Lough Derg Yacht Club hostssuccessful Annual Regatta

The annual Lough Derg Yacht Club Regatta held last month was once again a huge success.

Held over six days from August 10th to 15, Monday morning saw the lake still as a millpond, prompting Race Officer John Leech to postpone sailing until the afternoon.

Fortunately, the wind picked up, and racing progressed for the rest of the week, overseen from the deck of Brendan Coakley’s MY Salut, the Committee Boat for the week.

Out of a fleet of 28 Shannon One Designs, twenty have Dromineer as their base, seven came from Lough Ree YC, with one from the Royal St George YC in Dun Laoghaire after a long absence.

Thirteen Squibs competed, a smaller fleet than usual, as several of our Squib sailors travelled to Strangford Lough for the Squib national championships.

It was encouraging to see younger helms performing strongly, including Evanna Maloney, Eve Hodgins, Eoghan Keogh, and Emil Bauer. Winners emerged across all age groups, with many of “old salts” maintaining their form.

Also seen were Kathleen Vandenberghe, Peter & Jane Wilson, and John 7 Sandra Lefroy, who have well over 200 Regattas between them.

John & Fedelma Tierney were absent for the first time in 45 years. Beforehand, Fedelma, Peggy Waller, and Kathryn Dolan enhanced the clubhouse with their floristry.

Afternoon tea, under the direction of Deirdre O’Driscoll and her team kept everyone going for the third race, after tea.

Noreen & Jim O’Sullivan of Rocky’s in Nenagh kept everyone “watered” downstairs, while Joanne O’Hara kept everyone “foddered”.

On Wednesday, there was a picnic at Garykennedy, followed by a race home in time for tea.

Commodore Anne-Marie Cox sailed SOD 144 while overseeing the week’s operations, supported by a dedicated committee and some last minute volunteers.

One crucial group is of course, rescue, coordinated by Vice Commodore, Adair Leech.

We had Jack Bayly and Peter Hanna on the pin-end mark, Conor Cronin was at the Leeward mark, Hugh Blaney manned the Windward mark, with Bernardine Maloney and Chriss Issot at the Gybe mark, Andy Egan, Jenny Kent, and Johnnie McClintock were on safety, with junior members Ben Parker and James Love ably assisting.

Younger members of the club contributed significantly, and willingly throughout the week.

Rescue boats were kept ship-shape with full tanks by Mark Hanna, and walkie talkies ensured smooth communication between the Committee Boat and shore teams

On the Sunday, Natalie & Frank Guy hosted visitors from Lough Ree Yacht Club at their annual quayside gathering.

Monday’s Cheese and Wine evening featured Cashel Blue, Cashel Reserve Cheddar, and Toma No. 5, generously provided by Mooring Captain Sarah Furno, of Cashel Blue, with complementary relish from Florrie Purcell at the Scullery.

Wednesday’s Regatta Supper was a great success, with Fionnuala Gill in the driving seat, and a cast of dozens helping.

Many will remember when she ran the Mid Summer Ball in the nineties and the naughties.

Katie O’Connor, who ran the Mayfly Madness in the ‘teens was in Dromineer with her family for the week.

On Friday evening, the RNLI held its annual Hit in Hope where participants try to hit a golf ball into a plastic cup, inside a bucket, inside a small dinghy, bobbing in the lake.

Luke O’Brien had a “hole in one”, and €675 was raised for the Lifeboat. Ben Parker, James Love, Sam Plunket, Senan Rowan, Caolan Pepper, and Malachi Ryan retrieved the golf balls to ensure next year’s contest!

Saturday’s prize giving drew a large attendance, with the Nenagh Brass Band providing music beforehand.

Rear Commodore Carden Kent (Sailing) announced the winners of the Club silver, buffed to a blinding shine by Membership Secretary Kirsten Bayly Parker and Rear Commodore (House) Robert Grace, with the prizes presented by Commodore Anne Marie Cox.

On Sunday, sailors and friends gathered at Killodiernan Church, Puckane, for the annual Service of Thanksgiving for a Safe Regatta, celebrated by Nenagh Rector, Rev Keith Barry, with a sermon on the Calming of the Waters delivered by Dr Jessica Brown, Ordinand and Intern Minister, Nenagh Union of Parishes; they were assisted by Deborah O’Dowd, from the Odhran Pastoral Area.

Lough Derg Regatta Results

Race Winner Second Third

Kilteelagh Cup David Dickson 73 Harman Murtagh 176 Evanna Maloney 75

Barclay Walker Cup David Dickson 73 Frank Guy 142 Stephen O’Driscoll 163

Rynskaheen Cup David Dickson 73 Margaret Delany 37 Stephen O’Driscoll 163

Belle Isle Plate David Dickson 73 Liam Sweeney 121 Evanna Maloney 75

SOD Jubilee Medal David Dickson 73 Frank Guy 142 Liam Sweeney 121

St David’s Cup Liam Sweeney 121 David Dickson 73 Frank Guy 142

Tigh-na-Mara Plate David Dickson 73 Evanna Maloney 75 Harman Murtagh 176

Ted Croxon Perpetual Pint Frank Guy 142 David Dickson 73 Josephine Hanley 118

Castlelough Cup (h'cap) Eoghan Keogh 141 Jonathan Horgan 167 Andy Wilson 106

La Vague Trophy David Dickson 73 Alan Algeo 138 Robbie Hamilton, 147

Princess Mary Cup Anne-Marie Cox 144 Ian McNally 117 Emil Bauer 102

SOD Jubilee Plate Margaret Delany 37 Rory Walsh 101 Harman Murtagh 167

Centenary Cup Ian McNally 117 Emil Bauer 102 Andy Wilson 106

Surprise Cup David Dickson 73 Harman Murtagh 176 Stephen O’Driscoll 163

‘54’ Perpetual Cup David Dickson 73 Marguerite Leech 96 Evanna Maloney 75

Tisdall Cup (for youngest helm)

Senan Rowan 73 Eve Hodgins 142 Aoibhe Murnane 167

‘61’ Trophy (crew’s race) Damian Maloney 75 Rachel Algeo 142 Iseult Hart 73

Tarcoora Cup (crew, on handicap)

John O’Driscoll 163 Isabel Leech 126 Emil Bauer, 102

Gaviotta Trophy (single-handed)

Richard Hodgins 81 Harman Murtagh 176 Andrew Wilson 106

John Marriage Trophy, sailed on Lough Derg in even years

David Dickson 73 Frank Guy 142 Stephen O’Driscoll 163

Snarly Yow Cup (silver fleet)

Robbie Hamilton 147 Henry Bauer 102 Anne-Marie Cox 144

Hazelpoint Plate (silver fleet)

Anne-Marie Cox 144 Jonathan Horgan 167 Eoghan Keogh 141

Starter’s Gun David Dickson 73 Frank Guy 142 Evanna Maloney 75

Milligan Cup (Youngest SOD helm of the full week)

Evanna Maloney 75 - -

Delany Cup (silver fleet)

Jonathan Horgan 167 Anne-Marie Cox 144 Eoghan Keogh 141

Delany Memorial Salver (aggregate of Lough Derg & Lough Ree Regattas)

David Dickson 73 Margaret Delany 37 Liam Sweeney 121

LDYC Perpetual Challenge Cup

David Dickson 73 Frank Guy 142 Stephen O’Driscoll 163

Bruce Plaque (Sheet hand of winning boat

Anna Leech 73 Rachel Guy 142 John O’Driscoll 163

Bowline Trophy (Third hand of winning boat)

Senan Rowan 73 Anne Fahy 142 Elisa Toledo 163

Squib Results

Trophy First Second

55 Trophy - Pintail, Jerry & Jane Buckley - Misfire, David MacFarlane & William Prentice

Miss Mills Cup Selik, Saoirse Evans & Max Swan, Squibble - Anne Barrington & Malachi Ryan

Goodbody Trophy Granuaile - A Whitford-Ponsionen & Sarah Bowe, Squibble - Anne Barrington & Malachi Ryan/Eve Barrington

Castletown Tankard Samphire - Sonja Boehringer & Brid Walsh; Fitz - Avril Fitzgerald & Karen Fitzpatrick

Sandy Bottom “Ca Bhfuil Wally”, Chris Issot, Chris Bish

Urra Winch Reggie Goodbody & Catherine Staines