The long trail for the crew of the J24 Crazy Horse from the western county of Fermanagh to Carlingford Lough in the east between County Down and County Louth was worthwhile as they went home with the top prize in the classic Oyster Pearl Regatta held last weekend. So too, was the John Conlon skippered Sun Fast 37 Humdinger, who made the long passage from Arklow.

A large fleet of thirteen cruisers came to the starting line in the first of six races in the 2023 event. In competition with local boats, visiting cruisers from Arklow SC and Lough Erne YC battled it out over the two days in a two-day programme with YTC and Echo handicaps being used which to determine results with the winner of YTC to lift the coveted Pearl Trophy and the Pearl Cup to be awarded to Echo winners.

Saturday’s weather provided testing conditions with rain and 11 to 18-knot northerly winds, and as expected, Luke Mc Bride’s very fast J24 Crazy Horse and last year’s winner, the Sunfast 37, Humdinger led the way with local cruisers Warrior, Piglet and Supersonic in hot pursuit. At the end of day one, Crazy Horse with two points, led by three points from Humdinger.

The Arklow crew of Humdinger were winners of the Oyster Pearl Echo Cup 

On Sunday, squally north westerly winds, gusting 30 knots, kept the crews on their toes and after a delayed start for windward mark adjustment, racing got underway. Again the Arklow and Fermanagh crews led the way with the local pack on their heels. Bringing up the rear, Rowena, Xanadu, and Pandemonium were enjoying their own close racing battle.

With points tallied, it was the Luke McBride skippered Crazy Horse from LEYC, which was the worthy recipient of the 2023 Oyster Pearl Trophy. Last year’s winner, Humdinger, was pipped to second but had the consolation of winning the Pearl Cup on Echo. Brian Mc Conville’s J24 Piglet took a well-deserved third.

Moneley Oyster Pearl 2023 Results

Moneley Oyster Pearl Trophy (YTP) Crazy Horse Luke Mc Bride LEYC
2nd Humdinger John Conlon Arklow SC
3rd Piglet Brian Mc Conville CLYC
Oyster Pearl Cup (Echo) Humdinger John Conlon Arklow SC

The inaugural Moneley Oyster Pearl regatta was held in 1979 and has been an enduring feature of sail racing in Carlingford Lough ever since, bar the Covid lockdown years. The people of Carlingford have been harvesting oysters since medieval times.

Last weekend saw the return of the regatta, which celebrated the renowned Oyster to the Lough, which lies on the border of Co Down and Co Louth between the Mourne and the Cooley Mountains, and it was far travelled Arklow competitors who made a big impression.

Glorious sunshine and a steady sea breeze gave perfect conditions for the event, which provided racing for dinghies, day boats and cruisers, with many visiting boats from as far away as Arklow in a stunning setting between the mountains.

Humdinger from Arklow

A fleet of twelve cruisers competed over four races for the coveted Pearl Trophy on a triangular port course in mid-Lough. The Race Officer was Brian McConville. John Conlon’s Sunfast 37 Humdinger from Arklow lived up to its name, taking line honours in all four races. Supersonic, Thomas Kearney’s Beneteau 25 Platu from Carlingford SC and the J92 J’zus Outhaul (Brian Dempsey, Arklow) took second and third respectively in the Echo 908 class and Dempsey won the CPH class.

The dinghy and day boat fleet raced on a course between Carlingford Marina and the entrance to Carlingford Harbour. The event combined single and doublehanded boats, with the results for each race being decided by the average lap time for each boat. The wind was light and variable in the morning, but racing got underway in a steady sea breeze after an hour’s delay. The leads changed frequently, and the final positions came down to the wire with seconds separating winners in each race. Flying Fifteens dominated the first race with the Commodore of Carlingford SC Diarmuid and Aine Gorman in Ffree Ranger first, followed by Jim Garvey and Johnny Duffy with Stephen Callan and Marcos Simpson third.

The single-handers fought back in the second race, with the honours going to Fiachra McCormick in a Laser with anger second and Donal McCormick taking third. This left it all to play for in the third and final race. After multiple changes of lead, the win eventually went to Fiachra McCormick (CSC), just ahead of his brother Dónal.

The prize for the double-handers went to Diarmuid, and Áine Gorman in Ffree Ranger and the single-hander prize went to Fiachra McCormick.

The overall Moneley Oyster Pearl Dinghy trophy came down to a countback as both Diarmuid and Áine, and Fiachra each had eight points; however, Fiachra’s two wins gave the decision in his favour and made him the Moneley Oyster Pearl Dinghy Champion for 2022.

Skipper John Conlon and the crew of Humdinger with the coveted Moneley Oyster Pearl Trophy. Photo: Mark Slater

The presentation ceremony took place at Carlingford Marina, courtesy of the Moneley family, who generously sponsored the event. It was agreed that the success of this year’s event would help to re-establish the Oyster Pearl as the premier cruiser regatta on Carlingford Lough.

Winners of the Adult Fleet, Diarmuid and Áine Gorman (Commodore of Carlingford Sailing Club) receiving their trophy from Mrs Pamela O’Connor Moneley

On Saturday next (20th), the fleet competes in the Warrenpoint Regatta for the Whistledown Trophy. 

Every year sailors travel to Carlingford from all over Ireland and beyond (honourable mention here to our good friends from the Isle of Man) to participate in the annual Moneley Oyster Pearl Sailing Festival, which is scheduled to take place from Friday June 18th Saturday 19th June 2010.

Carlingford in County Louth is the mythic land of Setanta, Cúchulainn, Queen Medb and the Táin Bó Cúlainge. The club nestles at the foot of Slieve Foy, looks towards Carlingford Lough and the majestic mountains of Mourne.It is truly a land of legends.

Whilst competition on the water is always strong(Feeder Races on Friday and 3 Races on Saturday in IRC1/2 non IRC and White Sail), on dry land you will be assured of our warm hospitality, lots of fun and entertainment. Let us ply you with delicious Carlingford oysters washed down with a glass or two of finest Guinness whilst you relax and take in the glorious views of mountain and sea.

Carlingford has a myriad of attractions to offer visitors: golf, fishing, hill walking, horse trekking, adventure sports not to mention a host of great restaurants and cafes. Carlingford Lough has been chosen as a venue for pre-Olympic 2012 sail training,

So why not come and join us for a weekend – you never know you might decide to stay! Any queries please contact :

John Mc Kevitt  Sailing Secretary and Oyster Pearl Chairman on 087/2499103 or Ian O Gorman Cruiser Fleet Captain on 087/2867747