Sponsor of the PAB Travel Brass Monkeys & New Years Day Race
Report & Photos by Dan O'Grady
Top 5 Overall in Main Fleet
R1
R2
R3
Total
1st
ESP1116
Club de Mar Radazul
Julio Jordán Bañón
2
5
1
8
2nd
IRL1375
Howth YC
Ricky Hogan
4
1
3
8
3rd
ESP1192
Club de Mar Radazul
David Perez
3
7
2
12
4th
ESP798
Club de Mar Radazul
Daniel Mesh
6
3
4
13
5th
IRL1403
Howth YC
Jamie O'Grady
13
4
5
22
25 sailors, including 6 visiting Spanish sailors from Tenerife competed in the main fleet.
3 races were sailed in light breezes, 6 to 10 knots. A very strong tide running down the course made the upwind very tricky, particularly the start and laylines.
HYC’s Ewan McMahon won the first race from start to finish, but three of the Spaniards adjusted very quickly to the difficult tide to come in 2nd and 3rd. Unfortunately 10 boats failed to make the time limit, thereby kissing goodbye to their overall hopes in the no discard series.
The breeze increased slightly for the 2nd race, and PRO Richard Kissane moved closer to Claremont Beach in an effort to avoid the worst of the tidal stream.
A shorter race saw Richard Hogan pip Ewan McMahon by the shortest of margins, but the Spanish were still in good shape overall and it was all to play for in the final race.
Another quick turnaround saw the fleet away first time. Unfortunately for Ewan, his sprit halyard broke while he was looking strong, allowing Julio Jordán Bañón (from the O’Grady stable) to take the last race and the overall title on countback over Richard Hogan.
15 sailors took part in the regatta fleet, which was run by Tara Flood and Oliver Keenan. They had some boat handling exercise before running 3 short races.
There were no overall prizes but spot prizes were awarded to Megan Cahill and Hugh Flood. However, all the sailors went home with an Easter Egg.
