The Annual Dalkey Island Race looked destined not to run this year after its cancellation on the 8th of August and similar unfavourable conditions for the rescheduled date of Saturday the 22nd of August. All the competitors launched after a race briefing that was mostly about not getting hopes up. On arrival in the outer harbour we were pleasantly surprised to see that the wind had dropped back to a manageable 10-15 knots from the South-East and with this piece of good luck we were off!

The traditional fall-back position of a laid mark off the forty foot was selected by PRO Glyn Williams, feeling that the wind may return, and that the back of Dalkey Island was not place to be in an increasing Easterly breeze. All the boats started on the combined line laid off the INSS pontoon in the outer harbour, up to a laid mark on a line between the West Pier lighthouse and the west pier marina breakwater. After that, it was out the harbour and towards the forty foot. Three Lasers took an early lead on the water and were first out of the harbour followed closely by the 1720 crew.

Different tactics were employed upwind, with most of the fleet choosing to go left, into the stronger tidal stream but the stronger breeze. The 1720 crew had overhauled the Lasers by the time they reached the Substitute Dalkey Island. One of our safety boats on station there recorded some footage.

One squib, sailed by Leonard and Brian choose a route close to shore, but there was very little separating them from the offshore route takers at the Dalkey Island substitute mark! The race back to the harbour was straight forward, with little change in order. The finish was back in the harbour where the start line had been. Results were calculated on a PY handicap basis, and we're delighted to announce that Jeremy has lifted the Dalkey Island Rock Trophy, followed closely by Joan, the 2014 holder of the accolade.