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

· Final Race today—what trophies are still up for grabs? 7th August 2009

· Mermaid—Paddy Dillon of Rush in No. 131 Wild Wind cannot be beaten.  Azeezy and Elizabeth are in contention for 2nd place. Elizabeth has to beat Azeezy by at least three places to come second overall, otherwise Azeezy will be second and Elizabeth third.

· Daphne– Paul Winters of Skerries in No. 183 Wannago is unassailable for the Daphne.  Bean Adhmaid, Argo and Thumbalina are in contention for 2nd place.

· Designer—It’s a tight race with Argo leading Thumbalina by ¾ point followed by Elenora firmly in third.

· Celia– Wild Wind has this won.  Elizabeth leads Endeavour by 2 points for second place, followed by Tiller Girl one point behind.

· Munster- Argo with 5 wins out of 5 races is clearly the top Munster boat.

· Master- Azeezy leads Elizabeth by 2 points, with Endeavour and Tiller Girl slugging it out for third place with ¼ point between them.

· For info on the eligibility to compete for the various trophies check Competitions

· Paddy is unbeatable.  Paddy Dillon sailing No. 131 Wild Wind (formerly Paula) is now certain to win the Mermaid Trophy.  With a first, three seconds and a third in the first five races, Paddy and his crew Johnny Dillon and Rory Grimes don’t even have to sail tomorrow to win the Championship.  Paddy, from Rush Sailing Club has truly served his apprenticeship, having crewed for the venerable multiple champion Jim Carthy in No. 123 Vee for many years and having won the Crew Race on a number of occasions. Paddy announced his intention last year by coming 5th at Mermaid Week in Rush 6th August 2009

· Skerries boats No. 189 Azeezy and No. 36 Elizabeth are both fighting for second place overall. 6th August 2009

· Azeezy wins Race 5, Wild Wind 2nd, putting Wild Wind in the lead overall.  Endeavour is no longer in the running with a poor result in Race 5.  Results are provisional. 6th August 2009

· Eoin Butterly retains the Crew Race title, having won last year in Rush. Eoin, from Rush Sailing Club, was sailing Anthony Carthy’s No. 188 Innocence crewed by owner Anthony Carthy and Margeurite Carthy 6th August 2009

· Early start this morning with Race 5 at 10:30 followed by the Crew race.  6th August 2009.

· Photos of Mermaid Week 2009 are now available on the Gallery.  See Cian Gallagher’s website for more photos.  5th August 2009

· Fleet prepare for racing tomorrow.  The discard applies from Race 5.  5th August 2009

· To stay in the lead Wild Wind needs to beat Endeavour and ensure that if Azeezy wins Wild Wind comes fifth or better.  If Elizabeth wins, Wild Wind needs to come sixth or better. 

· For Endeavour to lead, Bannon & crew need to be ahead of Wild Wind, at the same time ensuring that Endeavour is at least fifth if Azeezy wins and at least sixth if Elizabeth wins.

· It is not possible for either Azeezy or Elizabeth to lead after Race 5, but to ensure they are in with a chance after Race 6, they need to win Race 5 and ensure that Wild Wind and Endeavour are sixth or worse.

· No racing on Wed 5th.  Next Championship Race is on Thursday 6th, followed by the Crew Race. 4th August 2009

· Anthony Carthy sailing No. 188 Innocence achieved his best ever championship result today coming 5th.  He is 15th overall after Race 4.  Having won the Daphne last year and this year’s Skerries Regartta, Anthony of Rush Sailing Club and his crew Margeurite Carthy and Eoin Butterly are going from strength to strength. 4th August 2009

· Principal Race Officer in Sligo, Gus Henry shortened today’s Race 4 due to squally conditions. 4th August 2009

· Squally conditions in Sligo take their toll on the Mermaid fleet with championship leader Roger Bannon in 102 Endeavour being forced to retire today with a broken boom and now lies seventh overall.  The discard applies after the fifth race and should put him back into contention then. 4th August 2009

· Jim Dempsey wins Race 4.  Paddy Dillon goes into the lead overall after Roger Bannon fails to finish Race 4.  Sam Shiels in No. 189 Azeezy is now in 2nd place, followed by Jim Dempsey in No 36 Elizabeth in third place.  Results. 4th August 2009

· Race 4 today is scheduled for 15:30.  Results should be available from 6pm. 4th August 2009

· Roger Bannon in Endeavour, today defends his slender lead over Paddy Dillon sailing No. 131 Wild Wind.  Bannon has won the Mermaid Trophy five times (Dixie in 1983, Endeavour in 1985, 1986, 1988 and 2003).  Only two others have won the Mermaid five times—Derek Joyce in Zuleika and Harry Grimes in Jessie and Nichapando.  If Roger wins this week, he will be the most successful Mermaid sailor of all time.  Roger’s crew this week are his daughter Emily and Bobby Collins. 4th August 2009

· Paddy Dillon of Rush, formerly long term crew for Jim Carty in No. 123 Vee is hotly pursuing his first Championship win.  Paddy is sailing his recently acquired No. 131 Wild Wind, a three times winner (then named Paula) in the late 60’s and early 70’s with Leslie Downes at the helm.  This week Paddy’s crew are his brother Johnny and Rory Grimes. 4th August 2009

· Roger Bannon in No. 102 Endeavour leads Mermaid Week after 3 races.  For details see the results.  Paul Winters in No. 183 Wannago has a convincing lead in the Daphne. 3rd August 2009

· Race programme altered, taking into account weather forecast for the end of the  week.  Race 3 was held a day earlier, giving a day ‘in hand’. 3rd August 2009

· 30 Mermaids and their crews are competing in this year’s championships, including boats from Sligo.  For details see the Competitors page. 3rd August 2009

· Welcome to the Mermaid National Championship Sligo 2009 website, giving you all you need to know before during and after Mermaid Week 2009  28th July 2009

· Check out the downloads page for all racing documentation and rules. 28th July 2009

· This year the fleet will be racing for six trophies.  For details of the various competitions and eligibility see the Competitions page. 28th July 2009

 

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

· Boom Boom—No. 102 Endeavour and No. 26 Thumbalina both need new booms after breaking them in Race 4. 4th August 2009

· The crew of No. 186 MyDi will be fixing their spinnaker pole fittings tonight.  They still finished 4th today, despite not using their spinnaker on the last reach—watch this boat… 4th August 2009

· No. 36 Elizabeth objected to her skipper sitting on the tiller and ejected her rudder resulting in a 50 metre lead being lost and finishing fifth. 3rd August 2009

· The first swimmers of the week were the crews of No. 73 Lively Lady and No. 93 Swallow.  The mast is supposed to keep pointing towards the sky …. 3rd August 2009

· Rumour has it that the skipper of No. 76 Helen was feeding the fish today.  Click here to find out a possible reason….. 3rd August 2009

· The crew of No. 188 Innocence are looking for a jib! 3rd August 2009

· No. 26 Thumbalina has been treated to a new mast with all the Rush gang gathering around to fit it.  The Sligo winds were too much for the old mast.  Thumbalina and her crew expect to race tomorrow. 3rd August 2009

· The crew of Foynes boat No. 119 Three Chevrons are also frantically fitting a new mast tonight. 3rd August 2009

 

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

Mermaid National Championship 2009

The 40th Mermaid Week