Displaying items by tag: British Etchells tops on day 1

23rd August 2010

Razmilovic heads Etchells Worlds fleet after two races

The 2010 Etchells Worlds Championships started at Howth today (Monday 23rd) with two scheduled races sailed in freshening winds, with Ante Razmilovic of the UK holding a one point lead over Australian sailing legend John Bertrand at the end of the first day.

The first race, sailed in westerly winds steadily increasing in strength, saw Razmilovic open up a large lead by the windward mark, having gone to the right of the course on the first leg. While the 2009 Worlds runner-up Damien King of Australia closed the gap over the next three legs, it was not enough to deny the British boat a comfortable win.

Another British entry, Graham Bailey took third ahead of the winner's brother Nils Razmilovic (sailing for Singapore) while John Bertrand finished fifth. The leading Howth entry was Stephen Quinn & Stephen O'Flaherty in 11th place.

Winds had freshened considerably to 24 knots by the start of the second race, conditions which lead to some gear damage and one major collision. The conditions were, however, very much to the liking of Australian crews who filled the first three places.

John Bertrand took the gun ahead of his Royal Brighton YC clubmate Jake Gunther while former World Champion Peter McNeill, who recently won the Irish national title, took third spot ahead of Ante Razmilovic. Dan O'Grady of Howth was the best of the Irish in 15th place.

That result left Razmilovic the overall leader on five points after two races, one ahead of Bertrand and with Damien King in third place on seven points. The leading American entry is Jud Smith of Eastern YC in 6th while the top Irish boat in the overall standings is Howth's Stephen Quinn/Stephen Flaherty in 11th place.

Racing continues on Tuesday (24th) with one race scheduled on the programme.

Etchells World Championships (provisional results after two races):

Swedish Blue (UK) – Ante Razmilovic – 5 pointsTriad (Aus) – John Bertrand – 6 pointsBarry (Aus) – Damien King – 7 pointsArbitrator (UK) – Graham Bailey – 12 pointsMatatu (Singapore) – Nils Razmilovic – 12 points1224 (USA) – Jud Smith – 19 points

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.