Squalls on an off the course on exciting day

After a wild start to the ATS Dragon National Championship in Dun Laoghaire yesterday, local sailors Mick Cotter and Andrew Craig were tied for first place, each with a first and second place finish. The wet and squally conditions produced exhilarating sailing for the 29-boat fleet but also saw widespread carnage and more than a few protests.

Cotter's return to form, after a comparatively low-key start to the season in his new Whisper, may in part be explained by the presence of Pol Ricard Hoj-Jensen on board; a Dragon Class multiple world champion and boat builder.

There second race was marked by a long lead on their way to a convincing win.

However, results from the first day were last night understood to be very provisional with several protests including two against the race committee, which could yet see a re-alignment of the winning order. The overall running order could be subject to change going into today's racing.

The Carlsberg Royal Alfred YC Superleague is starting to heat up as the series approaches its midpoint. Max McMullan of the host club walked away with the silverware at the annual Howth Regatta last weekend when the class zero boat won both the Lambay Race on Saturday and yesterday's regatta event to take the Centennial Trophy and Commodore's Cup. This weekend's National YC regatta also counts towards series points.

The 1720 fleet is where the action is and David Harte, with a high-powered crew, seemed to take first easily on both days. His team comprised Olympians Garreth Connolly and Dan O'Grady along with Daragh Peelo and James Hynes.

In spite of a back-of-fleet start to Sunday's race, Harte's TuffStuff stormed to the front of the fleet thanks to some good tactical calls, relegating Adam Winkelmann to third place. The vanquished crew on Esat Telecom, who had been having a run of first places, lost after a bad spinnaker drop approaching the finishing line. The foggy conditions on Saturday delayed racing but several boats managed to sail the wrong course and were penalised accordingly. Of particular concern was the course error by Brian Matthews, navigator on Surfin' Shoes - his second questionable call for the second consecutive weekend. However, third on the second day redeemed the 41-footer to fifth overall for the event.

In spite of high scores in the Water Wag `World' Championship at Dun Laoghaire on Sunday, shroud damage relegated Peter Wilson to sixth overall allowing Johnny Ross-Murphy to take the overall title with two firsts and three seconds. Six races were sailed over the two days. Sam Prentice emerged winner of the crews race.

David Nixon from Howth Yacht Club is co-ordinating the Irish team for a new youth sailing event. The Inter-Nations Youth week will be staged after Skandia Life Cowes Week ends on August 10th and is aimed 17-24-yearolds from around the world. Nixon is tactician on Roy Dickson's Corby 40 Cracklin' Rosie and has recruited Tom Fitzpatrick and David McHugh for the entry.

Water Wag World Championship (at Royal Irish YC); 1, Number 36 (J Ross-Murphy); 2, Number 15 (F Guy); 3, Number 1 (S Nolan); 4, Number 3 (V Delany); 5, Number 6 (W Prentice); 6=, Number 4 (Croxon & Bond); 6=, Number 9 (P Wilson).