A strong 17-boat 1720 sportsboat fleet bore witness to Anthony O'Leary's dominance of the Royal Irish Yacht Club hosted East Coast Championships on Dublin Bay today.
In strong and gusty north-westerlies averaging 18 to 20 knots that gusted to over 35, Royal Cork's O'Leary won the final two races of the six-race series to pull clear ahead of Howth Yacht Club's Dan O'Grady and wrap up the title in a much-reduced fleet of nine boats.
In winning form – Anthony O'Leary on one of the high speed reaches at the 1720 East Coasts. O'Leary's championship-winning Antix was clocked at 16-knots on one of the downwind legs Photo: Mark McGibney/RIYC
O'Leary head up a strong travelling Cork contingent that included third-placed Ben Cooke sailing under both the Baltimore Sailing Club and Royal St. George YC burgees.
Pat Shannon Rear Commodore Sailing of the Royal Irish Yacht Club (left) with 1720 East Coast winner Anthony O'Leary (centre) and UK Sailmakers Ireland's Graham Curran Photo: Mark McGibney/RIYC
Johnny Durcan sailing T-Bone from RCYC was fourth with the Irish National Sailing Club's Alexander Rumball fifth.
In a further boost for 1720 sailing, three under 25 teams competed.
1720 East Coast Championships Results
| Series Place | Sail No | Boat | Helm | Club | Series Points | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Race 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 184 | Antix | Antony O'Leary | RCYC | 8 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1443 | Wet N Black | Dan O'Grady | Howth YC | 11 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 1722 | Smile n Wave | Ben Cooke | BSC / RSGYC | 17 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | 1790 | T-Bone | Johnny Durcan | RCYC | 26 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 5 | 1775 | INSC | Alexander Rumball | Irish National Sailing Club | 30 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| 6 | GBR1791 | Full Bernard | Mark O'Reilly | Baltimore Sailing Club | 34 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | GBR1770 | Luvly Jubbly | James Peters | PSC/SCYC | 39 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| 8 | 1793 | Big Bad Wolf | Andrew Creighton | RIYC | 43 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 9 | 17221 | Wolfe | Elizabeth Conway | RSGYC | 44 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 |
| 10 | 1780 | Mini Apple | David Love | RCYC | 45 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 11 | 2800 | Elder Lemon | Robert Dix | Baltimore SC | 48 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 12 | 1818 | Merlin | Conor Clancy | RIYC | 48 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 18 |
| 13 | 1595 | What did he break | Adam Hyland | RSGYC | 51 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 14 | RIYC2 | Toute Si | Delaney McCourt | RIYC | 65 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| 15 | 1540 | Zelus | Conor Maguire | RIYC | 74 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 18 |
| 16 | 11793 | Wow | Tim Kane | RIYC | 76 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 17 | RIYC3 | RIYC U25's | Alex Conway | RIYC | 76 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
