The format of the Claremont League is fast, fun and home by lunchtime. It works and has attracted 26 entries.

14 boats were at the start box in a very grey autumnal day with winds at 11-13 knots from the north east and gust topping at 17.3knots. Three short and snappy windward-leeward races were set by Race Officer, Ronan MacDonell, on the Committee boat with Pat McCaughey and Karolina Kernan.

Race 1 started with a short delay on a WL course with leg length of about 700m. With a PY start, good battles unfolded among the classes with multiple boats.

It looked like a promo day for the Melges 15 with eight boats hitting the start line, bringing a bit of colour to an otherwise grey morning. Every one of those boats had a family crew combo and the Farrellys, Evanses and Quinns shared the bragging rights.

The Farrelly, Quinn and Evans families were in consistent battle but even tighter still was the match race battle of the IDRA 14’s with regular lead changes.

The two IDRA 14s agreed to give everyone else a chance and opted to sail without their spinnakers. No doubt that charitable gesture will not be repeated next week. The gloves will be off!

Elsewhere, the Aeros went about their business in tidy fashion with Emmet Dalton having the upper hand despite a swim at a mark in R2. And staying on the subject of gloves, Emmet discovered that his new sailing gloves offered little grip as the mainsheet slipped through his fingers, rolled in at the windward mark and wrapped the mark tackle around his boom, his second mark touch of the morning.

In the Feva, Fiachra and Thomas navigated the course well considering the Sailing Instructions hadn’t been read. The friendly race management team were in hand to support!

After the first three races, Emmet Dalton leads in his Aero, followed by Ryan Cairns and Orla Doogue in the first IDRA 14, with Alan Carr and Orlaith Connolly crewing the other IDRA 14 in third place.

Some great photos thanks to Karolina and Ronan:

Photos: Karolina Kernan and Ronan McDonnell