Two races and four seasons in three hours

The heavy rain shower at around mid-day probably put off a few less hardy sailors but nevertheless fifteen Lasers made it to the start of the first race in Dun Laoghaire harbour. 

By the starting gun the rain had passed and the wind was blowing a consistent F2-F3 from the south. The pin was won by Coakley who rounded the first mark in the lead but with six other boats snapping at his transom. Up the second beat, the wind died completely before returning from the west. 

Elmes kept his boat moving best as the wind died and secured an advantage that he never relinquished. Despite the significant change in wind direction, the course still worked well, and racing was tight in the following pack. Cahill secured second place and Coakley third.

Coakley in the sun!

The race officer re-set the course for the second race as the wind picked up and the rain started to fall again. The pin was once more the favoured end but the advantage had largely been eroded by the first cross as boat handling in the gusty conditions become the key factor. 

Fierce gusts of nearly 30knts hit the fleet as they neared the windward mark and there were a number of capsizes. Those still upright reached into the windward mark as the buoy was sailed downwind by a K1 from the handicap fleet. O'Leary led round the windward mark and, with great boat handling throughout, he maintained a comfortable advantage. 

Behind O'Leary there were many capsizes, so with a number of boats upside down and huddled against the leeward harbour wall, the race was shortened to two laps. The final runs were exhilarating and with Flanagan heading for swim at the final gybe mark, Field was second and Harding third.

And then, to cap it all, the sun came out, and boats were packed away in a brief spell of spring sunshine!

Harding now leads the second series of the frostbite on 61 points with everyone now seemingly counting a "DNC".  

Race 1
Race 2

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