Sponsor of the
Corby Cup
Sponsor of the
BMW Cruiser Nationals
Footware & Clothing
in association with
BMW Cruiser Nationals
Independent Trustee Company
Sponsor of the
Lambay Races
Partner to the HYC
Youth Keelboat Team
Sponsor of the
Spring Warmer Series
Sponsor of the
Brass Monkeys Series
Sponsor of the
J24 Eastern Championships
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| by Andy Sargent |
This year is the 25th anniversary of the Autumn League in HYC which first started in 1980. It was Winky Nixon who was instrumental in introducing the Squib Class to Howth in 1979. whom we have to thank for starting off the Autumn League. He encouraged members to expand the Squib Class and the idea of extending an all too-short sailing season was the catalyst for what has become the largest Autumn Series in Europe.
Howth Yacht Club's Autumn League has for many years been seen as the premier yachting series on the East Coast of Ireland. Racing is provided for a wide range of classes including, Squibs, Etchells, 1720's, Puppeteer 22, HYC 17 Footers, white sail division (Non Spinny Class) and Cruiser Classes from Class 0 to Class 3 The six week event is sailed on Sunday Mornings (Race 1 to 5 - 1st Gun 10) from the third Sunday in September culminating with the final race starting at noon on the last Saturday The event has over the years developed into an annual pilgrimage for competitors from clubs along the East Coast and Wales with entries this year of 183.
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| Entries Summary |
| Offshore Fleets | | Inshore Fleets |
| Class 0 | 9 | | 1720 Class | 9 |
| Class 1 | 20 | | Etchells | 14 |
| Class 2 | 28 | | Puppeteer | 24 |
| Class 3 | 31 | | Squib | 15 |
| Non Spinny | 19 | | HYC 17's | 14 |
The Autumn League Race Management separates the larger Boats ie. Classes 0,1,2,3, & Non Spinny Class with an Off-Shore Committee Boat start. The One-Design Classes start from an Inshore Committee Boat. The courses are specifically designed to keep the larger and smaller fleets apart with separate finishing areas in Howth Sound for the safety of sailors and to avoid congestion at the harbour mouth.
With the early start, the flotilla of cars to Howth and the full 'Dart' carriages ensures the local eating houses are guaranteed rich pickings between 8am and 9am before the sailors leave the Harbour. Breakfasts were available from the club's caterers and burgers are the order of the day afterwards.
Apres sailing this year found the 1,100 sailors savoring the sunshine, lunchtime refreshments and swapping the usual tall stories outside on the terraces and balcony to live bands until the early afternoon and beyond. The final days race has a later start of Midday and this year fabulous sunshine provided a fitting end to the Sailing Season for those who do not enter Howth's 'BRASS MONKEY' series.
The following is a summary of the event winners in the various classes.
Class 0 (9 Boats)
Flying Glove - Class 0 IRC
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Rosie - Class 0 ECHO
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As Colm Barrington in Flying Glove (Kerr 38), and Eamonn Crosbie in Voodoo Chile (Kerr 32), chose this event to bring their campaigns in their respective boats to a close, both were hoping for a final trophy of the year. Flying Glove having won the first four races and closing with a 2nd, won comfortably. Tim Costello's persistence aboard Tiamat (Mills 40) paid off as he secured a well deserved 2nd place leaving the crew on Voodoo Chile in 3rd.
On ECHO, it was however Roy & Vera Dickson's Rosie (Corby 36) who took 1st place from Tiamat with Michael Fleming's Trinculo (Sigma 400) in 3rd.
Class 1 (20 Boats)
Aquelina - Class 1 IRC
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Equinox - Class 1 ECHO
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It was a special event for the Tyrrell family from Arklow Sailing Club who have been steeped in the history of Boat Building and Sailing in Ireland for generations. Sheila & James Tyrrell not alone sailed Aquelina (J109) to victory in Class 1 (by 6 pts), but secured the Top Boat Award of the entire series and won the Heineken Trophy.
Their nearest competitors were Equinox (X372) helmed by Emma McDonald who took 2nd with Howard McMullan & Mossy Shanahan's Stealth (J35) holding 3rd by 0.5 points from Peter Beamish's Aztec 2 (HOD 35).
On ECHO, it was Equinox who won overall, Dermot Cronin's Same Old Story (J35) in 2nd place and Tom Fitzpatrick & Des Glennon's Baily (36.7) taking 3rd place.
Class 2 (28 Boats)
Kinetic - Class 2 IRC
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C'est la Vie - Class 2 ECHO
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The majority of the classes overall winners won by the narrowest of margins but none was closer than in Class 2 IRC. The last race boiled down to four boats being in the hunt for top honours. The two X 302 production Cruiser Racers, Dux and Xebec, and Suzie Murphy & Richard Colwell's new Corby 26, Kinetic were up against a dominant 21 year old yacht, the 1984 vintage MGRS34 Aloha, helmed by Conor Nolan who had a narrow lead going into the final race. As the Race progressed, all boats were however front runners and Kinetic using all their energy managed not only to win by 12 seconds on corrected time from Anthony Gore-Grimes Dux (who finished 3rd overall) but tied overall with Aloha on 10 pts. On count back, Kinetic took 1st place and Aloha 2nd overall.
In Class 2 IRC Restricted, it was again Aloha who dominated the entire series with 6 straight wins.
Harry Byrne's Alphida of Howth (Jenneau 35) took 2nd place and Dermot Skehan's Toughnut (MG335) in 3rd.
Aloha - Class 2 IRC Restricted -->
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Class 2 ECHO was won by a 31.7, C'est La Vie owned by the Flannelly & Spain duo. Joe Carton's Voyager (Dehler 35) took 2nd and the Soffe & Salter partnership in Sunsari (Jenneau Sunfast 32i) in 3rd.
Class 3 (31 Boats)
Hydrogin - Class 3 IRC
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Hera - Class 3 ECHO
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Going into the last race and with the largest fleet, it was a shoot out with three boats likely to take the top prize. Despite Ian McSweeney sailing Neville Maguire's legendary Shamrock 30, Demelza, to a race win in the last race, it was Malahide Yacht Clubs Sean Colbert & Matt Davis's Hydrogin (Hydro 28) who secured 1st Overall from Vince Gaffney's Alliance (Albin Express) by a single point. Dave Butler and Michael Arthur also from MYC in their last regatta in Cracker (Trapper T250) settled for 3rd overall.
On ECHO, Rush Sailing Club's Senan Cahill's 1st regatta in his new H22, Hera, saw him beat his fellow club members Berg & Hickey sailing Samphire (Shipman 28) into 2nd place overall. The partnership of O'Sullivan & Eadie sailing their Beneteau 260, Vivace P, took 3rd place from Arthur Slye helming Turnabout (Kelt 850).
1720 Class (9 Boats)
The 1720 Dublin Class Association introduced the 'Club Rig' which has a smaller furling Jib and they use the 'Chicken Chute' rather than the large kite which has attracted a number of new members to what was a dwindling Class.
They have re-established themselves in Dublin Bay and we are delighted that they have returned to the Autumn League this year in such positive numbers.
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Lemon - 1720
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Racing was closely fought between Colin Galavan in Lemon and Adam Winkleman in Yoke with both boats match racing each other right around the race course in the last race. Finn Lyden's Afloat whilst winning the race, took 3rd place behind Yoke. Lemon won the series by a single point.
Etchells (14 Boats)
With over 18 Etchells based in the club, the Irish Nationals, European Championships and ISA Helmsmans Championships all completed in successive weeks preceding the Autumn League gave the fleet sufficient practice on home waters..
Racing was closely fought with only seconds separating the majority of boats in each race.
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Gelert - Etchells
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Dan O'Grady, Raz Beshoff and David Burrows on Gelert secured 3 race wins on their way to victory followed by William & Peter Lacy's Defiance with Des Flood's Who Cares taking 3rd overall.
Puppeteer 22 (24 Boats)
Harlequin - Puppeteer SCRATCH
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Mr Punch - Puppeteer H'CAP
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The ever increasing Howth Puppeteer Fleet (now 30 Boats) which is becoming an extremely competitive One-Design Class saw entries top 24 with 6 local boats not sailing. Only 53 Pupps were ever built so the local class is clearly the premier home of this fleet. Freddy Woods in Gold Dust visited from Dublin Bay and was in with a shout for overall honours with Dave Clarks' Harlequin, Andy Sargent's Mayfly and Alan Pearson's Trick or Treat (with local junior tactical aces on board). Only two points separated these four, and Harlequin emerged victorious with a final race win. Mayfly took 2nd, Trick or Treat 3rd and Gold Dust 4th.
On H'CAP, Olive Ni Bhraonain's Mr Punch took 1st overall including 4 race wins. Terry Harvey in No Strings took 2nd and Trick or Treat took 3rd.
Squibs (15 Boats)
Kookaburra - Squib SCRATCH
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Puffin - Squib H'CAP
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Gillian Guinness in Kookaburra crewed by Se O'Leary were set to have a battle royale with Tim Concannon in Femme Fetale for overall honours. With three straight wins and a further win in race 5 saw them dominate this class in style with Femme Fatale taking 2nd, 2 points behind. Emmet Dalton in Scream had to settle for 3rd overall.
On H'CAP, it was a similar feat for Emer Harte and crew Chris Howard in Puffin as 4 race wins ensured their victory. Bernie and Ian Condy in Sensation took 2nd place and Mark Wheeler in Gizmo 3rd.
HYC 17 Footer (14 boats)
Oona - 17 Footer SCRATCH
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Zaida - 17 Footer H'CAP
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This One Design which has sailed out of Howth for over 100 years is still as vibrant as ever. Racing is seldom dominated by any one individual and this year was no exception. Any 3 boats could have won going into the last race. Despite a 6th place in the final race, Peter Courtney in Oona took 1st overall by a single point from The Cronin Family in Erica. Ian Malcolm in Aura was a further point behind in 3rd place.
On H'CAP, Brian Hassell & Tom Houlihan in Zaida tied on 9 pts with the Deilginis Consortium and with Zaida winning on count back. Brian Lynch in Echo took 3rd place.
Non Spinnaker Class (19 Boats)
In the very successful Non Spinny Class, our sponsors had the opportunity to experience first hand the true pleasures of both sailing and racing in the Autumn League as they were aboard John Malone's 60 footer Rebellion.
With a glass of white wine in one hand, and a smoked salmon sandwich in the other, they toasted the fleet as they glided past effortlessly.
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Golondrina - Non Spinnaker H'CAP
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With six different daily race winners, it was however, Tom Kiernan's Golondrina (UFO 27) who won this class, Eamonn Keenan's Destiny took 2nd and Declan Higgin's Tully Too (Bavaria 38) from Skerries Sailing Club taking 3rd.
Olympus Team Trophy
The Olympus Team Trophy was won this year by the Gel Net Gloves team consisting of:
Gloves Off (Class 0)
Kinetic (Class 2)
Gelert (Etchells)
Overall, the series was a resounding success and our thanks go to all sailors and especially those competitors whose annual pilgrimage to HYC makes this event rank the largest Autumn League in Europe.
Your in Sailing
Andy Sargent
Chairman HYC Autumn League 2005
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