One of the photos released in connection with tomorrow (Friday) evening’s Royal Irish YC 190th Anniversary Pursuit Race is a story in itself. For although it looks like a close finish to a Dublin Bay regatta race around 150 years ago, with the decorative flags on the mark boat the evidence for a special event, in fact, there’s only one racing yacht in the entire image. She’s the trim white-sailed sailed cutter setting a low rig, as her topmast has been housed for a rugged beat in from the Kish, where the wind was probably near gale force.

But the other four boats under sail are working craft going about their business. The one on the distant left with distinctly grey sails and a large number on her mainsail is the Dublin Pilot Cutter, while the other three are fishing boats from the Ringsend fleet, with the two in the foreground well-laden with a fresh catch from the southeastern grounds. So their race is deadly serious - it’s for the prize share of the market, which is so keenly sought that the cutter sweeping close past the committee boat with fine disdain has sent up her topsail, and the two of them are going like the clappers.

It boggles the mind to imagine what the atmosphere must have been like as they charged neck-and-neck up the Liffey and into Ringsend with its waiting fish-buyers on the rough quayside. It’s most unlikely you’d have heard anyone saying: “After you…….”

The Royal Irish Yacht Club annual pursuit race, tomorrow evening Friday 10th September, will celebrate the 190th anniversary of the historic Club’s foundation in 1831 at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

This, says the Club Commodore Pat Shannon, will be a fitting way to end its 190th season and to mark the beginning of a return to normality for the club.

The RIYC fleet will be joined by the Dublin Bay 21s which will be helmed for the occasion by the Club’s Flag Officers Commodore Shannon, Vice Commodore Jerry Dowling and Rear Commodore Sailing Joe Conway.

In addition, the Dublin Bay 21s will remain at the RIYC pontoon on Saturday for members to view firsthand.

As well as the Don Richardson Perpetual Trophy, traditionally awarded to the overall winner, Commodore Pat Shannon has given a commemorative trophy for the race which is open to all RIYC members.

Shoreside, there will be Après Sail options and entertainment available on the deck and terrace afterwards.

Howth Yacht Club's 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin topped the nine boat fleet to win the 2021 Sigma 33 Irish Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The HYC crew beat former class champion Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht Club by three points with visitors occupying the top three places overall after five races sailed and one discard.

Third overall was Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald).

Up to seven clubs were represented in the nine boat fleet bringing visitors from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Belfast Lough to Dunmore East Harbour on the south coast to Dublin Bay.

Results are here.

Prof O'Connell of North Sails Ireland shot the vid below of Insider sailing upwind.

Sigma 33 Irish champions - 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin Photo: Mark Mackey

Second overall - Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht Club Photo: Mark Mackey

Third overall - Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald) Photo: Mark Mackey

Visitors occupy the top three places overall after three races sailed at the 2021 Sigma 33 Irish Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Howth Yacht Club's 'Insider' co-skippered by Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin leads the nine boat fleet by three points from Waterford Harbour's Flyover (Marchant Roche McDonald) on seven points. 

Third is former class champion Squawk skippered by Paul Prentice of Ballyholme Yacht Club.

Up to seven clubs are represented in the nine boat fleet bringing visitors from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Belfast Lough to Dunmore East Harbour on the south coast to Dublin Bay.

Results are here.

Racing continues today.

Consistent sailing with two race wins and five results in the top three gave the Beneteau 211 National Championships title to Peter Carroll's Yikes! at the Royal Irish Yacht Club this afternoon. 

 John Downey's B211 Capilano closed the gap by a point in today's final two races on Yikes to finish just one point adrift in second overall on seven points.

15-20 knot south easterly breezes proved to be testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet in a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

John Downey's B211 Capilano

Third in the 11-boat fleet was Andrew Bradley's Chinook on 13 points. 

Andrew Bradley's B211 Chinook

Results are here

Beneteau 211 National Championships Photo Gallery

Six straight wins handed the SB20 Eastern Championships title to Ted crew, Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll at the Royal Irish Yacht Club this afternoon. 

15-20 knot south easterly breezes proved to be testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet in a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

In the fight for second place overall, the National Yacht Club's Philip, Simon and Paul Doran leapfrogged Royal Cork's Mel Collins and Aidan Mac Sweeny in Gold Digger (in second place overnight) and Royal Irish's Ger Dempsey and Chris Nolan on the final day to take second by a single point from Dempsey who took third overall.

As regular Afloat readers will know, the Irish SB20 fleet is gearing up for next year's world championships on Dublin Bay, a year earlier than originally planned.

It's a change that also sees the Irish hosted World Championships switching venues at Dun Laoghaire. The event now moves from the National Yacht Club to the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which is hosting this weekend's Eastern Championships as part of its world's build-up.

Results are here.

SB20 Easterns Photo Gallery

The host club dominates the 2021 Beneteau 211 National Championships at the Royal Irish Yacht Club after the first three races sailed off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

With a 2,1,1 scored so far RIYC's Peter Carroll helming Yikes has a three-point margin over clubmate John Downey's Capilano on seven points.

Royal Irish commodore Pat Shannon, sailing Beeswing, is lying third on 13 points in the 11-boat fleet.

A start of a 2021 Beneteau 211 National Championships race at Dun Laoghaire

Dublin Bay presented 12 to 18-knot breezes from the southeast with a mist and fine drizzle.

Testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet were completed with a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

Racing continues on Sunday. 

Results are here.

Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll lead the 2021 SB20 East Coast Championships by eight points after three races sailed off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Dublin Bay presented 12 to 18-knot breezes from the southeast with a mist and fine drizzle.

Testing championship conditions for the 12-boat fleet were completed with a good chop, though the sheltered Seapoint racecourse protected the 20-foot keelboat class from the bigger waves on the Bay.

Michael O'Connor, Davy Taylor and John O'Driscoll lead the 2021 SB20 East Coast Championships off Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat

The Dublin trio is well clear of Royal Cork's Mel Collins and Aidan Mac Sweeny in Gold Digger who is just one point ahead of Royal Irish's Ger Dempsey and Chris Nolan in third place on 12 points.

As regular Afloat readers will know, the Irish SB20 fleet is gearing up for next year's world championships on Dublin Bay, a year earlier than originally planned.

It's a change that also sees the Irish hosted World Championships switching venues at Dun Laoghaire. The event now moves from the National Yacht Club to the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which is hosting this weekend's Eastern Championships as part of its world's build-up.

Racing continues on Sunday. 

Results are here.

As well as the defending champion, Dun Laoghaire's Royal Irish Yacht Club will have three other yachts in Wednesday's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race.

The 14th edition of the 280-mile offshore fixture starts at 2 pm off Dun Laoghaire Harbour and is organised by the National Yacht Club.

Paul O'Higgins will defend his D2D crown in the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI and aim to make it three in a row for the RIYC after previous Rockabill VI victories in 2017 and 2019. 

The champion is joined by some potent RIYC clubmates; Andrew Algeo's J99 Juggerknot II, the Beneteau First 40 Prima Forte as well as George Sisk's Xp 44, WOW. 

Patrick Burke and Sean Lemass's First 40, Prima Forte

Patrick Burke and Sean Lemass's First 40 arrived in Dublin Bay in January last year and in her first season won DBSC's best performing new yacht award.  As regular Afloat readers will know, this all-round performer was previously named La Response, and before that formerly known as Courier Zen and a veteran of several Commodore's Cup teams under former owner Andrew McIrvine, an ex Admiral and Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Andrew Algeo's J99 Juggerknot II

Algeo's Juggerknot II crew, who finished eighth in the 2019 race, is joined for this edition by Figaro campaigner Kenny Rumball. 

George Sisk’s Xp 44 Wow

George Sisk’s Xp 44 “Wow” was the 2019 Sovereign’s Cup winner in the coastal class, having delivered a hat-trick of wins and beating bigger sistership the Xp 50 Freya on her home waters off Kinsale in the Regatta’s Coastal Class but was scored as 'did not finish' in that year's D2D.

A fourth Royal Irish boat, Barry Cunningham's Sun Odyssey 490, ConQuestador is contesting the IRC Cruiser class.

Royal Irish Yachts in the 2021 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race

• ConQuestador Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490, IRL4900, Skipper: Barry Cunningham, Class: IRC Cruiser, Rating: 1.079
• Juggerknot II J/99, IRL 3990, Skipper: Andrew Algeo, Class: IRC Racing, Rating: 1.011
• Rockabill VI JPK 10.80, IRL 10800, Skipper: Paul O'Higgins, Class: IRC Racing, Rating: 1.05
• WOW X-Yachts Xp44, IRLl4419, Skipper: George Sisk, Class: IRC Racing, Rating: 1.124
• Prima Forte Beneteau, IRL4240, Skipper: Sean Lemass, Class: IRC Racing, Rating: 1.078

The Royal Irish Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Habour has announced it is 'sadly' postponing its planned May Dun Laoghaire Cup till 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Regatta organiser David Ryan told Afloat 'We thank the sailors for their continued support and look forward to seeing everyone in 2022".