'Waiting for Godot' is the title of a Sam Beckett play and the term is often used to describe a situation where you're waiting for something that may never happen writes Malahide Yacht Club Dinghy Sailing Secretary, Paul Quinn.
This was the feeling of the organisers and almost 70 competitors in Malahide Yacht Club's Annual Dinghy Regatta on Sunday 13 October as they awaited the forecast breeze to fill in on the morning of the event. To build upon the theatrical theme, the event was Act III in a series of highly-successful regattas hosted in recent weeks by the Club. Act I was the Optimist Leinster Championships held in early September, followed by Act II, the ILCA End of Season Regatta, held in late September.
Ollie Ryan and Felix Crinnion in a Mirror dinghy at the Malahide Yacht Club Regatta
The competitors were warmly welcomed by Commodore Margaret Fay and hot drinks and scones were provided to keep all warm in the autumn chill whilst they waited for the off. The forecast for Sunday had predicted little to no wind in the early morning but to build to a reasonable breeze between 12am and 1pm. Neil Murphy, HYC's Commodore was the Race Officer for the main fleet and MYC's Russell Camier for the Optimist regatta fleet. Together they carefully studied the emerging conditions all morning. However the glassy surface stubbornly showed barely a ripple by 12.30pm. The Committee however decided to hope for the best and launched the fleet. To say it looked doubtful is an understatement.
Jack McDowell and Hugo Micka in their Fireball at the Malahide Yacht Club Regatta
Thankfully the much-anticipated breeze started to materialise and spectators could see boats start to move around the racetrack at an increasing pace. The challenge then shifted to the Race Officers and mark-layers to fix a course. The wind initially settled into a south-westerly but as the final marks were laid, backed suddenly 90 degrees to the forecast south-easterly, causing a scramble on the water to do a quick reset. Ben Patterson did tremendous work in getting the marks moved at pace.
Just before 2pm the first race of the main fleet got underway in about 8 knots of breeze, followed by a second just before 3pm. The Optimist Regatta fleet remarkably managed to get four races completed.
The big showing of talented Optimist sailors from Sutton Dinghy Club was rewarded by bringing home five of the six prizes in the main and regatta Optimist fleets. They were however denied first place in the main fleet by local sailor, Charlie Noone. Siun Barry from Sutton scooped wins in all four races in the regatta fleet – undoubted another sailor to watch for the future.
In the Toppers, Amy Shelly from the National was equally dominant, winning both races. Malahide members Paidi A'Coistlealbha and Alex Butcher did very well with second and fifth places. While a seasoned Optimist sailor, it was only Alex's second day and first competition in a Topper.
Nostalgia was high amongst many of the spectators as eight Mirrors formed the backbone of the PY fleet. Their red sails brought great colour to the racecourse. Ger Owens, former Olympic 470 Sailor from Wicklow Sailing Club, took first place with his young son Gerald crewing for him. Alyna and Tomas Chaix from the National took second, with MYC's Ollie Ryan abandoning his usual Optimist to partner with Felix Crinnion to take third place. Another Malahide sailor, Sean Cronin and his crew Cora McNaughton won first in the fast PY category in their 420.
Howth's Harry Dunne narrowly edged out Malahide's Sasha Bezpalyi and Glenda Gallagher, who had each won a race, to take first place in the ILCA 6 Class. Sasha finished second and Glenda third. Malahide's Siun Ni Choistealbha took to an ILCA 6 for the first time at the event and narrowly missed out on third place having matched Glenda in points.
In the ILCA 7 Class Malahide's Tim Noone equaled his son Charlie's success in Optimists by also taking first place. Malahide's James Anglim and Andrejs Samoilovs came second and third respectively.
Malahide Yacht Club Commodore Margaret Fay presenting Charlier Noone with his MYC Regatta Optimist First Prize
The event also facilitated the Kona Nationals. Needless to say, the light winds were far from ideal for windsurfers. However the competitors made the most of them with the Royal St. George's Robbie Walker taking home the silverware for a second year. Malahide's Cormac O'Brien and Joe Galeckas were second and third respectively.
The Regatta was well supported and almost half of the entrants were from other clubs. They were delighted to be returning to the Broadmeadows Estuary having participated in the recent events. The location provides exceptionally safe and accessible sailing for all ages and abilities. The proximity of the modern and well-equipped clubhouse also allows spectators to follow the action on the water.
While Godot may never have arrived, thankfully the breeze for Malahide's Regatta eventually did.
