Remembering Denis Doyle and Moonduster
Round Ireland.
In an extract from his book, “Racing Round Ireland – A Sailing Miscellany” (2010), Fred Drew recalls the impact of the legendary Moonduster on the
Is the ‘Round Ireland’ a one horse race? With a record of achievement like that of the late Denis Doyle and Moonduster some might think so – especially rivals.
What Red Rum was to the Grand National, Moonduster was to the Round Ireland; Moonduster was overall winner of the race on two occasions, 1982 and 1984, in the latter year setting up a record Round Ireland circumnavigation time of 88 hours, 15 minutes and 43 seconds. A record which stood until 1990.
Regardless of handicap, the greatest thrill to a Round Ireland competitor is being first across the finishing line. ‘Line Honours’ as it is known, were taken by Moonduster on no less than three occasions, 1982, 1984 and 1988.
Moonduster was second across the finishing line in 1992, third
in 1986 and 1990 and fourth in her final race in 2000 – but only 3 seconds behind Cracklin Rosie (Roy Dickson) who was third.
A study of Moonduster’s race times shows their uncanny consistency. The difference between the 1986 and 1988 races is only 41 seconds and the difference between 1982 and 1992 is only 65 minutes! The difference between the 1996 and 1998 times is only 52 minutes.
Overall Moondusters average circumnavigation time for 9 races was 4 days, 13 hours and 34 seconds. To put this in perspective, in the entire history of the race only 33 boats have completed the race in less than this time. What a record! What a man! What a boat!
At every Round Ireland race, Moonduster’s traditional berth alongside the North Pier remains empty in tribute to the memory of a great competitor.
Moonduster’s Racing Record
Year Hour:Min:Sec
1982 99:45:25
1984 88:15:43
1986 116:15:05
1988 116:15:46
1990 131:38:19
1992 115:10:18
1994 Retired
1996 106:31:24
1998 107:23:04
2000 143:07:15
Have you got your own tales from the mighty 'Duster in the Round Ireland? Share them with a comment below!
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I like the piece about Denis.
Fore-square behind Denis was his charming ebullient wife, Mary. Mary was the Quiet Queen of the wives of the round Irelandanders, especially in the earlier years. She would stay in Wicklow for the race making sure that Moonduster was well vitaled, and waiting for the arrival of the fleet after their circumnavigation of Ireland.
The only time I saw Mary ruffled over the years was in the mid-eighties when she came to me with a gear leaver in her hand, and no car!! She had arrived in Wicklow in her new Saab coupe, parked it next to the Club house in Wicklow and gone on to watch the start. When she went back to drive to her accommodation the gear lever came off in her hand!!
We were delighted to drive her around until it was fixed a few days later.
Incidentally, the famous yacht designer, Tony Castro, was given his first commission by Denis Doyle. While Moonduster was designed by Frers, Denis was unhappy with her when she was delivered. She was not floating as expected.
Frers could not come to fix the problem – he was in Argentina, so Denis got Tony Castro to come to the rescue. On his recommendation Moonduster had lead fixed under the coachroof, and also had a large hole drilled in her keel, both to redistribute weight and to get her the best possible rating under the then rules. As a result, Moonduster’s performance under handicap was almost unbeatable at the time!
Denis was also one of those mentors who helped with the Round Ireland concept. I had known him for quite some time in my term with the IYA, and in the many meetings in Michael Jones Office in the planning stages, several long and fruitful telephone conversations with Denis helped to mould the format for the Race.
It is great to see Denis so honored; I cannot think of Denis without remembering Mary!
Brendan Haughton
I was told this story from a guy who crewed on one of round Ireland’s. Apparently when Denis was in bed during the race, he was not to be disturbed. Somewhere around the top of Ireland the crew got into trouble with the spinnaker being jammed aloft and the winds and seas building hugely, there was supposed to be a drawing of straws as to who’d ask Denis what to do. Some poor chap went below to disturb him and ask the question. The crew member got a grunt from Denis, who told him to shoot a flare through the kite and blow it out. He duly turned over and went back to sleep.
Ciaran O’Leary’s story of Denis’s cool and often humorous approach to life’s little difficulties reminded me of the story of Dennis as captain of the Irish Admiral’s cup team many years ago.
The story goes that Denis and a number of his Cork compatriots having arrived in Cowes for the Admiral’s Cup Series, were sipping their iconic drink, pink gin, at the bar having completed their safety inspection of “Moonduster”.
A certain blazered gentleman tapped Denis on the shoulder, and advised him in his best Eaton accent that “unfortunately”, they would have to “.. Disqualify the Irish team”.
Turning a shoulder a little towards the gentleman the story goes that Denis in his best Cork accent uttered an “uhuum” expression, as only he could, and asked the gentleman “..Why is that so..”, And turned back to lift his pink gin from the bar.
“I’m afraid Dr O’Hanlon and Meermin have not turned up in time for their safety inspection”replied the gentleman. Meermin, a member of that year’s Irish Admiral’s Cup Team, was a beautiful Yacht owned by the redoubtable Dr Rory O’Hanlon, unfortunately now deceased, and who also served, inter-alia, as Commodore of the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Being a preeminent gynaecologist, Rory was known at times to be a little bit late, especially as his profession subjected him to the vagaries of the fairer sex in their primary duty to mankind’s future!
Unruffled, Dennis took his time responding to the apparently disasterous news, took a few sips from his pink gin, and was heard to mutter a few grunts. He then, as the story goes, turned face to face to the blazered gentleman, and was heard to pronounce in his very best Cork accent and loud enough for those in the immediate vicinity to hear that …………” That is most unfortunate, as I suppose you’ll have to disqualify the English team toooo”………….. The gentleman was quite taken aback at this remark, and could only utter two words in reply “why’s that?”
Dennis is reputed to have taken another sip from his pink gin before explaining to the gentleman that ………”the English team would indeed also have to be disqualified” as he didn’t “see Ted Heath or Morning Cloud here either!”……… At this the gentleman is reputed to have gently moved away, and the Rebel County fraternity returned to the main business of the evening – comparing the local pink gin to their native Cork Gin based goddess!
The wily Dennis did indeed have everything under control, and knew both of the delay in the arrival of Meermin, and that Ted Heath, the then British Prime Minister, had been delayed in Parliament resulting in his late departure on “Morning Cloud” from her temporary mooring at the mouth of the Thames, and late arrival at Cowes for inspections – and all this before the advent of the Mobile Phone!!!
Needless to say both Meermin and Morning Cloud were cleared in time to participate in the Admiral’s cup series – Dennis of course was as determined to succeed in on-shore matters as he was on the water; as adept a Captain of a Sailing Team as he was a Captain of Industry in his “Republic of Cork”!
We always kept a supply of Angastura Bitters in the bar in Wicklow Sailing Club while Denis was on the campaign, it being the key ingredient of a good Cork Pink Gin! Perhaps some day we should have a Pink Gin Story Evening just to revive memories. There must be hundreds of similar funny sailing stories around and which seldom are aired, and will soon be forgotten!!
Brendan Haughton