Dragon South Coast regatta at Glandore Harbour Yacht Club

Racing at the Irish Dragon South Coast regatta © Sean Thompson

Racing at the Irish Dragon South Coast regatta © Sean Thompson

The 2009 Dragon South Coast regatta took place at Glandore Harbour last weekend August 21st to 23rd, five races were scheduled to be sailed two Friday afternoon two Saturday with the final race scheduled for Sunday morning.

Racing got off to a great start on Friday for the fleet of nineteen Dragons with representation from all the Irish Dragon Fleets of Dublin, Kinsale, Belfast Lough, Glandore Harbour and Lough Ree. Conditions were excellent, bright and calm with a 10/12 knot southwesterly wind. Alan Crosbie was Principal Race officer for the regatta with the Molly Bán was acting as committee vessel.

Race 1 was won by this year’s National Champion and last years South Coast champion Martin Byrne and his crew of Adam Winkleman and Pedro Andrade sailing Jaguar. Racing was close for race 1 as it was to be for each race of the series, Kin sailed by Simon and Mark Brien with David Good were second and Phantom sailed by Richard Goodbody with Peter Bowring and David Williams were third.

Race 2 the wind shifted to the west as the afternoon progressed this made the second race interesting as there was a large tide running to the south east of High Island where the windward mark was laid. Race 2 was won by Gary Tracey sailing with Kasper Harlsberg and Paul Maguire, Phantom was second and Tatsu sailed by Cameron Good with Henry Kingston and Simon Furney were third.

After racing on Friday The Glandore Inn sponsored the daily prizegiving event and the prizes were presented by Ray Nolan.

Saturdays races were held in lighter winds, again racing was very tigh at the top of the fleet, race three was won by Jaguar with Phantom in second place and Andrew Craig sailing Chimaera with Brian Matthews and Mark Pettit were third. The wind lightened for the afternoons race four making it a rather long race however it was won by Chimaera, Gary Tracey and crew on Dublin Bay were second and the Brien brothers on Kin were third.

Saturdays Prizegiving was hosted by Patrick Casey at Casey's bar this was followed by the regatta Dinner at the Glandore Inn. Race 5 scheduled for Sunday morning at 11.25 was abandoned following a course inspection, the weather had deteriorated overnight the visibility was poor and the seastate outside the harbour was aweful.

With just four races sailed there was no discard applied and the winners of the 2009 South Coast Dragon Championship were Phantom sailed by Richard Goodbody with Peter Bowring and David Williams, Second was Chimaera, Andrew Craig with Brian Matthews and Mark Pettit and third were Jaguar, Martin Byrne and his crew of Adam Winkleman and Pedro Andrade.

Overall Results: