Michael O’Connor (RStGYC) and his crew mates Davy Taylor and Ben O’Donohoe won the Lough Ree Yacht Club hosted SB20 National Championships last weekend.
An eight-boat-strong local fleet also saw entries from RIYC, RCYC, NYC, RStGYC and HYC.
Six out of 10 races were completed on Saturday, the only day of racing under varying wind conditions (8 knots and building steadily to 14 knots) no racing on Friday or Sunday as conditions proved challenging with temperatures in the high 20’s but gusting barely 2 knots! Racing was postponed as with other events around the country suffering similar conditions.
Wind direction on Saturday was incredibly shifty but the race officer David Dickson and his support team, Alan Algeo, Oonagh Reid and Liz McGrath, took the situation in their stride as each race started in rapid succession.
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Racing was very exciting with lots of jostling for pole position, saw TED helmed by Michael O’Connor (RSGYC) and his crew mates Davy Taylor and Ben O’Donohoe winning Gold Fleet sailing consistently over the six races (10 points, same points as previous Northerns in April at LRYC) closely followed by Stefan Hyde (RIYC) and his team (Jerry and Jimmy Dowling) on Bad Kilcullen (15 points), in third place Carpe Diem (18 points) helmed by Colin Galavan (RIYC) and his team (Aran Jones and Kein O’Rourke), Silver fleet saw the local LRYC boat Sharkbait helmed by Mark Rafter and supported by Stan Bradbury and Rory Walsh winning top place closely followed in second place for Silver fleet Sea Biscuit helmed by Chris Helme and his crew (Barry Galvin and Niall O’Riordan). Third place in the Silver fleet was secured by James Delaney helming (Under 25 Squad in a sponsored boat for the event) Provident CRM, James and his team really demonstrated great sailing technique and a serious contender for future events.
Overall results for the National Championship Event at LRYC saw TED outright winner and taking home the National Trophy; second place went to Bad Kilcullen Stefan Hyde Helm, with Jerry and Jimmy Dowling, Carpe Diem secured 3rd Place Helmed by Colm Galvin Carpe Diem and his team Aran and Kein.
Silver fleet pole position went to Mark Rafter, local man on Sharkbait, 2nd Sea Biscuit and 3rd Provident CRM (Under 25 Squad).