A fleet of 24 Water Wags turned out for Wednesday evening's AIB DBSC race on June 24, sailed as part of the Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta.
Competitors enjoyed a warm summer evening with an east-south-easterly breeze of 4–6 knots. Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set the fleet away on a clean start.
Conor Byrne, sailing Hilda, led to the first weather mark, closely followed by Claudine Murphy in Mariposa, with Sean Craig in Puffin lying third.
Colour Burst — The Water Wag fleet hoists colourful spinnakers on Dublin Bay during the Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta, with light winds and warm sunshine producing classic summer sailing conditions Photo: Brendan Briscoe
The race developed on the second lap when Craig moved past both Byrne and Murphy to take the lead. Judy O'Beirne, sailing Jenny Wren, rounded the weather mark in third place ahead of Murphy.
With the light breeze persisting, Race Officer Donnelly shortened the course after two laps, finishing the fleet at the weather mark after the third upwind leg.
Sean Craig and Rachel McManus secured victory in Puffin, with Claudine and Con Murphy second in Mariposa. Judy O'Beirne and Mary Chambers completed the podium aboard Jenny Wren.
Overall Results
No. 52 Puffin – Sean Craig & Rachel McManus
No. 45 Mariposa – Claudine & Con Murphy
No. 55 Jenny Wren – Judy O'Beirne & Mary Chambers
Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta Division Winners
Division 1A: No. 52 Puffin – Sean Craig & Rachel McManus
Division 1B: No. 56 Sphinx – Ronan McDonnell & MJ Geraghty
Division 2: No. 48 Dipper – David Williams & Dan Moran
Winning Way — Sean Craig receives the Division 1A prize from Royal Irish Yacht Club Commodore Winifred Kelliher after steering Puffin to overall victory in the Water Wag race at the Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta Photo: Brendan Briscoe
Top Honours — David Williams accepts the Division 2 prize from Royal Irish Yacht Club Commodore Winifred Kelliherafter he and Dan Moran sailed Dipper (No. 48) to victory at the Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta Water Wag race Photo: Brendan Briscoe
