"Lough Ree always had the water and the boats - They just needed the weather!" was the comment from Commodore of Lough Ree Yacht Club; Frank Murray.
Summer certainly obliged with blue skies, blazing sunshine, 24 degrees and moderate breeze on the Saturday 19th June and 27 degrees and light breeze on the Sunday 20th June for the J24 Western Championship 2010 held this year in Lough Ree Yacht Club.
Principal Race Officer for the Event; Derek Bothwell ran 6 windward/leeward races for the 16 boat fleet with notable visitors to Lough Ree of Stefan Hyde on "Nautigirl", Brian McDowell on "Scandal", Robin Eagleson in "Luder Too", Michael McCaldin, "Murder Picture", Flor O'Driscoll on "Hard on Port" and Emma McDonald who had never sailed a J24 prior to this event, borrowed local boat "Jaws".
Very close racing ensued with Flor ODriscoll taking the over all championship on 12 points, with local, Andrew Mannion in "Jeb Stuart" taking 2nd place on 16 points and first time J24 sailor Emma McDonald from Howth in 3rd place just one point behind.
A fantastic regatta that will be remembered for the hospitality of Lough Ree Yacht Club, the great racing and strangely for Ireland the fantastic summer weather.
Tight racing at the Leeward Mark - Lough Ree
L-R - Flor O'Driscoll, J24 Western Champion 2010, Frank Murray, Commodore LRYC, Robin Eagleson, President, IJCA-IRL
Photos courtesy of Alison Miles
