Royal St. George Dragon ace Neil Hegarty sailing Phantom and crewed four-up, has moved straight into the lead of the 12-boat Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

The local crew of Hegarty with David, Hillary and Emma Williams scored 2,1,1 in the three races on the Salthill course to lead the national champions Cameron Good, Henry Kingston and Simon Furney sailing Little Fella from Kinsale overall by four points. 

Racing was in strong southerly breezes up to 20 knots that moderated slightly in the afternoon and went left to 160 degrees. 

Cameron Good, Henry Kingston, and Simon Furney sailing Little Fella from Kinsale lie second overall after three races sailed in the Dragon class at the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Photo: Bob Bateman

Lying third is Hegarty's clubmate Alistair Kissane in Serafina. 

The strong southerly winds are expected to continue for Saturday's races before moderating for Sunday's conclusion of the biennial event.

The Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club, and Royal St. George Yacht Club are organising the ninth Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

Glandore Harbour Yacht Club Commodore Tim Forde reports on success in a very sociable event by the thriving local International Dragons against a cross-channel challenge:

“The Celtic Challenge 2023 against Royal Anglesey Yacht Club from the Menai Straits opened with dinner for the teams at the GHYC Clubhouse on Friday, June 16th, courtesy of our sponsors and the dedication of Social Secretary Myriam O Connor, assisted by Sally Wyles and team.

“Racing started on Saturday 17th with a coastal course to Castletownshend. An excellent start and skilful sailing saw Moonshine helmed by Welsh sailor Alistair Dickson, former RYA Director of Sport Development, show a clean pair of heels to the fleet from the off, to lead all the way to the beacon at Castletownshend.

Close start with team covering as the sun starts to work its way through. Photo: Kathleen Hayes

ALL CHANGE AT CASTLETOWNSHEND

“The notoriously fickle conditions on entering Castletownshend saw the run quickly transition to a beat. Shore hugging tactics and quick drills saw GHYC’s Aphrodite and Pongo break Welsh hearts by sneaking through inside in the final few hundred metres to steal 1st and 2nd place and Race 1 victory. Both teams adjourned to the familiar welcome at Mary Ann’s, where host Fergus presented with his customary cheer and generosity to the competitors.

BOAT-SWAP AFTER LUNCH

“Swapping boats after lunch, the crews set themselves homeward following the start by Race Officer Diarmuid O Sullivan. Alistair Dickson, now helming Zu, and determined to overturn the morning’s disappointment, tacked away early onto a long port tack in clear air to secure his exit from Castletownshend, hunted all the way by GHYC’s Ian Woolward on Supremacy. Dickson showed his class however, and crossed the line in Glandore with over two minutes lead on the fleet. Royal Anglesey’s 1,3,5 securing Race 2 victory and leaving the event tied after two races.

Great sport towards building up a healthy appetite for the next feast. Photo: Kathleen Hayes

“Day One of racing was concluded with a great dinner for both fleets at the Glandore Inn. With a win for each fleet on Day 1, Sunday’s in-harbour racing effectively meant a clean sheet start for each side. Four races windward/leeward using the permanent marks - were planned and achieved. Grim forecasts of torrential thunderstorms and similar did not dare materialise with the fleets carving their way into the freshening southerly breeze in a scene that looked more akin to the Greek Islands than West Cork as witnessed by the great racing images of Kathleen Hayes (aka Beken of Roury Glen) and the amazing drone footage of Heather Mahmood.

EARLY STRIKE FOR GLANDORE

“Round the cans maestro Diarmuid O Donovan on Pongo struck early for GHYC with Race 3 victory seconds ahead of second-placed Leah with RAYC Helm Martin Hartley. Isle of Wight G.P. and RAYC sailor Dr. Dominic Breen Turner had excellent race wins in races 4 & 5 helming both Magic and Aphrodite in sequence.

While substantial leads occasionally opened up, it was often neck-and-neck. Photo: Kathleen Hayes

“These sequential wins gave competitors afloat a strong impression that the result would come down to the wire but ashore the numbers were resolving themselves conclusively into a solid GHYC victory which was sealed by Race 6 victory for Ian Woolward on Supremacy, two minutes ahead of the second-placed RAYC boat.

“The competitors retired immediately to a prize-giving graciously hosted by Patrick Casey and Family at Casey’s Bar. It was here that Sailing Secretary Hal Andrews revealed the full picture on the scoring, with GHYC securing The Challenge by a margin of 4.5 to RAYC’s 1.5 and RAYC Fleet Captain Alistair Dickson presented the Celtic Challenge Trophy to Dragon Class Captain John Wyles.

The perfect sailing day is enjoyed by the Dragons at Glandore Photo: Kathleen Hayes

CHALLENGE AT BEAUMARIS NEXT YEAR

“Both teams, friends and family reunited later for a beautiful meal on the terrace at Hayes Bar to close out an incredibly competitive and enjoyable weekend. The genuine friendship that has developed between the Clubs was much in evidence, with conversation frequently drifting to talk of Celtic Challenge 2024 and plans for the Glandore Dragons crossing the channel to the scenically magnificent Beaumaris next summer.

“Congratulations and well done to all the race management and safety personnel - without whom the event would not have been possible - and to the Dragon owners for turning over their prized possessions to their Welsh competitors. The boats used were Aphrodite, Leah, Magic, Moonshine, Pongo, Phyloong, Supremacy and Zu".

“The Boats of the Ever-Young”. The Dragon Class’s Great Great Grandfather, nonagenarian Don Street, continues to be active with the Glandore fleet. Photo: Kathleen Hayes

Dragons and Squibs raced the At Home Regatta of Glandore Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork, where the second of the two-day event decided the overall outcome.

Supremacy, helmed by former British Olympian Iain Woolward, with crew Kevin Hayes and Eolann Miles, won the Donie O Sullivan Memorial Cup just ahead of Jamie Frame’s Moonshine. “Iain has retired to Castletownshend and the club are delighted to see him on the water, passing his considerable skills to a new generation,” GHYC said.

Sailing Secretary Hal Andrews won all four races in a depleted Squibs fleet, with crew Margaret Potenz/Rory Doyle. Second was Barry Speight’s Nimble.

In Bodrum, Turkey, two clear starts under a black flag saw 24 teams from ten nations racing in the most amazing conditions on the first day of the 2023 Dragon World Championships.  Blue sky, 12 knots of wind in crystal clear water.

Grant Gordon helming GBR 820 leads after recording a 2nd and 4th place. 

Close behind is Portugal's Michael Zankel, and in 3rd position is the late Queen of England's "Bluebottle" GBR 192, helmed by Graham Bailey.

There are no Irish boats competing. 

More here.

James Matthews, David Good, Harry Lewis and Fergal O’Hanlon of the host club were the overall winners by three points of the O'Leary Life Irish South Coast Dragon Championships sailed at Kinsale Yacht Club from 26th – 28th May.

A fleet of thirteen boats took part, including visitors from the Royal St.George YC, Glandore Harbour YC and Royal Irish YC.

The prevailing high-pressure system resulted in great racing with easterly winds for the three days under the direction of PRO, John Stallard.

Going into the final race, only one point separated Phantom (Neil Hegarty, Peter Bowring & David Williams) from TBD (James Matthews, David Good, Harry Lewis and Fergal O’Hanlon).

TBD (James Matthews, David Good, Harry Lewis and Fergal O’Hanlon) were the overall winners of the Dragon South Coasts at Kinsale Photo: David Cullinane

Following the start of the final race, Phantom remained on a starboard tack and head inshore, whereas TBD tacked early onto port and headed further out to sea.

The port tack proved to be the winning tack for TBD as the was ahead of Phantom at the weather mark and held her lead for the rest of the race. The final results were TBD in first place (11 points),Phantom in second place (12 points) and Little Fella in third place with 15 points.

Overall results are below

Kinsale Yacht Club will host the “O’Leary Life South Coast Dragon Championships” from the 26th – 28th of May. The event, which is the first regional event on the Irish Dragon class calendar, will mark the start of an exciting 16 months for Kinsale Yacht Club, which host the Nationals in August this year and then the Gold Cup in September 2024.

Commodore Matthias Hellstern, who is sailing with long-time Dragon sailor, Anthony O’Neill for the South Coasts, commented, “Firstly, thank you to Brian Goggin and all at O’Leary Life for sponsoring the event; we simply can’t run the event without sponsors. Kinsale Yacht Club has such a fantastic history with this wonderful class, and we are really looking forward to showcasing to all Dragon sailors what Kinsale has to offer over the months ahead”

Brian Goggin of O’Leary Life commented, “This month, O’Leary Life celebrates being 50 years in business. As part of our 50th-year celebrations, for the next 12 months, we will support various community organisations and give back to those who have supported us throughout the years. For the month of May, we are thrilled to sponsor Kinsale Yacht Club for the South Coast Dragon Championships”

Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) with Brian Goggin of O’Leary Life at the South Coast Dragon Championships for the West Cork port later this month

Although the sponsor may be celebrating 50 years in business, they are still some years behind the Dragon Design, who will turn 94 this year, having been conceived in 1929!

The class continues to reinvent itself, with Glandore now home to the largest fleet in Ireland, with many of their youth sailors looking like future dragon champions. Of course, the legendary dragon sailor Don Street has been one of the major backers of youth dragon sailing in Glandore, sharing his knowledge for decades in the West Cork harbour

The event will be an early season indicator of who has “wintered” the best, with stalwarts like Peter Bowring and his team on Phantom and Cameron Good with Little Fella among the early entries. James Matthews, fresh from winning the recent Keelboat regatta in Kinsale, are the early favourites but other local boats such as Whisper and Ghost will also be battling at the sharp end in what is shaping up to be a seriously competitive fleet.

Dublin Bay sailor Jonathan 'Jay' Bourke sailing with crew Conn Harte Bourke and Sam Gillivan, were the first Corinthians - the first crew without any professionals - at last week's HM King Juan Carlos Trophy in Cascais, Portugal.

After three days and a full programme, with seven sailed races, the Australian Yeahnah team took the Trophy with 11 points.

The championship was contested in Clube Naval de Cascais by eight teams, from five different nationalities, which had excellent conditions throughout the championship - there were three days of clear skies and shining sun, and while the first two days had the famous champagne sailing conditions, Sunday there was room for light wind.

Yeahnah, Pete Cooke's team, with Torvar Mirsky and the Portuguese Olympic sailor Frederico Melo in the crew, went on to win the championship, with 2 points of advantage over the Portuguese team Easy, of Michael Zankel with Diogo Pereira and João Matos Rosa, who ended up taking second place, with 13 points.

With 15 points and closing the podium, finished the also Portuguese team of Pedro Mendes Leal, Tanit Cabau, Pedro Rebelo de Andrade and Natali Alexandrova, won the last race of the day, thus winning the Stavros trophy.

This was the 28th edition of the championship, that was established in 1995 when His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain donated a trophy to Clube Naval de Cascais to honour the place and the club where he learned to sail and compete.

Results are here

The Royal St. George Yacht Club Dragon Jaguar Sailing Team took third overall at the  Commodore's Cup in Cannes, France on Sunday. 

The keelboat trio of Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelmann and John Simms, who finished on 15 points, were competing in the final weekend event of the winter season.

The team were the First Corinthian crew in the fleet and third overall to the World Champion and European Champion.

Klaus Diederichs, Diego Negri and Jamie Lea took the overall win with ten points, and Grant Gordon, Luke Patience, James Williamson, and Mark Less were second with 14.

A second Irish crew, Denis Bergin, Declan Gordon and Joseph Bergin of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, finished second Corinthian crew in the 23-boat fleet.

There was one race on the last day in which the Jaguar crew were fourth.

The Royal St. George sailors broke the main halyard on the way to the race course in 30+ knots on Saturday.

"It's difficult to repair on the Dragon so we dropped mast overnight and set up a jury main halyard in order to race today", Winkelmann told Afloat.  The 4th place score enabled them to drop an 18th, and we moved from 11th to third overall. 

Results are below

It's been a successful winter series for the Royal St. George Yacht Club Dragon Jaguar Sailing Team in France and Italy.

The keelboat trio of Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelmann and John Simms compete in the final weekend of the winter at the Commodore's Cup in Cannes, France.

After six events, they managed three podium results against world-class competition, but they are still a Corinthian Team competing amongst a powerful professional fleet.

Nevertheless, their progress this winter lists this Irish Dragon team as the top Corinthian team competing on the European circuit in very close competition with Swedish, Dutch and Danish teams.

Irish Dragon interests are honing their skills this season in anticipation of the class's Gold Cup being staged in Ireland in Kinsale in 2024. 

Torquay’s association with the International Dragon Class is long and illustrious, with the venue hosting the 1948 Olympic Games, at which the Dragon featured, and many national and international events since. The Dragon fleet will return once again to this popular venue in 2023 for the Dragon Gold Cup, which takes place from 7 to 16 September and will attract a strong fleet from around the globe.

In 2024, the Dragon Gold Cup is coming to Ireland and will be staged at Kinsale in County Cork.

Located on the English Riviera, Torquay enjoys a wonderful climate, while Tor Bay provides an open sea race area just a short sail from the club, with the spectacular Devon hills as a backdrop. Hosting the event in association with the International and British Dragon Association will be the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, which was founded in 1863 and has huge experience in organising international championships. The boats will be launched and berthed in the harbour just below the club’s elegant clubhouse, which features stunning views across the bay, an excellent restaurant and bar and an English-terraced garden with perfect sunset views.

The Dragon fleet will return once again to Torbay in 2023 for the Dragon Gold Cup

Registration and measurement will take place on 7 and 8 September, there will be a practice race and Opening Ceremony on 9 September, Championship races are scheduled from 10 to 15 September, with the Prize Giving Ceremony on 15 September and crane out on 16 September. There will also be daily après sailing social events at the clubhouse.

“The Royal Torbay Yacht Club has long been a popular host of Dragon championships, so we’re excited to return there for the Gold Cup, our premier Europe-based event of 2023. With the UK also hosting the Edinburgh Cup, incorporating the British Dragon Grand Prix, from 15 to 18 August in Cowes, a large Dragon fleet is expected for Cowes Week from 29 July to 4 August and the opportunity to nip over to Kinsale to take part in the Irish Open Championship from 24 to 27 August, there’s plenty to make the trip across the English Channel worthwhile for European visitors,” commented IDA Chairman Gerard Blanc.

On behalf of the Royal Torbay YC, Commodore Phil Rumbelow said, “All at the club are delighted to welcome the Dragon Class back to the bay. Our band of experienced event helpers led by our Principal Race Officer, Stuart Childerly, are looking forward to giving the class an excellent championship on the water and our bar and catering teams will ensure they are well fed and watered on their return to shore.”