Being “lucky” with Autumnal weather in Ireland is a very relative matter. Last Saturday (October 10th) the varied fleet in the Howth Autumn League had been anticipating Indian Summer conditions with an approaching ridge of high pressure. But the peak of the ridge arrived about six hours late, which meant the blustery racing in a strong and squally west’nor’west wind was tough going.
DISMASTING
So the Howth 17s gave it a miss, as did the Squibs, and though the Puppeteers were out in strength, the strength wasn’t quite enough in the case of Neil Murphy and Con Costelloe’s Yellow Peril, for she was dismasted in a massive rain squall.
When the going was good. Yellow Peril in the midst of the highly competitive Puppeteer 22 fleet, but she’d been dismasted before the day was out. Photo: HYC
But the heavies in Class 1 IRC, joined for the day’s two races by Johnny Treanor’s ValenTina from Dun Laoghaire, revelled in the going, and ValenTina was very much on the scene, finishing second in the second race. But Big Picture continued on her merry way with a string of wins and a discarded second going into the final day, her closest challenger being Stephen Quinn’s J/97 Lambay Rules, but she’s currently on 17 points to Big Picture’s 6.
Johnny Treanor’s ValenTina came over from Dun Laoghaire with passports and visas in proper order, and took second in the second race of the day. Photo: Judith Malcolm
Stephen Quinn’s J/97 Lambay Rules perfectly placed in the sweet spot. Photo: Judith Malcolm
CLOSE ON OVERALL POINTS
The Gore-Grimes family’s X322 Dux loves a breeze, so she piled it on to record a second and first in Class 2 IRC. But Ian Martin and Stephen Mullaney’s Insider Again did too, and they went into the finals separated by one point, 11 to 12. Meanwhile, Vincent Gaffney’s Laser 28 Alliance II, a boat type as rare as the original Laser/ILCA is universal, continued her winning way in Class 3 under both IRC and HPH.
Simon Knowles’ J/109 Indian racing back in home waters after taking one of the ISORA 2026 titles. Photo: Judith Malcolm
Non-spin Class 4 sees current placings satisfyingly spread along the Fingal coast, with Dermot Skehan’s Castro-designed Tough Nut leading from David Greene’s White Pearl from Malahide, with Terry McCoy of Skerries with the handsome veteran First 38 Out & About in third. Non-Spin Class 5 continues its dalliance with ORC, and current leader Leeuwin, the Sigma 33 raced by Jason Murray & Eamonn Burke, leads from Round Ireland Race Organiser Kyran O’Grady of Wicklow campaigning the classic 1971 vintage Swan 37 Bandersnatch.
FINDING THE FAST-FORWARD BUTTON
In the Puppeteer 22s, veteran skipper David Clarke has found the Fast Forward button on Harlequin, and took a first and fifth on Saturday to have him sitting on 13 points going into Saturday, on a tie with Alan Pearson & Alan Blay in Trick or Treat, with defending champion Nimon (Nigel Biggs) third overall on 14 points, so the Puppeteer racing will be very serious indeed on Saturday.
David Clarke’s Harlequin activate the Fast-Forward button in the Puppeteer 22s. Photo: HYC
The situation is rather different in the Howth 17s, as the syndicate’s Deilgonis is well ahead overall on 3 points to the 9 of Conor & Brian Turvey’s Isobel, in turn just one point ahead of Marc Fitzgibbon and Donal Gallagher's 2019-built Orla. The Squibs have another fairly clear-cut situation, with Jeff Kay & Stephen Kay’s Crackertoo on 3 pts to the 9 of Caroline O’Kelly & Suzanne Barry’s Fantome.
The 1907-built Howth 17 Deilginis is taking one of the wins that has her top of the points table in the Howth Autumn League 2026
CLOSE-CALLED PLACES
The classes of bigger boats on the Offshore Course have already had their money's worth with seven races sailed, but with good weather forecast to return for Saturday, there are currently enough closely-called overall placings to ensure the pace is maintained even if the wind eases as expected.
Results here.
