An estimated fleet of more than 160 boats took part in the National Yacht Club Regatta in Dun Laoghaire, with strong turnouts across cruiser, keelboat and dinghy classes in ideal summer sailing conditions.
Steady westerly winds of 10 to 15 knots with some stronger gusts ad an ebb tide produced close racing throughout the day. The cruiser divisions alone accounted for 42 entries, while one-design keelboats, sportsboats and dinghy fleets made up the balance of the fleet.
The largest fleet associated with the regatta was the Water Wags, which raced their National Yacht Club Regatta event on Wednesday with 23 entries. Saturday's biggest fleet was the Flying Fifteen class, which attracted 17 boats.
Cruiser 0 IRC: The Big Picture Takes Double Victory
ORC Contender — Chris Paton Smith helms Aurelia, runner-up in the provisional Cruiser 0 standings of the Dublin Bay Combined Clubs ORC Regatta series. Photo: Afloat
IIn the last big fixture before next Saturday's (June 20th) Round Ireland Race, a six-boat Cruiser 0 fleet was dominated by Howth's Mike Evans in the J112e The Big Picture, which won both races and secured overall victory on two points.
The opening race was won by four minutes and 48 seconds on corrected time from Aurelia. Race Two was won by three minutes and 18 seconds from Johnny Treanor's NMD 43 Christina.
Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia finished second overall on five points, with Christina third on six.
Cruiser 1 IRC and Echo: Something Else And Indian Share Honours
Mark Pressure — John and Brian Hall’s J/109 Something Else rounds under pressure from Barry Cunningham’s Chimera during closely fought Cruiser 1 racing at the National Yacht Club Regatta. Photo: Afloat
The 12-boat Cruiser 1 fleet was among the largest cruiser divisions of the regatta.
Under IRC, Brian and John Hall's J/109 Something Else claimed overall honours with a win and a second place. The Race One victory margin over Barry Cunningham's Chimaera was just 48 seconds on corrected time. Tim and Richard Goodbody's White Mischief finished second overall, with Simon Knowles' Indian third after both boats ended on six points.
Turning Point — Fintan Cairns rounds the Boyd mark 'K' aboard the Mills 36 Raptor during National Yacht Club Regatta racing on Dublin Bay. Photo: Afloat
Under Echo, Indian emerged victorious after scores of first and second. Ruth was second overall and Indecision third.
One of the day's standout performances came from Bobby Kerr's J109 RidersOnTheStorm, which recovered from 12th place in Race One to win Race Two.
Cruiser 2 IRC and Echo: Insider Again Leads Both Divisions
Nine boats contested Cruiser 2.
Under IRC, Howth's Stephen Mullaney's Insider Again and Colin Kavangh's Jeneral Lee finished level on three points, with Insider Again taking overall victory on countback. Martin Kennedy's Cojones from the Royal St. George completed the podium on seven points.
Race One went to Jeneral Lee by one minute and 20 seconds on corrected time, but Insider Again responded in Race Two with a one minute and 36 second winning margin.
Under Echo, Insider Again completed a clean sweep of both races. Cojones finished second overall and Jim McCann's Mustang 30 Peridot third.
Cruiser 3 Echo and IRC: Chronos Wins On Countback
Crash Course — Jonathan Flood’s Quarter Tonner Imprint recovers from a dramatic crash gybe during National Yacht Club Regatta competition. Photo: Afloat
Five boats raced in Cruiser 3 Echo.
Dave Cullen's new Howth-based quarter tonner Chronos and Jonathan Flood's Imprint finished tied on three points, with Chronos taking overall honours on countback after winning Race Two. Pamafe finished third.
Under IRC, Chronos was the sole entrant and won both races.
Beneteau 31.7: Prospect Leads Seven-Boat Fleet
Prospect Ahead — Chris Johnston’s Beneteau 31.7 Prospect among the starters and on her way to victory in the one-design class at the National Yacht Club Regatta. Photo: Con Murphy
The seven-boat Beneteau 31.7 fleet was won by Chris Johnston's Prospect, which posted two race wins and an overall score of two points.
Bluefin Two and John Power's Levante tied on five points, with Bluefin Two taking second on countback.
Beneteau 211: Yikes Tops One-Design Contest
At The Helm — Peter Carroll steers Yikes to Beneteau 211 class honours during the National Yacht Club Regatta on Dublin Bay. Photo: Afloat
Five Beneteau 211s raced, with Peter Carroll's Yikes taking overall victory ahead of Pat Shannon's Beeswing and Vincent Delany in Capilano.
ORC Series Standings Updated
Front Runner — Prima Forte powers through Dublin Bay on her way to top honours in the Cruiser 0 ORC standings. Photo: Afloat
ORC results were published as part of the season-long Dublin Bay Combined Clubs Regattas series, incorporating races from the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and National Yacht Club regattas.
Following four races, Prima Forte leads ORC Cruiser 0 on four points from Aurelia and Wow.
In ORC Cruiser 1, Something Else heads the standings on seven points ahead of White Mischief and Raptor.
The final two races in both ORC series were sailed as part of Saturday's National Yacht Club Regatta programme.
Full ORC results from ORC Ireland for the Dublin Bay Combined Clubs Regattas are here
Flying Fifteens Draw Largest Saturday Fleet
Flying High — John Lavery and Alan Green’s Flying Fifteen stretches away downwind en route to class victory at the National Yacht Club Regatta. Photo: Afloat
The Flying Fifteen class produced the regatta's largest Saturday turnout with 17 boats on the start line.
The overall podium comprised ffmf in first place, Mike Wazowski second and ffinisterre third.
Ruffian 23s Stage Classic Contest
Ruff Justice — Brendan Duffy’s Sceal Eile competes in the Ruffian 23 fleet during National Yacht Club Regatta racing on Dublin Bay. Photo: Afloat
Six Ruffian 23s competed over two races.
Patricia Heckmann's Ruffage completed a clean sweep with two race wins to finish ahead of Ann Kirwan's Bandit and Brendan Duffy's Sceal Eile.
SB20s and Sportboats Add Pace
Full Commitment — Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and Ben O'Donoghue hike hard aboard the SB20 Ted during fast-paced one-design racing at the National Yacht Club Regatta. Photo: Afloat
Six SB20s raced in the regatta, with Ted taking overall victory ahead of Carpe Diem and venuesworld.com.
The Sportboat fleet attracted seven entries. Jester won both races to finish ahead of StarJay and Jambon.
Dublin Bay 21s, Dragons and Shipmans Contest One-Design Honours
Island Beat — Dublin Bay 21 Oola powers hard on the wind off Dalkey Island during National Yacht Club Regatta racing. Photo: Afloat
Five Dublin Bay 21s raced.
Garavogue and Oola finished tied on four points, with Garavogue taking overall honours on countback. Naneen completed the podium.
The Dragon fleet produced another tie. Sir Ossis of the River and Zinzan shared race victories and finished level on three points, with Sir Ossis of the River winning overall on countback.
Dragon Charge — Tim Carpenter helms Zinzan through Dublin Bay as the Dragon fleet contests the National Yacht Club Regatta. Photo: Afloat
In the Shipman class, Alain Deladiennee's Poppy and Aisling Costello's The Den also finished level on points before Poppy secured overall victory on countback.
Classic Lines — The Shipman Poppy shows off her distinctive profile during National Yacht Club Regatta racing on Dublin Bay. Photo: Afloat
Three Glens raced, with John Bligh's Glencree finishing ahead of Glenluce and Osiris.
Dinghy Fleets Add Depth
Three Fireballs completed a three-race series, with Never 2 Late winning overall ahead of None and SID.
The RS Aero fleet was won by Noel Butler's Orion after three race victories.
In ILCA 6, sail number 211817 won overall on countback from sail number 224527, while sail number 219867 finished third.
The ILCA 7 fleet was won by Hi Tail ahead of Marmo's ILCA and UG!.
The PY Dinghy fleet attracted two entries, while the Melges 15 class was won by sail number 1016 ahead of First Rodeo.
Water Wags Opened Regatta Week
The largest fleet associated with the regatta raced earlier in the week when 23 Water Wags contested the National Yacht Club Regatta race and Women At The Helm Trophy.
As Afloat previously reported, Justin Geoghegan and Alison Hackett sailing Swallow won the National Yacht Club Regatta race from Patricia and Tortoise.
In the Women At The Helm Trophy race, Laura Prentice steering Patricia took victory ahead of Cathy MacAleavey's Mariposa and Amy Byrne's Hilda.
