#mirrordinghy – Record numbers attended the Mirror Southerns event at Royal Cork Yacht Club last weekend, 19 and 20 July 2014. 46 sailors in 23 boats – with helms ranging in age from 14 to 50+ and crew as young as five writes Celine McGrath.
Mirrors haven't sailed out of Royal Cork Yacht Club since 2005 and a few ex Mirror sailing members of the club, that have matured and have children of their own, decided it was time to dig out their old boats for some competitive family fun. There was some last minute sail swapping in the boat yard on Saturday morning and all boats, old and new, were ready for the first gun.
With changeable winds and changing tides the racing proved to be quite a challenge for the visiting boats, while the Royal Cork sailors knew their fate.
At the end of Saturdays racing Jack Maye and Shauna Armstrong from Sligo Yacht Club was leading by two points while our final overall winner was behind him by 5 points, so it was an open competition on Sunday.
The fluky winds and changing tides delayed Sunday's first race and went on to caus 9 sailors to not finish on the 2nd race and the 3rd race was cancelled due to time constraints.
Mirror fleet winners at Royal Cork. Photo: Paul Keal
A fantastic BBQ hosted by Royal Cork Yacht Club on the Saturday night brought everyone together for some fun and talk of tactics and mirror construction. The "wood v's fibreglass" is always a hot one. There is no doubt the Windlass Mirror is a fine design, but a well balanced wooden boat can easy beat them hands down – a wooden boat from South Africa did win the Worlds in Lough Derg Yacht Club last year.
Royal Cork Yacht Club presented the most fantastic prizes of skim boards, boogie boards, sailing gloves and much more, while Oldest helm, Boat in most need of repair, Youngest Crew received a selection of fun prizes ranging from walking stick to rubber ring!
Results –
Gold and over all 1st. Mirror Sail No. 70428 from Sutton Dinghy Club. Helm Shane McLoughlin and Crew Oscar Langan
Gold 2nd. Mirror Sail No. 70622 from Lough Ree Yacht Club. Helm Tiarnan Dickson and Crew Alex Leech.
Gold 3rd. Mirror Sail No. 70580 from Sligo Yacht Club. Helm Beth Armstrong and Crew Luke McGrath of Royal Cork Yacht Club.
Silver 1st. Mirror Sail No. 70036 from Schull Harbour Sailing Club. Helm Rory MacAllister and Crew Lughaidh Croasdell of Lough Ree Yacht Club
Silver 2nd. Mirror Sail No. 69683 from Sligo Yacht Club. Helm Helen Smith and Crew Sarah Nicholson.
Bronze 1st. Mirror Sail No. 21645 from Royal Cork Yacht Club. Helm Richard McGinley and Kelly Williams – on their first ever Mirror event.
