#sods – 32 Shannon One Designs competed for the Challenge Cup at Lough Derg Annual Regatta in Dromineer that finished today. Lough Ree Yacht Club's David Dixon, with crew Anna and Lola-Anne Leech (SOD 73) completed the double having won the Lough Ree championship last week. Race officer Con Murphy has dealt well with some challenging conditions, on Monday, despite two reefs, there were capsizes and dismastings in squalls of 28 knots with a lake swell that makes these narrow classic boats particularly difficult to gybe.
The Shannon-One-Design sailing dinghy is raced on the River Shannon and Loughs Ree and Derg. The boats are 18 feet (5.49m) long by 4 feet 10.5 inches (1.5m) beam, drawing 4 feet (1.23m) with her centreboard down. They have a sail area of 140 square feet (15.6m2) set in a single sail, giving the boat what is called a gunter rig.
Wednesday and Thursday brought fickle light airs and a delicate touch was needed to stay in clear air and make the big decision about on which side of the lake the pressure would appear, just the conditions for Cork sailor Jonathan Horgan in SOD 167 who posted consistent top three results.
The wind was back on Friday with some long beats and a traditional long 'offshore' race up the lake and around the Corakeen islands. Without the reefs the boats were planing well and leaving a few unfortunates to swim at the gybe mark, the lake water is very warm at this time of year....Saturday brought steadier breeze and a close finish for second overall between Frank Browne (LRYC) and Frank Guy (LDYC)
Blustery sailing at Lough Derg Regatta. Photo: Reggie Goodbody and more idyllic conditions below captured by drone. Photo: Photo: James Corballis
