Lawrie Smith Leads at Irish Dragon National Championships on Dublin Bay

22nd August 2024

Lawrie Smith's Alfie with Ruairidh Scott, Martin Wrigley and James Taylor of Glandore Harbour Yacht Club lead after two races sailed at the Irish Dragon National Championships incorporating a leg of the Grand Prix circuit at the Royal St. George Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Credit: Afloat

A consistent Lawrie Smith leads the Irish Dragon National Championships after two races sailed on Thursday (August 22) in medium to strong westerlies on Dublin Bay.

The multi-world champion opened his account in the Royal St. George Yacht Club hosted seven-race series with two second place results in a fleet of 28 competing boats.

In a fleet studded with world champions and Olympic medalists, two amateur teams make it into the top ten, with one of them being from the host country.

28 boats from seven nations are competing in the 2024 Dragon National Championships and European Grand Prix at the Royal St. George Yacht Club Photo: Afloat 28 boats from seven nations (inlcuding Ireland leading in race one above, thanks to number 211 'Little Fella' sailed by Cameron Good, Henry Kingston and Sam Hunt Kinsale of Yacht Club) are competing in the 2024 Dragon National Championships and European Grand Prix at the Royal St. George Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

Sailing with Ruairidh Scott, Martin Wrigley and James Taylor of Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, the British ace has a four-point lead over the Japanese entry of Peter Gilmour, Yasuhiro Yaji and Sam Gilmour, who are on eight points. Lying third is Britain's Simon Barter Donald Wilks, Alistair Barter on 11 points.

The Japanese entry of Peter Gilmour, Yasuhiro Yaji and Sam Gilmour are lying second overall Photo: Afloat

As Afloat reported previously, the Irish event is part of the international class's European Grand Prix Circuit.

Smith, the current Edinburgh Cup and Gold Cup champion, is among some big international names on the Bay this weekend before the fleet competes at September's Gold Cup in Kinsale.

The top Irish competitors after Thursday's races are national champion Cameron Good, Henry Kingston, and Sam Hunt from Kinsale, who are in eighth place with 14 points.

Little Fella sailed by Cameron Good, Henry Kingston and Sam Hunt Kinsale of Yacht Club the top Irish, after two races sailed at the Irish Dragon National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Racing continues on Friday, and two more races are scheduled in strong and blustery south-west winds off the south Dublin shoreline.

The Grand Prix/Irish Championship is a Grade One event and run by Irish International Race Officer Con Murphy with a full international jury. Seven races (1 discard) are scheduled over four days from August 22-25 (Thursday to Sunday). The Grand Prix/Irish Dragon Championship is a Grade One event and run by Irish International Race Officer Con Murphy with a full international jury in attendance. Seven races (one discard) are scheduled over four days from August 22-25 (Thursday to Sunday) Photo: Afloat

Race Results

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Published in Dragon, RStGYC

Published in Dragon

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Dragon

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