Water Wag Dinghy News & Regatta Results

26 Water Wag dinghies turned out last night for two Bloomsday races inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay. Dublin Bay Sailing Club Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly ran two races for the fleet that included an on the water tribute…

One of Dublin Bay's great sailing characters Jimmy Fitzpatrick of the Royal Irish Yacht Club has sadly passed away. A true corinthian of sailing Jimmy Fitz was very well known both here and abroad. While he sailed out of the…

Water Wags, Dublin Bay 21s & Howth 17s: Classic Irish Boatbuilding is Pandemic Panacea
18th November 2020 Historic Boats
In times of stress like this, there is nowhere more soothing than a well-organised but not unduly fussy timber workshop where each day's harmonious effort shows a tangible result. And of all such workshops, there's nowhere so healthily absorbing –…

With a turnout of 24 boats keen to enjoy the benefit of sunshine at sea while the mist gloomed over the land, the Dublin Bay Water Wags continued to push the truncated 2020 season to its limits on Wednesday evening.…

After 36 Years, Dun Laoghaire Harbour's Pansy Blooms Again in National Yacht Club 150th Anniversary
4th September 2020 Water Wag
The 1906-built Dublin Bay Water Wag Pansy has been in the ownership of the Delany family since 1939. But while she has won many trophies, the absence of medals as prizes in local One Design racing has meant that winning…

When the Dublin Bay Water Wags started racing 133 years ago in 1887, every boat had a Spinnaker Guy, and a vital role he played too in dealing with the eternal contest with Tidal Eddy. So far, however, there’s no…

Olympians Finn Lynch & Annalise Murphy Win First Race of Dublln Bay Water Wags 2020 season
16th July 2020 Water Wag
We think of the venerable Dublin Bay Water Wags as being the quintessential Dun Laoghaire Harbour class. But when the results of their first race of the delayed 2020 season yesterday (Wednesday) evening were analysed, it was noted that the…

Would a Pop-Up Classics Regatta for Dun Laoghaire Harbour Help to Get Sailing Rolling Again?
4th June 2020 Historic Boats
Although West Cork is home to several clusters of classic boats and the boatyards of the master-craftsmen who build and maintain them, they’re at scattered locations. Thus it can take quite a bit of encouragement and persuasion, plus much pre-planning…

Dublin Bay 21 'Naneen' Sails Again as Howth 17s Celebrate Restoration in Growing Irish Classics Revival
6th December 2019 Howth 17
Sunshine in December imparts a surreal look to everything it illuminates with its vivid low-angled delineation. And for anyone who happened to be on the Shannon Estuary between Kilrush and Scattery Island on Monday afternoon this week, the sense of…

After a full lap of the course, racing was very tight for the Water Wags on Monday 26th August for the Single-Handed race as they rounded the leeward mark in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Our photo above shows No.3 Pansy (Delany)…

Historic Water Wag 'Pansy' to Be Displayed as Part of Heritage Week Theme
20th August 2019 Water Wag
The theme of this week's National Heritage Week for 2019 is ‘Pastimes'. In recognition of this, the 113-year-old Water Wag dinghy‘Pansy,’ will be put on public display on the East Pier, Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay on Tuesday 20th August…

On 17th July the wind was in an unusual direction for the Water Wag Race in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, blowing from the south-south-east at about 6 knots with occasional stronger gusts. Henry Leonard the RO set the start line for…

Superb New Dublin Bay Water Wag Celebrates Family’s Shared Pleasure in Sailing
13th May 2019 Water Wag
Martin Byrne, noted International Dragon sailor and former Commodore of the Royal St George YC in Dun Laoghaire, has happy memories of family sailing going back more than fifty years, when his parents decided that it was a sport which…

The Water Wag dinghy fleet in Dun Laoghaire competed in the second race of their 132nd season of one design racing on Wednesday 1st May. Three prizes were on offer, division 1A raced the second of three legs for the…

The sad death of Owen McNally a few days before Christmas deprived the Dun Laoghaire sailing community of one of its most active and devoted participants, an enthusiast who put even more into our sport than he took from it…

Peter Kennedy made waves on Lough Ree when the current SB20 national champion took the Helmsman’s Cup at the weekend. However, a special mention must go to Water Wag pair Guy Kilroy and Adam Winkelmann for their ‘catch of the day’ as…