The History of the Wag

Ireland has made a significant contribution to yachting dating back to the formation of the Cork Harbour Water Club in 1720, the first yacht club in the world, later to become the Royal Cork Yacht Club. That the concept of a one-design racing class is Irish in origin is less well known.

Until 1887, the year in which the Water Wags were founded, yacht racing was divided into two categories, class racing and handicap racing. In the former, design was based on a mathematical formula: in the latter, yachts of differing size and speed raced together and were handicapped on a time allowance. Class racing led to design development and the frequent building of new boats, providing employment for designers, builders and sailmakers but it also led to yachts being outclassed after a few seasons. Rating rules evolved in an attempt to produce more seaworthy and evenly matched craft but the cost of yacht racing was still very high.

The idea of building a number of yachts to the same design with the same sail area and number of crew was an effort to make the boats more closely matched, less rapidly outclassed and reduce building costs; the winning of a race to be a test of the helmsman's skill rather than improved design and equipment. This reduction in building costs placed yacht racing within the reach of many who could not otherwise have enjoyed the sport. Many world famous yachtsmen, past and present, learned their skills in one-design classes, an early objection to the concept of one-design yachts was that it placed too much emphasis on skill which in turn led to professionalism

(Above details courtesy of the Dublin Bay Water Wags website) 

Graham Smith wrote, in the March 2009 issue of Afloat: "You would expect that the venerable Wag would be a class at ease with itself by just trundling along with the same number of boats, year in, year out. If you did, you’d be wrong! Four or five new boats over the previous few years plus a new one this year has brought the fleet to a very respectable 40 in its 121st year of action in the Bay. A number of these are now available to charter or to buy, although the proviso is that they must be sailed in Dun Laoghaire! There was no Wag Worlds this year – it’s every second year so 2009 will see the next one – but Frank Guy in Gavotte (Wag no. 24) was the leading light in the Dublin Bay racing scene during the past season." 

Dublin Bay Water Wags  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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