Local Rob McConnell's new 1720 sportsboat was the top performer, both as a one-design and on rating in last weekend's Waterford Harbour Sailing Club's annual Club Cruiser Championships and Open Keelboat Regatta.
A total of seventeen boats, including seven 1720s, took to the water for two days of racing in near-ideal conditions at Dunmore East including a coastal race.
McConnell's victory is a welcome warm-up win in his campaign for the 1720 European Championships when they set sail at the Waterford Port in September.
As regular Afloat readers know, the club's Julian Hughes was forced to postpone the original date in June due to COVID.
WHSC Commodore Roy Power paid tribute to the visitors from other clubs who travelled to participate in the weekend event that is a shot in the arm for racing fans on the Copper Coast, where up to six 1720s are now regularly turning out for club racing.
Dinghy captain Conor Cronin, ran a popular fun family event for the Dale Morris and Harris Trophies as part of the annual regatta.
John & Suzie Murphy in the J109 Outrajeous was third on IRC Photo: Evelyn McNamara
IRC Overall Fleet:
1 – Rob McConnell (Fool’s Gold)
2 – Tom Murphy (Glance)
3 – John & Suzie Murphy (Outrajeous)
1720 Fleet Winners:
1 – Rob McConnell (Fool’s Gold)
2 – Julian Hughes (Root 1)
3 – Ciaran Finnegan (Green Diesel)
Class 1 Fleet Winners:
1 – Tom Murphy (Glance)
2 – John & Suzie Murphy (Outrajeous)
3 – Bob Tait (Nero)
Class 2 Fleet:
1 – Eoin Hegarty (Shockwave)
Full results here
