#vdlr2013 – Nine Fireballs sailed two tight races today on the first day of the 2013 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Sailing in winds that were slightly south of east, the 9 boats enjoyed close racing in the light breeze that gave marginal trapezing conditions.
Team Clancy led the first race from start to finish with a lead that extended to about 50/60m at the finish. Brian Byrne & Stephen Campion (14934) came from 3rd place after the first lap of the outer loop trapezoid race to secure 2nd. Louis Smyth and Cormac Bradley (15007), 2nd at the first weather mark lost one place upwind (Byrne/Campion) and one place downwind to finish 4th. At Mk 3 of the trapezoid they lost Louise McKenna & Francis Rowan (14691) who took third.
On the first beat of the 2nd race, 8 boats went hard right, the exceptions being Smyth/Bradley who got caught out at the start, were forced left and couldn't get back as they were continuously lifted on starboard tack. Inside them the other eight boats sailed in close quarters up the beat of an inner loop trapezoid course.
Gavin Doyle & Dave Sweeney (14953) rounded in the lead, followed by Frank Miller & Grattan Donnelly (14713) & Byrne/Clancy and Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (14775). The first three gave a brief impersonation of going the wrong way but Colin/Casey gybed immediately. This opened up the race again for the first 7 boats. Places changed but at the finish the order was Byrne/Campion, Team Clancy and McKenna/Rowan.
After two races;
1 Byrne & Campion 3pts
1 Team Clancy (Conor & James) 3pts
3 McKenna & Rowan 6pts.
