#ffirl – On a cold day with a n-ne force 3/4 breeze a great turnout of 17 Flying Fifteens took part in the RIYC regatta on Saturday.
In exciting close racing David Gorman & Chris Doorly, back after a two year break, put in a good days work winning the two races.
After a shift in the starting sequence of race 1 the PRO put the AP up, shortly after the first race got underway, there was a small bias at the pin but with so many boats and a short beat it made sense not to get pinned in out left in the shifty conditions. Those who went up left of centre fared well but there was very little in it. Mathews/Poole got their nose in front closely followed by Gorman with Murphy third and Green fourth. This is as it stayed but there was a twist on the last broad reach, Gorman was always snapping at Matthews heels and went low on the last reach hoping to gain from the tide. A little surge on a wave and being able to reach up to the last leeward mark enabled them to get their nose in front and win the race.
The second race eventually started after a long cold interval, again the pin was slightly biased. Green was over the line and went back, Dooley and Galvin were flying and were one and two at the weather mark, followed by Tom Murphy. From fifth at the mark Gorman got the wind in his sail and sailed a superb reach to take the lead, a lead he was not to lose. On the second beat the wind was still shifty, Dooley was sailing well and went up the right as did Gorman. Mathews had moved up to third and went left, luckily Gorman covered them as Dooley lost out over on the right side.
This was how it stayed with Mathews finishing a close second with Murphy third, the Meaghers fourth and Dooley fifth. It was great racing and fantastic to see such a large turnout and once ashore fleet headed to the RIYC for refreshments and entertainment.
Top five overall results were as below, for full results see
1-Gorman/Doorly
2-Matthews/Poole
3-Murphy/Diego
4-Green/Murphy
5-Dooley/Hickey
