The Irish Examiner Round [Spike] Island Race took place on Sunday under the guiding hand of Principal Race Officer Seamus Gilroy, reports Bob Bateman. Immediately after the Class Flag went up for the dinghies an extremely heavy thunder shower struck the fleet. The intensity of the shower was so great it turned the sea into what looked like a cauldron of boiling white water. However, by the time the start signal went it had cleared somewhat and the fleet including a number of Fevas, Lasers and an A Class Cat took off with the A Class charging off the line to round Spike Island over 20 minutes ahead of Grattan Roberts Splash Dance and Dermot O’Flynn’s Laser to eventually take the overall trophy on handicap.
The cruisers had a separate start and, despite the sailing instructions, several were seen trying to enter the 'no go' area and had to return to start properly. The course for this fleet was somewhat longer and took them up to Cobh where they made a left turn at No. 20 buoy and from there headed for a finish at Currabinny Pier.
Photo: Bob Bateman
The wind was West/North West and, as is usual with these sort of winds, it was gusty but also had plenty of holes in it. The course was such that only Martin Darrer in True Penance had the entuisiasm to hoist a suitable offwind sail for the tight reach back from No. 20.