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Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Is In Full Grip Of Northern Jetstream

8th July 2023
The construction of the new harbour at what had become Kingstown created a new world in itself, and a thousand words could be written about everything that is going on here in the 1860s with a brisk sou’easter, as painted by Richard Breeches Beechey
The construction of the new harbour at what had become Kingstown created a new world in itself, and a thousand words could be written about everything that is going on here in the 1860s with a brisk sou’easter, as painted by Richard Breeches Beechey

Some decidedly rugged racing yesterday (Friday), though with rapidly improving conditions, managed brilliantly to pull the wind-battered VDLR-23 back into line. But there’s no doubting the fact that it is all being achieved with weather that is a little bit too interesting for many folk.

We’re clamped in the malevolent maw of the North Atlantic Jetstream. It’s a remote enough high-altitude presence in itself, but when its distant effects are visiting themselves closely upon us in all-too-evident form, the Jetstream becomes extremely personal, often bringing a highly-humid air quality whose density will add to any existing wind pressure, and in any case the humidity saps the spirits.

If the main line of this extreme stream of perverse ultra-energy was well clear to the north or south of us - instead of snaking about more or less directly above - then the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 might have had hopes of a normal feel to the weather for the past couple of days, possibly even with a healthy infusion of Atlantic air.

JETSTREAM A SERIES OF WHIRLING DERVISHES

But not a bit of it, No sooner do we get ourselves out from under one Ireland-bound whirling dervish of remote yet very evident Jetstream than the next batch is on the way down the line from somewhere above Greenland, gathering itself up with renewed vigour for a closely-focused assault on the Emerald Isle. It’s such that it looks a though this morning (Saturday) will see us get another portion, before things settle back a bit once more.

All sorts of meteorological malevolence – the Jetstream targeting Ireland yesterday (Friday) morningAll sorts of meteorological malevolence – the Jetstream targeting Ireland yesterday (Friday) morning Credit: Netweather

But be careful what you wish for. The next image is of seemingly idyllic Jetstream conditions for Ireland in June 2018. Certainly it was a time of apparent summer perfection. But there was damn all in the way of a decent and lasting sailing breeze. As we’ve all been saying in recent years in sudden recollection of Voltaire, the perfect is the enemy of the good. You have to expect a few flaws in a good day’s weather if you’re going to get any proper sailing at all.

One day in June….this seemingly idyllic Jetstream on a June day in 2018 certainly brought very summery weather, but with sea breezes slow to develop if at all, it was not a great day for sailing races.One day in June….this seemingly idyllic Jetstream on a June day in 2018 certainly brought very summery weather, but with sea breezes slow to develop if at all, it was not a great day for sailing races.

“WE NEVER HAD WEATHER LIKE THIS WHEN THE CLUBS HELD THEIR OWN SEPARATE REGATTAS”

Yet a “few flaws” has definitely not been the case for the last couple of days, so we have to console ourselves with history when certain old salts assert that “we never had weather like this when the clubs held their own separate regattas”.

Admittedly with four separate weekends involved as of yore, there’d be a better chance of at last two or even three hitting the good sailing jackpot. But who on earth would reasonably expect a club on its own to provide the setup to cater for today’s 350 boats in 40 divisions for just one or perhaps two days of racing?

And with today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) still in prospect as this is posted, with yesterday (Friday’s) full suite of results in addition to that one heroic Flying Fifteen result on Thursday with the win for Tom Galvin and Cormac Bradley, hope must be maintained.

Somebody should print them appropriate T-shirts…..Tom Galvin & Cormac Bradley’s win in Thursday’s only race – for the Flying Fifteens – was unique every which way. Photo: Afloat.ie/Bob BatemanSomebody should print them appropriate T-shirts…..Tom Galvin & Cormac Bradley’s win in Thursday’s only race – for the Flying Fifteens – was unique every which way. Photo: Afloat.ie/Bob Bateman

For there’s no doubt that being in the inner bay is being in a different world, and yesterday (Friday) afternoon, as conditions continued to settle, this image of Larne’s Curly Morris - Grandfather of the GP14 Class and racing his boat with Meg Tyrrell - makes it look easy, even when we remember that the helmsman has had several joints replaced to keep himself a smidgin ahead of the osteoarthritis.

It’s just a breeze! Ultra-veteran Curly Morris racing the GP14 in Friday afternoon’s improving conditions with Meg Tyrrell crewing. Photo: Afloat.ie/Bob BatemanIt’s just a breeze! Ultra-veteran Curly Morris racing the GP14 in Friday afternoon’s improving conditions with Meg Tyrrell crewing. Photo: Afloat.ie/Bob Bateman

HISTORY LESSON ON ANCIENT NEED FOR HARBOUR

Meanwhile, if ever you needed a demonstration of why Dublin Bay needed an Asylum Harbour with such urgency in 1817 at what was then Dunleary, then recent days have been highly educational. Thanks to the topography of the Bay, any strong southerly will almost inevitably have a distinct touch of east in it as it comes round the mountains, and a full-blooded sou’easter with the strong Spring Tide ebb running against it in the afternoon – as it was on Thursday - is a case of the situation being much more than just the sum of its parts.

The entire setup has been a reminder of how much Dun Laoghaire Harbour and its key location in Dublin Bay was such a gift for the city’s many marine artists in the High Victorian era. With a bit of weather out in the bay, a short train journey on the new Kingstown railroad took our artists to an accessible sea and sailing scene which, when skillfully recorded, inspired awe and a sense of comfort-by-contrast when displayed in some well=appointed sitting room in the fashionable new suburbs and the Georgian townhouses on the city squares.

It may have been 1873’s Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta, but this technically-perceptive racing scene painted by Richard Brydges Beechey reflects the conditions experienced on Thursday this week. Courtesy RIYCIt may have been 1873’s Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta, but this technically-perceptive racing scene painted by Richard Brydges Beechey reflects the conditions experienced on Thursday this week. Courtesy RIYC

The range of talent working this seam was remarkable, and while we were giving the nod to Matthew Kendrick last week, a call to remember the “Artist Admiral” Richard Brydges Beechey should be acknowledged this morning. His painting of the Royal Irish Yacht Club Regatta of 1873 could have emerged from Thursday’s sailing conditions, but for some tastes, as a painting it was just too rugged. Yet fortunately for delicate sensitivities, the Royal St George YC Regatta of the following year (1874) produced his very memorable recording of an in-harbour mark-rounding in wellnigh perfect regatta conditions.

Ever so genteel….rounding an in-harbour mark at the Royal St George YC Regatta of 1874 by Richard Brydges Beechey. Courtesy RStGYC.Ever so genteel….rounding an in-harbour mark at the Royal St George YC Regatta of 1874 by Richard Brydges Beechey. Courtesy RStGYC.

EXCITEMENT OF IN-HARBOUR FINISHES

We’d a reminder of the extra sense of occasion provided by in-harbour finishes yesterday (Friday) when Frank Whelan’s canting-keel Elliott 57 Opal from Greystones swept through the Offshore Race’s finish line in Dun Laoghaire Harbour entrance to take line honours with a flourish, but we’re still a whole safety-conscious era away from times past, when spectacular finishes right at the clubs were expected.

Line honours winner - Frank Whelan’s canting-keel Elliott 57 Opal from Greystones at the Offshore Race’s finish line at Dun Laoghaire Harbour entrance Photo: Michael ChesterLine honours winner - Frank Whelan’s canting-keel Elliott 57 Opal from Greystones at the Offshore Race’s finish line at Dun Laoghaire Harbour entrance Photo: Michael Chester

Back in 1867, the new super-schooner Egeria – owned by John Mulholland of Belfast – led the way in a sou’easter in a race into the harbour well-filled with large non-racing yachts at anchor, and hosting partying spectators. They’d anchored where they wished, with no thought of leaving a fairway for the finishing racers. But starting at full speed, Egeria could carry her way for ever, so her afterguard simply took the chance that they’d find a gap, and go for it. However, some of the spectating yachts and their attendant boats weren’t totally settled in location, there were slow manoeuvres taking place, and as Egeria swept through like a hot knife through butter, there were short sharp scrapes before she reached the line to take the gun.

“The wonderful Egeria”. In the 1860s, she set the gold standard for in-harbour finishes“The wonderful Egeria”. In the 1860s, she set the gold standard for in-harbour finishes

Some boats thought to complain, but it was generally considered unsporting and was certainly unpopular, as this was to be considered the highlight of the regatta. Thus by the time the fleet sizes increased with smaller boats from the new Royal Alfred YC and Dublin Bay SC supposedly providing greater manoeuvrability. it was considered an integral part of the sport to be able to find your way through a maze of moored boats.

So by 1903, we have this image of the Viceroy’s Dublin Bay 25 Fodhla somehow getting the win after coming through gaps in a wall of anchored yachts, while additionally avoiding boats of the new-type Maimie Doyle-designed Water Wag also trying to finish a race. It remains to be seen if Con Murphy can come up with something similar on Sunday afternoon to finish Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 in traditional style.

The Dublin Bay 25 Fodhla wins the 1903 RStGYC Regatta after threading the eyes of several needles.The Dublin Bay 25 Fodhla wins the 1903 RStGYC Regatta after threading the eyes of several needles.

Read all of Afloat's coverage of the VDLR 2023 in one handy link here

Day Two (Friday, July 7) Photo Gallery of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta by Michael Chester

Published in W M Nixon, Volvo Regatta
WM Nixon

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland and internationally for many years, with his work appearing in leading sailing publications on both sides of the Atlantic. He has been a regular sailing columnist for four decades with national newspapers in Dublin, and has had several sailing books published in Ireland, the UK, and the US. An active sailor, he has owned a number of boats ranging from a Mirror dinghy to a Contessa 35 cruiser-racer, and has been directly involved in building and campaigning two offshore racers. His cruising experience ranges from Iceland to Spain as well as the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, and he has raced three times in both the Fastnet and Round Ireland Races, in addition to sailing on two round Ireland records. A member for ten years of the Council of the Irish Yachting Association (now the Irish Sailing Association), he has been writing for, and at times editing, Ireland's national sailing magazine since its earliest version more than forty years ago