One Design Tuesday

A forecast which promised a dropping breeze didn't quite pan out as expected and the Tuesday night fleets faced challenging conditions with a steady 20 knots and more against an ebb tide providing short sharp chop.

Six Howth Seventeen Footers started from the East Pier, with five completing the course. David Nixon's "Erica" reversed the order from last week and led home by a minute from Ian Malcolm's "Aura" and the Gallagher/Fitzgibbon "Orla".

The Squibs had five boats raring to go but "Tiger Roll" was blessed to have discovered a broken bottle screw before leaving the harbour. Just as lucky was Tom O'Reilly in "Cool Beans" who ended up with a two-strand stay just after the start and managed to keep the silver bit above the boat bit before help arrived to escort them ashore. The rest of the fleet blasted around the track with "Kerfuffle" (Emmet Dalton) scorching downwind with extended 10+ kts sessions. Ronan MacDonell's new "Kaizen" took her first victory with the fleet buying the winner his dinner and drinks after!

Eleven Puppeteer 22s came to the start area. After two Squibs nearly lost their masts, unfortunately the laws of physics went against "Mr. Punch" and her mast parted company with the boat. Hopefully they will be bacl in action shortly with the usual great support of HYC's largest fleet. "Trick or Treat", "Harlequin" and "Wey Hey" crossed the finish line 1-2-3, with only two seconds separating P2 and P3.

Keelboat Wednesday

A Lovely fine evening with a light breeze from south and an ebb tide greeted the Wednesday fleet.

The Non Spinnaker fleet had a great showing with nine white sails getting away to a clear start. The lighter cruisers gradually crept away from older heavier cruisers like “Archie” and “Out& About”. It ended in a close packed fleet won by Colm Birmingham on his return on “Bite the Bullet” with “ToughNut” and “Splashdance” crossing the line in close 2nd and 3rd place. As the RO shortened the course, Michael Carroll in Flexit was rewarded for his stealth with cat & mouse-like tactics.

In Class 1, Mike and Richie Evans in “Snapshot” persevered as the only boat to finish taking 1st place on IRC and Echo.

In Class 2, the light breeze suited Impetuous finishing almost 4 minutes ahead of the second finisher (“Maximus”) to secure a first on IRC, with Insider in 2nd and “Maximus” taking third. On HPH, “Dux” took the spoils with Insider again finishing second and “Impetuous” in third.

Dinghy Racing Thursday

A beautiful summer's evening greeted the Thursday night dinghy fleet for our second outing this season. Race Officer Dave Sargent once again had his work cut out setting a course with the Ultra light conditions but managed to get a race away (and finished!). Big thanks To Dave and his AROs Dave, Ann and Owen.

Ten Dinghies made it to the race area with an eclectic mix of Oppies, Aeros, Lasers, GP14, Melges 15 and an Enterprise.

Big shout out to Hon. Sailing Secretary Emmet Dalton who made his debut appearance in his newly acquired Aero.

The PRO opted for a Triangle course and with a fast flowing Ebb tide, rounding the weather mark was a serious challenge.

Katie Dwyer & Michelle Rowley in the GP14 managed to get away and took the bullet finishing almost 5 minutes ahead of second placed John Phelan in his Aero. Kay Cornally sailed a great race in the Enterprise and crossed the line in third position. The final positions on PY for 1st, 2nd and 3rd were in the same order.

Photo credits: Matthew Cotter and Dave Cotter