SAILING/Dun Laoghaire Regatta:The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta ended yesterday in light but sailable airs that brought Ted Keelan's Whistlin' Dixie a sixth consecutive win in Class Three. His class numbered 38 boats, the second largest of the 522-strong fleet next to the Laser SB3 sportsboats, and the Royal St George Yacht Club sailor also picked up the ECHO trophy for his class.
Brian Spence on McCready Sailboats continued his series domination of the SB3s to collect this class trophy plus the best visitor for the series. Locals Andrew Algeo and Ben Cooke on Scandal placed second overall. Richard O'Connor at the helm of Glenluce shone in the Glen Class. In the Squib fleet, Gillian Guinness on Kookabura had a narrow win over Jonathan Craig's Batteleur.
Not everyone had the luxury of a nine-race series in breeze. Out on the Burford Bank at the edge of Dublin's bay, the fickle breeze and strong tides conspired against principal race officer Alan Crosbie and his clutch of big boats in the Super Zero, Zeroes, Ones and J109s.
At least a five-race series was managed but questions arise as to whether this part of the bay is not some type of transition zone in light airs given that the smaller boats enjoyed reasonably fresh and consistent breezes inshore.In contrast, the big boats faced regular fetches in the deeper waters as the breeze shifted soon after starting.
As a result, Conor and Denise Phelan's Jump Juice from the Royal Cork YC, who had been leading Class Zero, dropped from the overall lead yesterday as Roy Dickson's Rosie from Howth pounced from second overall to the class win. No such difficulties emerged for Colm Barrington on Flash Glove, one of four entries in Super Zero. He secured four consecutive wins with a five-point comfort zone from Paul Winkemann's Island Fling.
