In one of the largest-ever class turnouts, 100 Water Wag Club members and their guests attended the 2022 season prizegiving dinner in the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Friday 10th, February.
Guests included the 2022 race management team of the DBSC Committee Boat Mac Lir (Harry Gallagher, Ann Kirwan, Brendan Briscoe, Ian Meldon and Hal Sisk) along with NYC Commodore Conor O’Regan.
The Water Wag, which was created in 1886 and formally recognised as a one-design class in Ireland in 1887, is the oldest one-design dinghy now in use and one of Ireland's most popular with summer racing from Dublin Bay's Dun Laoghaire harbour, typically attracting up to 30 boats for Wednesday night racing. The 2022 season had the largest entry – 39 boats with an average race turnout of 25.
There were some 26 prizes winners of the Water Wags' historic perpetual trophies presented at the National Yacht Club Photo: Michael Chester
21 races were run on Wednesday evenings in Dun Laoghaire Harbour between 25th April and 21st September 2022.
The Jubilee Cup is the Club’s premier trophy and was presented by the founder of the Water Wags, Thomas Middleton, in 1897 (the year of Queen Victoria’s second Jubilee) and has the names of each year’s winning Water Wags and their crews going back to the start of the class in 1887.
Water Wag Class main prizes 2022
Water Wag Class Main prizes 2022
NYC Commodore Conor O’Regan (left) presents the Water Wags Jubilee Cup to Jackie and Guy Kilroy (centre) with Class Captain Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
Amy O’Leary (left) presents the Water Wag Hilpotsteiner Tankard to the Peggy crew of David Corcoran and Patricia Corcoran (centre) with Class Captain Con Murphy. The Corcorans also won the Snuff box for their Division 1B overall win Photo: Michael Chester
NYC Commodore Conor O’Regan presents the Water Wags Middleton Howitzer/ Book Regattas, Shannon Half Model and Coquette Cup to the Mariposa crew of Cathy MacAleavey and Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
NYC Commodore Conor O’Regan presents the Water Wags Cora Cup to the Chloe crew Amy and Kate O'Leary (centre) with the Wags Class Captain Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
Other 2022 main prizewinners were:
The Sprite Trophy (for the best boat over 80 years old) went to Moosmie, sailed by John O'Driscoll and Stephen Tierney (centre) with Water Wag Committee Member Zoe Kissane and Wag Class Captain Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
The Maureen Vase for Best all female crew went to Freddie sailed by Bairbre Stewart and Pam McKay (centre) with Water Wag Committee Member Zoe Kissane (left) and Wag Class Captain Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
The Donohoe Titanic Trophy for the most improved performance went to Mary Kate, sailed by Mike Magowan and Ian Magowan (centre) with Water Wag Committee Member Zoe Kissane and Wag Class Captain Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
The Simon Nolan Cup for the Water Wag Volunteer went to William Prentice (centre) with Water Wag Committee Member Zoe Kissane and Wag Class Captain Con Murphy Photo: Michael Chester
NYC Commodore Conor O’Regan (centre) presents the Derek Payne Trophy, Concours D'elegance, to the Water Wag Miss Scarlett crew of Heather and Sean Craig Photo: Michael Chester
All boats were also presented with individual medals made by Cathy MacAleavey.
Download an excel file of the season prizewinners below
