Eleven Flying Fifteens played out the last act of the 2022 sailing season under sunshine conditions on 5th November in good winds from a westerly direction. The early part of the day saw the freshest breezes, but they eased slightly as the day wore on. Another early start, 13:00, was declared to facilitate those who had rugby-watching aspirations and it seems some of the number actually got to the match.
Alan Green (left) and John Lavery – second overall at the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites at the National Yacht Club
Andy Paul (left) and Lee Statham – third overall at the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites at the National Yacht Club
Two windward-leeward races were completed under the race management of Keith Poole (4093) who acted as Race Officer for the four Saturdays of the series. Racing on the day was tight at the front of the fleet where the fight for the overall title was concentrated. The south coast visitors Lee Statham and Andrew (Andy) Paul (4070) were in pole position after the conclusion of the three races the previous Saturday, but Alan Green & John Lavery (4083) and Shane McCarthy & Chris Doorly (4085) were snapping at their heels. The latter two each had two DNCs (14pts) whereas Statham & Paul’s worst score was a 5th.
Jill Fleming and Conor O’Leary were first in the silver fleet at the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites at the National Yacht Club
McCarthy & Doorly took the first race, with Lavery & Green second. Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey (3955) were well placed in this race, scoring a third while Statham & Paul were forced into an on the water spectator role when their main outhaul broke. Niall Meagher & Nicki Matthews (3938) scored fourth while Joe Coughlan & Andrew Marshall (3913) were fifth. The first two finishers were playing “cat and mouse” with each other taking (fair) advantage of Statham’s absence from the course.
Joe Coughlan, the first Helm in the Bronze fleet of the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites at the National Yacht Club
However, the south coast pair were back for the second race of the day with everything to play for. And the three white spinnakers of McCarthy, Lavery and Statham hogged the front of the fleet to themselves on the downwind legs.
McCarthy took the win, with Statham second and Lavery third. Dumpleton was fourth, while fifth place went to Meagher.
Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites Results
Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites Series at the National Yacht Club: 13 boats, 9 Races, 2 Discards
Prizes were awarded to the 1-2-3 Overall plus the 1st placed boats in the Silver and Bronze Fleets and Ken Dumpleton/Joe Hickey got a prize as the best placed boat on the day outside the 1-2-3.
Ken Dumpleton was a daily prize winner at the Dun Laoghaire Flying Fifteen Fleet 2022 Frostbites at the National Yacht Club
Shane McCarthy thanked the Race Officer, Keith Poole, and his volunteers over the four Saturdays for giving up their time so that the Frostbites could be raced and a thank-you present was presented to Keith.
Flying Fifteen Frostbites Race Officer Keith Poole (left) receives a thank-you gift from Peter Sherry, NYC Vice Commodore
