Penney's 'Hot Orange' from Carrickfergus Leads Ruffian 23 Nationals at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

29th July 2023

Carrickfergus Sailing Club's Stephen Penney sailing Hot Orange leads the Ruffian 23 National Championships on Dublin Bay Credit: Afloat

After five races sailed at a breezy Ruffian 23 National Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Carrickfergus Sailing Club's Stephen Penney leads the fleet counting three race wins on his scoresheet.

The Belfast Lough 'Hot Orange' crew are two points clear of Royal St. George's Shannagh (S. Gill & P. MacDiarmada) on seven points, with defending champion Ann Kirwan in Bandit lying in third place on 17 in the 15-boat fleet.

Sailing with reefed mainsails, the Ruffian 23s completed three breezy national championship races on Dublin Bay. Photo: Afloat

Penney made short work of Saturday's strong wind conditions, winning two of the three races in a 16-knot westerly breeze gusting to over 30 knots and shifting between 210 to 250 degrees, an offshore direction in which locals know the importance of playing the shifts.

Sailing with reefed mainsails, few hoisted spinnakers and opted instead to goosewing downwind in the blustery scene in the northwest of Dublin Bay.

Carrickfergus Sailing Club's Stephen Penney (IRL 346) makes a great start at the leeward end of the line at the Ruffian 23 National Championships on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

In a significant year for the Ruffian 23s, the class celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the Irish design at Portaferry on Strangford Lough in June.

The Ruffian 23 Nationals conclude at the National Yacht Club on Sunday.

2023 Ruffian 23 National Championships at the National Yacht Club Photo Gallery by Afloat.ie

Race Results

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Published in Ruffian 23, National YC, Northern Ireland Waters

Published in Ruffian 23

Tagged under

ruffian 23

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