Twenty-six Water Wags turned out for Wednesday evening’s AIB DBSC race in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, on an evening marked by both a partial solar eclipse and Water Wag President Gail Varian’s 80th birthday.
Seán Craig and Heather Craig took the overall win in Puffin (No. 52), ahead of Guy Kilroy and Jo Peare in Swift (No. 38), with Cathy McAleavey and Con Murphy third in Mariposa
Reefed Mains for Gusty Start
A south-easterly wind was gusting above 20 knots in the harbour as the fleet rigged, prompting class captain Tim Pearson to call for all boats to sail with reefed mains.
The fleet was racing for the Stephens Tankard in Division 1A, the Coffee Jug in Division 1B and the Pavilion Garden Trophy in Division 2.
Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a three-lap windward-leeward course and got the 26-boat fleet away promptly.
Seán Craig's Puffin was first to the weather mark, followed by Guy Kilroy's Swift and Justin Geoghegan's Swallow. Cathy McAleavey's Mariposa rounded fourth.
Sail eclipse: The partial solar eclipse is viewed through Mariposa's colourful spinnaker during Wednesday evening's Water Wag racing in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Photo: Con Murphy
Wind Eases to Ten Knots
By the second lap, the breeze had eased to around 10 knots and McAleavey had moved Mariposa ahead of Geoghegan into third.
The leading four maintained their positions through the third lap and on the final beat to the finish, leaving Puffin, Swift and Mariposa to fill the podium places.
Evening colour: Water Wags race under spinnaker inside Dún Laoghaire Harbour during Wednesday's 26-boat AIB DBSC turnout. Photo: John Spain
An 80th Birthday on the Water
There was another notable performance further down the fleet as Water Wag President Gail Varian helmed Dipper (No. 48), with former class captain David Williams crewing, to an eighth-place finish on her 80th birthday.
The occasion was celebrated afterwards at the Royal St George Yacht Club.
Eyes on the sky: Rosemary Roy and Tina Dunne, who covered Water Wag duties this week, watch the partial solar eclipse from Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Photo: John Spain
Eighty years young: Water Wag President Gail Varian celebrates her 80th birthday at the Royal St George Yacht Club with her sister Tansey Millerick and class captain Tim Pearson.
Top Three
- Puffin (No. 52) — Seán Craig & Heather Craig
- Swift (No. 38) — Guy Kilroy & Jo Peare
- Mariposa (No. 45) — Cathy McAleavey & Con Murphy
