After braving the delays due to roadworks on the Motorway heading south, many of the Flying Fifteen fleet assembled for Lough Derg Yacht Club's traditional pre-event supper in the Whiskey Still at Dromineer, followed by some refreshments writes our special correspondent.

Saturday dawned, as expected, damp and very still. Fortunately, the event Race Officer John Leech made the good call to postpone and wait for the breeze and allow late arrivals to rig boats.

Still in the drizzle, the fleet assembled in the race area and racing got underway in a gentle 5-7 knots from the South on a Windward Leeward course. Early leaders were Rory Martin in the back seat with guest crew Dave Muckilveen up front. However, a fresh breeze from 90 degrees right on the second beat promoted Niall Meagher and Nicki Matthews followed by Ian Matthews and Keith Poole around the remaining legs of the course.

"The event brings down the shutter on the qualification series for the 2019 world championships"

Rory & Dave restored their honour in race two as the breeze softened in the continuing drizzle with the ever consistent Ian & Keith second and Alastair Court and Conor O’Leary finishing out the podium, the race featuring some interface with the Squib class sharing the course.

With the wind now completing a full 180 shift from the initial directions, Race 3 started in similar 5-7 knots of breeze, and the fleet separated by only a cigarette paper at the first mark. With the right side favoured, there was a healthy inter-fleet meeting at the left-hand gate at the bottom of leg 2. Avoiding the traffic Neil Colin and Margaret Casey rounded the right gate and stayed left, sailing into pressure and a ladder up to the top mark. They were followed home by Rory and Dave, and the ever consistent Ian and Keith.

Even though the Race Officer had intended to run four races, with the time lost earlier in the day and the sodden crews and mark laying volunteers, he signalled enough for the day, to the relief of everyone on the water.

Back in the club after hot showers in the warmth, a substantial dinner of Lamb or Salmon was presented, followed by swapping stories on the events of the day, and even a nightcap or two.

On Sunday, the sun shone to the relief of everyone, and the Race Officer started on time, as declared at his briefing. The start was comfortably won by Ian and Keith on a Port tack, as there were only two boats present, due to the lack of wind and time lost in re-launching boats.

Much to the relief of the remainder of the fleet, the race was abandoned, as the breeze evaporated leaving a glass flat water surface, and so it remained for the next two hours, when the decision to abandon racing for the day was made, leaving the overnight result to stand.

Thanks to the Derg volunteers, the fleets were towed home and packed their boats in the autumn sunshine.

The event brings down the shutter on the qualification series for the 2019 world championships to be staged in National Yacht Club next September, with the formal confirmation of qualifiers awaited.