There were almost 70 competitors taking part at Malahide Yacht Club’s Annual Dinghy Regatta on Sunday 13th October.

The competitors were warmly welcomed by Commodore Margaret Fay and hot drinks and scones were provided to keep all warm in the autumn chill whilst they waited for the off. The forecast for Sunday had predicted little to no wind in the early morning but to build to a reasonable breeze between 12am and 1pm.

Just before 2pm the first race of the main fleet got underway in about 8 knots of breeze, followed by a second just before 3pm. The Optimist Regatta fleet remarkably managed to get four races completed.
The big showing of talented Optimist sailors from Sutton Dinghy Club was rewarded by bringing home five of the six prizes in the main and regatta Optimist fleets. They were however denied first place in the main fleet by local sailor, Charlie Noone. Siun Barry from Sutton scooped wins in all four races in the regatta fleet – undoubted another sailor to watch for the future.

In the Toppers, Amy Shelly from the National was equally dominant, winning both races. Malahide members Paidi A’Coistlealbha and Alex Butcher did very well with second and fifth places. While a seasoned Optimist sailor, it was only Alex’s second day and first competition in a Topper.

Howth’s Harry Dunne narrowly edged out Malahide’s Sasha Bezpalyi and Glenda Gallagher, who had each won a race, to take first place in the ILCA 6 Class. Sasha finished second and Glenda third. Malahide’s Siun Ni Choistealbha took to an ILCA 6 for the first time at the event and narrowly missed out on third place having matched Glenda in points.

In the ILCA 7 Class Malahide’s Tim Noone equalled his son Charlie’s success in Optimists by also taking first place. Malahide’s James Anglim and Andrejs Samoilovs came second and third respectively.
The event also facilitated the Kona Nationals. Royal St. George’s Robbie Walker took home the silverware for a second year while Malahide’s Cormac O’Brien and Joe Galeckas were second and third respectively.
Story courtesy of Afloat.ie & Malahide Yacht Club