The Water Wags had a successful season in 2023 despite the extremes of weather which were experienced in the Dublin Bay area during the season.
Our activities started with a coaching/training weekend at the National Yacht Club in April. This event does ensure that as many as possible boats are prepared and ready for the first race at the end of April. Racing takes place every Wednesday evening, and in 2023 we completed twenty-two Wednesday races. Thirty-seven Water Wags were in commission for the season, and the average weekly turnout was twenty-two boats competing on the water. Depending on the weather conditions, the PRO is authorised to run one race of about 60 minutes which represents three or four laps of the Harbour, or two races of two laps each.
The Pieta House ‘Darkness into Light’ event on 6 May was led by Dipper and was well supported, as an event with a difference, launching into the dark and sailing east into Scotsman’s Bay to welcome the sunrise, followed by a hearty breakfast.
During the season we held two pursuit handicap races, for which the start times are calculated on the basis of results of the 2023 season only, with the fastest Water Wags starting some five and a half minutes after the first boats. These pursuit races ensure that the boats normally at the tail of the fleet start in clear wind, and stay ahead of the ‘bunch’ for as long as they can. This year Phyllis was a high achiever.
Six Water Wags, Polly, Little Tern, Swallow, Mariposa and Dipper took the opportunity to head to Brittany to compete with fifteen hundred other classic vessels from tall ships to canoes at La Semaine Du Golfe De Morbihan. The Water Wags are made most welcome at this social and cultural event.
For one Wednesday in the season, we run a fundraiser for the RNLI. In 2023 it was held on 31 May, and Moosmie, Peggy and Siskin won the Lifeboat Pennants.
The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 was one of the stormiest events of the year, but despite that, last minute arrangements were put in place by the organising committee to relocate the racing for the eighteen Water Wags into the harbour. Due to the strong winds, there was some amalgamating of teams to ensure that only the more experienced went afloat. Puffin and Mary Kate dominated the results. The Captains Prize race and dinner in August are one of the most popular events of the year, which was won by Mademoiselle. The final event on the water was at Knockvicar, on Lough Key in county Roscommon. Fifteen Water Wags travelled from Dublin to compete on beautiful Lough Key. Despite the weather forecast never dropping below force seven, seven races were completed. Some were passage races, some were windward-leeward races. Puffin, Swift, Tortoise and Ann were the dominant boats. All the competitors stayed on site in chalets, cruisers or in camper vans. The event was such a success that we have booked the same venue for next year.
The strength of the Water wags at present lies is several areas:
1. Boats do not become outclassed after a few years.
2. Skill levels are such that husband/wife teams can match mother/daughter teams and every other combination of people connected by blood, marriage or friendship.
3. The distance from shore to the race area is short with minimal ‘hanging around’ between races.
4. We have our own PRO who organises ‘Windward-Leeward’ races suited to Water Wags.
5. After racing each week all the sailing teams gather together for socialisation.
6. We hold at least three sailing suppers during the sailing season and two in the winter
Report from The Waterwag class