#fireball – Despite forecasts of much heavier winds in y'days Sea Area forecast of 6pm the Fireball Ulsters had to wait until the 4th race of the day to use trapezes in anger writes Cormac Bradley. 2 trapezoids (R1 and 2) and 2 Olympic races were sailed. We had 3 different race winners in Niall Mc Grotty and Neil Creaner, Ed Butler (Jnr) and Conor Kinsella, and Neil Spain and Francis Rowan (R3 and 4).
This gives Spain/Rowan the overall lead after Day 1 but only by a 1pt margin over Noel Butler and Stephen Oram. They together with Kenny Rumball and Dave Moran proved to be the most consistent over the four races scoring 7, 3, 2, 3 and 3, 4, 3, 5, respectively. Thus the top 4 boats are separated by a pont between each place with 5th and 6th tied on 12 points and 2 off 4th place overall. Niall and Simon McGrotty dominated R1 with Niall 1st and Simon 2nd. In thid place are Butler/Kinsella who scored a 4, 1, 4 but also had a DNF.
Almost everyone is carrying one bad result. Colin/Casey scored a 15, Smyth/Bradley a 17, Mike Murphy/Alex Voye a 17 and Laverty/Butler a DNF.
Conditions were light with grey skies but breeze came in as the afternoon wore on. There are 20 Fireballs here at EDYC and no doubt there will be many a post mortem over the BBQ this evening.
1 N Spain and Francis Rowan 7pts
2 N. Butler and Stephen Butler 8pts
3 Ed Butler and Conor Kinsella 9pts
4 Kenny Butler and Dave Moran 10pts
5 Niall McGrotty and Neil Creamer 12pts
6 Simon McGrotty and Ruairi Grimes 12pts
Leading Silver Fleet boat is Michael Ennis and Marie Barry in 13th overall from a 20-boat entry.
