Jan 12th saw the first racing of the Spring Series of HYC’s Dinghy Frostbites after the Siberian interlude of the previous weekend forced the cancellation of all activity afloat.

With lots of new entries in both fleets to replace those who decided to take a break after the pre-Christmas Series, the entry now stands at 48 and includes a wide range of dinghies in the PY fleet, including representatives of the very modern and high-tech International Moth and 49’er Classes and the classic IDRA 14, with Alan Carr’s beautiful timber IDRA, Starfish, contrasting with the GRP and carbon construction of the rest of the PY fleet. The Melges 15s provide the biggest contribution to the PY Class with 10 boats from the Howth based fleet competing in their first Winter Series whilst the RS Aero fleet has grown to four. The ILCA’s enjoy very competitive entries in all three of their Classes, the 4s, 6s and 7s. 

The fleet went afloat in the expectation of the light to moderate breeze mentioned by a comparatively benign forecast (by recent standards at least) only to find a base strength of 15 knots from the south with regular gusts that peaked at 28 knots before settling into a more manageable range. The snow-covered Dublin Mountains provided a seasonal background to the upwind legs as the ILCA and PY fleets got to grips with the gusts, strong ebb tide and short chop. Given the conditions, the Race Officer opted for Olympic-pattern courses - two triangles interspersed with a Windward Leeward leg – that reduced the swimming potential for those making their return after the Christmas layoff. There were still plenty who suffered their first immersion of 2025 but most were quickly back upright and racing and the safety cover had a relatively undemanding day.

In the Melges 15s, which sail as a sub-group of the PY fleet, Stephen Quinn and Michael Evans kept close company throughout the two races but Stephen battled through to take the gun in both. The Melges relished the conditions as the planning reaches under spinnaker allowed the boats to perform at their best but the Aero 6 of Daragh Sheridan repeated the fable of the tortoise and the hare. Despite the three-minute lead that the Melges built up in each race, Daragh still took first place on corrected time with Richard Tate’s Finn securing a 4th and a 5th place to show its competitiveness with the far more modern Aero and Melges designs.

In the ILCA 7s the first three finishers were the same in both races, Dan O’Connell showing his mastery of the demanding conditions to take the two wins while Colm Cunningham and Tom Fox followed. Darragh Peelo and Peter Hassett shared the spoils in the ILCA 6s to take a win apiece with Stan O’Rourke taking third. In the ILCA 4s, Niamh Connell won the first race and Mia Kelleher the second while Anna Brereton’s second and third places leave her second overall.

Full results can be seen at https://www.hyc.ie/results and racing continues every Sunday morning until March 2nd. 

-- Report and photos courtesy of Neil Murphy

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