Ireland was outclassed as British boats took the podium places at the International 2.4mR one-person keelboat Irish Open Championships at Kinsale Yacht Club today.
Megan Pascoe, a past World and European champion in the class, dominated the four-race event with four straight wins and was followed by Katherine Hedley with four seconds. Brian Harding was third. The top Irish sailor was John Patrick in sixth place overall.
Five UK visitors travelled to Kinsale for the championships.
With Saturday's racing washed out as Afloat reported here, the pressure was on to complete all racing today in the ten-boat fleet.
It is the first time the event was held on the south coast with last year's championships held on Carlingford Lough.
Sunday dawned with a flat calm but racing soon got underway with London 2012 Olympic Race Officer Jack Roy in charge.
Races were each of 40 minutes duration in the 10-knot winds from the northwest.
At the first start, the wind took a big shift moving from NW more into the north and so Roy abandoned that start to allow the course be moved.
Results are here.
The boat is primarily used for racing and the class holds highly competitive national events in many countries. In some countries, it features mainly as a class for sailors with a disability.
The 2.4mR is ideal for adapted sailing since the sailor does not move in the boat, and everything is adjustable from right in front of the sailor. Both hand-steering and foot-steering are possible.
Scroll down for photo gallery by Bob Bateman
Top Irish sailor John Patrick against the backdrop of Charles Fort
Adam Billany
Katherine Hadley
Sunlight and shadows
Adam Billany
Katherine Hadley
Adam Billany
Georgina Griffin
Patrick Hassett
Winner Megan Pascoe
Brian Harding and Adam Billamy
Gina Griffin
A group of GBR visitors with Donal Hickey
Sailability Leader in Kinsale Donal Hickey
The Race team Jack and Rosemary Roy, Commodore David O’Sullivan and Mel McIlwaite
