Tough conditions for Dingle fleet

SAILING: David Branigan

A fleet of 26-boats have entered and the East Pier at Dun Laoghaire will act as the grandstand for the start ahead of the 305-mile course that is regarded as the ‘half-round Ireland’ by many regulars.

Based on current forecasts, the fleet could have reaching conditions with a westerly direction breeze and on Sunday the wind may be back to the south-east to continue favourably for the ride along the south coast to Kerry.

But the fickle conditions could yet change and headwinds would slow the race.

The course record set in 2009 of just over 24 hours is unlikely to be beaten this year in any case as none of the current fleet can quite match the 77-footer Whisper as record-holder for sheer length overall.

But the prize-giving at the Dingle Skellig Hotel & Spa on Tuesday evening is more than manageable for most if not all the crews based on the last race when all finishers were home in around 48-hours or less.

But before that, an intense race with some of the coast’s most demanding features must be overcome.

First, the stage southwards along the East coast and the notorious sand-banks that reach as far as Wexford: the choice to inside or out is always tempting but keeping the wind and not missing the tidal gates in light conditions is essential to good progress.

Once past the Tuskar Rock, the fleet generally splits into a group that hugs the coast or another that heads deeper to get set up to fetch into the Fastnet Rock off West Cork. From Mizen Head, a short but testing stretch up to Dingle past South-West Ireland’s most spectacular coastline remains.

Of the fleet, just two boats have entered in the two-handed class with Barry Hurley’s Dinah a favourite and perhaps even for the overall win.

Philip Dilworth’s Orna has a string of event wins and is a regular on this race while Cathal Drohan’s Legally Brunette is the defending overall winner from 2009.

The race also acts as a delivery southwards for the ICRA National Championships at Crosshaven next weekend, Sovereigns Week at Kinsale the week after or just some Summer cruising further afield.