You need to be several different people at once in order to thrive in Howth sailing. A classic case in point is former HYC Commodore Brian Turvey. His current highest-profile role - ahead of other deeply committed personal involvements - is as Chairman of the Organising Committee for the upcoming Wright Hospitality Group-sponsored Howth Wave Regatta from 3rd to 5th June.

Thus yesterday, former Commodore Turvey - together with current incumbent Paddy Judge - jointly hosted a lunch in the clubhouse for their special event’s main and subsidiary sponsors, which also include the highly-supportive Fingal County Council, as well as CKS the specialist finance group, Euro Car Parks, Cassidy Travel, Sail Training Ireland, and WD-40 as the flagship product for Euro Car Parts.

Inevitably some of the talk was of the morning’s news about the cancellation of the Scottish Series at Tarbert because of a lack of volunteers for mark-laying duties at the remote venue. The special 2022 date in Scotland had clashed directly with Howth’s schedule, and thus this negative development across the North Channel should swell the already healthy Howth entry numbers. Yet in truth there was a sympathetic fellow-feeling for the frustrated Scottish race officers, for the HYC team are only too well aware of the demands and the top standards expected, with any major event being high-profile in these over-communicated days, bringing ill-informed online comment with it.

Brian Turvey’s experience ranges over international offshore achievement and local One-Design success

But by healthy contrast, earlier in the week Brian Turvey had put aside his high-powered concerns about how best to implement an event which will include some very sharp end racing - including the Irish debut of the Mark Mills-designed Cape 31s as the hottest of hot OD classes - and instead had shipped with his brother Conor aboard their jointly-owned Howth 17 Isobel for a brisk evening race. And they won, sailing in this very special local class that made its debut in 1898.

Yet around Howth Harbour, nothing is ever as simple as it seems. For Isobel is semi-unique in being one of only two Howth 17s which have actually been built in Howth. Back in 1987, a small group led by Peter Courtney (whose family have been involved through several generations in Howth 17s racing since 1907) organised the fund-raising for two new boats to be built in a shed at Howth Castle. There, the St Lawrence family would have regarded the Howth 17s as a new-fangled concept, as they had been in continuous residence on the rambling estate since 1177.

Howth Harbour and Village – a complex little place where nothing js quite as it seems

Thanks to the expertise of master-shipwright John O’Reilly – who had learned his boat-building skills in the Dublin Port workshops under the legendary John B Kearney – the new boats Isobel and Erica were launched into successful careers in 1988. And Howth Castle then reverted to its apparently unchanging slumber and interests of a more landbound type, such as the first – and very successful - public golf course in Ireland.

But now, as we emerge from the deceptive pandemic paralysis, we find that the basic structures of Howth have undergone revolutionary change since the previous biennial Wave Regatta, which was staged in 2018. For after only 844 years around the place, the St Lawrence family have vamoosed from Howth, headed into the depths of Kidare and Kilkenny. Thus the premier families in Howth re-emerge as those formerly Danish seafaring tribes – the Harfords, Ricards, Waldrons and Thunders - who were already in residence when the St Lawrences arrived in August 1177, and continued to quietly stay on, hidden in plain sight in the little fishing village.

Meanwhile, the Howth Estate has been bought in its entirety by Tetrarch Group, best known for their sympathetic re-development of the Mount Juliet Estate in County Kilkenny, where there’s another marine connection thanks to a direct link with the 1895 Dunraven challenge for the America’s Cup.

However, if we go any further down that particular road, we’ll disappear, and anyway there’s enough going on back in Howth. For the new arrangements there mean that Tetrarch Capital are now in a partnership with the Wright Hospitality Group for the re-development of the old castle as a hospitality and special interest destination in its own right. And as its history includes an interaction with the Pirate Queen of Connacht Grace O’Malley back in 1576, there are other nautical links to be explored as part of Howth’s quirky history.

Classic Howth Regatta scene – vintage Howth 17 and modern cruiser crossing tacks. Photo courtesy HYC

Time was – and it wasn’t such a very long time ago – that if you wished to travel in relative safety and convenience northeastwards from Dublin city to Howth’s hilly peninsula, then the sensible way was to take the Howth wherry from the ancient quays of Abbey Street on the north banks of the then largely-unwalled River Liffey in the heart of the city. The old bucket of a boat could sail fairly directly across the northwest corner of Dublin Bay to a rough pier on the Sutton shore at the foot of what is still named as Old Castle Avenue, and from that landing place you’d proceed along “the avenue” towards Howth Castle itself, and the village beyond.

In those days, in acknowledgement of this fact of local travelling reality, the façade of Howth Castle faced southwest in almost exactly the opposite direction to that which obtains today. For then as now, Howth Castle was such an architectural mixture from different centuries that each generation of the St Lawrence family could pretty well choose which way their stately home faced if they’d sufficient funds to build a new main doorway.

The reason for going by boat was because, to the west beyond the sandy Sutton isthmus, the very rudimentary roads around Raheny and adjacent areas towards Dublin town were such a hotbed of highwaymen and brigands that to get in relative safety to or from Howth, it was worth the hour or so of discomfort in some questionable boat, rather than risk being stripped of your possessions and maybe held to ransom by villains who bore no resemblance whatsoever to the courteous highwaymen of romantic novels.

A place apart. The independent Republic of Howth is barely connected to nearby Ireland

What this all meant was that for centuries, Howth was never thought of as being part of Dublin. And that attitude still lives on in the sailing and fishing village’s mental furniture today. For although three of the more southern councils which currently administer the Greater Dublin area are in favour of the city having a trendy elected Lord Mayor with executive powers, the fourth northern area of Fingal – of which Howth is very proudly a part – wants nothing whatever to do with the single Dublin authority notion and the new Executive Mayor to go with it, as Fingal Council is doing very well on its own, thank you.

Thus there are Howth people who occupy positions of distinction in global business and national activities when at work in Dublin, yet they cease to be Dubliners as they pass homeward bound through Sutton Cross, and instead become Peninsular People. Such apparent eccentricity gives Howth added appeal, so much so that one explanation of the title of Wave Regatta is that it’s all about waving at nearby Ireland in a friendly but decidedly independent way.

Make of that what you will. But there’s no doubt that when the Howth squad in last year’s restricted season made the best of it to dominate the Sovereign’s regatta in Kinsale with Samatom (Robert Rendell), Snapshot (Mike & Richie Evans), and Outrajeous (Johnny Murphy and Richard Colwell), there was a very pointed demonstration of HYC Peninsular Psychological Power in the Kinsale YC compound after the prize-giving.

The crew of overall winner Snapshot (HYC) with the Great and the Good in Kinsale at the conclusion of the 2021 Sovereigns Regatta

And it’s all given added emphasis through the fact that the defending overall champion in Wave is new ICRA Commodore Dave Cullen’s Classic Half Tonner Checkmate XV (HYC). For although he may be moving into joint campaigning of a First 50 with Nigel Biggs, he’ll continue to race Checkmate XV up to and including the Worlds at Cowes in mid-August.

New ICRA Commodore Dave Cullen’s Classic Half Tonner Checkmate XV is defending champion at Wave in Howth, and will continue to campaign under his ownership until the conclusion of the Half Ton Worlds in Cowes in mid-August. Photo courtesy HYC

Meanwhile, Wave 2022 is shaping up as a multiple choice event for the 12 keelboat classes involved, as it’s built around Howth’s annual Lambay Race, which dates from 1904. But for some of the hotter IRC divisions, the Lambay circuit is almost incidental to the challenging courses being made available by PRO David Lovegrove and his team, with the on-water umpiring squad being headed by Emmet Dalton.

Despite this serious element, Wave Regatta is unashamedly being billed as “a sailing event wrapped inside a big party”. Certainly, with yesterday afternoon’s long-forecast sunshine finally arriving in full strength to bring Howth Harbour colourfully and warmly to life, all things seemed possible.

Ding-dong. The X332 Equinox (Ross & Aoife McDonald, HYC & RCYC) at close quarters with champion Checkmate XV in the 2018 Wave regatta Photo: Afloat.ie/David O’Brien

The Wave Sponsors Lunch in HYC yesterday - now you know why the Fingal coast needs so many lobster pots.......

The recent Sailing on Saturday for April 16th discussed how the new-to-Ireland Mark Mills Cape 31 design will be making its Irish debut with four boats at Howth's Wave Regata, which is built around the
long-established Lambay Race, scheduled in 2022 for Saturday, June 4th.

The story made the point that in 1996 the first Mark Mills design of note, the 31ft Aztec - built by David Harte & Gareth Connolly's Mizzen Marine for Peter Beamish - likewise set the world alight with her first race programme including the Lambay Race of 1996.

More than a quarter of a century later, Aztec is now Raptor, and owned by the Royal Irish YC syndicate known as FOFC (Friends of Fintan Cairns). And yes, the word today is that Raptor is poised to strike - as befits her name - on the Lambay Race of 2022.

All of which makes us look afresh at the most recent images of Raptor, and really the only significant change you'd expect nowadays is twin rudders. To which Mark Mills might very reasonably respond that in our header photo, she seems to be tracking very neatly indeed under just the one rudder, despite being well heeled. And of course, historical perfectionists would argue that if you took the twin rudder option, she'd no longer be a true classic to a completely original 1996 design.

Sailing sweetly to success - Aztec with Peter Beamish on the helm in the 1996 Lambay Race

With at least four Mark Mills-designed Cape 31s making their Irish class debut at the Wave Regatta in Howth from June 3rd to 5th, we will see one very important wheel come full circle. For it was a 31ft Mark Mills design making her debut at Howth in 1996 that launched the tyro designer on a stellar career which today sees him established as an internationally-recognised and much-awarded race-winning innovator. But he still finds the best space to think and create in Ireland, as he has moved his productive design studio even deeper into the peaceful rural depths of the lush Wicklow countryside, where he and his team come forward with frontline designs of all sizes up to super-maxis, designs that win at the top level for racing and style in five continents.

Yet twenty-six years ago, it was quite something - a real leap in the dark - to be the first owner to appreciate this nascent talent. That personal distinction falls to Peter Beamish of Dun Laoghaire, who in 1995 placed the order for a completely new 31ft Mills-designed offshore racer to the then-dominant CHS rule. Peter Beamish was to show an exceptional talent for spotting potential, for in the 21st Century he has been one of the quietly effective supporters of Ronan O Siochru and his sailing school, the remarkably successful Irish Offshore Sailing in Dun Laoghaire. But back in late 1995, it was a Fingal-based boat-building partnership, Mizzen Marine, which he commissioned to build the new boat.

Aztec on her maiden sail at Howth, May 1996. Photo: WM Nixon 

Cape 31 in full cry – raceboat design has moved on, but there’s no doubting the family link to Aztec. Photo Rick Tomlinson

The two main movers in Mizzen Marine were David Harte – now of Fastnet Marine & Outdoor Centre in Schull – and Garrett Connolly, an Olympic crew in the Soling. They drew on the talents of Darragh Peelo and Robin Evans as coal-face workers in this intriguing project, with further input from the multi-talented Johnny Smullen, who subsequently became California-based and the personal boat-builder to America’s Cup legend Dennis Conner.

So in all, with ideas being bounced between designer, builders and owner, it was something of a magic circle that created the boat that was initially known as Aztec, and is now known as Raptor in Dun Laoghaire, where she’s owned and sailed by the FOFC, otherwise known as the Friends of Fintan Cairns.

As Aztec in May 1996, she was a star from the start, winning her first inshore race by a clear 3.5 minutes, and making her big time debut in the Lambay Race before going on to sweep Dublin Bay and the Solent. So with the Lambay Race continuing at the heart of the Wave Regatta (it’s on Saturday June 6th), the appearance of the Cape 31s (and let’s hope Raptor as well) will mark a very special stage in the Mark Mills design career.

Aztec makes her debut – she may have been the first of the line, but she was a thoroughbred from the start

History in the making. And Aztec fulfilled all her promised, winning her first race - a short inshore – by 3.5 minutes. Photo: W M. Nixon

And it will show how our concepts about boat purposes have moved on too. Aztec aspired to be a proper offshore racer, with overnight capabilities. But the Cape 31s make no such promises -they’re pure day-sailing sportsboats, and indeed at the moment they’re even exploring the possibilities of a foiling version. Yet the fact that they reflect Aztec’s overall length rings a bell, and there’s no doubting a distant but distinct family relationship in their appearance.

With the post-pandemic rising profile of the Wright Group-sponsored Wave Regatta becoming evident, June 2022 is confirming predictions of being an exceptionally busy month for the offshore brigade. But there’s much more to Wave than Cruiser-Racer competition, and while as already reported in Afloat.ie there has been a remarkable uptake in entries for Classes 0 and 1, with three race areas available. And a user-friendly pick’n’choose programme means there’s every option available from the opportunity to enjoy three days of intense competition to the more traditional choice of simply doing the Lambay Race, which was first sailed in 1904, and continues as a special way of celebrating the existence of a very handsome and unspoilt island only 22 kilometres from Dublin city centre.

Lambay – the perfect unspoilt island, yet it is only 22 kilometres frOm the heart of Dublin city.

Howth’s long tradition of One-Design keelboat racing will be much in evidence, for in addition to the locally-rooted Howth 17s of 1898-vintage and the Puppeteer 22s dating from 1978, the Squibs are undergoing one of their number surges in anticipation of the big championship in Kinsale at the end of June, while at the other end of the scale, the Sigma 33s are indicating growing strength, with the Howth-based Insider (Stephen Mullaney and Ian Martin) the current Irish champion.

Post-finish celebration aboard the Irish Champion Sigma 33 Insider after another race win. Photo: Conor Lindsay

The peninsular harbour also has a small but potent J/109 flotllla sailing from its marina, including Irish class champion Storm (Pat Kelly, Rush SC) , and they will be on their mettle, as J/109 star Mojito from Pwllheli (Vicky Cox & Peter Dunlop) is already into the mix, and now the class have made Wave a designated event for their Eastern Championship.

The Howth-based J/109s Outrajeous (Richard Colwell) and Storm (Pat Kelly) racing off the Fingal coast. The J/109s have designated the Wave Regatta as their Eastern Championship.

HYC’s own club-owned fleet of J/80s made their impressive 2022 debut with the Irish Universities Keelboat Championship in the last weekend of March (when the weather was much more spring-like than it has been since), and that successful series of 18 sunlit races has inspired college crews to put down their names for charter of J/80s for more of the same.

The HYC fiotilla of J/80s making the best of bright March sunshine during the recent Irish Universities Keelboat Championship. Photo: Annraoi Blaney

With normal club racing on the East Coast in full swing before the end of April (DBSC Opening is today week), there’s no doubt that it will take time for the full buzz to manifest itself again, but in Howth there’s an impressive harbour/community effort underway to ensure that Wave is an effective launching pad for the national and international programme, with Howth Harbour Master Captain Harry McLoughlin pulling out all the stops to optimise the port’s potential, while the Michael J Wright Group are joined as sponsors by Fingal County Council, Euro Car Parks, WD 40, Cassidy Travel and CKS Finance.

As for the weather, that’s in the lap of the Gods. But for anyone immersed in the culture and lore of Irish sailing, the prospect of the ancient Howth 17s racing round Lambay as they have done for 118 years in tandem with the presence of the very modern reminders of Mark Mills’ first boat in the same place is profoundly moving.

The Howth 17s Aura and Pauline racing round Lambay - as they have been doing for 118 years. Photo: John Dean

Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox’s champion J/109 ‘Mojito’ is the first UK entry for this year's Wave Regatta in Howth Yacht Club in June.

The Pwllheli Sailing Club boat from North Wales is a regular and prominent force on the ISORA circuit and will add spice to the Class 1 competition entry list which already includes local J/109s ‘Outrajeous’ (Richard Colwell and John Murphy) and ‘Indian’ (Simon Knowles).

Cape 31

Barry Cunningham’s brand new ‘Blast’ from the Royal Irish Yacht Club is the latest Cape 31 to sign up to Wave Regatta, presenting onlookers with an opportunity to view the new Mills-designed yachts racing together in Ireland for the first time.

U25

Mindful of the growth in U25 keelboat racing across the country, the June Bank Holiday regatta (3rd-5th June) also offers prizes for the top under 25 boats as well as a special 3-boat team prize which is open to entries that include at least one U25 on each boat throughout the three-day event.

Wave Regatta gives competitors a choice of either the full weekend (3 days) or Lambay Races (Saturday only) with all keelboat classes invited to compete, including one-designs such as the 1720s and J/80s.

The early-entry discount is available from now until the end of March here.

September's Wave Regatta at Howth Yacht Club has been cancelled due to COVID19. It brings the axe down too on the ICRA cruiser-racer national Championships that were rescheduled to be sailed as part of the three-day Dublin regatta.

In a statement released tonight, the Howth organisers said: "In the face of uncontrollable circumstances and taking account of our responsibilities in respect of public health, Wave Regatta 2020 in conjunction with Howth Yacht Club and ICRA has made the difficult decision to cancel this year's event".

Chairman Brian Turvey explained: ‘Howth Yacht Club has a greater responsibility to ensure member and visitor safety and taking advice to comply with government and HSE guidelines and paying consideration to recent pandemic trends, this makes the running of the event too difficult at this time.

Wave Regatta Chairman Brian Turvey - the 2022 Regatta will sail from Howth from 3rd-5th June

The event must continue to be true to the Wave Regatta concept and the brand must promise a unique and memorable experience onshore, which would be impossible to achieve this year under current conditions.

I would like to thank our sponsors who are remaining onboard and the organisation team who have worked hard for the past 18 months, meeting almost every obstacle with creativity and solutions. This dedicated support and team will be now focussed on delivering Wave Regatta on 3rd-5th June 2022 and we look forward to welcoming you and your crew to an event that will be worth waiting for!”

ICRA Commodore Richard Colwell added “the decision to cancel Wave and therefore the ICRA National Championships shows that the sailing community is no different to most other sports in that dealing with the pandemic for obvious reasons takes preference overrunning a sailing event. We would like to thank Howth Yacht Club for all their efforts to try and make this happen.”

Entry fees will be refunded over the coming days and any queries should be addressed to the team in the HYC administration office (01 8322141).

It would appear that the decision to reschedule Wave Regatta to the second weekend in September is strengthening the event and the inclusion of the ICRA National Championships within the regatta in Howth will certainly focus the plans of many racing sailors at the end of the summer.

The Government's phased easing of restrictions announced last night also appear to favour the postponement even though large gatherings will still not be allowed in September. Event Chairman Brian Turvey told Afloat after the government announcement: "Although I haven’t spoken with Irish Sailing yet, it appears to me that all going well, August 10th might be the date where we can all go back sailing and racing on multi-crewed boats. That would give us a month to refine our already evolving COVID-19 preparations. We’re already looking at doing temperature control checks, online crew symptom checking and branded face masks for all competitors"

The ICRA National Championships will sail at Howth in September Photo: Afloat

The Notice of Race has been published (download below) and it explains that entry to the ICRA Nationals includes qualification (at no extra cost) for Wave Regatta prizes also. This three-day sailing event has always been presented as an innovative experience and notwithstanding the considerations about the current pandemic, the organising team in Howth have been working hard and creatively to plan for every eventuality.

Racing Director Dave Cullen explains ‘Our focus has been to be able to run an excellent racing regatta and championships for the many competing sailors, boats and keelboat classes. It was important that we chose the right dates in September to make the most of favourable neap tides, avoid clashing with other major events and importantly to allow us the time to plan the regatta in consultation with the various authorities. It would appear that the sport of sailing is one that will be high on the list of sports to recommence over the coming weeks and we’re ready to support sailors with the highest quality racing that Howth is synonymous with’. In addition to the ICRA Nationals, the September dates for Wave Regatta also affords many classes the opportunity of hosting their own National Championships at a time of the year that is often touted as being ideal and normally after a full summer of racing. A number of other National Championships will be incorporated including the Sigma 33s and J80s as well as the Half Ton Cup.

Chairman Brian Turvey said ‘Understanding the predicament that many classes will find themselves dealing with such a short season in 2020, we are keen to see if there might be other ’natural synergies’ for class championships albeit within the parameters of the Notice of Race. As such, we’re keen to hear from classes that find themselves in that position and where we might be able to accommodate’.

J24 racing

Visitors to Wave Regatta in 2018 will remember the scale and quality of the onshore hospitality that lifted the event beyond a level normally associated with a sailing regatta in Ireland and the 2020 organising team, with help from sponsors such as Michael Wright Group and Fingal County Council, have promised an original and creative solution to the likelihood of some social restrictions and assert that competitors will be delighted with what will be presented.

The event is open to all keelboats and entry can be made for the single day Lambay Races or the full 3-day regatta which runs from Friday 11th through to Sunday 13th September.

Full event details including Notice of Race (downloadable below) and online entry can be found at waveregatta.com

Heralded as a ‘regatta wrapped inside a three-day party’, Wave Regatta takes place in Howth on the 29th-31st May (the June Bank Holiday Weekend) and the organising team at Howth Yacht Club would appear to have accumulated all the ingredients to replicate the very successful event that was first held in 2018.

The schedule offers keelboat classes the options of racing in the 3-day regatta that commences on Friday 29th May or a single-day entry for Saturday’s Lambay Races.

The 3-day event invites IRC and ECHO Classes to participate in the highest quality racing that Howth affords, with a race management team led by International Race Officers, David Lovegrove and Peter Crowley. There will also be a mix of local one-design classes taking part, including the Sigma 33s, J/80s, Squibs, Puppeteers, Ruffians, E-Boats and Howth 17s.

Wave Regatta’s Race Director, Dave Cullen explains ‘utilising a mix of round-the-cans, windward-leeward and coastal race courses, the mix of racing will be of the very highest standard and we want to enthuse entries across a wide array of boat types and sizes. We will also be using the latest ICRA ECHO algorithm that revises handicaps between races and consequently allows relative performance to be adjusted throughout, ensuring every entrant has a chance at winning. For teams that might struggle to commit to the 3-day event, we’ve again included the option to compete in the Lambay Race on the Saturday only with an open invitation to enjoy the hospitality ashore in Howth Yacht Club for the whole weekend.’

Describing the overall event, Chairman Brian Turvey explained: ‘Built on a platform that sets out to provide the highest quality racing, this year’s Wave Regatta unashamedly strives to use many of the resources that Howth has to offer so that it will be an unforgettable weekend for all competitors and visitors to the town on the June Bank Holiday. With the backing of Fingal County Council and generous support and expertise from Michael J Wright Hospitality, we have created an event that is much more than a sailing regatta and one that is designed to thrill a wider audience ashore, including visitors to Howth that weekend.’

The entertainment line-up for that weekend includes Howth locals Vogue Williams and the Guilty Party who will be joined by an array of live music acts each evening including guest DJ, yachting commentator and 6-time world champion (Etchells and 5.5m) and Olympic silver-medalist Mark Covell.

Notice of Race and Online Entry are now live on waveregatta.com and the discounted ‘Early Bird’ entry expires on 27th March.

Irish Olympic helmsman Mark Mansfield picks his big (and smaller) events coming up for the Irish cruiser classes in 2020

The 2019 season is only just coming towards its end and already owners and crew are looking ahead at what is in store next year. There are still some good events to finish this season, and among them, the Autumn Leagues in Howth and Royal Cork, The final ISORA race, with the spoils still not decided, the J109 Nationals, the final summer series DBSC races and of course the very popular DBSC Turkey Shoot series.

2019 was very much a front-loaded year with Scottish Series, ICRA Nationals, Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, Sovereigns Cup and Dun Laoghaire Regatta all happening within a seven-week period, and 2020 is not looking a whole lot different.

Below you will see the dates of the bigger events for 2020.

Without a doubt the two standout big boat events next year will be the Round Ireland Race in June and in July, Royal Cork Yacht Club host their special Cork Week, on the Munster club's 300th year anniversary. More on this later.

2020 'Big Boat' events

• Scottish Series, Tarbert - May 22nd to May 25th (Friday to Monday)
• Wave Regatta, Howth Yacht Club - May 29th to May 31st (Friday to Sunday)
• Round Ireland Race, Wicklow SC - Starts June 20th (Saturday)
• RORC Morgan Cup - Cowes to Cork - Starts July 8th (Wednesday)
• Cork Week, Royal Cork Yacht Club (300 Year Celebration) - July 13th to July 18th (Monday to Saturday)
• Calves Week - Schul August 4th to August 7th - (Tuesday to Friday)

Other events that are building numbers are Bangor Week, commencing 25th of June and WIORA week (date not published yet). The very popular ISORA offshore series runs throughout the year and these dates are also eagerly awaited.

Here are some details of each of the larger events:

Scottish Series

Always a very happy hunting ground for Irish boats wishing to sharpen themselves up for the new season. Numbers generally have been dropping for the Scottish Series except for the very popular RC35 class where Irish Boats took all podium places this year. Class 2 in 2020 might also show some increases with the biennial Classic Half-Ton Cup in Cowes bringing the competitive Half Tonners out to play early. This year there were two half tonners—expect more in 2020. Great racing and great pub craic around the beer tent and local pubs.

Irish Boats at 2019 Scottish series RC 35 class Photo: Marc Turner

Wave Regatta

Only a new event in 2018 and is based around the Howth Yacht Club traditional June Bank Holiday Lambay Race. Wave Regatta is held every two years and if 2018 is anything to go by, it will be very well attended in 2020. It comes just a few days after the end of Scottish Series. A variety of courses over the three days, including the very popular round Lambay race. Well organised with great onshore facilities.

Jamie Mc William's Ker 40, Signal 8 at Howth's Wave Regatta 2018 Photo: Afloat

Round Ireland Race

The big one. 704 miles from Wicklow to Wicklow, clockwise around Ireland and its islands, turning corners all the way around. It goes from strength to strength. There is a rumour of a very large, very well known Maxi looking at taking on the challenge and the record in 2020. If you only plan to do one full-length offshore race, this is the one to do. I have done five Fastnet Races and I would always pick a Round Ireland over a Fastnet.

For those boats who have competed in the last two events, there is the added bonus of the chance to win a Volvo car for the best Boat over the 2016, 2018 and 2020 races. I’m sure we will be advised of the current pecking order very soon on this.

Niall Dowling's Royal Irish Yacht club, Ker 43, Baraka GP, the overall winner of the Round Ireland 2018 Photo: Afloat

RORC's Morgan Cup

Rarely do Flagship RORC races end in Ireland, but on the 300th year anniversary of the founding of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the RORC have graciously organised for one of their big races to finish in Cork, as a way of getting UK boats over for the Cork Week 300 regatta.

Approx 90 boats competed in the 2019 Morgan Cup edition this year, won overall by a J109. I suspect you may see some offshore orientated Irish boats decide to include this race in their calendar next year, which also serves as a way to get the boat to Cork in time for the Cork Week 300 Series.

Cork Week 300

From the Height of Cork Week in 2000 when boats competing topped 700, it has fallen somewhat. However, 2020, the 300th Anniversary of the club's founding, is all set to be special and interest from all corners of the world is evident with housing around Crosshaven and Carrigaline already starting to be booked up.

A number of classes are planning to use the week as their European Championships. The 1720 class, who had circa 75 boats at their 2000 event, are planning a big show in 2020 with already 10 boats confirmed from the UK with more likely to follow. A proper event Announcement is expected in September announcing some major classes and profile boats that will be competing.

The 2020 ICRA Nationals is being held as part of Cork week (three days only). Cork Week also incorporates a building fleet for the Beaufort Cup, which is a separate event within the week for associated national services (Army, Naval, Police, Firefighting, Coast Guard etc). This event incorporates an offshore race around the Fastnet and back.

Cork Week 2020 will be one not to miss. White Sail and coastal fleets will be included and the highlight is the all in Harbour race.

Rory Fekkes from Carrigfergus SC, First Class 8—FN-GR8—Overall Winner of Cork week 2018 Photo: Bob Bateman

Calves Week

Numbers have held up very well for Calves Week. In 2019, there were 65 cruisers competing, with very competitive racing over the four days. A mix of windward-leeward courses, around the Islands and the Fastnet race keeps everyone interested. One race a day, with all the crews congregating after racing out in the streets between Newmans and Hackett's pubs. The Apres racing is as important as the racing with many sailors choosing to incorporate family holidays into the week. If you are doing Cork Week, and have not done Calves Week before, maybe you should consider leaving the boat in Cork and sliding down westwards a week or two later.

Paul O'Higgins Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish—Winner of Calves week Class One in 2019 

“Wave afloat, rave ashore? And all good? What more could you ask?” The new-style Wave Regatta at Howth over the June Bank Holiday weekend set itself so many ambitious targets that it takes a day or two to get it all into perspective writes W M Nixon. But if anything, the feedback gets better with the passage of time.

After all, with an organisation team headed by Brian Turvey, they set out to build a fun regatta for our times around an expanded version of the venerable annual Lambay Race - which dates back at least to 1904 - while at the same time providing a three day series of hot racing for some razor-keen IRC classes which had been judiciously divided ratings-wise to provide – as far as possible – divisions of optimum size.

At the same time, they’d to provide good racing for the local One Design Puppeteer 22s and Howth 17s which continue to provide the backbone of Howth local racing when the IRC squad are away chasing other glamour events.

Well, with entries rising up to 164 boats on Saturday’s peak day of racing, there could be no complaints about turnout, And as to the scene ashore, the Howth-headquartered Michael Wright Hospitality Group took over all entertainment arrangements in a professional style which left nobody in any doubt they were dealing with experts, and the result was a hugely popular 12-band programme which made the best of the gorgeous weather once Friday’s minor glitch of fog and calm had been put out of the way.

The combined outcome afloat and ashore exceeded even the most optimistic anticipation. But it has to be admitted that while our preview here last Saturday got most of the names which were to feature at the front of each class as racing drew to a sunny close on Sunday, we somehow failed to highlight the potential of Dave Cullen’s classic Half Tonner Checkmate XXXV while talking of the success six days earlier in Scotland of another of Howth’s vintage Half Tonners, Johnny Swan’s Harmony.

But while Johnny sails with his mates, Dave is always game to get a rock star onto the strength, and at Howth it was soon noted that Checkmate’s lineup included the one and only Nin O’Leary. Any further comment is superfluous. While Harmony managed to hang in to be second in Class 2, it was Checkmate XV all the way, Class Winner and Regatta Champion by the end of the series.

In Class 1, the sharpening effect of their virtual One-Design-racing within-a-division is putting the J/109s in a class of their own. But while Pat Kelly’s Storm may have been away in the north winning the Scottish Series, Andrew Algeo and partners in Juggerknot are in a speedy place, and they won all but two races at Howth. One of these was the 1.5 points-scoring Lambay Race which went to Storm, racing through her home waters off Rush, which made sure she placed second overall at the end of the regatta, while the other went to one of the Howth boats, Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles’ Indian.

The Class Zero start of the Lambay Race at Wave Regatta with Signal 8 already out in front Photo: Afloat.ie

At the top of the size scale in Class O, it was Jamie McWilliam’s Ker 43 Signal 8 from Hong Kong almost all the way, but Conor Phelan’s gallantly-campaigned veteran Jump Juice, a 12-year-old Ker 36, was rewarded with one win as she took in the Howth Wave event on her way back to Cork from after featuring in the frame at the Scottish Series.

As to the historical feature which is placed like a jewel at the heart of this new Wave happening, the Lambay Race has become such a diverse event that the ultimate trophy, the silver statuette of the Lambay Lady, goes to the winning boat which has the biggest time lapse between it and second place. It says much for the fiercely close competition for the IRC and ECHO classes that this time round, it was won by Peter Courtney with the One-Design Howth 17 Oonagh.

Peter Courtney’s Oonagh, winner of the Lambay Lady in the Wave Regatta 2018. The Courtney family have been racing Howth 17s round Lambay since 1907. Photo Howth 17 Class

The Courtney family have been racing Howth 17s round Lambay since 1907. But in his time, Peter Courtney has been a Fireball Champion and an offshore winner as well. Howth sailing today is a broad church, and it has embraced the new Wave Regatta with aplomb. The next one has already been confirmed by HYC Commodore Joe McPeake, it’s set for the June Bank Holiday Weekend in 2020.  

Despite the threat of a dubious weekend weather forecast, Dublin's innovative new Wave Regatta that concluded this evening has delivered in spades for its organisers Howth Yacht Club. 

Howth crews topped the major prizes with David Cullen on Checkmate XV in Class 2 who won the overall Regatta trophy while traditional Howth 17-footer Oona skippered by Peter Courtney won the classic Lambay Race on Saturday.

Blue skies and sea breezes attracted a total entry of 161 boats from around the Irish Sea and further for a great racing mix and 'unique hospitality' ashore.

Traditional Howth 17s raced Round Lambay Photo: Afloat.ie

Pre event Pundit predictions were confounded in nearly all classes as the four-race series that included Saturday's Lambay Race (see photo review here) produced some new and not so new inaugural Wave Regatta champions.

"It was a clean sweep for the hosts in all IRC classes except zero and one where Royal Clubs seized the day"

It was a clean sweep for the hosts in all IRC classes except zero and one where Royal Clubs seized the day.

Persistent fog and light winds on Friday eventually cleared in time to deliver a perfect race around the scenic Fingal coastline on Saturday that ended in Howth Sound in ‘champagne sailing’ conditions with the same again for Sunday’s finale.

The overall event win for David Cullen - who was also the Wave Regatta Director of Racing - was based on Checkmate XV's wins in all four races, including the bonus scoring Lambay Race (non–discardable) in the biggest fleet of the event that featured 21 entries in Class 2.

The Lambay Race itself was the highlight of the Wave Regatta weekend when the full fleet of 161 boats graced the pristine waters of the Fingal coastline. Appropriately for the class race around Lambay Island, the Howth 17 footers were given the route closest to the island before the long beat back to Howth Sound and the finish where Peter Courtney and Oona won with a convincing lead.

Visiting Hong entry Signal 8 was the top scoring boat in Class 0 and won the class despite a defeat to Royal Cork entry Jump Juice in the Lambay Race Photo: Afloat.ie

Royal Hong Kong's Jamie McWilliam, got his Ker 40 Summer campaign in Irish waters off to a great start with a class zero win over Conor Phelan's Jump Juice (Ker 37) and George Sisk's WOW (Farr 42). 

Jump Juice (Conor Phelan)

WOW (George Sisk)

Algeo's Royal Irish J109 Wins Class One

(Above and below) Fresh from winning his class East Coast championship a fortnight ago, Andrew Algeo's Joggernaut from the Royal Irish YC in Dun Laoghaire emerged victorious in Class 1, collecting the overall class win under IRC and ECHO handicaps plus the J109 trophy Photo: Afloat.ie

Newly crowned J109 East coast champion Andrew Algeo of the Royal Irish Yacht Club has caused a major upset in IRC One after unseating the host club's Storm for overall honours.

Coming off the back of two solid wins in Scotland, the Storm crew looked in total control winning yesterday's Lambay Race opener to be overnight leaders. But, the RIYC crew, who sailed so well a fortnight ago for East coast honours and who finished second in the Lambay Race yesterday, again showed the depth of their ambition when they took two well-earned wins in today's final three races. It was more than enough to clinch the title by a margin of 3.5 points. With a four-point advantage, Storm took second to another Royal Irish boat, Joker II skippered by John Maybury.

Pat Kelly's Storm crew were second overall in Clas One IRC Photo: Afloat.ie

John Maybury's Joker II was third overall in Class One IRC Photo: Afloat.ie

Perfect Scoreline for Cullen's Checkmate XV

Howth crews topped the major prizes with David Cullen on Checkmate XV in Class 2, the overall Wave Regatta trophy winner Photo: Afloat.ie

In class two, nine of the top ten were all HYC entries. The top three were Howth's tricked–up Half–Tonners. Afloat's own nod for the Wave win, Nigel Biggs' Checkmate XVIII, outside the frame in sixth overall. The win instead went to Bigg's former steed, Checkmate XV,  now owned and sailed to a high standard by Dave Cullen had the perfect scoreline of four race wins. Repeating the Lambay order, second overall went to Harmony Johnny Swann and third was Mike Evans' The Big Picture. 

Johnny Swan's Half Tonner, Harmony was second overall Photo: Afloat.ie

Royal Cork competitor, Anthony O'Leary on Antix Beag was the nearest visiting boat in fifth place.

In Class three, another HYC flag is at the top of the leaderboard. While admittedly hailing from Carrickfergus, 'F'nGR8' skippered by Rory Fekkes,  another Scottish winner, took a well-earned win from two Howth X302s, Dux (A Gore-Grimes) and Xebec (Bourke McGirr Ball) in second and third respectively in the 21–boat fleet. 

Plans for Wave 2020

Three days of entertainment ashore organised by sponsor Michael JF Wright Hospitality included 12 bands and DJ’s and a giant display screen while six different food options were available in addition to Howth’s array of pubs and restaurants.

“We’re measuring success on the feedback that we’re getting from sailors and sponsors alike who are already planning on returning for the next Wave event in 2020,” said Joe McPeake, HYC Commodore. “This is a tribute to all the effort by a great team of volunteers and our business and local authority partners in Howth and Fingal.”

Galway Bay visitor to Howth – A O'Reilly's NUIG entry Photo: Afloat.ie
Building on the success of the inaugural Wave Regatta, a target of introducing 1,000 newcomers to the sport in time for Wave 2020 has been set. Quest Howth, the club’s new training centre will deliver this pathway into the sport by providing the equipment, skills and opportunities for young people, adults and families throughout Dublin.

The scene ashore at HYC for Wave Regatta Photo: HYC Facebook
Costs will be kept to an affordable level with minimal outlay up-front required from newcomers. Boat ownership is not required at any time and all participants will be offered club membership.

All results are here 

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