The nine weekend post-Christmas series at Howth drew to a close on Sunday morning 3rd March, and for the first time in 2024, properly gentle winds and warm sun greeted the sailors as they arrived on the race course. Despite it being the end of the nine-weekend series, the winter season isn't finished just yet - the annual Round the Island Race is set for Saturday, 9th March, where all ILCAs and PY classes are welcome to compete to see who can circumnavigate Ireland's Eye the fastest, with the pro- and anti- clockwise fans getting a free rein.
With all fleets having podium places open to compete for on Sunday, everyone had to be at their best to close out the series well and sea a total of 14 good races in the can. Race Officer Ronan MacDonell set two windward-leeward courses for this final day in the gentle westerly breeze, and with a flooding tide, the races got away.
Sam Street of Blessington (seen here in an earlier race at Howth) finished on a high with the two wins ahead of a strong GP14 contingent in the PY Division
GOOD DAY FOR GEEPS
The PY fleet had a strong turnout, and the light breeze and flat water obviously suited the GP14s, taking five of the available 6 podium places. Sam Street's GP14 came away with two wins, followed by Conor Twohig's GP14 and Daragh Sheridan's RS Aero in race 1, and in race 2 he was followed by Alan Blay and Conor Twohig.
RIGHT TO THE WIRE FOR PY
There was remarkably close competition in Race 2 between the GP14s, with all 3 crossing the finish line within 11 seconds of each other. The PY fleet continues to show great diversity with an Enterprise, B14, and RS600 all on the water in addition to the GP14s and Aeros. In the series overall, however, Daragh Sheridan did enough to seal his win overall, closing the series with 17 points. Alan Blay and Hugh McNally came second with a Geep, and Sam Street came third similarly kitted.
Another one we made earlier – Daragh Sheridan’s consistency in the RS Aero in the earlier races in the 14-race series ensured he won the PY Division overall
ALL TO PLAY FOR IN ILCA 7s
The ILCA 7s had a lot on the line coming into the final day's racing, with all podium places available depending on how the racing went. In Race 1, Dan O'Connell (Cove of Cork), Conor Murphy (Howth) and Dave Kirwan (Malahide) battled around the course, all swapping places on the beats and runs, with ultimately O'Connell taking the win followed by Kirwan and Murphy. In Race 2, O'Connell again established a lead, this time followed closely by Murphy and Darragh Peelo, with positions changing around the course.
Fighting for the ILCA7 title – Dave O’Connell of Cove, Conor Murphy of Howth, and Daragh Kirwan of Malahide were glued together for the two final races. But though O’Connell won both, Murphy was right there and had enough points from earlier in the 14-race series to win overall. Photo: Neil Murphy
FLEET COMPRESSES IN FALLING WIND
But after a big drop in breeze on the final run, the 3 boats compressed, and on the short beat to the finish, O'Connell took the win, followed by Murphy and Peelo. Murphy did just about enough to obtain the series win by a single point over O'Connell, followed by Rory Lynch in 3rd.
The ILCA 6s saw series leader Tom Fox of Rush SC return to make sure his results came good at the end. Ciara McMahon excelled in the light and shifty conditions in race 1, taking the win followed by Glenda Gallagher and Fox. Race 2 saw Fox take the win, followed by Carla Fagan and Ciara McMahon. Tom Fox won the series overall, followed by Viktor Samoilov and Ciara McMahon.
Ciara McMahon (Howth, third OA ILCA6), Viktor Samoilov (MYC & HYC, second OA ILCA6) and Richard Tate (Royal St George YC) battling for clear downwind air as the breeze eases. Photo: Neil Murphy
The ILCA 4s saw Harry Dunne (Howth) win the first race, followed by Oleksandr Bezpalyi (Obolon SC) and Stan O'Rourke (Malahide & Howth). But Race 2 saw Harry Dunne OCS, with O'Rourke and Oleksandr Bezpalyi taking first and second respectively, which confirmed Stan O’Rourke as overall winner.
Some of Friday’s snow is still evident on the distant Wicklow Hills as Glenda Gallagher (Malahide) sails towards a 2nd and an 8th in the ILCA 6s in the final series races at Howth. Photo: Neil Murphy
HOWTH LASER FROSTBITE 50TH PARTY IN AUTUMN
That marks the end of a great series, with a special thanks to the volunteer race management team that make it all possible. The Round the Island Race marks the end of the winter dinghy season in HYC, and with all visitors welcome, it's bound to be a great race. Next season of the Frostbites in October/November marks the 50th anniversary of the event. Stay tuned for updates on the events which the club plans to run to mark the occasion – we may even see some of the golden oldies from the first series in 1974 taking part.
Full results available below
The beginnings of a new breeze from the south are already making in as the boats return to Howth Harbour after a good morning’s racing, with Ireland’s Eye out beyond the harbour, ready and waiting for special sport in Saturday 9th March’s two-way circuit
