The Puppeteer National Championship took place at Howth Yacht Club last weekend August 24th and 25th, marking a significant milestone as it is the 40th anniversary of the Puppeteers racing as a one-design fleet at HYC.

The national championships were held over the weekend, with 21 Puppeteers competing for the national title. This year, the class was again proudly sponsored by local business, Sutton Cross Pharmacy.

The racing schedule included five races, with Harry Gallagher serving as the Principal Race Officer, joined by honorary guest, international race officer David Lovegrove.

Saturday saw exciting racing conditions with winds ranging from 16 to 19 knots. The four windward-leeward races were fiercely contested, with the fleet putting on an impressive display of skill and determination.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s weather brought more challenging conditions, with persistent gusts of 28 knots forcing a delay and, eventually, the abandonment of racing for the day.

Three-time national champions Paul and Laura McMahon, along with their crew on Shiggi Shiggi, emerged as overall event winners. In a thrilling contest, they were pushed all the way by Neil Murphy and his crew on Yellow Peril. The title was only secured by a mere five seconds in the final race.

Overall results:

• 1st: Paul & Laura McMahon on Shiggi Shiggi
• 2nd: Neil Murphy & Conor Costello on Yellow Peril
• 3rd: Ian Dickson on WeyHey
• 4th: Gareth May on No Strings (with thanks to Terry Harvey for lending his boat)

In the youth category, Jack McMahon and his crew on Pinocchio took the honours.

In the HPH category, the top places went to:

• 1st: Jack McMahon on Pinocchio
• 2nd: Michael McKeon on Flycatcher
• 3rd: Philip & Roslyn Byrne on Odyssey
• 4th: Gerry Kennedy on Blue Velvet

Congratulations to all the deserving winners!

Celebrating 40 Years of Puppeteer Racing in HYC

In addition to the racing, the Puppeteer class hosted a special Sunday lunch, attended by 115 sailors, partners, and past Puppeteer owners. David Lovegrove, who brought the first Puppeteer to Howth, opened the lunch with fond recollections. Among the attendees were three of the original owners: David Lovegrove, Damien Jennings, and Tim Chillingworth.

A huge thank you to Mary McDyer, Olive Ni Bhraonain, and Gerry Sargent, who worked tirelessly to compile a detailed history of the Puppeteer class. This rich history, includes the story of each boat in HYC, and is available on the HYC website. As a partner of Trick or Treat, I am surprised to learn that it was originally built with a lifting keel!

Finally, I would like to extend my personal gratitude to those who made this weekend of sailing and celebrations possible: Philip & Roslyn Byrne, Alan Pearson, and Ian Dickson.

Here’s to another 40 years of Puppeteer racing at Howth!

Alan Blay

Puppeteer Class Captain

Puppeteer 22s At Howth Celebrate 40 Years Of Competition And Community

...and shines in the rich event gallery:

Puppeteer 22 National Championships 2024 and 40th Anniversary