By Chris Doorly: Week 4 of the National Yacht Club’s frostbite series for Mermaids, Flying Fifteens and SB3s, sponsored by Derrycourt Cleaning, took place at the weekend in altogether different conditions. Winter has arrived!
Again about 40 boats turned out as the SB3s were back from an event they had last weekend, the Mermaids had about 10 boats, a great turnout despite the sailing clashing with the rugby world cup final.
The forecast was horrific, but there seemed a reasonable window in the morning to fit two races in. With light wind from the sea and the tide ebbing, Larry Power, the PRO, got started on time, no general recalls or black flags this week!
After six races and one discard Green/Doorly lead the way with Coleman/Quinn second, Poole/Marsden third with Mulvin/Beirne fourth. The results were very mixed with all the contenders up to last week slipping down the fleet. This has opened up the whole competition and when the next discard kicks in it will be very tight.
In Race 1 on the day, the lead boats that went left and right came into the weather mark together. The Meaghers led from Pool/Marsden. On the second beat, those out on the left had a bit more wind, with Adrian Cooper/Joe McNamara nipping into second place and Coleman also gaining. The Meaghers covered well and kept the lead to take the gun, with Coopers second, Poole third and Coleman fourth.
Race 2, the forecast storm seemed to be looming but the wind was still light, variable and shifty and PRO for the day Larry Power had difficulty setting the course.
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Those who went right came in at the weather mark first after a nice lift which left those on the left floundering and out of touch very early in the race.
Ben and Brian Maguire led followed by Crummy/Burgess and the Meaghers. At the weather mark on lap two the wind kicked in and it looked like the storm was on its way. Things got hectic but it soon blew out and we were sailing with little or no wind. On the third beat, which was now a fetch, the Meaghers went from second to fifth as they ran out of wind completely with Coleman moving to second. On the last beat Coleman was to lose out in a similar fashion in the slop.
Ben and Brian remained first throughout, Mulvin/Beirne sailed well and came in second, Dooley/Hickey third with Crummy/Burgess fourth. It was a very strange, frustrating day on the water and as we were packing the boats away the predicted storm kicked in, so well done to Larry and his team of Colm, Catherine and Bernard for getting in the two races!
Jonathan O’Rourke comfortably leads the Mermaid fleet and James Gorman leads the SB3, despite Justin Burke have a great day with two race wins.
