#fireball – A smaller Fireball fleet than we would all prefer have made their way to the island's north coast and Cushendall Sailing Club, to contest the Irish Fireball Ulster Championships. Three races have been completed on Day 1 and current National Champions Barry McCartin & Conor Kinsella (15114) took all three bullets. They are being chased by Noel Butler & Stephen Oram (15061) who took three second places and Kenny Rumball & Brian Byrne (15058) who scored three third places.
Competing correspondent, Frank Miller (14713) reports that winds were of the order of 12 – 18 knots from the NW, with sunshine, but air temperatures were a bit on the cool side. A strengthening ebb tide meant that going offshore was risky but the offshore shifty breeze meant that it was necessary to take that route on occasion.
Miller & Ed Butler (14713) scored two fourths and a fifth.
Cushendall have been exemplary hosts and this evening the fleet was treated to a hearty chilli dish. It would appear that a hard session was had on the water as Frank advises that weary limbs are being rested this evening.

Sailors from across Ireland and the UK are due to arrive in Cushendall today and tomorrow for the RS 200/400 National sailing championships. The three-day event rounds off Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club's 2011 sailing season, during which the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. The club has also hosted the Topper Ulsters and Flying Fifteen East Coast championships this year, with hundreds of participants taking to the water at the picturesque Red Bay setting.

The RS200 and 400 are modern, high-performance two-man sailing dinghies, with the RS200 suiting lighter and younger crews. The boats have developed a huge following and competitive fleets across Ireland and the UK, with Wicklow's Greystones Sailing Club alone due to bring five 'under 18' boats and more boats for other young people to Cushendall this weekend.

CSBC Commodore John Lowry said: "The RS400s and RS200s are a great fleet, providing very fast and exciting racing. We had them for a competition around this time last year and it was fantastic. With this being the National Championships, we're expecting an even bigger fleet as well as some visitors from across the water. After racing in the evenings, we've lined up some great catering and live music so this should be a great event. As a competitor myself in this type of boat, I'm especially looking forward to it. According to the weather forecast, it looks like sailors will be treated to a wide range of wind conditions this weekend – as well as the Cushendall hospitality that we have become known for."

Questions over the next step for juniors after the RS Feva point to the bigger RS200 writes Feva sailor Ciara Byrne

The RSFeva has become the world's best selling two-person dinghy in recent years with fleets also growing in clubs all over Ireland. It is fast becoming the most popular and widespread choice for teenagers and youth sailors who enjoy competitive, active and exciting sailing.

However many questions were being asked recently at the RSFeva Nationals, held in Crosshaven, Co. Cork, regarding the next step for young, talented sailors who wish to continue racing in large fleets without the difficult transition of transferring from the Feva into a larger, unfamiliar dinghy. This uncertainty has led to many sailors dropping out of sailing altogether, while the remainder have split the fleet into Lasers, the 420/470 or moved on to cruisers.

However these dinghies require a lot of time and effort of getting used to, leaving some sailors frustrated and also, less motivated. To avoid this altogether, there is one simple solution: the RS200.

The RS200 is a spacious, one-design, double-handed, hiking, high-performance dinghy which has developed a huge following at club, circuit and championship level in the UK with a growing fleet in Ireland. A pivoting centreboard and rudder allow easy launch and recovery with a thwart giving the crew a comfortable position for light winds. With the asymmetric spinnaker, similar rigging and a similar design, it can be considered as a larger and faster Feva which makes for an easy changeover and the most logical and simple step up.

The ideal weight for an RS200 is 115-145kg (18-23 stone) which allows people of all ages to sail and race effectively in this dinghy. Ideal for teenagers emerging from the Feva, parents, youths, couples, friends and relatives can also come together which enhances the family and social scene.

Even though the 420 has a larger total sail area, the RS200's asymmetric spinnaker of over eight square metres, with a smoother single line hoist and drop system, similar to the Feva's. makes for a faster boat and requires greater tactical and more exciting downwind sailing. This encourages competitive racing and enhanced racing skills.

An RS200 at full speed off Greystones. Photo: Fiachra Etchingham

A maintenance free hull, made of lightweight polyester GRP ensures a long competitive life and second hand boats can be in very good condition so that older hulls are without the disadvantage experienced in fleets such as the 420. Furthermore, every hull comes from the same manufacturer giving no subtle advantage to any one boat; therefore racing just comes down to the sailors' tactics, boat handling and general knowledge of sailing and racing.

While the RS200 is not an Olympic class, there are large UK and Irish fleets which are active and competitive. Johnathan Lewis, a UK Feva coach and RS200 sailor, strongly encourages Feva graduates to move into the RS200 as it is an easy transition and makes for fun and exciting sailing. RS200 fleets are strong in Irish clubs such as those in Northern Ireland including Ballyholme, Newcastle and Cushendall as well as Greystones Sailing Club in Co. Wicklow.

Greystones Sailing Club boasts probably the largest asymmetric dinghy fleet in Ireland with fifty five asymmetric dinghies, twenty one of those being RSFevas and the majority of the remainder being RS200s. Recognising the RS200 as the natural progression from the Feva, ages range from fifteen to fifty five across the RS200 and RS400 fleets in the Club, with most of these boats competing in national events in Ireland, and some in the UK and further afield.

Rounding a mark in the RS200. Photo: Fiachra Etchingham

As fleets build in Dún Laoghaire and Howth yacht clubs, the RS200 is gradually becoming a popular progression from the Feva, and with the RS400 as a follow on boat for larger crews, young sailors can remain involved and spirited in asymmetric racing. The RS200 satisfies a thirst for speed and pace which generates more exciting, competitive and enjoyable sailing for those emerging from Feva fleet.

A Dublin Sailor (who has asked not to be named) has sent us comments on this story:

As one involved in junior and youth sailing at club level, one of the big decisions that faces youths is where to go after junior classes such as Optimists, Toppers, Fevas. Like any other sport, there is a high attrition rate after the age of 14 / 15, especially among girls which is an even greater shame as they can compete on a par with the guys.

We need a class that will keep youths engaged. The 420 & 29er are great boats but require higher levels of boathandling, are much more competitive and tend to attract the top sailors. They also suffer from an inability to match up crews who will stick together - teenagers chop and change all the time and its difficult to race a boat like a 420 / Fireball / 29er wihout a constant crew partnership.

We need a boat/class that:

1. Enables swapping around of crews without a major impact on the boathandling / teamwork. A sailor's plans for the weekend / event / season are not scuppered because of crewing issues.
2. Does not need a highly competent crew (e.g. ability to trapeze and fly / gybe a kite etc.) so that sailors can sail with their mates who may not necessarily be top-notch sailors but who can acquit themselves well in a slightly less complex boat.
3. Has a good mixed social scene which is the most important element of any class, youth or otherwise.
4. Does not cost the earth in terms of purchase price, is easy on wear & tear on kit (hence replacement & upgrade costs) or does not go soft and become uncompetitive needing a new hull after three to five years etc
5. Has international competition that is closeby (UK, FR, Bel, Ned etc) for those aspiring to a bit more
6. Has a motiviated class structure to help grow the class.

The fear is that we are starting out another class that will dilute the current youth class efforts. However I believe that the 420 and 29er will hold their own and continue to attract top sailors with ISAF ambitions.

On the other hand, if we continue to support these we will continue to lose the middle ground (and majority) of young sailors from our sport. Youths are fickle enough and if its too much hassle to deal with all the challenges of getting afloat they just won't bother - sad but true.

The ISA needs to take a lead in this and while its Olympic ambitions are great to see, it will fail the sport as a whole if it does not tackle this gaping need in its portfolio of support.

I believe that the RS200 and R2400 provide the best solution to these challenges. They appear well-built and the manufacturer certainly appears well organised and gets involved.

Looking from outside and without any vested interests (other than the health of junior and youth sailing) the RS's get my vote as a class that can make a radical difference.

Andrew McCleary and Colin Dougan from Killyleagh Yacht Club won this weekend's the East Coast Flying Fifteen championships, hosted this weekend by Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club.

Strangford Sailing Club's Brian McKee and Ian Smyth finished second after five races in Red Bay over Saturday and Sunday, while Roger Chamberlain and Jason Scammell-Maarch from Strangford Lough Yacht Club finished third, despite helm Roger receiving a knock to the head and retiring from the fourth race.

Eventual winners Andrew McCleary and Colin Dougan from Killyleagh Yacht Club (far right) lead off the line. Photo: Damian Connon

First in the Silver fleet was Tom Murphy and Andrew Marshall from Dun Laoghaire's National Yacht Club. The Bronze fleet was led by Philip and Anna Sanford, again from Strangford Sailing Club, while Bryan Willis and John McPeake from Whitehead's County Antrim Yacht Club were the leading boat in the Classic fleet.

In all 27 boats took part in the racing, which saw calm but overcast conditions on Saturday, and increasingly fresh breezes with gusts over 20 knots during Sunday's three races. Clubs participating in the championships included: Killyleagh Yacht Club, Strangford Sailing Club, Strangford Lough Yacht Club, the National Yacht Club, Portaferry Sailing Club, County Antrim Yacht Club in Whitehead, Larne's East Antrim Boat Club, Carrickfergus Sailing Club and Courtown Sailing Club in Wexford, as well as four local boats from Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club.

The first home of the locals were Rob Pelley and Marc Ritson. Paul Lowry and Brenda Reddington were next, followed by Eddie and Eoin Ritson. Paul McLaughlin and Michael McKinley, competing in a borrowed boat, were next over the line.

30 boats will travel to Cushendall this weekend for the East Coast of Ireland regional sailing championships in the Flying Fifteen class.  The two-day championships will be the penultimate major event in Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club's 2011 sailing season, during which the club celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Last year's East Coast Championship in Carlingford was won by Strangford Lough Yacht Club's Buckfast, helmed by Darren Martin. Brian McKee, also from Strangford Lough Yacht Club in Killinchy, and sailing Stifflers Mom is currently ranked first in the national fleet, with only this weekend's event left to race. David Gorman aboard Hy5ive and from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire is second; while Strangford Sailing Club's Gerry Reilly on Over the Moon is ranked third. The winner of the south coast championships at Dunmore East two weeks ago, John Lavery is not competing.

The Flying Fifteen is a 20-foot keelboat that provides competitive sailing for its two-person crew. There are thriving fleets across Ireland and the UK, with approximately 50 boats regularly competing in races in Ireland. More than 4,000 flying fifteens have been built worldwide to date and a large number of these are still sailing.

CSBC Commodore John Lowry said: "This is the second regional event to be hosted in Cushendall this year, following the Topper Ulster Championships in June. We're all looking forward to some great racing on the water, and great craic off it. We have six Flying Fifteens in our club, and I know that those sailors are excited by the added competition from the visiting boats this weekend. We're crossing our fingers for some good weather," he added.

Simon Herriott and Tom Moran from Wicklow's Greystones Sailing Club are leading the RS400 fleet after day one of an open sailing event in Red Bay, Cushendall. Robin Flannigan from Ballyholme is helming the second place boat, while Robert Galligan and Sam Savage are in third place. Weather conditions were fine but cold, with more than 10 knots of wind blowing from the North West.

There were 23 high performance boats starting today's races – 16 in the RS 400 class and seven RS 200s. Of the fleet, large numbers travelled from Greystones (Co Wicklow) and Royal North (Cultra), with boats also coming from the National Yacht Club (Dún Laoghaire), Strangford Lough and Ballyholme. Six local Cushendall boats also started.

The fast, light-weight sailing dinghies have a crew of two.

Ben Mulligan has been relected as Flying fifteen President for another term at the recent annual general meeting of the class. Colin Dougan. A number of  new fixtures were proposed for the 2011 season including Larne, County Antrim YC (Whitehead), Cushendall and the National YC. Dun Laoghaire's NYC made no secret of the fact it would like to host the class national championships,  a reasonable ambition given it holds the biggest  fleet in the country (20 or more boats). As the Worlds are in July next year at Hayling Island SC in the UK it was again agreed to have only four events next season. It was also agreed that the venues for 2011 would be agreed at a committee meeting in Carlingford in September.

Racing in the waters of Red Bay in County Antrim, Ballyholme Yacht Club's Ryan Seaton won this weekend's Ulster Laser sailing championships, which was hosted by Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club. Some 88 boats took part in the two-day provincial sailing championships, with five races taking place over Saturday and Sunday. Sailors from Radial, 4.7 and standard Laser fleets competed.

Tiffany Brien, also from Ballyholme, won the Ladies National championships, with Courtown Sailing Club's Ruth Harrington in second place and Annalise Murphy from Dún Laoghaire's National Yacht Club taking third.

Bangor-based Ballyholme dominated the leaderboard. Seaton's top spot, came on the back of four wins out of five races. Club mate James Espey took second place while Chris Penney from East Antrim Boat Club in Larne, was third.

In the 4.7 fleet, Kinsale's Conor Murphy took the top spot. Emma Cooney from the National Yacht Club was second, while Wicklow's Finn Lynch took third place for Blessington Sailing Club.

Ladies champion Tiffany Brien also topped the Radial class. Robbie Gilmore from Strangford Lough Yacht Club was second with Strangford clubmate Christopher Eames in third place.

Local participants from Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club Stephen McLernon finished 6th in the standard fleet; while Paul McLaughlin finished 12th in the Radial fleet and his cousin Catherine McLaughlin finished 15th.

Amongst the entrants were seven former, current and future Olympian sailors, including: Ryan Seaton (Ballyholme YC); James Espey (Ballyholme YC); Chris Penney (East Antrim BC); Bill O'Hara (Ballyholme YC); Cathy MacAleavey (National YC); Tiffany Brien (Ballyholme YC) and Annalise Murphy (National YC).

Cushendall Commodore Emmet Connon said: "This weekend's event has been a great success for both the Cushendall club and the nearly 100 sailors that took part. We had great sunshine over both days, and a range of wind and sea conditions that would have challenged both new sailors and the veterans amongst the fleets."

"Between the sailors and their supporters and families, hundreds of people travelled to Cushendall over the weekend. This was a great boost to the local economy, and very welcome indeed in these times.

"The success of the event was only possible thanks to the hard work of all of the volunteers and staff. It is a great reflection of our club's professionalism and ability to hold large, enjoyable events. We look forward to hosting more great sailing events over the next year as the club celebrates its 50th anniversary," he added.

Competitors from 23 clubs across the country took part including from: Ballyholme (Bangor, Co Down), Baltimore (Co Cork), Blessington (Co Wicklow), Carlingford Lough (Rostrevor, Co Down), Courtown (Co Wexford), Cushendall (Co Antrim), Donaghadee (Co Down), East Antrim (Larne, Co Antrim), Howth (Co Dublin), Killyleagh (Co Down), Kinsale (Co Cork), Lough Derg (Dromineer, Co Tipperary), Lough Erne (Co Fermanagh), Malahide (Co Dublin), Monkstown Bay (Co Cork), National YC (Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin), Royal Cork YC (Co Dublin), Royal Irish YC (Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin), Royal St. George YC (Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin), Rush (Co Dublin), Skerries (Co Dublin), and Strangford Lough (Killinchy, Co Down).

 

More than 100 sailors are due to travel to Cushendall this weekend for the Laser Ulster Championship and Ladies National Championship. The two-day event will open Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club's summer sailing season.

CSBC Commodore Emmet Connon said: "Cushendall is looking forward to welcoming sailors from across the province and across the island next weekend, and we hope that we will be able to provide them with good wind, good racing and good craic.

"Having successfully hosted provincial, national and international sailing events over the last decade, CSBC hopes that the Laser Ulster Championship will get our summer sailing season off to a good start. Our club turns 50 in 2011 and we plan to mark this important anniversary with a great year including plenty of great sailing and lively events that our visiting guests and the local community can all enjoy." he added.

Facilities for media: A club boat will be made available to broadcast media and photographers on Saturday and Sunday.

Should you wish to arrange interviews or have any special requests, please contact: Damian on +353 87 228 1119. More information can be found at: http://www.csbc.co.uk/blog/index.php/laser-ulsters/

The Laser Ulster Championship was last held in CSBC in 2002, when some 96 boats took part – including 17 local sailors. Seven of these went on to sail in the National Championship that year. Over 70 boats entered last year's provincial championship, which was held in Lough Erne Yacht Club in Enniskillen.
Many of the more competitive entrants will be using the upcoming races to hone their skills ahead of the 2012 Olympics, which will be held in Weymouth and Portland.

The Laser is one of the most popular single-handed dinghies in the world. The 4.23m Olympic Class boat is both robust and simple to rig and sail but also provides competitive racing for both beginners and advanced sailors.

Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club was established in 1961 and today is a busy sailing hub on the North Antrim Coast. It provides competitive sailing facilities, races for both cruising yachts and sailing dinghies and a popular summer sailing school. It also has active rowing, sea angling and motorboating sections.

Since 1998 sailors from the club have competed at provincial and national Topper and Laser class competitions as well as other open events. Cushendall sailors have won the Northern Ireland Youth Championships, the Irish Topper championship and Irish team titles.

CSBC has hosted Optimist and Topper regional championships, the Irish Topper Championships and the Skydome Topper World Championships in 2000. Other classes of boats sailing at the club include: Flying Fifteen, Pico, Buzz, Laser 2000 and RS400.

EVENT DETAILS:

Friday, 7 May 2010
19.00: Registration opens (for sailors with advance bookings)

Saturday, 8 May 2010
09.00: Registration opens
10.30: Briefing for sailors
11.25: First race warning signal
16:00: Racing concludes

Sunday, 9 May 2010
Racing continues [Race times TBC]