The Dublin Bay Mermaid fleet had their 1st regional event of the 2025 season this weekend, with their Munster Championship being hosted on Saturday 31st of May and Sunday 1st of June at Foynes Yacht Club. 13 boats took part representing a variety of clubs including Wexford, Foynes, Skerries, Rush and Dun Laoghaire. An ominous forecast all week leading up to the event had crews being extra vigilant when rigging up on Saturday morning with a heavy breeze forecast. It was a 1pm start on the Saturday and despite very windy conditions race 1 got underway on schedule. Challenging conditions saw the race shortened with the F flag sending competitors straight to finish after the 1st ‘triangle-sausage’ of the fleet’s usual Olympic course. With 2 capsizes, a broken boom and broken gooseneck, it was a wise and safe decision by Race Officer Mike Head and despite the Mermaiders steely determination, the fleet headed back to shore with a lot of bruises and lists of things to fix and strengthen for the season ahead!
Day 2 on Sunday 1st of June had similarly very windy conditions and the fleet waited ashore for the race committee to make an assessment of the sea state etc. by sending out a rib. The green light was given and it was all systems go with a rush to launch at the slip. A very short AP for the 12 o’clock start saw the 1st and only race of the day get underway in a steady 15-18 knots and gusts of 30+ knots. A strong outgoing tide made for a tricky start line with competitors being pulled over early and 2 fell victim to being on course side. By the time the fleet had rounded the first weather and gybe mark the wind had picked up and strong gusts that were clocking around made for very challenging spinnaker handling. It must have been quite a show for the boats on the water with more capsizes and some deciding it was a good idea to practice some swimming along with the sailing! The course was again shortened with an F flag and with 2 of 4 planned championship races in the bag (with only 1 needed to constitute the event) all further racing for the day was abandoned with the focus now being on seeing the fleet get safely ashore. Gusts of 32 knots were recorded coming back in along the gut by Foynes Island so a lot of sore bodies, splinters and repairs to be fixing after the truly invigorating conditions!
The Mermaid class is known for its great variety in competitors, with old and young taking part and a fantastic mix of men, women, boys and girls. In particular it was noted by a number of people how many young sailors took part in the weekend’s events, great to see and special mention to the fact that 3 out of the 13 entered helms were female. Results saw 188 Innocence from Foynes Yacht Club helmed by Darragh Mc Cormack with crew Mark and Noel Mc Cormack take 1st place overall. 2nd overall was 119 Three Chevrons from Foynes Yacht Club helmed by Michael Lynch with crew Roisin Mc Cormack and Ivan Joyce and 3rd overall went to 102 Endeavour from Rush Sailing Club helmed by Darach Dineen with crew Breda Magner and Clodagh McGuire. A very well done to all who took part and supported the event. It is a lot of work to get these beautiful, classic boats prepared, especially for the first event of the season when we are literally dusting off cobwebs! To everyone who broke something, better to break it now than at the Nationals! Huge thanks to Foynes Yacht Club for putting on a great event as always and the fleet looks forward to their next hurrah at Skerries Regatta, 28th and 29th of June.