No sooner had Dublin Bay double-handers Liam Coyne and Brian Flahive won the Royal Ocean Racing Club's (RORC) 1,800-mile Round Britain and Ireland in Cowes last Saturday than the first two-handed race in the capital's waters set sail from Howth drawing an impressive mixed fleet of 34.
Over a course last Sunday that took in both Lambay Island and the Kish Lighthouse on Dublin Bay, the overall winner was declared as Peter Freyne and Johnny Swan's Half-Tonner, Harmony. Next year the aim is to extend the course to 40 miles by taking in Rockabill.
Meanwhile, Coyne and Flahive, who inspired so many with their remarkable 12-day voyage on the First 36.7 Lulabelle, have sailed home to Dún Laoghaire after picking up RORC's inaugural double-handed title plus a combined class three and four prize too.
Ireland's newest world sailing champion, Finn Lynch, competes on Belfast Lough this morning as over 130 race for Irish Laser honours at Ballyholme. Lynch boosted Rio hopes with an Under-19 World Laser title last week. The National Yacht Club (NYC) youth faces James Espey on home waters for a significant title fight for both triallists, not least because it's just a fortnight ahead of the first Olympic qualifier in Santander, Spain.
Irish honours
In the Radial division, Annalise Murphy will compete against ISAF World Youth silver medallist Seafra Guilfoyle for Irish honours.
The 1720 sportsboat champion, Anthony O'Leary, retained his title after three superb days of sailing in a 14-boat fleet at Baltimore Sailing Club. On Strangford Lough, locals Andrew McCleery and Colin Dougan of Killyleagh took the Flying Fifteen title north after a final race cliff-hanger for the 29-boat fleet at Portaferry.
Strangford sailors also won the SB20 Westerns at Galway. Darren Martin, Roger Pannel and Simon Murray were winners on the count-back rule in the 13-boat event.
After a hat-trick of domestic titles, Fireball pairing Barry McCartin and Conor Kinsella took fifth at the UK Nationals at Tenby Sailing Club in Pembrokeshire.
After nine races on Dublin Bay, Royal Cork Yacht Club’s Peter McCann and Arran Walsh claimed the 420 National title. The teenagers won four races over the three-day event hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club. Fifteen boats competed and seven were girl pairings.
Were crowned
In Co Kerry,
Dingle
Sailing Club sailors
Adam Byrne
and
Paddy Cunnane
were crowned Topaz Irish Champions.
Only four boats from 11 starters managed to finish the penultimate ISORA race of the season, with Liam Shanahan's Ruth of the National Yacht Club (NYC) crossing the line over two hours after the overall winner Tsunami, skippered by Shanahan's club-mate Peter Ryan. The final race of the Irish Sea season is from Pwllheli in North Wales back to Dún Laoghaire on September 6th.
Although John Twomey, Ian Costello and Austin O'Carroll made the top 10 of the Disabled Sailing (IFDS) World Championships in Nova Scotia it was two places short of qualifying the nation for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. A further qualification round in the Sonar class occurs in 2015.
Tonight at 6.30, the Royal St George Yacht Club (RStGYC) hosts a special 'Sail for Jack' charity pursuit race in aid of Dún Laoghaire man Jack Kavanagh, who was paralysed in a freak accident. The in-harbour race will be followed by a BBQ.
