The Flying Fifteen class in Dun Laoghaire started its annual Frostbite series, which has been going since 1979, with PRO Keith Poole and his team getting in two races in ideal conditions. The tide was flooding, and the wind was a slightly shifty 13-14 knots from the NW.
Racing got off cleanly with a good start by Coughlan & Marshall in the middle of the line as most boats ventured towards the pin end and headed inshore.
Alan Green & Shane MacCarthy rounded the weather mark first, closely followed by David Mulvin and Ronan Beirne, Nicky and Niall Meagher and Robin Hilliard & Joe Hickey. Downwind was a great spectacle with places changing on a regular basis so much so that Mulvin rounded the leeward mark in the lead with the Meagher’s second and Green third. Upwind the Meagher got in front but by the weather mark, Green and MacCarthy were back in front a lead they kept to the finish line with Mulvin and Beirne finishing second, the Meaghers third and Hilliard and Hickey fourth.
Race 2 got going very quickly, all the boats were well off the line, and this time, MacCarthy helmed to lead for a comfortable win. There were plenty of changes behind, but Mulvin & Beirne prevailed to keep second, Murphy and Mulvey recovered from doing turns to finish third just in front of the Meagher, followed by Hilliard & Hickey and O’Sullivan. The series continues next week.