Howth Yacht Club

Sponsor of the
Corby Cup

BMW Logo
Sponsor of the
BMW Cruiser Nationals

Footware & Clothing
in association with
BMW Cruiser Nationals

Independent Trustee Company
Sponsor of the
Lambay Races

Partner to the HYC
Youth Keelboat Team

Sponsor of the
Spring Warmer Series

Sponsor of the
Brass Monkeys Series

Sponsor of the
J24 Eastern Championships

Autumn League Home

Day 2 - 25th September

by Andy Sargent

Race two of the Anglo Irish Bank sponsored Autumn League again was sailed in near perfect conditions with a moderate Westerly breeze which remained constant and ensured perfect courses for all of the 10 fleets.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Autumn League in HYC which first started in 1980. It was Winky Nixon who we have to thank for starting of the Autumn League as he was instrumental in introducing the Squib Class to Howth in 1979. After encouraging other members to buys squibs, the idea of extending an all-to-short season was the catalyst for what has become the largest Autumn Series in Europe. (185 Boats)

This week all fleets got away without any recalls but there was some barging noted in the Puppeteer 22 and HYC 17 footer starts. Overall, there was very little for Water Rat to comment on as all but a few behaved themselves.

In the One Design Fleets, there is one Protest involving a pair of 17's who decided to get fresh with each other on a down-wind leg and another between two Puppeteers who decided to test the RRS for water at the leeward mark. Both incidents are however sub judice.

One Class three yacht decided to start 1 full minute ahead of their fleet before the Bubble Hubble Gum burst when they then decided to return directly in the fleet but unfortunately omitted to dip the line fully.

The only Gerryatric Sailor in Class 2 (and a Flag Officer of note) encountered a misjudgment of sight and reflex whilst approaching the J (Thulla) Mark as the flood tide swept him onto the mark causing him to lose valuable time.

There was only one major casualty involving Genesis, a Beneteau 38s5 who was dismasted without any injuries. Declan Gray extends his thanks to the vessels who stood by and the ribs who couriered the appropriate sized hack saws and bolt croppers.

Class 0 sees back to back wins for Colm Barrington's Flying Glove leaving Eamonn Crosbie's Voodoo Chile settling for 2nd on IRC. Kelleher's Galileo from NYC won the Echo division.

Equinox, (X332) helmed by HYC's Emma McDonald took a handsome victory in Class 1 IRC (20 Boats) from Howard McMullan's Stealth who also won the Echo Division.

It was another good day for X Yachts as in Class 2 (28 Boats), Anthony Gore-Grimes sailing Dux (X 302), found some long lost form and won the Class 2 IRC. Conor Nolan's Aloha maintained a steady 2nd with Terry Giles X302 Xebec third.

Class 3 (31 Boats) was a Malaide Yacht Club whitewash as Arthur Slye's Turnabout took 1st on both IRC & ECHO Divisions.

The very successful Non Spinny Division (18 Boats) saw another great turnout with Sean & Caroline O'Laoire in Moonpath taking the Echo Prize.

One the One Design front, the closest racing of the day was in the 14 boat Etchells Class where the Lacy brothers, William & Peter in Defiance held off the challenge of Dave Murnane in Eithlean by some 7 seconds after 2 Hours 31 mins of racing.

Elsewhere, Dave Clarke in Harlequin re-asserted his year long dominance of the 24 Boat Puppeteer 22 fleet winning from last weeks winner Algae Pearson in Trick or Treat.

Gillian Guinness & Se O'Leary in Kookaburra made it two in a row in the 15 boat Squib Class on scratch with Roxanne and New Sensation tying for joint 1st on Echo.

In the HYC 17 Footers, Marcus Lynch & John Curly in Rita took 1st on Scratch (Subject to Protest) and Zaida took 1st on Echo.

Adam Winkleman sailed Yoke to victory in the 9 boat 1720 Class.

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy