Two more races were held yesterday on the second day of the Irish National Championship in Kinsale, the excellent venue for 2012 Gold Cup. It was a very misty and surprisingly cold day in which visibility sometimes was less than 200m, so a typical Irish Summer’s Day really 🙂 However, under the guidance of experienced PRO Alan Crosbie, both races sailed the full three upwind and two downwind legs, to give this extremely small but competitive fleet another super days racing…. Jay Bourke helming a 2008 chartered boat led both races at the windward mark, showing great speed in the difficult waves. With the wind mainly from 210 degrees and averaging around 10kts it tested the very best of helms. One such helm, a young Ronan Murphy from Dublin, was experiencing his first major Dragon event as helm. After being offered the boat by Dennis Bergin from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire…. Ronan recorded a well deserved 5th place in the first race of the day and it is great to see such “young blood” not only have an interest in the class but also the confidence to mix it with Ireland’s best. Well done Ronan!
Back at the very front of the fleet Jay and his team of Norman and Daniel continued to battled hard to protect their lead in both races… But in race one after a small mistake with the spinnaker, IRL 204 Don O’Donoghue seized his opportunity to take the line honers. Likewise in the second race, the pre Championship favourite (and current National Champion), IRL 201 Martin Byrne, also took the lead on the last beat after again Jay’s team failed to recover the spinnaker correctly through the final gate. However, two second places gave Jay and his team the day victory and moves him up to 2nd in the overall championship standings.. Just a few points behind the favourite IRL 201 Martin Byrne. The first day’s leaders IRL 211 Cameron Good, sailing with Henry and Simon, did not have such a good day, but when the discard kicks in after today’s two races they will still be in the hunt for the beautiful silver trophy.
So more news to follow after todays events, will Martin Byrne continue to stretch his overall lead, or can Jay Bourke maintain his excellent starts and first beats to keep the pressure on……..
Higher, Faster, Longer………. Stavros. (IRL 207).