‘Double Ree’ Event Delivers Great Dinghy Racing
Lough Ree Yacht Club hosted another fantastic dinghy event over the weekend, where 29er, RS Feva, Mirror and 420 dinghies each did battle for separate titles within their own fleets.
The timeless Mirror Dinghy ran their National Championships across three days and managed to complete a nine-race series. Twenty plus crews competed where 1st , 2nd and 3rd overall places were ultimately awarded to Ger & Robyn Owens, Thomas & Alayna Chaix and Ross & Freddie Kearney respectively. It was fantastic to see parents and their young and upcoming kids competing as teams. In fourth place and first juniors were Daniel Copthorne & Fionn Keogh.
Next up was the vibrant 420 class , where in excess of 18 boats fought for their Leinster championship title across six races. Max Sweetman & Fionn Lynch reigned supreme , followed closely by Cora McNaughton & Sean Cronin, with Sean Lemonier & Killian Mathieu making up the 3rd place podium finishers.
The 29er fleet did battle for their Southern title and seven races secured overall victory for William Walsh & Eoin Byrne. The all-girl pairing of Emily Conan & Hannah Dadley-Young , following just three points adrift, while Hugh Meagher and Oisin Alexander grabbed third spot. Finally, Jessica Dadley-Young & Sally Nixon took the RS Feva Midlands title, with Julian O Leary & Dillon Kennedy and Conor Groarke & Emile Hennessy taking 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Congratulations and well done to the team of volunteers in Lough Ree Yacht Club who pulled this event together and made it the success it was. This ‘shared’ regatta model amongst different racing dinghies clearly has enormous benefits which were very evident at a packed prizegiving on Sunday evening.