Smack in the middle of one of the greyest Februarys on record (with a windy weekend in the forecast ahead), our spring series sailors have to be quicker and hardier than usual to get their racing in! Last weekend both the Brass Monkeys and the Dinghy Frostbites were up to the challenge; read on for stories, photos, and results from the latest instalment of the series. 

Brass Monkeys get two races in, hope for more on the horizon

Having lost two races earlier in the series due to bad weather, we were pleased to complete a second race last weekend. With a steady south-easterly wind and choppy seas after a clean start, the first race was shortened after three legs to ensure that we would get a second race. The subsequent race was started in similar conditions, again with a clean start, and the full course was sailed with the finish in the Sound.

In Fleet 1 Out & About (McCoy) won the first race, with a 2nd in the second race, and is joint leader overall with Windshift (Boylan), which scored two 3rd place spots. Arcturus (McCabe/McCabe) is holding steady in 3rd place overall after a first place win in the second race.

In Fleet 2 Shenanigans (Douglas & Keane) won the first race with a 2nd in the second, but having retired from the race two weeks ago, is lying third overall. Helms Deep (Harrison) won the second race and is joint leader in the series with Timballoo (Lundy/Dunne).

Hopefully we can get an extra race in over the next two weeks to bring the series up to the planned six races.

--Report by Rupert Jeffares

Brass Monkeys results can be viewed at https://www.hyc.ie/results.

The Brass Monkeys photo gallery can be viewed at https://photos.app.goo.gl/VEA3q4uqNcr82enm9

Dinghy Frosbiters battle to take advantage of windward-leeward courses

After a weather enforced break, the HYC Dinghy Frostbite fleet took to the water again on Sunday. Whilst the forecasts gave rise to concerns about a strengthening breeze and big waves left over from the week of easterlies, the conditions on the day were exceptionally benign and the strength of the tide, and where best to avoid it, were the biggest challenges for the 24-boat fleet.

With the wind and tide nearly aligned in direction, the Race Committee opted for Windward Leeward courses – a configuration that the mainly ‘sturdy’ conditions since Christmas have not favoured.

In the ILCA Classes, Dan O’Connell continued to dominate and maintained his 2025 unbeaten record – seven successive victories. Whilst he led the first race from the start, Colm Cunningham made him work hard in the second race win with Dan only taking the lead in the latter half after an exceptionally close battle, both up and downwind. With Colm in a comfortable 2nd overall, Tom Fox had to fight hard for the 3rd and 5th places that keep him 3rd overall. In the ILCA 4s, Mia Kelleher and Ben Moreau took a first and second each, helping to consolidate Mia’s overall lead from Anna Brereton. Peter Hasset took both wins in the ILCA 6s and is tied with Dylan Cassidy for 2nd overall, while Darragh Peelo retains the top spot.

The decision to use the Windward Leeward configuration, along with the lighter conditions, gave an early indication of the likely results for the PY Fleet, with the running legs favouring both the single handers and the boats with symmetrical spinnakers able to sail square downwind. Daragh Sheridan (RS Aero 6) duly took both wins on corrected time while the two IDRA 14s in the fleet, despite keeping up their private competition throughout both races, took 2nd (Alan Carr/Orlaith Connolly) and 3rd (Ryan Cairns/Orla Doogue) in the first while Alan Carr took 3rd in the second race. With Daragh now enjoying an unassailable lead in the series, Richard Tate lies second in his Finn after adding a 2nd and 4th to his tally.

The Melges 15 fleet saw a preponderance of parent and child crews, three of the five boats racing having that combination aboard. Michael and Andrew Evans shared the helming duties and matched each other with wins in the two races that move them to first overall, Sarah and Charlie Robertson taking the two runner-up slots. Stephen and Feargal Quinn retain their second place overall, only 2 points off the lead, and will push hard to climb to first over the remaining races.

Competition is close in most of the Classes with just four more races to sail over the last two Sundays in the lead up to the spring highlight of HYC’s season, the annual Round the Island Race, which this year will be sailed on Saturday, March 8th. As usual, it will feature racing for the three ILCA Classes and for a PY Class, which in recent years has enjoyed competition between a wide range of boats including International 14s, B14s, Fireballs, GP 14s, IDRA 14s, Mermaids and even a Dublin Bay Wag. Entries for the Round the Island will go live shortly on the HYC website. 

--Report by Neil Murphy

Frostbites results can be viewed at https://hyc.ie/results

The Frostbites photo gallery can be viewed at https://photos.app.goo.gl/fvzDYF1qovmRe1Gj6