The annual Howth YC Lambay Races kicked off on the Saturday with the traditional race from Howth, around Lambay Island and back, a distance of approximately 30km, depending on the courses set for the day. The race had 89 entrants, 10 classes and approximately 550 sailors.

The boats ranged in size from the Class 0 fifty footers to the nineteen foot double handed Squibs. Racing was managed by two Race Committee boats, including the new Howth YC RC boat, North Star, under the stewardship of very experienced race officers David Lovegrove and Derek Bothwell.

The forecast for the day was about 17 knots, gusting up to 23 knots from the West or SouthWest, which was very favourable for a fast run or reach to Lambay and a tough beat back against wind and tide. As it transpired, as the boats were rounding Lambay a squall came in from the West, with winds of at least 36 km. Various opinions have been expressed as to the maximum wind speed by sailors.

Some boats experienced damage, a Howth 17 broke a bowsprit, a Puppeteer had rigging and radio issues and there were several broaches and spinnakers blown out. The lifeboat and coast guard mobilised very quickly and provided support. Thankfully most of the 89 boats were undamaged and no sailors were hurt. Many thanks again to Howth RNLI for their prompt response and for getting everyone home safe.

Racing started at eleven o’clock with the four one-design fleets and the larger cruisers started at 12:00, with boat fleets getting back into the harbour between three and five o’clock.

Class 0 had seven entrants with the first boat home being Dave Cullen and Nigel Biggs Checkmate XX from Howth YC, followed closely by Michael and Richard Evans, The Big Picture, also from Howth YC. Both to these tied for first place on IRC. The handicap HPH prize went to David Maguire’s Cape 31 under the burgee of the Royal Irish YC.

In Class 1, there was only 20 seconds between the first boat finished, John and Suzie Murphy’s Outrajeous and The National YC’s Justin Burke sailing ReQuest. The former took the IRC prize and the latter the HPh prize.

Leading the eight boats in Class 2, the Boardman, Kelly, O’Leary, was first across the line with Howth YC’s Colin Kavanagh bringing in J/97 Jeneral Lee closely behind.

Caroline and Nicholas Gore-Grimes’s Dux had blistering speed to clear the line almost five minutes ahead of Stephen Mullaney’s Sigma 33, Insider. Dux took the IRC prize, another X-302, Maximus taking the HPH prize.

The ever growing white sails classed had seventeen entrants, which were divided into two classes, namely 4 and 5. In Class 4, the first three boats across the line were within a minute of each other on HPH corrected time, which is very close on a two and half hour race. These were first, Splashdance raced by John Beckett and Andy George of the home club with Kieran Jameson’s Changeling and David Greene’s Malahide YC White Pearl in close pursuit.

The larger Class 5 White Sails had an entry of eleven boats, with Eddie Burke and Jason Murray's Leeuwin being first across the line almost six minutes ahead of Terry McCoy’s Out and About. Leeuwin took the HPH prize and Dermot Skehan’s Toughnut the IRC prize.

The first Lambay Race was held in 1904 and that year and every year since, the Howth 17’s taken part. Many of the boats in that first race have competed in every Lambay Race since, as well as regular club racing. First boat home was Davie Nixon’s Erica, closely followed by David Mulligan and Andy Johnston’s Sheila. The former taking the scratch prize and the latter the HPH prize.

The Puppeteer 22 fleet, is Howth YC’s largest one design fleet with almost thirty boats, of which fifteen sailed the Lambay Race this year. Alan Pearsons and Alan Blay’s Trick or Treat finished first ten minutes ahead of Ian Disckson’s WeyHey. The HPh prize was won by class stalwart Donal Harkin on Ghosty Ned.

Howth YC were very pleased to welcome five boats from the Ruffian class, who travelled from Dun Laoghaire and Skerries to take part. Robbie Keys Siamsa from Skerries SC was the first boat across the line Ian Cutliffe’s Ruffles from the Dun Laoughaire Motor YC taking the HPH prize.

The Squibs were the smallest fleet in race, both in boat length, nineteen feet, and numbers. That said Emmet Dalton and Fergus O’Kelly’ Kerfuffle had a great day’s sailing, saying that they were lucky to be on the right side of the squall and also they had a blistering spinnaker reach across the back of Lambay, passing boats of much larger size. This combined to give them an impressive thirty minute advantage on Simon Sheahan’s and Darren Drumm’s Snowy Dee, who were last year’s winner.

The Lambay Lady Trophy is awarded to the best performing boat on the day, measured primarily by their time ahead of the second boat, and this year it was well earned by Emmet Dalton and Fergus O’Kelly on Kefuffle.

With Saturday completed, results determined, prizes awarded and stories shared, the Race Committee prepares for Sunday Racing. This contrasts with the Saturday racing, where the courses will be windward-leeward for the cruisers 0,1 and 2, with round the cans for the white sails fleet.

Thanks to Fingal County Council, Kinetica Sport and Lambay Whiskey for their support.