With Howth YC's 43rd Autumn League for six Saturdays over-lapping with the four weekend multi-race Claremont League Dinghy Series, Howth Yacht Club has total boat numbers racing each weekend pushing towards the hundred mark.
Yet despite the Club's success in the recent IRC Euros in Dun Laoghaire, it's intriguing to note that it's One-Design classes – both keelboat and centreboard – that are providing the backbone of the entries.
That said, there are some boats which have returned from Dun Laoghaire to avail of the "IRC Euros Allowance", most notably Stephen Mullaney's Sigma 33 Insider. But while some might have hoped that the big First 50 Checkmate XX – IRC Euros Corinthian Champion 2024 – might be back to resume her Floating Classroom duties, it seems that it is Pat Kelly's J/109 Storm from Rush which has taken on that particular mantle.
Checkmate co-owner-skipper Nigel Biggs, meanwhile, has re-surfaced in the competitive maelstrom which is the Puppeteer 22s back in Howth, and on Saturday (September 21st) he was in the frame with Nimon, taking third astern of perpetual battlers Trick or Treat (Alan Pearson & Alan Bay) just 20 seconds behind, while 2024 National Champion Shiggi Shiggi (Paul & Laura McMahon) was 51 seconds clear ahead in first.
For those hoping to discern trends, Howth's oldest class, the 1898-founded Howth 17s, are mustering 14 boats, while the newest – the Melges 15s, established the day before yesterday - are pushing out eight, with more on the way as they show speed to the old clinker ladies of the IDRA 14 class in the Claremont's mixed fleet.