Barely 10 years ago, the remaining fleet of classic Dublin Bay 24-footers departed Irish waters for a new life in the South of France where a major project would make the venerable racing yachts a centre-piece in Villefranche-sur-Mer in the Côte d'Azur region.
As the noise of the Celtic Tiger was building to a roar, a group of businessmen with support from the local mayor in France negotiated the purchase of all of the active 24s on Dublin Bay for a special project that would breath new life into the classic but ageing racing boats.
The class had been synonymous with several of the best known sailing families in the Dublin Bay area such as the Maguires, O’Hanlons and Johnstons, who featured prominently in regattas and championships in the emerging popular sport of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
The plan was to restore the seven remaining boats to original condition plus some modifications and use them for corporate sailing events along the Riviera. Industry figures suggest the restoration costs would be from €200,000 to €250,000 – for each boat.
Private ownership
The alternative, that of keeping the boats in private ownership in Ireland might lead to a break-up of the fleet or even the boats themselves, thus following a fate similar to the class they were intended to succeed.
Currently, the older Dublin Bay 21s or what’s left of them lie rotting in a field outside Arklow.
With other classes such as the Water Wags and Howth 17 footers currently restored, well-maintained and racing weekly, keeping the fleet alive and well albeit in foreign waters seemed like a fair option.
Until the monetary crisis of 2008 struck and the recession that followed put paid to the original plan. Since then, the seven boats have been carefully stored in a warehouse pending revival of the restoration plan.
This summer, one of the boats completed her full re-fit and has started racing once again in the classic regattas around France and most recently in La Trinité.
Originally, eight of the Alfred Mylne designs were built: Fenestra, Euphanzel, Zephyra Adastra, Harmony and Arandora were built for members of Dún Laoghaire's Royal Alfred Yacht Club, the world's oldest Corinthian sailing club. Club boats are indicated by the 'r-a' in the name and the seventh, Vandra was lost in a gale off Howth in the early 1970s.
The eighth boat was Periwinkle that remained in Scottish waters and is the first boat restored to full racing condition.
Improvements include a new wooden mast and traditional running-rigging.
Guardrails that had been added for the Fastnet Race in the 1950s that then became standard have now been removed, returning the design to it’s original sleek lines.
The remaining boats are still in storage somewhere in North-West France though restoration works require around €1.5 million to return the 24s to the sea once again.
