Howth Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites Spring Series - Day 1
by Conor Murphy 6 Jan 17:26 GMT
4 January 2026
Howth YC Dinghy Frostbites Spring Series Day 1 © Harry Gallagher
Sunny but freezing conditions greeted sailors on the opening morning of the Spring Series of the HYC Dinghy Frostbites.
While some hardy competitors had already braved the waters for the New Year's Day race, for many this marked their first time afloat in 2026. After a challenging Winter Series before Christmas — which saw 4 of 7 weekends cancelled due to poor weather — there was a real sense of enthusiasm to get the new year started on the right foot.
Before launching, sailors were forced to dislodge stubborn ice from sheets and sails. A variable westerly breeze, combined with a strong ebbing tide, made for long beats and some close calls at the mark roundings. The fleet welcomes several newcomers this season, including Fiachra Farrelly and Jamie Malcolm in their 49er, possibly the fastest boat to compete in the series. The Spring Series also sees a first for the Frostbites, with a parent and child competing directly against one another, as Viktor and Andrejs Samoilov go head-to-head in the ILCA 7 fleet.
Both races got under way cleanly without recalls, aided by the strong tide keeping sailors off the line. An Olympic course was set for Race 1, followed by a windward-leeward course for Race 2.
The ILCA 7 fleet, with nine boats on the water, saw remarkable consistency at the top, with Dan O'Connell taking first place in both races ahead of Conor Murphy, Dave Kirwan, Tom Fox, and Andrejs Samoilovs. It was a strong start for O'Connell following his series win before Christmas. Viktor Sentiscev-Samoilov was narrowly beaten by his father on the day, but with a long series ahead, this family rivalry promises to be an intriguing one.
In the ILCA 6 fleet, Peter Hassett claimed first place in both races, while Stan O'Rourke and Darragh Peelo swapped second and third places across the two races.
The PY fleet was led by Daragh Sheridan, who posted a win in Race 1 and a second in Race 2, with his RS Aero benefiting from the fast reaches of the triangular course. He was pipped in Race 2 by Alan Carr and Orlaith Connolly in their IDRA 14, making the most of their additional sail area on the downwind legs of the windward-leeward course. Ronan McDonell (Melges 15), Ryan Cairns (IDRA 14), and Richard Tate (Finn) rounded out the remaining podium places, with a remarkable tie for third in Race 2. Despite its pace, the 49er's rating meant it had significant time to make up and it narrowly missed out on a podium finish this week.
Ashore, sailors were met with an icy slipway and frozen hosepipes — hopefully a one-off as warmer weather returns for the remaining weeks. With eight weeks of racing still to come, entries are open, and full results are available here.