The fifth and penultimate race day of the Howth Yacht Club Autumn Keelboat League took place on Saturday, October 12, 2024, under challenging conditions.

Report from Offshore Race Course:

Principal Race Officer Jim Lambkin, assisted by Richard Kissane and Michael Sterling, oversaw the day's events.

Weather and Sea Conditions:

Sailors were greeted with a brisk, sunny day featuring fresh to strong westerly winds, forecasted to increase later. The sea state was choppy with white caps, setting the stage for an intense day of racing. The Race Committee, aided by an experienced RIB team, set up Windward/Leeward inner and outer loop courses for a planned two-race program.

Race Summary:

As the 13:00 Warning Signal approached, all five classes made their starts on schedule. The start line saw some close-quarter action, particularly in Class 1, where a two-boat match race style start unfolded.

Class 2 had one boat over the line early (OCS), while an unfortunate collision marred the start in Class 5.

With the wind in the high teens, crews were hard-pressed on the upwind legs, with all hands on the rail and reefs in the mainsails. The decision to fly spinnakers at the weather mark proved challenging, with some boats enjoying spectacular downwind runs while others had more sobering experiences, quickly dousing their kites.

As the race progressed, the Race Committee observed the deteriorating conditions, with an ominous black cloud approaching from the West. Midway through the second lap, a squall hit the fleet, prompting the decision to conclude the day's racing after just one race.

Many sailors showed visible relief as they crossed the finish line!

Class Results and Highlights

The challenging conditions of Week 5 brought out the best in Howth's keelboat fleet, with close racing and tactical decisions making all the difference. From match racing duels to dominant performances and nail-biting finishes, each class provided its own drama and excitement.

Here's how the day unfolded across the five classes:

Class 1: A Two-Boat Tango

With the Absence of Lambay Rules and General Lee, the IRC fleet saw some match racing between the two remaining competitors, as highlighted by the race team. "Snapshot" (Michael & Richard Evans) was the victor, crossing the line 3 minutes and 32 seconds ahead of "Indian" (Simon Knowles). In the HPH fleet, "Snapshot" completed the double, securing another win over "Indian" with a slightly narrower margin of 22 seconds. Both boats now share the leaderboard with 4 points each, going into the final day.

Class 2: Battle of the Titans

In the IRC fleet, "Mojo" (Pat O'Neill) showcased exceptional skill, finishing over 3 minutes ahead of second-place "Maximus" (Paddy Kyne). "Dux" (Caroline & Nico Gore-Grimes) secured third in a closely contested race. The HPH fleet saw Mojo and Maximum retaining first and second place, with "Impetuous" (Noonan / Chambers) hot on their heels in third. The tight finishes in both fleets demonstrate the high level of competition in Class 2.

Class 3: Insider's Edge

"Insider" (Stephen Mullaney) continued its dominant performance in the IRC fleet, finishing over 7 minutes ahead of "Alliance II" (Vincent Gaffney), with "Gecko" (Kevin Darmody) in third. The HPH fleet saw a shake-up with "Battling J" (Jordan Killen) claiming victory, followed by "Shenanigans" (Lee Douglas & Aidan Keane) and "Insider" in a closely fought battle for the podium positions.

Class 4: Splashdance's Spectacular Show

"Splashdance" (John Beckett & Andy George) ruled the IRC fleet, finishing over 5 minutes ahead of second-place "Toughnut" (Dermot Skehan), with "Out&About" (Terry McCoy) in third. The HPH fleet provided more drama, with "Out&About" securing a narrow 18-second victory over "Changeling" (Kieran Jameson), and "Splashdance" close behind in third. This tight finish in the HPH fleet keeps the overall standings intriguing heading into the final race day. On IRC, Splashdance and Bite The Bullet are tied overall on 4 points with Splashbound getting the edge on countback.

Class 5: Leeuwin's Double Delight

In the smaller IRC fleet, "Leeuwin" (E. Burke & J. Murray) sailed to victory while "Demelza" (Steffi & Windsor) unfortunately was unable to finish due to an earlier collision on the start line. The HPH fleet saw more action, with "Leeuwin" completing a double victory, finishing nearly 2 minutes ahead of "Timballoo" (Lundy / Dunne). "Pepsi" (Doug Anderson & Mark Tattersall) rounded out the top three in a closely contested race.

The varying margins of victory across the classes reflect the challenging conditions of the day, with some boats able to capitalize on the strong winds and choppy seas better than others. As the series approaches its final race day, these results have set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Howth Yacht Club Autumn League.

Inshore Fleet Report:

Under the guidance of Principal Race Officer Robert Orr, assisted by Harry Gallagher, the inshore fleet faced challenging conditions similar to their offshore counterparts. Wind speeds of 18 knots gusting to 24 knots from the West, accompanied by a flood tide, set the stage for a demanding day of racing.

The day took a dramatic turn when a 45-knot squall hit at the end of the first race, leading to the abandonment of the second race. These heavy conditions led to some significant incidents on the water, testing both boats and crews.

Class Results and Highlights:

The tumultuous weather created a day of high drama for Howth's inshore fleet. From skilled tactical decisions to unfortunate gear failures, each class saw its share of excitement.

Here's how the action unfolded across the three inshore classes:

Howth 17 Footer: Classic Resilience

In the Scratch fleet "Erica" (Davie Nixon) showcased remarkable consistency, securing victory with a commanding 46-second lead over "Deilginis" (Massey, Toomey, Kenny). "Isobel" (Brian & Conor Turvey) rounded out the podium in third. The HPH fleet saw a different order, with "Deilginis" claiming the win, followed by "Isobel" and "Erica". The classic design of these boats was put to the test in the challenging conditions, with their seaworthiness shining through.

Puppeteer 22: Drama on the Course

The Puppeteer 22 class saw intense competition and unfortunate incidents. In the Scratch fleet, "Trick or Treat" (Alan Pearson & Alan Blay) clinched a narrow one-second victory over "Nimon" (Nigel Biggs), with "Harlequin" (David Clarke) in third. The HPH fleet had "Nimon" on top, followed by "Harlequin" and "Trick or Treat". The day was marred by two significant incidents: "Snowgoose" (Sarah Robertson) lost its mast, while "Yellow Peril" (Commodore Neil Murphy) narrowly avoided the same fate with a broken forestay. These incidents highlight the intense conditions faced by the fleet.

Squib: Tactical Mastery

Although the Squibs had to sit out Saturdays racing, the overall standings after three races show a tight competition. In the Scratch fleet, "Tears in Heaven" (Tom McMahon) holds the lead, followed closely by "Kerfuffle" (Emmet Dalton) and "Crackertoo" (Stephen Kay). The HPH fleet sees "Fantome" (Caroline O'Kelly & Suzanne Barry) in the lead, with "Tears in Heaven" and "Halloween" (Loughran & Hattaway) in second and third respectively.

Wrapping Up: From Squalls to Apres Sail Soirées...

The day's racing got cut short when a whopping 45-knot squall decided to crash the party at the end of the first race, sending the second race packing. While it was quite the spectacle, it reminded everyone that safety is the name of the game out there.

Photo Credits: 

Aideen Sargent / Richard Kissane