The 9-weekend post-Christmas series drew to a close on Sunday 3rd March, and for the first time in 2024, gentle winds and sun greeted the sailors as they arrived on the race course. Despite it being the end of the Frostbites series, the winter season isn’t finished just yet - the annual Round the Island Race is set for Saturday 9th March, where all ILCAs and PY classes are welcome to compete to see who can circumnavigate Ireland’s Eye the fastest.

With all fleets having podium places to compete for, everyone had to be at their best to close out the series well. Race Officer Ronan MacDonell set two windward leeward courses in the gentle westerly breeze, and with a flooding tide, the races got away.

Daragh Sheridan triumphs in the PY Fleet

The PY fleet had a strong turnout, and the light breeze and flat water obviously suited the GP14s, taking five of the available six podium places. Sam Street’s GP14 came away with two wins, followed by Conor Twohig’s GP14 and Daragh Sheridan’s RS Aero in Race 1, and in Race 2 he was followed by Alan Blay and Conor Twohig. There was remarkably close racing in Race 2 between the GP14s, with all three boats crossing the finish line within 11 seconds of each other. The fleet continues to show great diversity with an Enterprise, B14, RS600 all on the water in addition to the GP14s and Aeros. In the series overall, Daragh Sheridan managed to seal his win overall, closing the series with 17 points. Alan Blay and Hugh McNally came second and Sam Street came third.

Conor Murphy seals the first spot in ILCA 7

The ILCA 7s had a lot on the line coming into the day’s racing, with all podium places available depending on how the racing went. In Race 1, Dan O’Connell, Conor Murphy and Dave Kirwan battled around the course, all swapping places on the beats and runs, with ultimately O’Connell taking the win followed by Kirwan and Murphy. In Race 2, O’Connell again established a lead, this time followed closely by Murphy and Darragh Peelo, with positions changing around the course. After a big drop in breeze on the final run, the three boats compressed, and on the short beat to the finish, O’Connell took the win, followed by Murphy and Peelo. Murphy did just about enough to obtain the series win by a single point over O’Connell, followed by Rory Lynch in third place.

It's a Fox jump to get the ultimate ILCA 6 prize

The ILCA 6s saw series leader Tom Fox return to make sure his results came good at the end. Ciara McMahon excelled in the light and shifty conditions in Race 1, taking the win followed by Glenda Gallagher and Fox. Race 2 saw Fox take the win, followed by Carla Fagan and Ciara McMahon. Tom Fox won the series overall, followed by Viktor Samoilov and Ciara McMahon.

ILCA 4 trophy goes to Stan O’Rourke

The ILCA 4s saw Harry Dunne win the first race, followed by Oleksandr Bezpalyi and Stan O’Rourke. Race 2 saw Harry Dunne OCS, with O’Rourke and Oleksandr Bezpalyi taking first and second podium spot respectively.

Full results available here.

That marks the end of a great series, with a special thanks to the volunteer race management team that make it all possible.

The Round the Island Race, which will take place on Saturday 9th March marks the end of the winter dinghy season in HYC, with all visitors welcome, it’s bound to be a great race.

Next season marks the Frostbites 50th anniversary - stay tuned for updates on the initiatives which the club plans to run to celebrate the occasion.