Irish 12 Foot Dinghy Class Championship at Royal St George Yacht Club

Irish 12 Foot Dinghy Class Championship: Sgadan and Albany soon after a start © Gerry Murray

The 12 Foot Dinghy Class is not well known in Ireland today in the era of GRP boats. However, before 1947 the 12 Foot Dinghies were the preferred class of many premier dinghy sailors in Ireland in Dublin and Cork such as John Weaving, Billy Mooney, Jimmy Mooney, Harlod Cudmore (snr.), Alfred Delany, Ted Crosbie and Johnny Hooper.

The Class consists of boats with two different rigs. Some with the original balanced lug (the International rig generally sailed single-handed), and the revised Gunter rig with mainsail and a small jib (the D.B.S.C. rig, generally sailed by a crew of two). The two rigs sail against each other on an equal footing with the Gunter rig having better upwind performance, and the Balanced Lug showing better speed downwind on triangular courses.

On 27 August the Royal St George Yacht Club held the six race Irish Championships for the 12 Foot Dinghies in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Winds from the west blew at between 6 kts. and 12 kts.

Irish 12 Foot Dinghy Class Championship: Sgadan to windward of Cora as they count down the seconds to the start - photo © Gerry Murray

In race one Ian and Jenny Magowan in 'Sgadan' showed their potential by winning the start and holding the lead despite the superior downwind speed of the international rigged boats.

In race two Mark Delany (who had been designated as rescue RIB driver until an arm injury forced his aunt, Margaret Delany, to hand over the helm of 'Cora' to him) won the start and held off the attacks from 'Sgadan' to win.

In race three George Miller in 'Pixie' got the perfect start in a closely fought race in which any of the boats could have won, but it was eventually won by 'Cora'.

The crews went ashore for a pleasant sociable lunch in the Boardwalk Café in the Royal St George.

Irish 12 Foot Dinghy Class Championship: Cora and Pixie in close competition - photo © Gerry Murray

After lunch Gavan Johnson & Gail Varian in 'Albany' sailed a good first beat to reach the windward mark in the lead, however 'Cora' managed to overhaul them in the shifty winds on the second beat to take the win. In this race 'Pixie' showed her age when the rudder gudgeon gave way and she had to retire.

Race five was another chance for 'Cora' to show her superiority despite being 102 years old.

In the final race 'Cora' won again from 'Sgadan'.

At the prize-giving Vincent Delany the PRO commended all the competitors, and highlighted the fact that we hope that next year we can persuade some UK based 12 Foot Dinghies to visit Ireland and to compete in the Championships at the last weekend of August 2024.

Jenny Magowan of 'Sgadan' won the Altair Trophy awarded to the highest placed crew.

Ian Magowan of 'Sganan' won the historic 1932 Edmond Johnston Trophy awarded to the highest placed boat with the D.B.S.C. Gunter rig.

Mark Delany of 'Cora' won the beautiful mahogany and beaten copper trophy awarded to the highest placed International Rig 12 foot Dinghy.

Overall Results: