It could be argued that the progress of the Dublin Bay Water Wag Class has been unstoppable since its foundation in 1887 by Ben Middleton and his friends as the world’s first One-Design fleet. There may have been times in their unrivalled life-span when the future of these characterful little boats seemed thin enough, but such times have been forgotten, and now they thrive as never before.

The Wags have come in two manifestations. The first was a lug-rigged 13ft double-ender in 1887, while the second, a more robust 14ft 3ins transom-sterned boat to Maimie Doyle’s design with a gunter sloop rig, arrived in 1900. This second version clearly hit the spot, and though not all individual boats have stayed the course, the class’s fastidiously maintained registration system - which only allocates sail numbers to boats in full sailable condition – has been through the 50 mark for two seasons now, and will be increased by at least two more in 2023 with a couple of completely new boats under construction by master craftsman Rui Ferreira of Ballydehob in West Cork.

 Rui Ferreira with a previously-completed Water Wag awaiting the paint and varnish treatment

Rui is no stranger to Water Wag building to the highest international standards, but the pace in the class is such that having the newest boats will not necessarily bring success.

That said, the two new owner-skippers, who prefer to remain anonymous at this stage, come with impressive track records. And in keeping with the Class’s gender-blindness – part of its DNA since its foundation – one of the new owners is female, while the other is one of the others.

The Ferreira workshop is tidied, and the setup is in place for a new Water Wag to start taking shape

The skeletons of two new Water Wags begin to emerge

The original Water Wag builders of 122 years ago did not have the benefit of today’s lamination techniques for building the stem, but now it greatly enhances the finished boat

The DBSC Water Wag dinghy fleet raced their last race of the season on Wednesday for the Candlelight Trophy at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a course of three rounds, four beats in winds of eight-ten knots from 200 degrees.

The race start was delayed by 20 minutes until the visiting cruise ship tendering at the harbour finished.

24 boats started, including a visiting boat, the last wag built; No. 52 Miss Scarlett was constructed in France earlier this year.

Tim Pearson in Little Tern number 36 takes third place in the Water Wag Candelight Trophy at the finish line buoy from number 38, Guy Kilroy in Swift Photo: Ann Kirwan

The race was won by number 15, Moosmie sailed by John O'Driscoll, Second was Mariposa, number 45, Cathy Mac Aleavey. The third was number 36; Little Tern sailed by Tim Pearson.

Results are below

A strong turnout of Water Wags on Wednesday night in Dun Laoghaire Harbour counted for the National Yacht Club's Women at the Helm regatta as well as regular Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) points. 

19 Wag dinghies entered 'WATH', all helmed by women.

Race Officer Harry Gallagher of Sutton Dinghy Club set a course of three rounds and four beats in the sub-10-knot breeze.

Rio Olympic silver medalist Annalise Murphy crewed for her sister Claudine in Mollie and the sister's parents Con and Cathy came up from Domineer in County Tipperary taking advantage of yesterday’s lay day in the Fireball Worlds on Lough Derg where Con is Race Officer and also competed as regular Wag racers. Cathy helmed Mariposa with Con crewing as usual.

Number 49 Hilda sailed by Heather King was the winner, Number 45 Mariposa sailed by Cathy MacAleavey second and Number 15 Moosmie third. Third, in the WATH race was Nicky Gray.

The 23-boat Dublin Bay Water Wag dinghy fleet had one light air race on Wednesday evening (August 17th) in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

DBSC Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a course of three rounds (four beats) in a six-knot breeze from 120 degrees.

Guy Kilroy's Swift (Number 38) was the race winner, with Justin Geoghegan's Swallow (40) second and Hilda sailed by Martin Byrne (49) in third. 

Guy Kilroy's Swift (Number 38) was the Water Wag DBSC race winner Photo: Ann Kirwan

In a tight finish to Wednesday's single DBSC Water Wag dinghy race inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Guy Kilroy executed a race-winning move at the favoured end of the finish line to take the gun. 

Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a course of three rounds and four beats. There were 22 starters in a southeasterly breeze of 7-8 knots.

22 Water Wags turned out for the Wednesday night race at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Ann Kirwan/DBSC

Kilroy no. 38 (Swift), who was in fourth place at the third weather mark, pipped Adam Winkelmann no. 46 (Mademoiselle), followed by Hugh Delap no. 21 (Jacqueline) on the line as the video below shows.

Laura and William Prentice sailing Tortoise were the winners of Wednesday night's DBSC Water Wag race at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The wind was 10 to 13 northwesterly on the Harbour course.

Race Officer Harry Gallagher set three rounds (four beats) for the 26-boat fleet.

Second was Guy Kilroy's Swift with Cathy Mac Aleavey's Mariposa in third place.

John O'Driscoll's Moosmie was the winner of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) single Water Wag dinghy race on Wednesday evening in trying conditions inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Following a postponement for 15 minutes, Race Officer Ian Mathews started the race setting a course of two rounds for the 25 starters.

Mathews shortened after one round and a second beat to finish at the weather mark.

William Prentice's Tortoise was second

Scroll down for results below

The Water Wag Royal Irish Yacht Club regatta race prize was won on Wednesday night by the club's Bairbre Stewart and Pam McKay in light airs in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The prize was presented by club Commodore Jerry Dowling to the crew of Freddie at Wednesday's glorious RIYC's pre-regatta reception on the clubhouse balcony, ahead of Saturday's Drumshanbo Gin regatta.

Bairbre Stewart and Pam McKay sailing Water Wag Number 43, Freddie to a RIYC Regatta race win. See vid below Photo: Brendan Briscoe

Swallow sailed by Justin Geoghegan and Alison Hackett of the Royal St.George Yacht Club Photo: Brendan Briscoe

Second place was Swallow sailed by Justin Geoghegan and Alison Hackett of the Royal St.George Yacht Club. Clubmates Vincent Delany and Emma Webb were third in Pansy.

A great Water Wag turnout for the inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour RIYC Regatta race on Wednesday evening Photo: Brendan Briscoe

Overall, after nine races sailed in the Wag's Jubilee Cup Series, and with three discards in play, RIYC's Guy and Jackie Kilroy lead the 42-boat entry.

As Afloat previously reported, The main RIYC regatta on Saturday promises a jam-packed day ashore on Saturday as well as on the water in Dublin Bay with music, food and of course cocktails.

Details of the day’s entertainment options can be found below and on the RIYC website HERE.

Royal St. George's Sean and Heather Craig were first race winners in Wednesday's Dublin Bay Sailing Club Water Wag Race at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, a result that also put them in the frame for overall NYC Water Wag Regatta honours. 

Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly gave the Water Wags two races in a light southeasterly breeze (SE 5-7kts) at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. 

The first race was three rounds, and the second race was two rounds.

Results were:

Race 1:
1. 19 Shindilla - Seán Craig
2. 42 Tortoise - William Prentice
3. 1 Ethne - David Sommerville

Race 2:
1. 38 Swift - Guy Kilroy
2. 1 Ethne - David Sommerville
3. 45 Mariposa - Cathy MacAleavey

Water Wags had two races in a light southeasterly breeze (SE 5-7kts) at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Tonight’s racing also counted as the Wag’s National YC regatta.

Results for the NYC Water Wag 2022 Regatta:

1. Shindilla, Sean and Heather Craig,
2. Ethne, Dave Sommerville and Emer Kelly,
3. Swift, Guy and Jackie Kilroy.

First Div 1B, Sara Paul and Ailvhee Smith

First Div 2 Coquette, Seymour Cresswell and Beno Mc Cormack

The main NYC Regatta is sponsored by Davy Stockbrokers and will be held this Saturday as Afloat reports here.

This evening’s Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Water Wag dinghy racing at Dun Laoghaire Harbour is cancelled due to the forecast of winds gusting up to 30 knots until 9 pm.

Live Dublin Bay webcams on this link here