A record 38 boats and 140 sailors took to the water for Howth Yacht Club's Women at the Helm regatta, making it Ireland's largest gathering of female sailors this year. Three races were completed in sunny, breezy conditions, with competition across the Puppeteer, Squib, Howth 17, J/80, Melges 15 and PY dinghy fleets. Race Officer Scorie Walls oversaw the racing.
Headland Challenge: The J/80 fleet races beneath the cliffs of Howth Head during Howth Yacht Club's Women at the Helm regatta, which drew a record 38 boats and 140 sailors across six classes. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
The Puppeteer fleet attracted the biggest entry with 11 boats. Katie Dwyer, best known for her GP14 success, won the class aboard Trick or Treat with two race victories and a third place. Her performance also secured the overall Baltic Gold Trophy. Rozz Byrne also marked the occasion by taking her first race win as helm in the Puppeteer fleet.
Class Act: Katie Dwyer helms Trick or Treat to victory in the Puppeteer class before going on to secure the overall Baltic Gold Trophy at Howth Yacht Club's Women at the Helm regatta. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
The Howth 17 fleet welcomed several helms from Dún Laoghaire. Ann Lynch, sailing Aura, claimed the class title with two race wins and a third place, edging out defending champion Steffi Ennis in Orla. Elizabete Jaconsone also celebrated a milestone by winning the third race.
Classic Winner: Ann Lynch helms Aura to victory in the Howth 17 class after edging defending champion Steffi Ennis in one of the closest contests of Howth Yacht Club's Women at the Helm regatta. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
Fleet Together: The historic Howth 17 fleet delivered some of the closest racing of the evening as visiting helms joined local crews for the record-breaking Women at the Helm regatta. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
In the Squib fleet, Aisling Kelly, who usually sails aboard Storm from Rush, helmed Tears in Heaven to three straight race wins and retained the class's winning form from last year.
Squib Success: Aisling Kelly took charge of the Squib fleet, steering Tears in Heaven to a clean sweep of race wins and the class title at Howth Yacht Club's Women at the Helm event. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
The fully subscribed J/80 fleet produced one of the closest contests of the evening. Diana Kissane led heading into the final race but retired after a collision with another boat, leaving Laura Dillon to take the class victory with a crew that included several newer sailors.
Paula Carthy won the PY dinghy fleet in her GP14 Quantum Shadow, gaining valuable race practice ahead of the Leinster Championships.
Dinghy Drive: Paula Carthy used the Women at the Helm regatta as valuable preparation for the GP14 Leinster Championships, steering Quantum Shadow to victory in the PY dinghy fleet. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
The Melges 15 class also delivered close racing. Sarah Evans, crewed by her father Mike Evans, claimed the title after early leaders Karena Knaggs and Laura Fitzpatrick saw their challenge end with a capsize in the second race.
Family Affair: Sarah Evans, crewed by her father Mike Evans of The Big Picture, sailed consistently to win the Melges 15 class at Howth Yacht Club's record-breaking Women at the Helm regatta. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
More than 178 people attended the event ashore. Presenting the prizes, Howth Yacht Club Vice Commodore Gary Cullen praised the turnout.
Big Turnout: Howth Yacht Club Vice Commodore Gary Cullen praised the record-breaking Women at the Helm event after 38 boats and more than 140 sailors took part in the club's biggest female sailing gathering of the year. Photo: Karolina Kernan
"When the men step back and leave it to the women, we end up with a huge turnout on the water and the biggest social event of the year," he said.
