Skerries Sailing Club has waited four years to host the GP14 World Championships, so another two days to get the first race is tolerable as Monday's race schedule was upset due to lack of wind.
The wind didn't play ball, and Monday morning saw two postponements before racing was finally abandoned for the day around midday.
Another amendment saw the lay-day lost and racing now scheduled for Wed with an earlier start this morning (Tuesday).
Race Officer Bill O'Hara will try and get three races in today to get the schedule back on track by the end of Wednesday. The forecast does look promising.
Practice Race
Despite the great weather in Skerries the last few days and the apparent delight to be around a large gathering of crews once more, you can sense nervous tension and the desire to get on the water. Sunday was to be a practice race followed by the first race of the Championship proper.
In the end, the best that can be said was the fleet got to practice two more gate starts. And with very little wind and an ebb tide, the first attempt was mayhem. With the tide pushing the Pathfinder and the guard boat downwind, many of the 104 boats struggled to keep clear. The PRO had no option to abandon the race, having probably got no more than a quarter way down the fleet.
The second start was far better, with a fraction more breeze. Pathfinder John Hayes & Joel James tacked out to the left and were always looking in contention coming to the weather mark. It was hard work, however, with the tide and a pretty light breeze all having their effect. The first 8 or 10 were an even mix of boats that either went well left, right or up the middle. Best from the right was Keith & Matteo Louden (Lough Foyle), who came around the top mark a boat length or two behind the Pathfinder, with Ross Kearney & Andrew Vaughan (RNIYC) also from the right. Adrian Lee & Gareth Gallagher (Youghal) were next from up the middle, followed by Neil Marsden & Derek HilI, who seemed to come out of the left. Alan Blay & Hugh McNally (Sutton Dinghy Club) were next, and another came up the middle.
Keith & Matteo Louden - Keith has teamed up with his youngest son, a very light pairing who could cause some serious trouble if the conditions go in their favour. One of the youngest in the fleet at 14, Matteo has taken to the front of the boat like a duck to water and, despite their weight, has shown they can handle windy conditions as well. The pair have race wins and a no. of top three finishes in races throughout this season's events Photo: Bob Givens
Kearney & Vaughan had overtaken the Loudens by the gybe mark, with Lee & Gallagher closing in. Marsden & Bell were in 5th, just ahead of Blay & McNally. However, Hayes & James were in complete control of the dropping breeze. Others in the top 10 as they made their way to the gybe mark were Sam Street & Josh Lloyd from Blessington and Ruan & Rebekkah O'Tiarnaigh (Sutton Dinghy Club)
Back in the fleet, big gains were to be made in staying high to the gybe mark and saw Hugh & Dan Gill, Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe, amongst others, make big moves. However, the signs started to look ominous as the breeze dropped. As the leader approached the leeward mark, with a couple of boats still to make the weather mark, the PRO sounded horns to abandon the race and, very quickly after that, racing for the day. It takes a bit of time and effort to tow 104 boats home, but effectively and efficiently handled by the safety and shore crews from Skerries.
Rarely is the practice race taken as anything more than a practice race, but the post-race discussions on the effect of the tide, wind shifts and gate boat protocols were somewhat animated and extensive. Talk turned to Monday, but even on Sunday, there was a sense it might not happen.
As mentioned above, PRO Bill O'Hara will try and get three races in on Tuesday and hope to get back on track by the end of Wednesday.
See GP14 World Championships preview and runners and riders profiles by Andy Johnston here
