Swords Sailing Club (SSBC) hosted the 2023 Eastern Championships in the multihull class on September 2nd and 3rd, attracting a fleet of 16 boats. The event saw a total of seven races completed over two days, with wind speeds ranging from light to medium. Sunny skies and warm weather made for a very pleasant weekend of racing at Swords.
On the first day, four races were done after a one-hour delay waiting for the wind to fill in. The races were called perfectly by Race Officer Niall Gallagher from the neighbouring Malahide Yacht Club. They ran efficiently back to back on a windward leeward course, including an excellent spinnaker downwind finish line.
Race 1 saw Matt McNichol BYC and Patrick Billington WSC fly off the pin end to establish an early lead, a pattern they more or less continued for the day, establishing themselves in a commanding lead overnight.
The battle for second place battle proved very competitive, with Stephen and Siobhán Broaders SSBC claiming 2nd in r1 and r2, and Simon and Ann O'Gorman SSBC taking 2nd in r3 and r4. Both teams sat in 2nd and 3rd place with a 1-point difference overnight.
Multihull Eastern champions at Swords Sailing and Boating Club - Matt McNichol BYC and Patrick Billington WSC sailing an F18
Day two saw similar conditions, with three races on the slate. Race 5 saw light airs, and Stephen and Siobhán got away to reach windward first, but Matt and Patrick found their way past them at a tricky leeward end. Simon and Ann stayed in touch to claim 1st on schrs handicap.
Race 6, with breeze kicking in, saw David Biddulph and Orlaith Sweeny SSBC come into form and sail a great race to claim 1st. Stephen and Siobhán finished ahead of Simon and Ann to set up a final race showdown between the two.
Simon and Ann O'Gorman retain the Donny McKay H5.9 trophy and second overall sailing a Hurricane 5.9sx at the Multihull Eastern champions at Swords Sailing and Boating Club
Race 7 saw Matt and Patrick return to winning ways, claiming the final race win. But the battle for second overall was won by Simon and Ann by a single point, leaving Stephen and Siobhán in 3rd overall.
Simon and Ann retained the Donny McKay H5.9 trophy and 2nd overall sailing a Hurricane 5.9sx. Sean Lemonnier and Aly Osullivan GBSC won the junior fleet sailing a spitfire. Shane Peal and Jackie Malone SSBC won class 2, sailing a Dart16x.
The Eastern champions were Matt McNichol BYC and Patrick Billington WSC, sailing an F18.
Results are below
Third overall - Stephen and Siobhán Broaders SSBC sailing an F18 at the Multihull Eastern champions at Swords Sailing and Boating Club
Sean Lemonnier & Aly O'Sullivan GBSC win the junior fleet sailing a Spitfire at the Multihull Eastern champions at Swords Sailing and Boating Club
Shane Peal & Jackie Malone SSBC win class 2, sailing a Dart16x at the Multihull Eastern champions at Swords Sailing and Boating Club
