In 1931, there was no national structure to organise sailing in Ireland, so the County Dublin 12 Foot International Dinghy Association was formed to co-ordinate sailing activities in Malahide, Howth, Sutton, Clontarf, Seapoint and Dun Laoghaire under the Presidency of P.T. Walsh, and H. McCracken as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. History tells us that that modest organisation evolved into the Irish Dinghy Racing Association in 1945, and is now known as Irish Sailing.
The first County Dublin 12 Foot International Dinghy Association championship in Dun Laoghaire was won by R.St.G. Mooney from Howth in Altair.
The following year, 1932, the championship was held in Dun Laoghaire, and in 1933 it was held in Howth.
In recent years the 12-Foot Dinghy Class have held an annual National Championship in Dun Laoghaire, but in 2022 the National Championship was relocated in Lough Ree Yacht Club, as part of Clinkerfest, so their event in Dun Laoghaire, hosted by the Royal St. George Yacht Club, on 28th August, was the 4th. County Dublin 12 Foot Championships.
Four races were held inside the harbour in light winds from the north–east.
In race one against a foul tide, Margaret Delany in Cora opted to start at the pin end and despite George Miller in Pixie pointing higher, Cora reached the first mark at the head of the fleet and maintained her lead to the leeward mark where the race was shortened to a single lap.
In race two the wind dropped to about four knots, but with the fleet staying close together the race was allowed to run over two laps. At the first leeward mark the order was: Cora, Pixie and Gail Varian and Gavin Johnson’s Dublin Bay rigged Albany in third place. Albany overhauled Pixie on the second beat to finish second.
It was time for a lunch break, so the fleet went ashore for a hearty lunch and social get- together in the Royal St. George Y.C.
In the afternoon the wind increased to about 8 knots, and the tide had turned, so the race was increased to three laps. Andrew and Francis Johnson in Scythian got the best start, but unfortunately, some Sailing School boats were towed crossed the fleet obstructing all but Pixie. At the second leeward mark the order was Cora, Scythian, Pixie and Albany. On the third beat a port and starboard incident left Pixie looking embarrassed, so she immediately retired.
The final race was also of three laps, Pixie made up for her earlier infringement, and led the fleet from the windward mark. Cora swapped places with her on the off-wind legs, but at the finish the order was Pixie, Cora, Albany Scythian.
Margaret Delany being presented with a history of the 12 foot class 'Twaalfvoetsjol 100 jaar klase 1914-2014'
At the prizegiving, the class President Vincent Delany complimented the competitors, and observed that on the day of ‘Women at the Helm’, that it was appropriate that the leading International 12 Foot Dinghy was steered by a Margaret Delany, and the leading Dublin Bay 12 Foot Dinghy was steered by Gail Varian. He advised that we expect to have at least eight 12 Foot Dinghies for next year’s championship.
