The Mirror fleet gathered in county Clare, having found a hidden gem as the playground for their Southerns. Des McMahon and the team of Cullaun Sailing club welcomed the fleet delivering a superb weekend of competitive sailing and fun with friends.
As class chair Ger Owens stated very rightly, the class has gone a long way since I started 5 years ago with Ben. New boats have arrived, young teams are progressing and the class is continuing its growth mirroring the same resurgence that is happening in the UK. New boats are being built and demand for boats is surpassing offers on the market. It is certainly showed on the water.
Light to medium wind, sunshine, random shifts and gusts were at the menu. Our RO (the multitasking Des) knows his lake well and proposed great courses delivering some brilliant racing. Four races were completed on Saturday and 2 more were added to the tally on Sunday.
Bird's-Eye Battle – A drone captures the Mirror Southern Championships fleet on Cullaun Lake. White kite: Thomas and Alayna Chaix. Red kite: Michael Hanley and Ben Chaix. Pink kite (blue boat): Molly Nelson and Dan Evans. Drone photo: Michael Schofield
The first race gave the tune for the day. Thomas and Alayna Chaix sailing the only wooden boat (and classic rig) won the pin. The lead was very short lived with the first big shift turning the cards around allowing Ger and Robyn Owens to take the lead chased by youth team from Sligo Lucy and Dara Coulter. The two leaders kept stretching on the tightly packed chasing fleet. If Thomas and Alayna recovered to 3rd for a short lap, they eventually lost their tacking duel with Max and Freya Tracy and despite a late surge close to the finish line Michael Hanley and Ben Chaix also stayed ahead. The tone was set! shifts, gusts, close crossings and great competition.
The start masters (Thomas and Alayna) were once more sharp off the line and if Ger's superior speed eventually came through, they held 2nd with big gaps separating the lead 3. Experience had prevailed. further back the juniors were led by Michael and Ben in 4th.
The third race saw Max and Freya challenging Ger and Robyn whilst Thomas and Alayna kept control over the juniors once more led by the boys ahead of the Sligo chasing duo of Annelies Rooney / Noah Caliendo and Lucy and Dara.
The day concluded with yet another olympic triangle course. Thomas and Alayna produced yet another perfect getaway, timed the first tack well on the slightly shorter beat to hold a lad for a full lap before Ger and Robyn yet again managed to squeeze back ahead on speed. Max and Freya had to work their way through the juniors at first but eventually just about managed to overtake Michael and Ben before the finish.
Back ashore, the fleet enjoyed the club hospitality with a brilliant BBQ, intergenerational interactions, kids off for a swim... fun and friends!
If the overall champions were not really in doubt, there were great battles yet to be had on sunday. The wind had somewhat dropped with a moment of total calm followed by 6-7kts gusts and the shifts were significant. Another day to favour experience and patience!
The first race started in one of these lulls. Finding the right angles to get the first gust was the key. At that game, Ger and Robyn managed to escape the fleet taking an impossible to close down lead. After a close first windward with a tacking battle involving 5 boats, the battle for 2nd was intense with Michael and Ben overtaking Thomas and Alayna before the boys eventually missing one of these impossible to predict shifts. Despite being under the pressure of catching Max and Freya, they saved their 3rd place on the line.
The second race of the day started in a gust (we had to try both situations) before the wind collapsed just one more time. At that game of cat and mouse with the elusive wind, the rich get richer and despite early battles near the front, a rare sight materialised. Thomas and Alayna resisted then stretched away from Ger and Robyn to secure the last race and 2nd overall. Michael and Ben made no mistake to stay ahead of the Sligo boats taking yet another 4th on the line retaining their youth trophy won in 2025.
Cullaun is a gem and delivered an unforgettable weekend... Next, the fleet will head to Lough Ree for 3 days training delivered by former Mirror champions Caolan Croasdell and Ben Graaf before racing at the bi-annual Double Ree (Mirror Westerns).
Champions Ahoy – Overall winners Ger and Robyn Owens celebrate victory at the Mirror Southern Championships at Cullaun Sailing Club after a dominant performance across six races in challenging, shifting lake conditions.
Youth Power – Top Youth winners Michael Hanley (National Yacht Club) and Ben Chaix (Tralee Bay Sailing Club) receive their prize after retaining the Youth Trophy at the Mirror Southern Championships.
OVERALL
1. Ger and Robyn Owens - Wicklow / 1-1-1-1-1-2
2. Thomas and Alayna Chaix - NYC / 5-2-3-2-2-1
3. Max and Freya Tracy - RstGYC / 3-3-2-3-4-3
YOUTH
1. Michael Hanley and Ben Chaix - NYC-Tralee / 4-4-4-4-3-4
2 Lucy and Dara Coulter - Sligo / 2-6-5-6-5-5
3 Annelies Rooney and Noah Caliendo - Sligo / 7-5-7-5-7-6
U15
1.Sam Smith and Freddie Nelson - Blessington / 8-7-6-8-10-7
2. Annika and Isaac Flynn - NYC-Blessington / 10-10-8-7-9-10
3. Reuben Nelson and Ben Caliendo - Blessington-Sligo / 12-12-DNF-13-6-11
Girls
Caoimhe Schofield Caitlin Schofield - Blessington / 11 -13 -12 -12 -11 -13
