Fourteeen 420s travelled to Lough Derg Yacht Club this weekend to take part in the Connacht Championships.

Three races were completed in Day one in windy but predominantly dry conditions on Saturday. Three firsts placed Douglas Elmes / Colin O’Sullivan (HYC), who recently took the National championships in Cork, in first place overnight. After the day’s racing the fleet was split into Gold and Silver.

A good call by the race officer meant that despite extremely light conditions on Sunday morning, racing began as scheduled, with the first general recall of the event in Race 4. Race 4 was shortened as the light conditions persisted but by race 5 the breeze had picked up slightly.

Elmes / O’Sullivan took race 4, but Cliodhna ni Shuilleabhain / Niamh Doran (KYC) gave them a run for their money in the subsequent two races, taking two firsts.

Overall, the results were Elmes / O’Sullivan first, Ni Shuilleabhain / Doran second and Kate Lyttle / Niamh Henry (RSGYC) who sailed a consistent series being placed third overall.

Silver fleet was won by Alix Buckley / Emma Parker (SSC).

The event saw a great turnout from the 420 fleet, with boats attending from the home club LDYC, from Northern Ireland and from Galway and Wexford, as well as Dublin and Cork clubs, all sailing in a challenging set of weather conditions.

Holding the event in conjunction with the Fireball Munster Championships meant a busy weekend in Lough Derg.