The Waszp National Championships were held at the Royal St George Yacht Club at the weekend and 15 sailors participated, with three from the UK travelling over to race at the Dun Laoghaire Harbour venue.
It was hard fast sailing in heavy winds and choppy conditions where it was all to play for with many capsizes. The top six boats were very close and the final outcome often being decided in the last lap.
Four long races were held on the first day, and unfortunately, racing was blown out by 30+ knot gusts and 1.5m waves on Sunday.
Race Officer Barry O’Neill and his team set some good race courses in challenging conditions.
The overall winner in 8.2m fleets was UK sailor Ross Banham followed by Arthur Fry, both from Hayling Island Sailing Club, UK.
Henry Start RSGYC came a close third overall and was National Waszp champion in this fleet.
Max Goodbody RStGYC/RIYC and Marcus O’Leary RSGYC came second and third in the national 8.2 fleet.
In the 6.9m fleet, the overall winner and national winner was Emily Conan RSGYC, followed closely by Kate Tingle RStGYC /RCYC in second and Tom Hogan RStGYC in third place. Tom was also the first master.
Elysia O’Leary RStGYC was the first Irish female in 8.2 fleet and Max Goodbody RSGYC/RIYC was the first under 19 years in the 8.2m fleet.
The nations trophy went to the UK team and the First Traveller trophy to Hattie Rogers Royal Lymington YC.
Duncan Hepplewhite from Sailing Fast UK came over to support and sponsor the event.
Henry Start, Event Chair told Afloat "We were delighted with such good numbers for this event and the standard was excellent".
Results here