The RS Elite Irish Nationals has just taken place, hosted this year by Carrickfergus Sailing Club. With brisk conditions and a lumpy sea, Holywood man Simon Brien Championship win was an impressive affair.
There was stiff competition from Stephen Polly, and Mark Brien (Brother of Simon) also Solent boat Mike McIntyre, but Simon on board “KIN” (RNIYC) along with his daughter Tiffney and Oli Loughead had a very impressive 5 wins and one 3rd leaving Kin with a perfect score of 5 after discard. Stephen Polly’s “Storm” (RUYC) finished 3rd overall with John Gunning and David Kelso on board. Hayling Island boat “Foudafafa” helmed by Mike McIntyre tacking second overall.
Carrick ran a very impressive Event, 3 races each day with race management by Ballyholme’s Robin Gray, great social and a taxi service across the Lough to and from RNIYC. Carrick celebrating its 150 years did it in style!
The Irish Elite Nationals was just a warm up for the fleet as the attention turns this week to Strangford Lough where the UK Elite Nationals are being hosted. A strong English representation is expected and competition will be very stiff. For this Event “Kin” will be helmed by Tiff Brien who has narrowly missed out on winning this event in the past, that said some of the Strangford Elites with local knowledge will not make it easy for her. Also Ryan Wilson on “Eclipse” could show good form at this Championship. Wind is expected to be lighter this week.

#rselite – Strangford Lough Yacht Club were hosts over the 28th-29th June for the 2014 Cardinal Analytics RS Elite Irish Championships writes Mark Fletcher. This was the first Irish championship to be held outside Belfast Lough, due to the newly established SLYC fleet emerging last year. As an added bonus, the event organizers were able to keep the sun shining all weekend. Racing got underway in light conditions on Saturday, and two of the local boats were so keen off the start line they came back for another look after the gun had gone. Thankfully for these two – and without money changing hands – the PRO Davy Young abandoned the race. Within minutes the wind had shifted left and a great breeze filled in which was to stay for the rest of the day.

Results are available to download below as a jpeg file.

In race one Tiffany Brien on Kin took line honours, closely followed by her uncle Mark in Full Marks and Stephen Polly of Storm in third. The rest of the finishes resembled match races, with nothing separating the remainder of the fleet. Race two was a reversal of race 1, with Mark Brien in Full Marks taking line honours from Tiffany Brien in Kin, and Mike Vaughan locking out the final place on the podium. Yet again the following pack was extremely tight, with gains or losses of 3-4 places being spread over several seconds. After a slight break for lunch Race 3 got underway, and it was local boat Tuppence helmed by Brian Corry to cause an upset by holding off the Briens to take line honours. Despite this being their first event, Tuppence had great speed upwind and managed to get in sync with the shifts to hold on for their maiden win. Kin came in second and Storm rounded off the top 3. With the wind forecast for Sunday not looking too exciting, Davy Young wisely opted to sail a fourth race on Saturday when the wind was with us.

The Full Marks boys managed to stay out of trouble all the way round the course and get clean air – no mean feat in such a closely bunched fleet. Jeff Ralston in Upfront sailed a consistent race to come home in second, with fellow RNIYC boat Sea Breezes II helmed by John McDowell coming in third. By this stage the committee boat were getting tired after having to write all the sail numbers down in quick succession, and it was homeward bound for some beer and the championship dinner. Onshore Mark Brien was able to update the Full Marks fans over the phone of their overnight lead.

We weren't privy to the entire conversation but Mark's reply of "don't sound so surprised" must be a quote of the season. General merriment continued all the way to Daft Eddy's, with the Full Marks boys of Marks Brien, Ennis and McNeill confirming they were in full "regatta mode". Day 2 started with no wind, and those who sampled Gerry Reid's concoction/drink the night before were grateful of the delayed start ashore. At least the sun was still shining. After another large wind shift, Race 5 got underway. John McDowell on Sea Breezes II was fast out of the starting blocks and held on to the lead all the way round the course – despite this race being one of the most shifty and patchy in terms of wind of the whole series.

The Full Marks boys had a "sub – optimal" start, and dug deep to recover to 4th, with Jeff Ralston's Upfront taking second and Stephen Polly on Storm rounding out the top three. Unfortunately time ran out and we didn't manage to fit in the final race, but Full Marks had done enough to secure their first Irish Championship win, having sailed an incredibly consistent and fast series. Kin had to settle for second this time round, and Storm were pushed into third by a point. Second to fifth place overall were separated by only 5 points, and further down the overall results were equally tight. This must have been one of the tightest Irish Championships on record, and with multiple Squib, Dragon, Flying Fifteen, Sonata and Laser II champions gracing the start line, the fleet is highly competitive.

SLYC had donated a perpetual trophy to the best placed travelling boat, which went to Carl Allen's More T Vicar of Edinburgh. It was great to see Carl again, who is always a loyal supporter of the Irish fleet. In the first chapter of his acceptance speech Mark Brien thanked the event organizers, PRO, committee boat crew, mark layers and sponsor for putting on a great event. Having said his thank yous and made a move towards his seat he then commenced the second chapter of his acceptance speech when he proposed that SLYC should host the British Championships in the not too distant future – I'm sure that can be arranged!

#hyc – A Sportsboat Cup for Irish keelboat classes to be held around Midsummers day and tailored especially for 1720s, SB20s, Quarter Tonners, J24s, RS Elites, Dragons, J80s and J70s, is to be staged for the first time at Howth Yacht Club in north Dublin from 20th - 22nd June 2014.

At this multiclass event each of the sportsboat classes will be given their own start, results and prizes.

The event will incorporate the 1720 European championships as part of the event and there is an expectation of visiting UK and continental crews too.

Racing will be one design with the exception of the quarter tonners and mixed class who will race under IRC. Class rules will apply where applicable.

HYC says any other sportsboat type that has an IRC cert will also be accommodated in a mixed sportsboat fleet.

Howth is using the event to champion its sailing facilities both on the water and ashore at the 'bustling fishing village' venue that is also close to Dublin airport.

The largest club in the country has two cranes, a 300–berth marina, sizeable hardstanding, a large club house with bar, terrace and dining facilities not to mention secure changing and showering facilities

HYC is ideally placed to host this Sportsboat Cup. Car parking, craning, berthing and trailer storage are all included in the entry fee and racing will be organised by top National and International Race Officers.

With no racing starting before 12 each day there will be ample time to freshen up in the morning after the great social that is planned for each evening.

Online Entry available by clicking the HYC advert at the top of the Afloat homepage.

#rselite –  RS Elites from throughout the UK have set sail for the UK National Championships at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast lough in two day's time. 

Steve Powells, helm of 'E,TU' and the RS works boat KISS is reuturning to the lough and several local boats are also looking to make their mark in the fleet with Bangor based 'Storm', helmed by Stephen Polly, enjoying strong results recently. Sailing talent and former Miss Northern Ireland, Tiffany Brien, came runner up in last year's Nationals at Cowes and is hoping for further success this year.

Other contenders with their eye on the glassware include brothers Mike and Gavin Vaughan in 'Toucan' and 'Anchorman' which sees former Olympian John Driscoll in the hot seat.

The series consists of ten races on Belfast Lough and will take place between Thursday 22nd August and Sunday 25th August.

#rselite – Northern Ireland's Tiffany Brien, Graham Bailey and Simon Brien have finished second overall at the RS Elite UK Championships in Cowes today.

The RS Elite Class took another significant step forward with this exceptional Championship. The largest fleet in the Elite's young history was peppered with hugely experienced names from across the small boat racing world including a Gold medallist, international and national champions. Hosted by the ultimately prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and with the whole fleet based in their harbour in front of the Castle, no-one will forget the setting, their welcome and the efficiency with which they ran this regatta both on and off the water.

Day 1 was windy – to the point that highly experienced and amiable (in equal measures) PRO Jonathon Peel stated that "Very few other dayboat classes would have raced at all today". Despite a number of big broaches there was no damage greater than a broken spinnaker pole. Crauford McKeon, Paul Bowen and Rupert Harding in Kandoo III were immediately fast out of the blocks with two wins in the first two races, but a 6th in the final race of the day put them a point behind the ultra consistent Eloise sailed by Andy Jameson, James Grant and Lizzie Vickers with 4, 2, 1. All eyes had, of course, been on the reigning Miss Northern Ireland, Tiffany Brien in Kin, sailing with her Dragon Edinburgh Cup winning Dad Simon Brien and local star Graham Bailey – and their opening day 2, 9, 2 put them in 3rd.

Day 2 was possibly even more testing with patchy breeze and seven hours afloat due to a delay while new breeze arrived and settled. Kandoo followed a win with a tangle with a fishing pot which put a 35th firmly on their score-card. Impressively, best performance of the day with 5, 7, 2 went to Peter Lister in Pipefish, sailing with blond-in-a-boat Pippa Wilson and David Hales – and loving every nerve wracking minute.

Martin & Amanda Wadhams and Paul Fisk sailing their new boat Kiss came out top on Day 3, leading around the top mark in the first two races of the day and eventually posting 3, 1, 7. Kandoo opened with an 18th after even they could not recover more from a dodgy start and now their pressure was fully on – both discards spent and three races still to go in very tricky conditions. Following up with 2, 1 demonstrated impressive mental recovery... and, we gather, a slap from the crew. This put them at the top of the board going into the last day's showdown.

Defending champions Jono, Lyn and David Brown in Aeolus, lying in fifth overall, led the final race from the outset on Day 4 with Kin in 2nd and Eloise 3rd. Kiss was lying 6th and worked up to 3rd, enough to prevent Aeolus beating them overall. But Eloise dropped places and that allowed Kin to take second overall as the numbers were crunched in all the leading boats, mark by mark.

But the day belonged to Kandoo – they took no risks, rounded the top mark in 8th and climbed to 5th, comfortably good enough to deservedly lift the 2012 National Championship title after showing blistering pace across the wind range.

From the moment RS Elite owner Charlie Egerton-Warburton of the RYS took on the role of 2012 Championship Organiser, the event's success was assured. Charlie and his family pulled it off in such comprehensive style that it will be a tough act to follow. The social programme was relentless – and special thanks should go to Julia E-W who selflessly tested countless Wight Vodka cocktail mixes earlier in the year in the pursuit of the perfect blend for this event. Sponsorship from Crewsaver, Sebago, Nonsuch Bay Resort, Corries Cabin, Paul Newell Sails, Island Ales and countless more Isle of Wight companies ensured the overall prize-giving table was better stocked than Sainsbury's!

So, the RS Elite Class moves forward and the next exciting event on the calendar looks set to be on Antigua, where the stunning Nonsuch Bay Resort have a fleet of RS Elites simply beckoning.

Overall results – top six

1st Kandoo III – Crauford McKeon, Paul Bowen, Rupert Harding 20pts

2nd Kin – Tiffany Brien, Graham Bailey, Simon Brien 25pts

3rd Eloise – Andy Jameson, James Grant, Lizzie Vickers 28pts

4th Kiss – Martin Wadhams, Paul Fisk, Amanda Wadhams 32pts

5th Aeolus – Jono, Lyn, David Brown 34pts

6th Pipefish – Peter Lister, Pippa Wilson, David Hales 41pts

#rs – Northern Ireland's Tiffany and Simon Brien along with Graham Bailey are in third overall at the RS Elite National Championships with one race left to sail to day in Cowes.

There were more testing conditions on the Solent yesterday, but despite a delay while the wind shifted and settled in the middle of the day, three races were completed as scheduled.

Crauford McKeon's Kandoo team tested their nerves - after their lobster pot issue yesterday were buried at the start of race 7 and simply couldn't find a way back, finishing 18th and using their second discard. This demonstrates how evenly matched the boats are and how easy it is to drop down the fleet. Kandoo came back with 2, 1 to lead the championship with just one race to go - but they cannot afford another mistake so it is far from in the bag.

In contrast Andy Jameson in Eloise has the most consistent series, adding 5, 3, 3 and laying in second overall, two points ahead of Tiff Brien in Kin whose 2, 5, 9 kept them right in touch.

Kiss had the best day, with Martin Wadhams team posting 3, 1, 6 in their new boat to maintain 4th overall going into the last race. The top four all have a chance to win this championship, and there have been races with nearly all of them well back in the pack so the stage is set for the showdown on Sunday morning.

The Class dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron last night began with Wight Vodka cocktails on the lawn and everyone looking glamorous as they sat down to dinner with a stunning panoramic view across the Solent. None of this could have happened without the sponsorship of Wight Vodka, Crewsaver and a host of support from many Isle of Wight businesses.

Top six with 1 race to go:

1. Kandoo III- Crauford McKeon, Paul Botterill, Rupert Holmes, 15 points

2. Eloise - Andy Jameson, James Grant, Lizzie Vickers, 21

3. Kin -Tiffany Brien, Graham Bailey, Simon Brien, 23

4. Kiss - Martin Wadhams, Paul Fisk, Amanda Wadhams, 28

5. Pipefish - Peter Lister, Pippa Wilson, David Hales, 31

6. Aeolus - Jono, Lyn & David Brown, 33

Low pressure systems played havoc with the Royal Alfred YC Baily Bowl on Dublin Bay this weekend with visitors from Belfast Lough adding much needed colour writes our Dublin Bay Correspondent. The one design fixture struggled to attract big numbers in any of the four fleets sailing and the local Flying fifteen class opted out altogether.

The one design weekend is part of the 2011 Royal Alfred Season.

Race officers Brian Reddy and Barry MacNeany succeeded in completing three races on Saturday on both race courses but 50 knot gusts on a white Dublin Bay put paid to Sunday racing entirely.

Simon Brien from Cultra sailing Kin won the six boat Dragon fleet with two firsts and a second from Richard Goodbody and the Johnson Brothers Diva. Next week the class East coast championships will be held on the bay.

Peter Wallace's Toy for the Boys took the Squib class from local Frank Whelan in Lola.

Vincent Delany, a favourite for the Squib event, didn't show his usual form in third returning twice at starts and struggling up through the fleet.

Requests for redress from the race committee after recall signal misfire were denied according to the RAYC.

Peter and Marie Dee in Kookaburra after winning race two, lost third place overall to Delany after retiring from the final race.

In the six boat RS Elite fleet which decamped from the shores of Belfast Lough, Tiffany Brien crewed by Jay Bourke tied with John Patterson in Momentary Lapse on 7 points but lost on tie break. The Laser radial sailor still beat her uncle Mark in Full Marks!

Trevor Darcy and Simon Hutchinson from Carrrickfergus in Bullet won the SB3 fleet by a point from Colin Galavan's Defiant after the fleet retired from the final race as the wind touched force six.

Graham Smith wrote, in the March 2009 issue of Afloat: "The RS stable was further enhanced by the arrival of the RS Elite keelboat class on Belfast Lough in 2006 and in less than two years, it has grown to 13 boats with five more expected in the Lough for 2009. Interest has been expressed in Cork, Dublin and Galway so 2009 may prove to be a turning point for the Elite.

The fact that the European Championships are being hosted by Royal North of Ireland YC at Cultra next June is the carrot to encourage expansion and the class promoters will no doubt be highly active over the winter months to attract more sailors to its fleet.

Simon Brien of Dragon, Squib, etc., fame has already been bitten by the bug and duly won the first ever Elite Nationals in the appropriately named ‘Athelites’. Clubmate Jeff Ralston won the inaugural Northerns in a nine-strong fleet. National Champion: Simon Brien, RNIYC."

RS Elite Ireland, c/o Gerry Reid, President, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, 7 Seafront Road, Cultra, Holywood BT18 0BB, N. Ireland. Tel:0044 777 484 9998, email: [email protected]