International 12 Foot Class Irish Championship at Royal St George Yacht Club

The fleet led by Ian Magowan in 'Sgadan' during the International 12 Irish Championship © Vincent Delany

David and Henry Shackleton in 'Scythian' during the International 12 Irish Championship © Vincent Delany

Gail Varian and Gavin Johnson in 'Albany' win the International 12 Irish Championship © Vincent Delany

The Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire hosted the 2020 Irish 12 Foot Dinghy Championships on 13th September with two alternative rigs permissible, the International 12 Foot Dinghy rig with a single sail and the Dublin Bay Sailing Club rig which permits the same sail area to be distributed between the mainsail and jib. This alternative rig was devised in the 1960s to address the steep waves of Dublin Bay.

The weather forecast seemed to suggest 8 knots of wind from the south-west with gusts of up to 18 knots. Vincent Delany chairman of the 12 Foot Dinghy Association and OOD communicated with the competitors on the evening before the event asking them to bring reefing equipment with them, so that the event could proceed even if the weather was unkindly. The day dawned with a blue sky and a 2-4 knot wind with occasional gusts of 12 knots.

Race one started with a north easterly wind and just after the start it shifted to the north west. Gavan Johnson in 'Albany' was quick to adapt to the new wind and after a shortened course signal reduced the race to one lap of the course, he won the race from young Andrew Miller in 'Pixie'.

By race two, the wind had shifted to the south west, but once again shifted to the south east as Ian Magowan in 'Sgadan' led from 'Albany.' It was quite a battle between these two but 'Albany' had the speed and tactics to lead over the finish line.

The third race started in a delightful 6 knots of breeze from the north east but just before the dinghies reached the windward mark the wind disappeared and the race was abandoned.

All sailed or paddled ashore for a hearty brunch with a nice pint of Guinness with the hope of better wind in the afternoon. Since all the wet Pubs throughout the country are closed- it is delightful to enjoy a pint with your brunch.

In the afternoon the wind was initially from the south west. Half way up the beat the wind died and came back from the north east. With one of the turning marks close to the marina breakwater, 'Cora' lost her momentum and when it looked like she could drift onto the rocky breakwater, crew Ruairi Shanahan pulled out and oar to push them off. Due to this illegal propulsion they retired from this race which was again won by 'Albany'. In the final race the wind was back in the north east, and Vincent Delany took the helm of 'Cora,' but he couldn't touch 'Albany' for speed in the prevailing conditions.

Gail Varian and son-in-law Gavan Johnson won the historic Edmond Johnston Trophy and the Altair Trophy for the crew of the winning boat and Andrew Miller and Iseult Costello who shared the steering of 'Pixie' won the historic Cora Trophy.

Andrew Miller wins the historic Cora Trophy in 'Pixie' during the International 12 Irish Championship - photo © Vincent Delany

Next year the 12 foot dinghies move to Lough Ree Yacht Club for their Irish championship.

Overall Results: