#fireball – A disappointing turnout of only ten Fireballs have made the first day of the Irish Fireball Nationals in Dunmore East writes Cormac Bradley. With the exception of young Edward Coyne out of Kinsale the home club's Mike Murphy and a composite Clontarf/Dun Laoghaire crew the fleet is made up completely of Dun Laoghaire boats. That means that Skerries, Clontarf, Killaloe and East Down fleets are conspicuous by their absence. A sad demise from the heady days of multi-club representation at the Nationals and grest socialising at the host club.
With a Worlds a ferry trip and 45 minutes drive away in approximately 6 weeks time in Pwllheli, N Wales and bragging of a 99-boat entry, the fortunes of our nearest Fireball neighbour and our own are in stark contrast.
As predicted Barry McCartin & Conor Kinsella made it look very easy on the water with three race wins. In each race their margin of victory was very comfortable. Behind them the three second places were shared 2:1in favour of Kenny Rumball & Teddy Byrne. Team Clancy claimed a single second place and two thirds.
Thus the overall situation reads;
McCartin & Kinsella 3pts.
Rumball & Byrne 7pts
Clancy & Clancy 8pts.
In fourth overall is Neil Colin & Margaret Casey, counting a 4,5,6 and a point behind them is Frank Miller & Ed Butler.
Notable absentees are Noel Butler with a joyful family occasion tomorrow - a wedding in the family and Stephen Oram, returning from overseas.
Race Officer Con Murphy gave the fleet two Olympic courses and a closing Windward/Leeward course. Wind conditions were healthy for the first race and eased as the day wore on.
The Flying Fifteens are putting their boats together to join us on the race course tomorrow.
A small fleet of 420s appeared to be enjying on the water coaching today and they too go into race mode tomorrow.
