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Nationals Home | Prize Giving Photos | Friday Report | Saturday Report | Sunday Report

Event Report Friday

by Graham Smith

Howth's Sharkbait Heads 48 Boat Investwise SB3 Nationals after First Day

The first day of the Investwise SB3 Nationals at Howth witnessed the top local boat 'Sharkbait' (Ben Duncan/Brian Moran/Ric Morris) enjoy a dream start to the 8-race series with two bullets in the first two races, followed by a 6th to head the 48-boat fleet by four points from the almost-as-consistent Stefan Hyde/Jerry Dowling/Jimmy Dowling) in 'Bad' from the Royal Irish YC.

Sailing in moderate to fresh south-easterlies, the big fleet started racing around 1300 hrs. and 'Sharkbait' was fast out of the blocks, winning the race from 'Bad' and with another Dun Laoghaire entry 'Yeti' (Sean Craig/Stephen Boylan/Alan Green) filling third spot.

Race two saw the Howth crew maintain their top form to register a second successive win, again ahead of Stefan Hyde et al on 'Bad' and with Ross Vaughan of RNIYC in third place.

Sharkbait - Ben Duncan - HYC

The two leaders dropped a little in the last race of the day, with Duncan and crew in 6th and Hyde two places further behind while the line honours went to Brian/Reilly/Paul Reilly/Johnny O'Dowd on 'Boomsticks' to add to their 4th and 8th in the earlier races.

Ominously, the pre-event favourite 'McCreadys Gill Racing Team' helmed by Gareth Flannigan from Royal Ulster YC improved as the day went on, building on an 8th and 6th to finish second, a result that puts them 5th overall and within striking distance of the leaders.

Illustrating the competitive natural of one-design racing, only eight points separates the first five boats after three races and the three races scheduled for Saturday are likely to have a significant bearing on the title contenders going into the final day on Sunday.

Overall after 3 races:

1	3287	Sharkbait	Ben Duncan	HYC	8.00
2	3307	Bad	Stefan Hyde	RIYC	12.00
3	3537	Boomsticks	Brian Reilly	Sligo YC	13.00
4	3570	Yeti	Sean Craig	RStGYC	13.00
5	3433	McCreadys Gill Team	Gareth Flannigan	Royal Ulster YC	16.00
6	3279	Monkey	Aidan O'Connell	RStGYC	19.00

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