#dragon – This year's event saw 24 entries with a large contingent from the UK and further afield. The numbers were boosted by generous sponsorship from Brewin Dolphin and the creation of a Grand Slam comprising the Edinburgh Cup, the Nationals and the Gold Cup, plus two regional championships.
2011 National Champion, Martin Byrne, mounted a strong challenge to defend his title with two firsts on day 2, which saw him in pole position to lift the magnificent silver trophy again. The weather was sparkling with sunshine and an oscillating and gusty westerly breeze which gave ample opportunity for snakes and ladders on the course. The local challenge evaporated on Saturday as Byrne carded a 16 and a 15.
Indeed, it was a characteristic of this event that almost all the sailors were carrying at least one score in the teens, indicative of the challenging conditions. All the sailors that is except one. In a remarkable display of consistent brilliance, Danish Olympic gold medallist Poul-Ricard Hoj-Jensen discarded a fourth place to win the event with a race in hand. The visitors dominated the event, with Martin Payne in second place and third was Chris Hunt. Best of the Irish (and the first Corinthian boat) was Simon Brien in fourth.
The fleet now moves to Kinsale at the end of August for the South Coasts and finally the Brewin Dolphin Gold Cup, which is an Open World Championship for the class.
