SAILING: The 75th anniversary celebration of the International Dragon keelboat ended at the weekend on a high note for the Irish fleet representatives in St Tropez after a record 268 boats took part.

Dún Laoghaire's Johnny Ross-Murphy, with Ailbhe Millerick and Ed Peel, on Rigmarole from the Royal St George Yacht Club, won last Thursday's special fleet race in which the combined divisions sailed in what is understood to be the largest single start for any keelboat class.

The trio continued their form to take third overall in the Gold fleet in Saturday's single race that decided the overall anniversary championship.

Ward Woods, with Brian Mathews and Mark Pettit, had a hero-to-zero outcome when, having led the qualification rounds during the week, they had a 48th place after a minor collision obliged them to take a 720-degree penalty turn.

Triple America's Cup winner Russell Coutts won Friday's Champion of Champions race, but was disqualified from Saturday's final for starting early.

"Black flag" starts dominated the event due to the weather and the size of the fleet, causing headaches for Principal Race Officer Tony O'Gorman and his team.

Meanwhile, Dan O'Connor from the Royal Irish YC took fourth overall on Leprechaun in the classics division.