For the first time in its recent history, The Irish 12-foot Dinghy Championship moved 12km away from Dun Laoghaire to Bray Sailing Club on Saturday, 25 August. Four different 12-footers competed: (a) International 12-Foot Dinghies (b) DBSC 12-Foot Dinghies (same hull but with a 1969 gunter rig with a small jib and a foredeck and (c) Bray Droleens from 1896, (d) Mary Duffy in her Hansa Access Liberty An Citog who was not scored as a classic dinghy, but her results were transposed to the Portsmouth Yardstick singlehanded fleet.
DBSC 12 Foot Dinghy 'Albany' with Gavin Johnson and Gail Varian of RStGYC who won the DBSC 12 Foot Championship Photo: George Miller
All the fleets sailed together under the watchful eye of PRO Barry MacNeaney. His first challenge was to address the weather. The forecast was for 11 knots gusting 22 knots. A quick poll amongst the 12-foot owners showed that they believed their boats were safe in winds up to 15 knots. Unfortunately, Michael Week in Donegal, having seen the forecast, decided not to travel the 300km to the championship. In Bray, PRO Barry MacNeeney decided to proceed with racing for any boats which wanted to compete and laid the course as close to the shore as possible where the waves were non-existent.
International 12 Foot Dinghy 'Cora' sailed by Mark Delany of Lough Ree Yacht Club who won the International 12 Foot Dinghy irish Championship Photo: George Miller
On the water, An Citog got the best start in race one, followed by the Droleen Windyridge. Both of these quickly ran into light winds on the left-hand side of the course, and Mark Delany in 100-year-old Cora (built by Camper and Nicholson) quickly took the lead and completed the single-lap triangular course in 15 minutes eight seconds ahead of the Magowans in Sgadan fifty seconds later. Johnson and Varian in Albany crossed the line twenty-four seconds later. The Windyridge which had been taking water, decided to retire just after the windward mark.
The wind gusts were getting stronger in race two, which was an advantage for the two-handed boats. This time, in a very strong gust, the Magowans in Sgadan capsized just beyond the gybe mark. Johnson and Varian won the race in fifteen minutes and 19 seconds, with Mark Delany seventeen seconds astern.
With one win apiece by Albany and Cora, everything depended on the outcome of the last race. This time Cora started beside the committee boat and was overhauled by the two-handed Albany. Sgadan having recovered from the capsize, appears to have dislodged her centreboard and was forced to retire. Albany finished in thirteen minutes twenty seconds and Cora again seventeen seconds behind. Both boats were on equal points, but on countback, Albany, with two wins, took the championship.
At the prize-giving, Peter Lundy, Commodore of Bray Sailing Club, expressed his delight in having twenty five entries in all the classes and welcomed the classic boats to the club. He also thanked Tony Garry who was so welcoming to the visitors, and the PRO and his team for their work. Vincent Delany of the 12 Foot Association spoke about the history of the three classic classes competing. Mark Delany was presented with the Cora Trophy as best International 12 Foot Dinghy, Gavin Johnson was presented with the Edmond Johnson Trophy which originated from the Seapoint Boat Club in the 1920s. and Gail Varian was presented with the Altair Trophy for the top crew.
Results downloadable below.
