In “champagne” sailing conditions, Max Sweetman of Waterford Harbour SC and Roisin Mitchell Ward of Galway Bay SC (GBSC) took gold at the 420 class Connacht sailing championships off An Spidéal, Co Galway, over the weekend.
Sweetman and Mitchell Ward will be competing in the Junior European 420 Championships in Poland, taking their skills honed in the Atlantic to the Baltic Sea.
Sean Lemonier and Killian Mathieu, both of GBSC, came second in the gold fleet, followed by club mates Robert Donnelly and Ella Wilkinson in third place.
Ava McCarthy and James Malone, both of Galway City SC, were first in the silver fleet, while Sarah Whyte (Lough Ree YC) and Amelia O’Donnell (Malahide YC) were second in silver.
Arthur Kelly and Malachy Kinsella, both GBSC, took third in the silver fleet.
Charlie Donald and James Harvey of host club, Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS), were just a discard score away from a gong in the silver fleet.
The fleet of 12 entrants initially launched in challenging south-westerly winds off the beach at An Spidéil's Sean Céibh on Saturday, but the wind went westerly and provided for ideal racing over the two days.
Seven races in all were run by race officer Stephen O’Gorman, assisted by Mark White.
Gordon Davies, also on the committee boat, ran an off-water tuition session on sailing etiquette, rules of racing and how to behave in the protest room.
It was followed by a highly successful barbeque hosted by club commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle, Collette Ó Conghaíle and a CSS club team, with music by Sadhbh Laila Riggott and Kate Ó Conghaíle.
CSS sailors Kate O Conghaile and Sadhbh Laila Riggott providing music at the 420 Connacht Championship barbeque
Race marks were provided by Tiernan O’Brien and liquid support for the barbeque was provided by An Spidéil’s Park Hotel.
Irish 420 Association president Martina Whyte expressed delight at the running of the regatta by a CSS shore and on-water team.
She paid tribute to all the sailors on “great close racing and sportsmanship on and off the water”.
She also paid tribute to CSS for “hosting a fantastic event, champagne sailing and superb hospitality” and thanked Gordon Davies for “generously sharing his vast knowledge and experience on and off water”.
420 Class Silver Fleet Connacht Sailing Championships - Top Three
3rd in the silver fleet at the 420 class Connacht sailing championships off An Spidéal, Co Galway, were Arthur Kelly (GBSC) and Malachy Kinsella (GBSC) with CSS commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle who presented the prizes to the top crews in the gold and silver fleets (above and below)
2nd in the silver fleet at the 420 class Connacht sailing championships off An Spidéal, Co Galway were Sarah Whyte (LRYC) and Amelia O Donnell (MYC)
1st in the silver fleet at the 420 class Connacht sailing championships off An Spidéal, Co Galway were Ava McCarthy (GCSC) and James Malone (GCSC)
420 Class Gold Fleet Connacht Sailing Championships - Top Three
3rd in the Gold fleet at the 420 class Connacht sailing championships off An Spidéal, Co Galway, were Robert Donnelly (GBSC) and Ella Wilkinson (GBSC)
2nd in the Gold fleet at the 420 class Connacht sailing championships off An Spidéal, Co Galway were Sean Lemonier and Killian Mathieu, both of GBSC
1st in the gold fleet and 420 Connaught Champions off An Spidéal, Co Galway were Max Sweetman (WHSC) and Roisin Mitchell Ward (GBSC)
