Fifteen Mirrors descended on Blessington Sailing Club for the 2026 Mirror Eastern Championships, and by Sunday evening there were plenty of tired sailors heading home, but also a real sense of optimism about where the Irish Mirror fleet is heading.
The Mirrors formed part of a much bigger weekend of dinghy racing at Blessington, with close to 40 boats across the Mirror, Fireball and 420 fleets sharing the water and the club ashore. It was a great reminder that these are three classes that have stood the test of time, continuing to provide competitive and accessible racing for sailors of different ages and generations.
Race Officer Joe Crilly and his team did an outstanding job, completing a full six-race series on the trapezoid course that is quickly becoming the norm for the class. The two days could hardly have been more different, with Saturday providing a serious test of resilience and boat handling before Sunday delivered a gorgeous day of close, tactical racing.
Saturday certainly wasn't for the faint-hearted. With gusts touching 29 knots, all 15 Mirrors launched, with some crews deciding that one or two races were enough while others battled through the full three-race programme.
Launching The Fleet — Mirror sailors prepare to head out from Blessington Sailing Club, with crews of different ages taking part in the 2026 Eastern Championships and helping build the future of the class
Perhaps most impressive was how well the fleet coped. Despite the ferocious conditions, there were remarkably few capsizes and no significant breakages or gear failures. After a busy summer of events, the improvement in boat handling and confidence across the fleet was clear.
Even in the big breeze, Blessington produced the significant shifts for which lake sailing is renowned, testing tactical decision-making as much as outright speed. Molly Nelson and Hannah O'Meara were like a rocket ship out of the blocks, while the Coulter family provided some fantastic racing, with Ryan and his mum Caroline and siblings Lucy and Dara pushing one another all the way to the finish.
After three demanding races, the welcome ashore was every bit as memorable. Sailors came off the water to homemade soup and bread, followed by an evening of dinner, music and camping at the club. With a sauna on site and breakfast waiting the following morning, the weekend became about much more than racing. A special mention must go to Stuart Nelson and Carl Smith of Blessington Sailing Club, who put in a massive effort for the Mirror fleet and the wider weekend.
Mirror Match-Up — Crews compete on Blessington Lake during the Eastern Championships, with the fleet’s mix of experienced sailors, families and young racers showcasing the class’s enduring appeal
There was also a warm welcome for John Chambers and Simon McCrotty at their first Mirror event. John sailed with his son Harry on Saturday before teaming up with Molly on Sunday, while Simon shared crewing duties with Megan and Hannah McGrotty. With one of the youngest sailors involved just five years old, Saturday's near-30-knot conditions were quite a baptism of fire.
Sunday brought beautiful sailing conditions and another three races. Simon McCrotty wasn't content simply to have survived Saturday and promptly won the opening race of the day, pursued by Max and Freya Treacy.
Another standout performance came from Greystones Sailing Club father-and-son team Paddy and Thady Blackley, who produced a superb 3rd, 2nd and 4th across Sunday's three races.
Racing Generations — Mirror crews take to Blessington Lake during the 2026 Eastern Championships, with young sailors competing alongside experienced hands in a fleet built around family and participation
Sam Smith and newcomer Jennifer Claffey also produced one of the performances of the weekend, taking an excellent second place in a race and showing that another young combination is already capable of mixing it at the front of the fleet.
Consistency paid dividends for Blessington's Freddie Nelson and Lena O'Mara, who finished an excellent third overall. Ryan and Caroline Coulter of Sligo Yacht Club took second, while the Eastern Championship title went to Wicklow Sailing Club's Ger and 11-year-old Robyn Owens, with Robyn continuing to grow in confidence and ability at every event.
The overall podium, however, told only part of the story. Freddie Nelson and Lena O'Mara were also the first youth crew and Under-19 champions, while Sam Smith and Jennifer Claffey took the Under-15 title.
Young Crew — A young Mirror sailor helps prepare for racing at Blessington Sailing Club, where the 2026 Eastern Championships highlighted the next generation driving the class forward
Perhaps the most encouraging result from Blessington wasn't found on the final scoreboard at all.
Across the fleet, parents sailed with children, brothers and sisters raced together, newcomers challenged at the front, and young sailors increasingly competed for race wins and championship places. It is exactly what the Mirror has always done so well: providing genuinely competitive racing while remaining accessible to families and sailors of all ages.
Fifteen boats at the Easterns, with several regular crews missing, is another encouraging marker of where the fleet is heading. The ambition now is to see 20-plus Mirrors regularly lining up at Irish regional events.
There is plenty to aim for. Eight Irish Mirrors travelled to Abersoch this summer as part of a fantastic 76-boat Mirror Week fleet. With the Mirror World Championships in Poole next July, why not double that Irish representation?
Before then, the final Irish event of the season is the Mirror Northern Championships in Malahide on October 10th and 11th. Anyone with a Mirror sitting in a dinghy park, garage or garden, or anyone simply curious about joining the fleet, would be very welcome.
The racing is getting closer, the fleet is getting bigger and, most importantly, the welcome and camaraderie remain as strong as ever. If Blessington is anything to go by, the journey towards 20-plus boats on our regional start lines is already well underway.
Generations Afloat — Young and old sailors celebrate together at Blessington Sailing Club after the 2026 Mirror Eastern Championships, reflecting the family spirit and shared passion that continues to drive the Irish Mirror fleet
A huge thank you to Joe Crilly, Stuart Nelson, Carl Smith, Blessington Sailing Club, the race team, volunteers, parents and sailors who made the Eastern Championships such a memorable weekend.
Article by: Ger Owens
