The reason for small craft warnings is so that the yachty (or WAFI) as they are known, will sit up and listen to the 'warning' rather than disregard a force 6 wind, which might not seem much to an 'armchair mariner'.
These warnings are given whenever the wind is expected to reach force 6 to force seven, and a gale then is force 8. As well as this, these are mean wind speeds which may vary in gusts and squalls, which was the case in Dublin Bay that day. These SCW are given out for good reason. A force 6 wind can build up a significant sea in a short period of time. This can be made worse when the tidal current goes against the wind, resulting in steep fronted waves. Result?? Capsizing small dinghys
Someone must be held accountable for the decision to send kids out into the bay in those conditions. And to blatantly try and justify the decision to the media was just digging a deeper hole. I hope the Maritime safety directorate come down on the yacht club like a ton of bricks. Too many lives have been lost at sea due to idiots who think they know what they are talking about.
Ahhhhhhhh.. that's better.......