Howth Yacht Club skipper Nigel Bigg's foray to the English south coast in the last week of August and the Dartmouth Regatta ended prematurely when the Irish champion First 50 Checkmate XX dismasted on the first race of day three of the 180th regatta.
Biggs told Afloat it was a "frustrating end to an otherwise very successful season, thankfully no one was hurt".
The boat had won every race she had started in Sovereign's and VDLR and was continuing in the same vein at Dartmouth Regatta, winning the opening two races.
Bigg said they were leading race 3 in 20-25 knots of breeze. "We rounded the windward mark for the last time and set the spinnaker, comfortably in the lead. As we were about to drop the jib, we were hit by a bigger gust and broached. As we regained control the spinnaker filled and the rig broke at the third spreader".
Checkmate XX - Preparing for a busy winter of mast replacement, but aiming to be ready to go by next Easter Photo: Afloat
Checkmate's Dave Cullen told Afloat a 'big black cloud' arrived with 35-40 knots. "We had just filled the kite and it floored us, pinning us down".
"With plenty of sea room, reasonably flat water and an experienced crew, we weren't in any immediate danger, so (having advised the race committee by VHF of our situation) we set about clearing things up. Thankfully, we carry an extensive array of suitable tools and people familiar with using them", Biggs said.
"Once we had recovered the spinnaker, which by now was round the keel, we stabilised the remaining section of mast sufficiently to enable us to get someone up the rig and cut away the main and jib".
It is understood that a cap shroud was pulled out of the mast, leading to the dismasting.
"Having made everything safe, we made our way, unassisted, back to Dartmouth harbour. We now have a busy winter ahead, but hope to be ready to go again by Easter", Biggs added.
Checkmate XX has had a very successful 2025 season, starting in April with success on the Solent at the RORC Challenge, then a tie in Class Zero in the Lambay Races in May, and in June, in Sovereigns in Kinsale, they won the trophy with five clear wins and national championship honours. In July they dominated the big boat class at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.
