After a five-year hiatus, the Claremont Dinghy Series made a triumphant return to Howth Yacht Club this autumn. The popular series, known for its sprint-style format, attracted a diverse fleet of dinghies and provided exciting racing action.

A Format That Works

The Claremont League's format proved as popular as ever, with an early 10 o'clock start on Sunday mornings. Sailors enjoyed three fast-paced races, each lasting around 25 minutes, before returning to shore by lunchtime. This schedule allowed participants to make the most of their Sundays, balancing competitive sailing with other activities.

Weather Challenges and Thrilling Racing

The series opener on September 22nd set a high bar, with three fantastic races held in ideal 10-15 knot conditions. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for the following weekends. Strong winds forced the cancellation of racing on weekends two and three. The final weekend saw a valiant effort by the Race Committee to get a race underway, but light winds ultimately led to the abandonment of racing.

Diverse Fleet and Handicap Racing

The series showcased a great mix of dinghy classes competing under the Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) handicap system. Participants included Aeros, IDRA 14s, Melges 15s, B14s, and RS600s, creating a level playing field for a variety of boat types.

Melges 15 Fleet Makes a Splash

In their inaugural year at Howth Yacht Club, the Melges 15 class made a strong showing with 11 entries. The fleet featured several family helm/crew combinations, adding an extra layer of friendly competition to the racing.

Overall Results

Despite the weather-related cancellations, the series results were calculated based on the thrilling races from the opening weekend. The top four finishers were:

1. Emmet Dalton (Aero 6)
2. Ryan Cairns and Orla Doogue (IDRA 14)
3. Alan Carr and Orlaith Connolly (IDRA 14)
4. Cormac and Fiachra Farrelly (Melges 15)

Here is the Prizegiving gallery below:

Congratulations to all the winners and participants who made the return of the Claremont Series a success!

Looking Ahead

The successful return of the Claremont Dinghy Series, despite some challenging conditions, has reinvigorated the dinghy racing scene at Howth Yacht Club. With a format that balances competitive racing and leisure time, and a diverse fleet of participants, the future looks bright for dinghy sailing at HYC.

A big thank you to the Race Team under the watchful eye of Ronan MacDonell and the Rib Crews organised by Evan Banable for all their support during the event.

Dinghy sailors at Howth Yacht Club can now enjoy a two-week break before the action heats up again. The popular Dinghy Frostbites series is set to begin on Sunday, November 3rd, promising more exciting racing as we head into the winter months.

Sign up for Dinghy Frostbites

Photo Credits: Karolina Badz / Ronan MacDonell