Double Ree Regatta never disappoints! 22 Mirrors from all corners of Ireland made it to Lough Ree Yacht Club to participate in the year's premier double-handed event.
For the Mirror class, it was the National Championships, and the class got a head start with three races on the Friday before the arrival of the Fevas, 420s and 29ers.
The lineup is improving yearly, with returning old glories having to fend off young, progressing guns. Hot favourite Ger Owens and his daughter Robyn on Mary-Belle were the pair to beat. Former Mirror world champion (2005) Ross Kearney and his sons (Eliott and Freddie took turns at the front) would lead the charge with Thomas Chaix and daughter Alayna and their gaff rig wooden boat not to be discarded. The Schull boys (Daniel Copithorne and Fionn Keogh) on Big Red returned to defend their Classic boat trophy (gaff rig) earned last year in Sligo. Or could talented juniors create the upset?
Friday delivered a mild-medium breeze from the south. Race officer David Dickson proposed the fleet's traditional triangle-based course.
Four boats squeezed ahead, led by IRL71025 (Ger and Robyn). Caroline Coulter and Daughter Lucy were in close pursuit, with Ross and Eliott battling with Thomas and Alayna. The Winder boats looked a little faster, but the old 69659 was hanging in, making the most of any mistakes by the front runner. Positions swapped around, and Ger touching the 3rd windward and taking a penalty allowed Ross to squeeze ahead to hold on to a narrow lead to the finish. Thomas squeezed ahead of Caroline to take 3rd.
Mirror IRL71025 (Ger and Robyn) with pink spinnaker lead on Lough Ree
The next race saw the same 4 at the front again but this time Ger on Mary-Belle did not put a foot wrong and took the gun well clear of Renaissance (Thomas and Alayna) and FireFlash helmed by Ross.
The final race of the day saw a shift to the left allowing the same 3 to take a massive lead on the rest of the fleet. Further back, the juniors were having close battles with eventually Blessington boys Fred Dick and his crew Olly Cairns getting the best of Big Red (scoring yet another 5th).
Overnight, The favourite had taken the lead ahead of the former world champion.
Saturday was a miserable day with big breeze gusting in excess of 20 kts at times. It was going to be a tough day for the younger crews (and a busy day for the safety team picking up struggling sailors in all the classes)
The first race was intense and fun with the top 3 swapping positions in a battle of titans. Ross and Thomas were truly determined not to let Ger run away with the event. Ross was the first to initiate fire, hoisting the yellow spinnaker on a tight reach planning his way to the lead. Ger and Thomas responded to chase with young crews screaming in delight (or was it the dads?) with the added speed. On the second beat, Thomas (and Alayna hiking like a champ) squeezed ahead at the windward but Ger early gybe got him the inside running lane and the room at the gate before a fast reach to the finish. Super exciting for the young crews. A little further back Max Treacy and daughter Freya (also the youngest sailor just turned 7) took 4th, just ahead of... Big Red (the 5th specialist).
Thomas and Alayna Chaix under spinnker on Lough Ree
The second race of the day saw Ger accelerating and running away with the lead with Thomas yet again in 2nd. Ross went fishing with his yellow spinnaker allowing Max to take his first podium finish ahead of Caroline and... Big red (pretty consistent). The smaller teams were finding it tough but most made it to the finish with a great display of grit and determination.
The final race started with an individual recall (two boats, including Renaissance, came back to restart). Another spinnaker problem eliminated Ross from the race. Clear motorway (no speed limits) for Mary-Belle who ran ahead to a third win for the day! With Ross and Max out and Thomas busy to catch up, the juniors enjoyed the opportunity to shine and sure they did! Fred and Ollie were on fire holding Daniel and Fionn. The two Sligo boats Caroline & Lucy and Joris Rooney & crew Annelies as well as Blessington Lucas Flynn with crew Freddie Nelson were a little further back trying to hold Thomas catching up. 70026 kept his 2nd ahead of Big Red who fended with success a late attempt by Renaissance to overtake.
No change of leader overnight, but Thomas overtook Ross for 2nd. Leading silver fleet sailors Fred and Ollie strengthen their grip on the young guns Aurele Dion (10) and Ben Chaix (9) who found the big breeze a challenge. Bronze prizes order were still uncertain with 3 boats within a few points of each other.
Sunday proposed a somewhat easier day for all the tired sailors. The wind went back south delivering milder and lighter conditions. It took 3 attempts to start the race with a fleet eager to get going and a short start line. Best on the left was Ross Kearney. The Winder boats superior speed started to show again but thankfully subtle display of shifts and gusts keep everyone on their toes. The initial leaders were Ross, Ger and Max with Thomas just about keeping Caroline in his wake. The adults experience was showing in the lighter conditions. Thomas made a move to the left on the second beat reattaching with the leading two eventually just about edging out Ross for half a boat length on the finish to take 2nd. Ger's 6th race win secured the title with two races to spare. Two races were left to decide on the remaining two spots on the podium. A little further back Fred and Ollie had secured their win in the Silver group and were now in battle to secure their place for the Junior All Ireland Mirror class nomination with Joris and Annelies in pursuit.
Fred Dick and Olly Cains in the Mirror dinghy 'Omaniser'
The second race of the day went very light and a new "rocket Mirror" materialized. Orla (14) and Michelle Turner(10) found the extra gear on their Winder putting pressure on the dads ( Ger, Ross, Max and Thomas). They scored a superb 2nd to the delighted of the crowds (on RIBs) and a well deserved "well done" by the dads. Thomas 3rd place was enough to secure the runner up position over Ross.
Ger elected for an early shower (or was it Robyn?) so the final race would have a different winner. Thomas struggled to shake off the girls who were once more very fast but he eventually took the lead. Ross was keen to finish on a high and a very much superior boat speed gradually got him back in contention to eventually force Thomas to tack onto a header before the final downwind. It was enough to secure the win on the final race. Orla's 4th secured top Bronze group top prize and Fred's 5th secured the Mirror nomination for the Junior All Ireland.
And so, the event concluded. Nine races in the full range of conditions! Lough Ree delivered.
The favourite won: stunning performance by Ger and Robyn Owens with seven races won out of 9
The classic lover took 2nd. Thomas and 7-year-old Alayna Chaix could not win a race but were never far.
The former world champion takes 3rd: two race wins but a few costly errors on Saturday.
The adults dominated, but the juniors are progressing, increasing the competitiveness of the fleet.
The younger sailors, Freya, Alayna, Freddie, Eliott, and Robyn (all U8) did brilliantly to keep their dads focused.
Next! Sutton Dinghy club on the August bank holiday weekend for the Northerns... Don't miss out. It will be competitive, it will be fun and as always it will be friendly.
Prizes
OVERALL
1st Ger and Robyn Owens, Wicklow SC
2nd Thomas and Alayna Chaix, National YC ( also 1st classic)
3rd Ross and Eliott/Freddie Kearney, Royal North Ireland YC
SILVER
1st Fred Dick and Ollie Cairns, Blessington lake SC
2nd Aurele Dion and Ben Chaix, National YC and Tralee Bay SC
3rd Conor Duffy and Michael Malone, Lough Ree YC
BRONZE
1st Orla and Michelle Turner, Lough Ree YC
2nd Andrew Mannion and Harry McEnroe, Lough Ree YC
3rd Emer and David Maher, Lough Derg YC
1st ladies
Caroline and Lucy Coulter, Sligo YC
