The miserable early morning downpours and the possible attractions - or should that be distractions? - of a certain golf competition in County Kildare did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Anglo Irish Bank Autumn League competitors who again turned out in large numbers for race 2 in the six-race series.
Day 2 of the Anglo Irish Bank Autumn League was notable for close finishes, particularly in the one-design classes where it was a matter of seconds separating the top boats in some cases.
Pride of place in that regard went to the Howth 17s where the Lynch/Curley combination in 'Rita' held off the challenge of 'Erica' (Cronin et al) by a mere 5 seconds - about the length of a bowsprit! - while the Squibs also had a tight finish, with 'Kookaburra' (Guinness & O'Leary) having just 13 seconds to spare over 'Pot Black' (R.McMurtry).
In the 17s, 'Erica's' second 2nd in a row gives her the overall lead from 'Oona' while another handicap win for 'Bobolink' (Walsh/Doyle) confirms her status as overall leader on HPH.
'Kookaburra's' second win keeps her ahead of 'Pot Black' in the overall placings while the latter stays in front in the handicap rankings ahead of 'Gizmo' (Murphy/Wheeler) and 'Sensation' (The Condys).
The formbook was upset a little in the Etchells where the National Champions in 'Mandeline Reign' could do no better than 4th although they were less than 2 minutes behind race winner 'Mano' (Norton/Fitzpatrick), with 'Blue' (Johnston etc) and 'Who Cares' (Des Flood) filling the other top places. The Champs are however still leading the fleet after two races with 'Who Cares' and 'Blue' 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Puppeteer - ibis - G May - HYC
There was upset in the Puppeteers too, where the Howth domination was spoiled by Dun Laoghaire visitor 'Gold Dust' (F.Wood from the Royal St.George) which had a narrow win over 'Ibis' (G.May) - now the series leader - and 'Chancer' (J.Swan). 'Trick or Treat' (A.Pearson) was second on Sunday and is now 2nd overall.
In the handicap series, 'Ile Molene' (A.Benson) won Sunday's race while there is a tie for first overall between 'Gannet' (T.Chillingworth) and 'No Strings' (T.Harvey).
The White Sail Cruisers fleet is the biggest in the League with 34 entries and honours in race 2 went to 'Bite the Bullet' (Colm Berminghan) ahead of 'Harmony' (D.Toomey) and 'Changeling' (Jameson/McManus). After two races, though, it is Vice-Commodore Gerry O'Neill in 'Geriatrix' who heads the fleet from two former Commodores - Harry Byrne's 'Alphida' and Andrew Knowles' 'Sandpiper of Howth'.
Class 3 - Holly - B MacMahon - HYC
It was a second Howth win in a row in Class 3 with Basil McMahon's 'Holly' winning on IRC ahead of Malahide's 'Goyave' (Camier/Fitzpatrick) and 'Alliance' (V.Gaffney), and now all three boats share first place overall on four points each. Holly was also third on ECHO behind joint winners 'Drumbeat' and 'Vivace', the former leading the overall placings.
Visiting boat 'Crewsaver Harmony' (Biggs & Hyland) headed Class 2, another big fleet, from Ian Byrne's 'Sunburn' and Cullen/Bourke's new charge 'King One' and also leads overall. On ECHO, 'Sunsari' (Soffe/Salter) beat 'Relax Freebird' (R.Dalton) from DMYC and that is also their overall placings. In the Restricted Division, it's a two way tie overall between 'The Big Picture' (Evans etc) and 'Toughnut' (D.Skehan) after they finished in that order in race 2.
The new 34.7 'Flashback' (Breen & others) came good in Class 1 despite the best efforts of 'Equinox' (Emma McDonald) and 'Aquelina' (Tyrrells of Arklow). 'Equinox' now heads the series on IRC as well as lying 2nd on ECHO behind the Malahide J35 'Same Old Story' (Dermot Cronin) who recorded its second win.
Class 0 - Rosie - R & V Dickson - HYC
The finishing order in Class 0 on Sunday on both IRC and ECHO is also the overall ranking on both handicaps. 'Rosie' (R.Dickson) and 'Tiger' (Hughes/Harris) shared the honours, with 'Rosie' taking IRC and 'Tiger' ECHO and 'Independent Bear' (M.Davis) settling for third on both counts.
