In Kinsale at the Irish Nationals despite a day of very little wind, two more races were completed to bring the event to an exciting climax. PRO Alan Crosbie asked the 21 boat fleet to be out on the start line at 11am as the forecast was not good and a day had already been lost on Saturday due to no wind at all …..
It was a great decision as two races were completed before the wind died away as the forecast had predicted. In race 1 which was the 3rd race of the series, Phillip Bendon helming “Grey Hare” with owner Shawn Kingston as crew and Chris Tiernan were first to the top mark chased by “Little Hook” Martin Payne and “Chimaera” Andrew Craig. On the second beat “Chimaera” took the lead and Lawrie Smith helming “Finito” moved up to 3rd place. With a dying breeze the course was shortened so Andrew Craig took the gun, Phillip Bendon was 2nd and Lawrie Smith 3rd.
In race 2 the 4th of the series, it was Martin Byrne helming “Jaguar” who took the early lead ahead of “Grey Hare” and “Hybrasil” helmed by Peter O’Reilly. However at the bottom gate with the wind very light, the two boats that chose the left hand buoy (Hybrasil and Little Hook) made a huge jump on the fleet, this was due to a small amount of favourable tide. Making the best of this advantage “Little Hook’s” team of Martin Payne, Dominic & Olivier Bakker, passed “Hybrasil” to take the winning gun and now lead overall on 15pts.
2nd overall is “Chimaera” Andrew Craig, Mark Petit and Brian Matthews 19pts and 3rd is “Finito” Lawrie Smith, Adam Bowers and Jack Wilson 19pts. “Little Fella” Cameron Good who was the overnight leader, is still in 4th place after recording two 9th places. But with two more races to go, anything can happen, as when the discard “kicks in” there are still 8 boats in contention!
DEAUVILLE…………Unfortunately there was no wind in Deauville at the Corinthian Championship. Still leading is NED 318, Gerard Laamens but the fleet will require some racing today to complete a series…..
Higher, Faster, Longer………………. Stavros. (Little Hook).