Mermaid Week has been held every year since 1970, with the Championship being decided on the basis of Regatta results from 1953 to 1969.  The first Mermaid Week was held in Skerries and each year 30 to 50 Mermaids race against each other in a seven day championship.  The week long format in the first week of August usually ensures a little of everything from a wind and weather point of view.  The 2009 champion is Paddy Dillon sailing No. 131 Wild Wind.  His crew were Rory Grimes and Johnny Dillon, all from Rush Sailing Club.

 

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Roger Bannon’s Endeavour chasing Jonathan O’Rourke’s Tiller Girl during Mermaid Week 2009.  Rog

Website © Peter Scallan 2009.  Photographs, Newsletter and Racing Results © Mermaid Sailing Association 2009 unless otherwise stated.   No responsibility taken for external links.

NEWS:

· Photos and details of trophy winners in the Winners’ Enclosure and some new photos in the Gallery 10th August 2009

· Race 6 abandoned due to lack of wind.  Final Results now available. 7th August 2009 13:45

· It’s official—Paddy Dillon, Johnny Dillon and Rory Grimes sailing No. 131 Wild Wind are the new National Champions.  This is Paddy’s first time to helm the winning boat. Paddy, from Rush Sailing Club, served as long term crew for Jim Carthy and achieved many race wins with Jim in No. 123 Vee. 7th August 2009

· No. 131 is now four times champion. The National Championship was based on cumulative results in regattas until 1969, and No. 131 won in 1968.  The first Mermaid Week was held in Skerries in 1970 and Paula (now Wild Wind) was the winner then and again in 1971 in Wexford, under the helm of long time owner Leslie Downes of Dun Laoghaire.  Paula was built in Dun Laoghaire by John Brennan in 1964 and after a number of years in the ownership of Leslie Downes, she was purchased by the stylish John Millar who sailed here for many years with long time crew Paula Stafford.  Paddy Dillon bought her in 2007, renaming her Wild Wind and has been improving  ever since. 7th August 2009

· Wild Wind now joins the elite company of the other four times winners: 32 Elf, 138 Zeila, 102 Endeavour and 123 Vee.  However it’s 76 Helen with seven wins and 187 Zuleika with five wins, that are the most successful Mermaids. 7th August 2009

· More news

 

CRASH, BANG…..

· T-Bone—There’s always a higher risk of damage in the Crew Race and this year is no exception.  Sam Shiels beautifully finished ‘No. 189 Azeezy (built by Sam) was t-boned during   yesterday’s crew race.  Let’s hope the damage is not too bad.  7th August 2009

· The crew of No. 186 MyDi had a lucky escape today.  They were over the line just before the start and were initially scored as On Course Side.  Luckily they dipped the line and were witnessed by the crew of No. 11 Oonagh.  Whose round is it Enda….? 6th August 2009

· Jim Carthy of Rush is busy this evening fixing the tiller of No. 123 Vee—he can’t even count on his old crew to help him, as new champion Paddy is participating in some Sligo hospitality….. 6th August 2009

· The swimmers today were crews of No. 37 Puffin and No. 46 Argo. 4th August 2009

· No. 76 Helen needs a new jib halyard shackle after today’s breakage forced retirement from Race 4. 4th August 2009

· More Crash, Bang..

Mermaid National Championship 2009

The 40th Mermaid Week

New National Champion Paddy Dillon & crew sailing Wild Wind (above) and Daphne winner Paul Winters of Skerries sailing No. 183 Wannago (below). 

Photos: Cian Gallagher,  http://cgphoto.webs.com/