International 12 foot fleet at Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin Classic Boat Regatta 2026 at Royal Irish YC
by Vincent Delany 23 Jun 05:15 PDT
20-21 June 2026
Margaret Delany's Cora - Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin Classic Boat Regatta © Vincent Delany
It is not every week that the Irish 12 foot dinghies go afloat together for racing. However, when the Royal Irish Yacht Club advertised their 195th birthday Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin Classic Boat Regatta, most of the boat owners agreed to take part. Two more owners would have been able to compete had the event not clashed with the Fireball Irish Championship.
Four 12 Foot Dinghies took part, and they raced as part of a combined fleet with two IDRA 14s. Dr. J.P. Frog and Chloe (similar to the Wardringfield Dragonfly Class), five Dublin Bay 14'-3" Water Wags Moosmie, Jacqueline, Chloe, Hilda and Vela, and the 12 foot dinghies, (IRL 9) Albany, (IRL 37) Calypso,(IRL 8 formerly K29) Cora and (IRL 11) Pixie.
At this point We should mention that Albany and Calypso carry a revised rig suitable for the waves of Dublin Bay, with a small jib and foredeck and reduced mainsail.
Four races were held outside Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Racing started at Omega Mark, with a mile long beat to Pier Mark in 8 knots of wind from the south-west, a mile long reach to Bay Mark, a mile long run to Bulloch Mark and a mile long reach back to the finish. Other faster fleets were to do three laps and the dinghies one lap.
As some of the dinghies passed the committee boat to start, the RO mentioned 'Don't go to Bullock'. So, when the last Water Wag passed Bay Mark, she took the decisive decision to sail directly back to the finish line at Omega Mark. Most of the 12 foots followed her so the race was declared null and void (sailing the wrong course).
Race two was a better race. The wind had swung 180 degrees to the south east. The course was Island Mark, Omega Mark and finish inside the harbour. Conditions were ideal. Margaret Delany and Gerry Murray in Cora won from Mark Delany in Pixie, followed by Gail and Tim Varian in Albany and Paul Gillespie in Calypso. It showed that under the Mediterranean conditions the international rig is faster.
After racing all returned to the beautiful RIYC for refreshments.
On Sunday, arrangements were similar, but the RO advised racing would be postponed for an hour, waiting for wind to arrive. At 11.00 he advised that racing would not start till 12. By 11.30 the Water Wags, 14s and 12s were all launched. It was a slow trek out to Asgard Mark with only a light easterly wind. But wind was building.
The course was to round a laid windward mark, about a mile away, back to round Asgard Mark and a short beat to the finish. In this race Cora dominated, with Albany second and Pixie now sailed by George Millar in third place.
After racing, it was a reach back to the harbour and to the bandstand of the East Pier for a Parade of Sail. In the bandstand, Hal Sisk doyen of the classic boat community, described to the passing public by loudspeaker the history of the boats as they passed.
It was a most enjoyable regatta and the first time all of the dinghies have raced together outside of the protective walls of Dun Laoghaire harbour.
The 12s will have their National Championships in Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire in October. Visitors from overseas would be welcome.