44 yachts get Dingle welcome

DINGLE is en fête this week, welcoming 44 yachts competing in the La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro race, which is visiting the port for the third time.

The solo sailors arrived early yesterday, completing the third leg of the race, with Gérald Veniard in Scutum first across the line.

He travelled at an average speed of 5.73 knots over a 479-mile course from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie in Brittany, France, to Dingle.

The lead changed dramatically in the approach to Dingle, with calm conditions slowing the leaders and enabling those further back to catch up after heading out to sea for more wind and a better angle of sail.

Visibility was poor in the darkness as they neared the harbour. Then, two miles from the finish, 20 boats appeared out of the gloom and the first 33 boats arrived in just 24 minutes.

A programme of events to mark the occasion has been drawn up by a local committee under the chairmanship of Dingle harbour master Brian Farrell and local boats will turn out in large numbers for the departure of the yachts on Friday.

Committee member Caroline Boland said the race gave Dingle an opportunity to celebrate its long maritime tradition.

“Dingle has had close historical connections with both France and Spain through fishing and trading and other activities over several centuries. The race is helping to maintain those connections,” she said.