#E-Boat - Pat O’Neill sailed OctupussE consistently to a deserved victory in the E-Boat National Championships held on the second weekend of June, writes Findlay MacDonald.
The championships were hosted at the Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club following a super weekend of sailing on the River Liffey as part of the Dublin Port Riverfest.
A fleet of nine boats gathered, with one from Howth Yacht Club and three enthusiastically representing the Skerries fleet.
Conditions for the weekend were lively both days. Saturday saw large wind shifts (as much as 30%) making course-setting near impossible for PRO Ian Sargent.
Squalls further delayed racing and boats returned to moorings once postponed was called.
Nevertheless, two races were run in Force 3-4 once the breeze had moderated.
Windward-returns were set within the confines of Dublin Port inside Bull Island, making for an excellent course with good wind and a slight chop, and close competition throughout the fleet with visitors placed well in the results.
Favourites OctupussE (HYC) scored firsts, with local boat Aoife in close contention. Indeed, only an OCS in race one and and an error with spinnaker drop at leeward mark in race two cost Aoife otherwise attainable firsts.
The Skerries boats — Easygo in particular — showed their worth, battling and placing great results, and ensuring home fleet did not dominate.
Racing was close, with boats changing positions frequently and finishing within boat-lengths of one another.
Sunday saw more challenging conditions, averaging Force 4.5-5. Only four boats ventured to the start area, with one retiring with gear failure. The remainder stayed ashore as the weather was forecast to freshen.
Though blustery, the wind direction was stable and three races were completed.
Race four saw the recently restored Enchantress, with an adventurous rookie crew, around the weather mark first but unable to hold off Aoife and OctupussE downwind.
Aoife was the only boat to hoist a kite — but a few near-broaches negated any advantage made, allowing Enchantress and OctupussE to slip by at the leeward mark.
Conditions remained lively for races five and six, and racing became closer.
Enchantress did well to compete and challenge the experienced boats sailing on windward legs to often round in second, but unable to make good downwind. Local boat Aoife lost out to OctupussE at the finish line.
Thanks go to all crews, particularly visitors from Skerries, for participating and supporting the class.
The class this year has seen renewed interest in the fleet. New crew are engaging, and several boats this year were restored and brought back into service.
A successful class-training event was also held at the beginning of the season in Skerries.
The class is always keen to hear from people wishing to sail E-Boats. For further enquires please contact class captains at Skerries Sailing Club or Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club.
|
E-BOAT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - RESULTS 2017 |
||||||||||||
|
Boat |
Boat |
Skipper |
club |
race1 |
race2 |
race3 |
race4 |
race5 |
race6 |
discard |
Total |
Overall |
|
127 |
Octopusee |
P O'Neil |
HYC |
1 |
1 |
Not Raced |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
|
279 |
Aoife |
B Linnane |
CYBC |
10 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
6 |
2 |
|
|
202 |
Enchantress |
F MacDonald |
CYBC |
3 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
3 |
|
|
128 |
Easy Go |
P Hicks |
SSC |
2 |
3 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
25 |
4 |
|
|
204 |
Etype |
B Ferguson |
SSC |
4 |
5 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
29 |
5 |
|
|
151 |
DeckE |
M McGowan |
CYBC |
7 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
31 |
6 |
|
|
19 |
Heatwave |
P Duggan |
CYBC |
5 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
33 |
7 |
|
|
118 |
Eaglet |
B Grogan |
SSC |
8 |
6 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
34 |
8 |
|
|
57 |
Euro One |
T McGuigan |
CYBC |
6 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
35 |
9 |
|
