RS Sprint Stalls - back in the Spring

It was supposed to be a great weekend's sailing, but in the end the weather conspired against it.

The RS Sprint Trophy 2015 should have been on Saturday 25th Oct, out of the George mostly. But the weather forecast caused it to be postponed until the spring. Date to follow.

In the absence of the rest of the RS fleet, your correspondent did see the Craig clan out there in their RS200 - practicing and watching the Moths.

Sun Set Foil

On 22nd Oct the pilots from the local Moth Squad got out for a blast with a videographer on hand.

Moths - The Nightmare on Helm Street - and the leeward mark

The Moth scene at the National grows and grows. The Bank Holiday weekend saw the NYC organize another special event...with another name culled from John Chamber's wit...."The Nightmare on Helm Street".

Saturday was about as windy as Moths can manage so we saw all the crash and burn variants you could possibly expect, plus a few. And more fly-bys of the committee boat than seemed sensible. One or twice there it felt sensible to duck.

As regards results, Rory Fitz was clearly fastest around the course on the day, but he missed a race or two so we'll have to see where it all came out.

Speed of the day, that we know of, went to Annalise Murphy with 29.3 knots. Dismount of the day went to Neil O'Toole, although the damage to his mainsail makes it rather less than perfectly amusing.

Other than that, the flybys were impressive.

Loony Liffey lasers

Despite a very gentle forecast of barely a few knots, 18 Lasers launched at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club and sailed up through the lifted toll bridge for Saturday's Royal Alfred fixture on the river Liffey. Once into the rectangular amphitheatre formed on the stretch up to the spectacular Samuel Beckett Bridge, the fleet were delighted to find a decent enough 5 to 8 knots blowing straight downstream. It was game on for the first ever Royal Alfred Yacht Club Laser Challenge with many spectators and supporters watching, on a truly glorious Autumn day in the capital.

   

Race Officer Barry MacNeaney and his team wasted no team and quickly got the races underway on, not surprisingly, a windward leeward course. Typically in Lasers there was a great spread of ages with plenty of interest in how a couple of hot young Radial helms would adapt to the Full rig. One of these, Luke Murphy, drew first blood with a great win in Race one. However, another Radial star Conor O'Beirne (2013 British 4.7 Champion) made his presence felt with the next bullet. Not many problems adapting so ! After a slowish start, Paul MacMahon struck back for the older fraternity and came through with the next two wins, before O'Beirne took the last race. After leading into the decider on points, this was more than enough to make the RStGYC Laser ace the first ever RAYC Laser King of the River O'Beirne took home the fine Royal Alfred Liffey Challenge Trophy which has been presented in previous years for 1720 and SB20 racing up in the heart of the city.

MacMahon took second overall and an improving Sean Craig popped out in 3rd overall, a couple of points ahead of Murphy who edged Theo Lyttle on the tie break. Other podium race results were posted by Ross O'Leary and Rob Cahill. Amanda Relph was first Radial and Daniel Hopkins was first 4.7.

  Top 5 overall in largest 'Full Rig' division

1 Conor O'Beirne RStGYC 6 pts
2 Paul MacMahon HYC 9 pts
3 Sean Craig RStGYC 12 pts
4 Luke Murphy RStGYC 14 pts
5 Theo Lyttle RStGYC 14 pts

A huge thanks to the Royal Alfred Yacht Club (especially Barry MacNeaney), the highly hospitable Poolbeg Yacht Club, RIB support Frank Heath and also to Richard Tate who managed to mobilise a great turnout. This was the first but almost definitely not the last RAYC Laser Liffey regatta... Report courtesy of Sean Craig 

Photos from Frank Heath. (see all photos here - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s163ghai0b2b3i8/AAD9fhfb3bFcCVItFhyP5E5ma?n=346983990)

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A Canadian, some Swedes, an American, a Frenchman, a few Belgians and an Irishman walk into a bar..

This could be the opening line to a bad joke describing the derriere end of the apprentice fleet. Everyday it's the same group and faces rounding the first windward just after the leading (and middle) groups have lit their afterburners. In a sense it's nice as we've all come to know each other quite well and the event is supposed to be about friendliness.

Up at the business end, which I've christened Olympia, I'm sure it's a different kettle of fish. Our Canadian compatriot did find himself there on one of the light days and was altogether taken aback at the reception he received after slightly overstanding a mark.

Today was windy again though not as windy for us as the Masters fleet. The Apprentice and Grand Master fleets were held ashore in the morning to try and pre-empt the congestion and delays on the race courses that have been experienced over the last few days.

Nick Walsh is revelling in the breeze and after his 3rd yesterday posted a 5th and 8th today and looks certain to be in the Gold Fleet. Colin Galavan was not quite sure if he's going to make the cut while Ed Rice has been something of a starting pathfinder and carrying three OCS's now looks likely to have to settle for some Argent action. Kevin Currier looks in that silver boat too.

Chris Arrowsmith is holding his own in the Grand Masters and will likely make it into the Gold fleet and the final Hike to Oblivion.

Thomas Chaix continues to post some competitive and tidy scores while Dan O'Connell is steadily making in-roads into the 20's.

Denis O'Sullivan is like a rock-star in these parts and apparently led at the first windward mark yesterday. though other results from Radial world are hard to come by. 

On the way to the start today  I wondered about the apparent lack of rescue boats on the very large courses. Our beat alone was almost 1nm. Liberally sprinkle some laser fleets in big breeze over an inner and outer trapezoid and suddenly you have very little cover in case something goes wrong for someone. It clicked when I noticed on the horizon the French Air Force out in their helicopters practicing their search and rescue techniques. They are out there every day and every night in this area so we'll all be ok if something goes wrong.

More wind tomorrow. Mon dieu!

A demain

Paul

Sunnier, Wavier, Windier. Being careful what you wish for.

In my last missive from Hyeres I signed off with the news that there were Waves and Breeze on the way and likened this to a lotto win. I think what I should have wished for was a Scratch Card win rather than a Euromillions Jackpot.

On Tuesday the wind arrived from the East. When it blows into Hyeres Bay in this direction it kicks up a demon swell with a really short wavelength. This makes for a very demanding upwind followed by a, well, very demanding downwind.

Copyright Thom Touw - from event FB page. 

Yesterday was some of the most exhilarating sailing I think most of the team have ever done. After pounding upwind for 15 minutes it was hang on tight as you screamed down the blast reaches and runs. Thankfully the water temp is very palatable so shipping waves and swimming (most people seem to have had at least one) is not the same chore as it is at home. Needless to say the apres sailing yesterday had an energised buzz about it.

This morning the clink clink clink of halyards against masts was the first sign that today's conditions we're going to be even more demanding. In the boat park there was a palpable air of people trying to be calm but knowing they were heading out to tough conditions.

Hyeres brings the pain - and the joy.

Results for the day are not yet posted but on the Bravo race course the Masters fleets got started fairly cleanly and Nick Walsh rounded the bottom gate in 3rd, a position he held onto till the end. In the same race and same fleet Ed Rice was also going great guns, rounding the gate in about 15th but a swim later in the race put paid to that position.

For the apprentice fleet there was a very long delay to get going, almost two hours, but this didn't bother Thomas Chaix who posted a 12th in the first.

In the Great Grand Masters Denis O'Sullivan was very well placed on the leaderboard overnight so it'll be interesting to see the results coming from the Alpha Course.

Tomorrow the forecast is similar, perhaps a little more breeze, and those waves.. they're going nowhere! If it really blows maybe the RC will give  the lay day they took from us today to catch up on the race schedule. I know there are many sailors in the boat park wishing for a break to recoup mind and body after today.

A demain,

Paul

For event pictures visit:
http://thomtouw.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/Audi-2014-Laser-Masters-World-Championships/C0000e0lzJYo7zfg

For latest results visit:
http://lasermasters.coych.org/results/

Keane Reports from Hyeres

As previously mentioned, there are LOTS of Dun Laoghaire Dinghy sailors in France at the Laser Master Worlds. Here's a report from Paul Keane, sent this morning.  He's one of the people keeping calm and hiking harder.

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There's a strong contingent of Irish competing in the Laser Masters Worlds taking place from the 4th - 11th October in Hyeres, France. `

The event has broken records for the number competing which topped out at an eye watering 499. The logistics and challenges for the event organisers of dealing with a fleet this size both onshore and afloat are daunting but COYCH are managing. Masters fleets are divided by age brackets. The youngest competitors are 35 in the apprentice fleet. At 45 these "young guns" graduate to Masters and so on as the bands continue up in blocks of 10 years.

 The Irish team consists of Worlds stalwart and Great Grand Master Denis O'Sullivan. Chris Arrowsmith from RStG is in the Grand Master category. Ed Rice and Nick Walsh from RCYC along with Colin Galavan from RIYC and Kevin Currier from Ballyholme are in the Masters fleet. The team is rounded out by three Apprentice Masters, Dan O'Connell from RCYC, ISA Coach Thomas Chaix and Paul Keane also from RIYC.  (click on "read whole article" just below to see the rest)

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They're there in Hyeres

There is quite a large bunch of Dun Laoghaire Laser sailors in Hyeres for the 2014 Laser World Masters. Keane, Arrowsmith, Galavan, O'Connell, all spring to mind and your humble correspondent is probably missing a few at that. A large contingent of Irish sailors went, all giving it their best in some of the highest level sailing outside the Olympics.

The racing started with a practice race and they're already into the 2nd day of racing now.

Results are online here; http://lasermasters.coych.org/results/  It looks as if the light winds will continue today and then they'll get some better conditions.

Best of luck to all!

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Juniors at the NYC

After a busy September series inside the harbor, the month ended with the End-of-Season Junior Regatta at the NYC. Fevas, Oppies, Toppers and Lasers, with all but the Oppie Regatta fleet sailing well out in Dublin Bay.

Condition on Saturday were more like a balmy July than the middle of the Autumn. Over 60 juniors competed in this mixed fleet event.

After a delayed start waiting for the breeze conditions on Saturday were perfect with a steady 10 knots from the south and calm seas. The main fleet sailed 2 races outside the harbour while the junior fleet spent the morning practising their course and after a break for lunch, raced 3 races.

The kids are just visible slightly left of Howth Head

Sunday dawned warm and calm in Dublin Bay and despite much whistling the wind did not blow and racing was cancelled at mid day.

NYCs Nicola Ferguson was the overall winner of the Optimist event with 2 race wins.
RSGYC's Sarah Fogarty and Tara Coakley similarly dominated the Feva fleet with NYC's Heather Spain and Guy Boggan winning by the same margin in Laser 4.7 and Radial, respectively.  NYC's Oscar Gleeson won on countback in the Toppers with two boats finishing on equal points.

Most of the prize winners with their trophies. 

Full results available here.

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