As this correspondent had the day off from Race Officer duties, ably replaced by Brendan Duffy (Ruffian 23s), this report is based on “word of mouth” accounts garnered from people who were on the water.
As per the forecast, the fleet enjoyed robust North-Westerlies varying in strength from 10 – 17 knots, allowing two three-lap Olympic courses to be sailed. Brendan advised that the breeze moved around for the first race and he felt obliged to re-set the weather mark for the second race, only to bring it back to where he had set it for the first race. In addition to the brisk winds, the air temperature was low, of the order of 3/4°, and there were a number of capsizes.
All three starts got away cleanly in both races, which, given the conditions, was a bonus.
The series-long challenge between the Fireballs and the Aeros manifested itself again – I know I keep referencing this, but in recent days we have compared Aeros’ performances against other classes in winter sailing events in the UK, and they don’t seem to enjoy the same dominance as they do in Dun Laoghaire.
Aeros and a Finn at the weather mark at the Viking Marine DMYC Dinghy Frostbite Series in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Ian Cutliffe
In the first PY race, three Fireballs had better elapsed times than the leading Aeros; Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (14998) came home in 26:47, Louise McKenna & Neil Cramer (15016) came home in 27:14, and Colm Breen & Paul Ter Horst (14790) were the third Fireball at 27:15. Noel Butler (28:42) led home a quartet of Aeros with the sequence behind him being Roy van Maanen (29:58), Damien Dion (30:40) and Sarah Dwyer (30:40). But on corrected time, the overall sequence was Butler (25:58), van Maanen (27:07), Dion (27:45), Dwyer (27:56) before Colin in 5th with a corrected time of 28:08. McKenna & Breen who had finished 27 seconds and 28 seconds behind Colin on the water were relegated to 9th and 10th on corrected time in the 15-boat fleet. Had he been present, Damien Dion would have got a Frostbite Mug for his endeavours.
In the second PY race there was a win on the water for Breen & ter Horst (26:35) with Colin at 26:56. The first Aero was Stephen Oram (29:16) with Butler (29:55) and van Maanen (30:38) following behind. On corrected time it was a much tighter affair with the sequence being Butler (27:04), Oram (27:32), van Maanen (27:43), Breen (27:55) and Colin (28:17). Breen & ter Horst’s sterling performance won them the Frostbite Mug for the second PY race.
In overall terms with three races sailed, Aeros occupy the first four places with the sequence being Butler, van Maanen, Oram, Dwyer with Colin & Casey fifth in the Fireball.
The ILCA 6s had a 16-boat fleet and saw Sean Craig make his debut in Series 2 and take the overall honours for the day with a 2,1 placing in the two races. Darren Griffen won the first race and took third in the second, while Conor Clancy and Owen Laverty each scored seven points on the day, Clancy claiming third and fourth and Laverty fifth and second, the latter race winning him a Frostbite Mug. Darren Griffen, had he been present, would have taken the Mug for Race 1.
Fireballs, Aeros, a Finn and a RS battle their way to the weather mark at the Viking Marine DMYC Dinghy Frostbite Series in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Ian Cutliffe
In overall terms, Griffen and Clancy are tied at the top of the table with 10 points each, with Hugh Delap in third (13), Shirley Gilmore fourth (19) and Craig fifth (21).
Another good turnout of ten boats in the ILCA 7s saw Theo Lyttle take both races, with Gary O’Hare monopolising second place. Third place in Race 1 went to Niall Cowman, while John Marmelstein took third place in Race 2. Marmelstein might have had a Frostbite Mug for his first race performance (4th) but wasn’t at the prize-giving, and Roy McKay got the Mug for the second race. In overall terms the order is Lyttle (5), O’Hare (8) and Marmelstein (10).
