SAILING:AMERICA'S MARK Penfold from Rochester Yacht Club won the BMW J24 European Championships yesterday afternoon but only after a last-race decider gave him the title off Howth in one of the biggest one-design events of the 2011 Irish season.
After nine races sailed Penfold was tied with Britain’s Ian Southworth on 29 points but last-race advantage went the American’s way in untypically light winds for the final round, Penfold finishing fifth to Southworth’s eighth.
Monday’s racing was blown out entirely but the fleet raced in force-six conditions on Tuesday with just one race. The Js sailed five races on Wednesday and yesterday’s final two rounds were sailed in only a light force two.
Forty two boats and 210 sailors were racing, drawn from nine countries for the BMW-sponsored event.
Hampered by the same weather that afflicted the Star Europeans in Dún Laoghaire a week ago, the same race officer (David Lovegrove) was left in the unenviable position of whether to go to sea on more than one occasion over the past fortnight.
The leading pair had both sailed a consistent series opening up a 21 points lead on third overall going into yesterday’s final rounds.
Irish national champion Flor O’Driscoll’s Hard on Port who was ninth overall until the final race scored a 20th yesterday afternoon to finish 10th overall.
Royal Cork Yacht Club moved up two places overall in the invitation only Rolex New York Cup after scoring 3,10 and 11 in the 22-boat fleet on Wednesday. The Anthony O’Leary-skippered boat lies just three points behind Japan who ties for fourth place after six races. Racing concludes tomorrow. Dún Laoghaire Yacht Clubs are voicing concerns about the impact on sailing if a cruise ship jetty is constructed as part of the recently published harbour masterplan.
Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Royal St George Yacht Club are also concerned about access to the water if a proposed pedestrian walkway in front of the waterfront clubs is completed.
The clubs are preparing a submission to outline their concerns.
