A fleet of 25 Water Wags turned out to compete for the Walpole prizes in the AIB DBSC race on Wednesday September 9th.
Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a three-lap windward/leeward course in a 6-8 knot southerly breeze.
Donnelly got the sequence underway but then raised the AP as there was a commercial ship manoeuvring near the weather mark.
Donnelly got the sequence underway again but a navy ship entered the harbour just as the fleet was about to start. Following a brief postponement as the navy ship berthed, Donnelly went into sequence again. This time the fleet was over eager and Donnelly called a general recall.
Donnelly changed the course to two laps and once again got the sequence underway under a U flag start at 18.52, which two boats fell foul of.
Judy O’Beirne sailing Jenny Wren was first to the weather mark, followed by Neil Colin sailing Shindilla, and Sean Craig sailing Puffin.
By the second lap Hugh Delap’s Jacqueline had climbed from fifth to first with his 11-year old son Thady helming the downwind legs and gaining four places, and Hugh helming upwind. Craig was up to second, and Colin had dropped to third.
With a dying breeze Craig overtook Delap on the final beat to finish first. Delap was second with Thady helming across the finish line, and Vincent Delany sailing Pansy third.
The crews retired to the Royal Saint George Yacht Club for Après Sail refreshments.
Top 3 finishers:
- Puffin no. 52, Seán & Heather Craig
- Jacqueline no. 21, Hugh & Thady Delap
- Pansy no. 3 Vincent Delany & Isobel Stanley
