Despite the stormy past week and uncertain forecasts, another special day's sailing on Dublin Bay was completed today with the DMYC Kish Race merged into the start of the Leinster 100 Commemoration  writes Neil Colin.

The day saw Hot Cookie (Sunfast 3600 - John O’Gorman) leading to the Kish Lighthouse some 13.9 km out from Dun Laoghaire. An inside overtake at the mark by the bigger Eleuthera (Frank Whelan) saw them lead all the way to the finish. The reward for Hot Cookie (second on the water) was an overall win, on corrected time.

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YOYO (Sunfast 3600) Brendan Coughlan (foreground) with sistership and race winner Hot Cookie (lemon spinnaker) passing an appropriately named moored ship on the run out to the Kish Bank Photo: Afloat.ie

The 2018 race was another “blaster” this year after the calm conditions of last year, providing a running start, clear blue skies, a steady 15 knots of north-west breeze, gusting to 25 knots and more at times, the leaders reached the single course mark being the Kish Lighthouse in about 50 minutes, and returned to cross the finish line in 1 hour 50 minutes, even faster than the 2016 race elapsed times, and setting new records.

The 2018 race was another “blaster”

Eleuthera (orange spinnaker) leads the race out to the Kish Photo: Afloat.ie

The race started with the running start, stolen by Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe) on the pier end, who tracked lower than most, to be later upset by a Northerly shift favouring those on a higher line, who held kites all the way to the turn, while Ruffles had to round close hauled.

The DMYC burgee flying over the DBSC Hut for the annual Kish Race from the West Pier Photo: Afloat.ie

The outward leg saw spectacular boat speeds, and indeed several shredded sails were observed by the race organisers in the DBSC West Pier hut.

Gun! Hot Cookie (lemon spinnaker) makes her move at the leeward end of the line Photo: Afloat.ie

At the turn, the competitors (after the manoeuvring and sail changes) each placed a white carnation flower in the water as an act of remembrance to those who perished on the Leinster, almost 100 years ago. A symbolic gesture everyone involved was pleased to support.

Great conditions for the reach out to the Kish Lighthouse (just visible close to the stern of the right-hand ship) Photo: Afloat.ie

Peter Richardson's Dubious Photo: Afloat.ie

Frank Whelan's Eleuthera Photo: Afloat.ie

The return leg was a tougher affair, with several competitors suffering gear failure and more sail damage on the long starboard tack back to the finish line, increasing in difficulty as the ebb tide kicked in against the smaller and slower competitors, sealing their fate on handicap.

IRL 525 Ruffian Alias (David Meeke & Martin McCarthy) had a standout performance Photo: Afloat.ie

First home was Eleuthera, followed by the winner Hot Cookie, but probably performance of the day was Ruffian Alias (David Meeke & Martin McCarthy) who held the more northerly track to the mark, and the kite all the way there, and then, managed to hold off larger higher handicap yachts on the return leg.

The Beneteau 34.7 Black Velvet sailed by Kevin Brasil Photo: Afloat.ie

Chilawee Photo: Afloat.ie

Also of note, Jalapeno (J109) William Despard, winner in 2016 was third Overall, following a tight battle on the water with YOYO (Sunfast 3600) Brendan Coughlan finishing 4th, and the Beneteau 34.7 Black Velvet sailed by Kevin Brasil and friends were fifth.

Denis Nolan’s Club Shamrock Emmanuelle (IR 3) among the starters at Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat.ie

The Kish race continues to attract some more cruiser orientated sailors including Joe Csibi’s Wild Goose and Denis Nolan’s Club Shamrock Emmanuelle who acquitted themselves well, in the face of more competitive modern designs.

Maranda Photo: Afloat.ie

J109 Dear Prudence Photo: Afloat.ie

In addition to the prizes, the Leinster Commemoration organisers presented a book to the prize winners describing the sinking of the Leinster in 1918 and the associated stories, cementing the partnering of the race with the upcoming commemoration.

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