2023 Mirror World Championships at Sligo Yacht Club
by Martin Egan 15 Aug 2023 13:20 BST
23-29 July 2023
52 boats, including the reigning World Champion John & Beau Dransfield from Australia, UK National Champions, Ben & Keira McGrane, plus a host of other top sailors from Australia, South Africa & the UK, gathered at Sligo YC in the Republic of Ireland Mirror World Championships Nationals from 23rd to 29th July.
Racing was held in the mainly sheltered, if tidal, waters of Sligo Bay. The weather was perhaps typical for the west coast of Ireland with low pressure giving cool, mainly cloudy, often wet conditions, far from ideal for who opted to campervan or camp in the nearby site.
Competitors enjoyed great race management with Race Office Bill O'Hara and his team getting 11 of the 12 scheduled races in and an International Jury led by Charlotte Greppe afloat to keep an eye on rule compliance.
Racing started on Tuesday with a light westerly which disappeared entirely at one point, leaving a lot of boats unable to finish Race 1 inside the finishing window. The wind did re-appear, eventually, but it was only possible to run two races.
On Wednesday there was a bit more consistent moderate breeze from the south with some rain. Thursday was another moderate breeze day, but from the west, so more chop & swell.
Friday was a good deal windier with more swell and a forecast for the wind to build further, so racing started earlier allowing three races to be run. This left just one race scheduled for Saturday, but conditions in the morning were deemed too bad, so racing was abandoned, allowing everyone time to pack up and enjoy the prize-giving and Gala Dinner before heading home.
Adult helms with child crews dominated the top end of the fleet with GBR sailors very much to the fore. Ben McGrane with 9 year old Keira crewing, finished first, comfortably ahead of Stuart & Lizzie Hudson in second. Will & Isabelle Crocker were close behind, taking 3rd with Phil & 8 year old Oliver Smith 4th. Howard Leoto & Lisa Madlewa from the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation in South Africa were top non-UK boat in 5th.
Top Australians were Douglas Raftesath & Luke Roberts in 7th closely followed by John & Beau Dransfield in 8th, who thrived in the windier conditions on Friday. Top Juniors were Max Phypers & Emma Sellwood from GBR in 11th.
Top Irish boat was Thomas & Ben Chaix, sailing a 1995 gaff rigged wooden boat, built by Chris Balding, in 12th. Top Irish youths were David Evans & Andrew Ryan from Sligo YC in 15th, just ahead of Jessica Greer & Myrtle Bamber, also from Sligo YC, in 17th. Mirrors built by Winder Boats with Bermuda rigs dominated, 17 of the top 18 boats were Winders.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Nat | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Rig | Club | Age Group | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GBR | 71038 | Anna | Ben McGrane (M) | Keira McGrane | | Netley SC | Helm over 40 | 1 | (OCS) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 2nd | GBR | 70683 | Hypermouse | Stuart Hudson (M) | Lizzie Hudson | | Royal Lymington Yacht Club | Helm over 50 | 4 | 2 | 6 | ‑7 | ‑7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 32 |
| 3rd | GBR | 70573 | Little Miss Chatterbox | Will Crocker (M) | Isabelle Crocker | | 1
Welton SC | | 6 | 1 | 5 | ‑12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | ‑8 | 34 |
| 4th | GBR | 71013 | Lamborbeanie | Phil Smith (M) | Oliver Smith | | Bassenthwaite Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 5 | ‑13 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | (RET) | 40 |
| 5th | RSA | 70844 | | Howard Leoto (M) | Lisa Madlewa | | IZI MSC
Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation | | 10 | ‑19 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | ‑11 | 3 | 3 | 47 |
| 6th | GBR | 71014 | Bamm‑Bamm | Adam Broughton (M) | Arabella Broughton | | CVLSC
Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | ‑15 | ‑14 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 63 |
| 7th | AUS | 70800 | Waterborne at Last | Douglas Raftesath (M) | Luke Roberts | | Balmoral | Helm over 50 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 10 | ‑16 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 13 | ‑14 | 12 | 78 |
| 8th | AUS | 71041 | | John Dransfield (M) | Beau Dransfield | | Manly 16SSC | Helm over 50 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 16 | (UFD) | 12 | 13 | ‑19 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 80 |
| 9th | GBR | 70989 | Fred the Red | Terry Hunt (M) | Charlie Hunt | | Netley SC | Helm over 50 | (TLE) | 7 | 9 | 13 | 6 | ‑14 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 84 |
| 10th | GBR | 70650 | Bluebell | Angus R Armstrong (M) | Isla Patricia Armstrong | | West Kirby Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | ‑17 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 6 | ‑16 | 9 | 15 | 87 |
| 11th | GBR | 70785 | Veggiemite Sandwich | Max Phypers (M) | Emma Sellwood | | Restronguet Sailing Club | Crew under 16 | 13 | ‑30 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 8 | ‑18 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 87 |
| 12th | IRL | 69659 | Renaissance | Thomas Chaix (M) | Ben Chaix | Gaff | NYC
National Yacht Club | Helm over 40 | (UFD) | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | (BFD) | 15 | 15 | 13 | 88 |
| 13th | GBR | 70639 | Wind Whistler | Alex Taylor (M) | Martha Newstead Taylor | | Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | 12 | ‑22 | 12 | 17 | 8 | 19 | 6 | (BFD) | 6 | 13 | 4 | 97 |
| 14th | AUS | 70600 | B2 | Jonathan Branch (M) | Phoebe Branch | | Connells Point Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 17 | (SGP) | (BFD) | 8 | 21 | 6 | 101 |
| 15th | IRL | 70634 | Blue Steel | David Evans (M) | Andrew Ryan | | Sligo Yacht Club | Crew under 19 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 14 | ‑23 | 15 | ‑22 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 14 | 109 |
| 16th | GBR | 70721 | Ruby Papa | JP Marks (M) | Ellie Clara Marks | | Dalgety Bay Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | 14 | 16 | 11 | ‑21 | ‑20 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 136 |
| 17th | IRL | 70646 | ready or knot | Jessica Greer (W) | Myrtle Bamber | | SYC
Sligo Yacht Club | Crew under 19 | 18 | 3 | 15 | ‑26 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 20 | (RET) | 17 | 142 |
| 18th | GBR | 70587 | Hummingbird | Leighton King (M) | Penny King | | Netley Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | 19 | 10 | 18 | ‑24 | 18 | 18 | 9 | ‑27 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 147 |
| 19th | IRL | 70172 | Bango II | Ben Graf (M) | Chloe Fenton | | LRYC | | 9 | 17 | 22 | ‑30 | 22 | 23 | ‑26 | 14 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 150 |
| 20th | GBR | 70499 | Sea Glass | Poppy Armstrong (W) | Natasha Armstrong | | West Kirby Sailing Club | | TLE | ‑28 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 16 | 18 | ‑24 | 21 | 153 |
| 21st | IRL | 70130 | | Juliet Ryan (W) | Ella Rock | | RSGYC
Royal St George Yacht Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | (TLE) | 25 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 15 | 12 | ‑40 | 32 | 22 | 172 |
| 22nd | IRL | 70562 | A Close Shave | Eoghan Duffy (M) | Conor Duffy | | Lough Ree Yacht Club | | 8 | 20 | 24 | 28 | ‑31 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 12 | (RET) | 174 |
| 23rd | AUS | 70597 | B1 | Karen Branch (W) | Annabelle Branch | | Connells Point Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | 20 | ‑26 | 19 | 20 | ‑25 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 23 | 184 |
| 24th | AUS | 70664 | Winder Demo Boat | Sarah Roberts (W) | Benjamin Roberts | | CPSC
CONNELLS POINT SAILING CLUB | Helm over 40 | (UFD) | 8 | 26 | 15 | 27 | 21 | ‑33 | 21 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 185 |
| 25th | IRL | 70837 | | Caroline Coulter (W) | Lucy Coulter | | SYC
Sligo Yacht Club | Helm over 40 | TLE | 13 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 13 | 21 | (RET) | (DNC) | 192 |
| 26th | GBR | 15563 | Blyskawica | Martin Egan (M) | Felix Heffernan | Gaff | Restronguet Sailing Club | Helm over 50 | TLE | 24 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 26 | 21 | ‑29 | 29 | 26 | (RET) | 206 |
| 27th | RSA | 70845 | Yellow Box Containers | Craig Latigan (M) | Eoin Anglim | | Theewaterskloof Sports Club | Helm over 40 | 16 | 25 | 29 | (RET) | (DNC) | DNC | 23 | 15 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 229 |
| 28th | IRL | 70529 | Smoke on the Water | Matthew Turner (M) | Orla Turner | | LRYC
Lough Ree Yacht Club | Crew under 19 | TLE | 29 | ‑32 | 29 | 30 | ‑32 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 234 |
| 29th | IRL | 70792 | Windrose | Tim O'Connor (M) | Isobel O'Connor | | MBSC
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club | Helm over 40 | TLE | 21 | 21 | 39 | (NSC) | 31 | 28 | (BFD) | 22 | SGP | 18 | 239 |
| 30th | RSA | 70846 | | Grant Ekermans (M) | Kelly Moore | | TSC
Theewater Sailing Club | Helm over 50 | TLE | 18 | 34 | 34 | 26 | 29 | 37 | 22 | ‑48 | (OCS) | 27 | 248 |
| 31st | IRL | 70181 | Bandit Blue | Lucas Flynn (M) | Freddie Nelson | | BLSC
Blessington Sailing Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | TLE | 40 | 22 | 19 | 33 | 35 | (RET) | 30 | 28 | (RET) | 262 |
| 32nd | AUS | 71012 | Paddington | Caitlin Clippingdale (W) | Rose Landon | | Deviot Sailing Club | Crew under 19 | TLE | TLE | 28 | 23 | 32 | 30 | 32 | (BFD) | 36 | (RET) | 26 | 262 |
| 33rd | IRL | 562 | Blue Away | Joris Rooney (M) | Annelies Rooney | | SYC
Sligo Yacht Club | Crew under 19 | TLE | TLE | 31 | 32 | 34 | (OCS) | 30 | 30 | ‑38 | 27 | 31 | 270 |
| 34th | IRL | 70696 | The Priest | Ellie Byrne (W) | Mae Byrne | | LRYC
Lough Ree Yacht Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | TLE | 30 | 35 | 28 | ‑38 | ‑42 | 32 | 28 | 35 | 29 | 272 |
| 35th | IRL | 70304 | | Peter Brines (M) | Emma Brines | | Lough Erne Yacht Club | Crew under 19 | TLE | TLE | 38 | 27 | 24 | ‑39 | 38 | 26 | 35 | 38 | (RET) | 281 |
| 36th | RSA | 70333 | | Kuba Miszewski (M) | Daniel Tatt | | Theewater Sports Club | Helm over 50 | TLE | TLE | 37 | ‑42 | 35 | 28 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 29 | (RET) | 291 |
| 37th | IRL | 69116 | BIG RED | Daniel Copithorne (M) | Fionn Keogh | Gaff | Schull Community College Sailing Club | | TLE | 31 | 39 | 33 | (DNC) | 34 | 36 | (BFD) | 39 | 30 | 28 | 291 |
| 38th | IRL | 70032 | Just too hot | John Zumerchik (M) | Grace Zumerchik | Gaff | MULLSC
Mullingar Sailing Club | | TLE | 32 | 35 | 37 | 33 | ‑43 | ‑43 | 40 | 34 | 34 | TLE | 298 |
| 39th | IRL | 70026 | Omaniser | Fred Dick (M) | Olly Cains | | BLSC
Blessington Sailing Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | 23 | (OCS) | 38 | 29 | 37 | 31 | 28 | 41 | (RET) | DNC | 301 |
| 40th | IRL | 70428 | | Aoibhinn Martin (W) | Amelie Dullea | | LRYC
Lough Ree Yacht Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | 33 | 43 | 36 | 36 | ‑48 | 41 | 34 | ‑47 | 36 | TLE | 312 |
| 41st | IRL | 67592 | Vasu‑Zinnia | Andrew | Zinnia Gupta | | BLSC
Blessington Sailing Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | 27 | 41 | 40 | (DNS) | ‑46 | 46 | 35 | 43 | 33 | 30 | 316 |
| 42nd | IRL | 70236 | Red Devil ‑ 69562 | Dave Maher (M) | Sarah Maher | | LDYC
Lough Derg Yacht Club | Helm over 50 | TLE | TLE | 42 | 41 | 37 | 41 | 40 | 33 | 32 | (RET) | (DNC) | 321 |
| 43rd | RSA | 70843 | | Athenkosi Mahlumba (M) | Jordan Daniels | | IZI MSC
Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation | | TLE | TLE | (RET) | (DNC) | DNC | 27 | 29 | 25 | 31 | RET | DNC | 326 |
| 44th | IRL | 69513 | Ghostrider | Julia Dick (W) | Zoe Hemsing‑Wolters | | BLSC
Blessington Sailing Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | TLE | ‑44 | 44 | 38 | 40 | 39 | 31 | 42 | 37 | (DNC) | 326 |
| 45th | GBR | 70725 | Greyhound | Tristan Sellwood (M) | Sam Davis | | Restronguet Sailiing Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | TLE | 33 | (RET) | (DNC) | 35 | 48 | 37 | 44 | 31 | DNC | 336 |
| 46th | IRL | 70143 | Chatty Chatty Bang Bang | Cora McNaughton (W) | Molly Nelson | Gaff | BLSC
Blessington Sailing Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | TLE | 36 | 31 | (DNF) | 36 | (RET) | RET | 33 | RET | DNC | 350 |
| 47th | IRL | 70006 | | Saoirse Evans (W) | Daniel Evans | | LDYC
Lough Derg Yacht Club | Crew under 19 | TLE | TLE | TLE | (DNC) | 41 | 45 | 45 | 39 | (RET) | RET | DNC | 378 |
| 48th | IRL | 67726 | Kiss My Aft ‑ 70340 | Emer Maher (W) | Saoirse Morgan | | LDYC
Lough Derg Yacht Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | (DNS) | 45 | 43 | 39 | 47 | 47 | 38 | 45 | (RET) | DNC | 378 |
| 49th | IRL | 11 | twisk (69030) | Ryan O Doherty (M) | Joe Keane Sheehan | | LDYC
Lough Derg Yacht Club | | TLE | (DNS) | 46 | (DNC) | 40 | 44 | 49 | 41 | 49 | TLE | DNC | 382 |
| 50th | IRL | 6980 | Red Tide | Niall O'Connor (M) | Oisin O'Connor | | SYC
Sligo Yacht Club | | TLE | TLE | (RET) | (DNC) | DNC | 42 | RET | RET | 46 | RET | DNC | 408 |
| 51st | IRL | 69471 | Sea ‑ 70309 | David Maher (M) | Sean McAllister | | LDYC
Lough Derg Yacht Club | Crew under 16 | TLE | TLE | (DNS) | (DNC) | DNC | 49 | 44 | BFD | DNC | DNC | DNC | 413 |
| 52nd | IRL | 69533 | Hot Chocolate | | Paddy McNaughton | Gaff | Lough Neagh | Crew under 16 | TLE | (DNS) | (DNS) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | RET | 445 |
