WIORA Gets Off To A Wild Start in Galway

23rd July 2015

WIORA's first race yesterday was a coastal course on Galway Bay. Photo: Gareth Craig. Scroll down for more photos

#wiora – A Wild Atlantic Wednesday afternoon has got WIORA off to a flying start with the Offshore Race bringing the fleet to a southerly Kinvara corner of Galway Bay writes Jim Grealish. Race Officer Alan Crosbie set a mark off Island Eddy as a rounding mark before bringing all back to a finish line close to Nimmo's pier outside the harbour. Force 4 to 5 was the order of the day with a start at 14.30hrs. off Mutton Island. Lead boat in Class 1 changed places during the race with tides having effect as welll as wind. NowWhat got off the line with a clean break near the Committee boat, however Joie De Vie 'J109' and Genie 40.7 had a tack to the north side of the course by Salthill to take the lead at the Western Margaretta windward mark.

Following a testing spinnaker reach to the distance mark Nowwhat regained the lead by staying high on the course in a blustery westerly lumpy sea. On the wayhome Killcolgan Point had to be found for clearing Tawin Island then a spinnaker run for Leverets Black and White navigation tower when 33' NowWhat got surfing on some beautiful rolling waves and was not for catching.

A picture shows her heading for Claddagh beach by Nimmo's pier finnish line with old Long Walk in the background.

The White sail class took a course by Oranmore to stay in the inner bay in the lively weather! Thirsty sailors from 30 boats had some refreshment at the Harbour Hotel - new HQ for Galway Bay Sailing Club for WIORA.

Results are here

Published in WIORA

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