed fleet and an 8 boat double handed fleet. Race Officer Mark Henderson delivered four races before the wind collapsed and the rain took over, with a mix of two-lap windward-leeward and triangular courses. The strong tides which the north Wicklow Club’s coastline is renowned for proved challenging for some of the less experienced sailors, but some recent entrants to the club’s Laser fleet impressed their more seasoned competitors by their skills, and gave them a warning for the future.
42% of the competitors were female, continuing Bray SC’s long tradition of a strong gender balance in all the club’s fleets.
Speaking at the prize-giving, Commodore Boris Fennema said: “Following a very disappointing start to the season, it was really encouraging to see today’s turnout. One of the highlights is the number of “new” Laser sailors in the club which shows that our investment in Junior Training is really paying dividends, but it is also great to see our slightly older Laser sailors giving the new recruits something to aim for. We look forward to building further on today’s success as we plan more events this season.”
The single-handed fleet was won by David Bailey (Laser full rig), with brothers Adam and Ian Walsh (RS200) taking the honours in the double-handed fleet.
