Sean Craig and Stephen Boyle continued their commanding form in the DBSC Flying Fifteen Thursday Series with a sixth victory of the season on 23 July, extending their overall lead after another tactical race on Dublin Bay.
Sailing in a 16-boat fleet, the pair mastered a light south-easterly breeze to take victory ahead of Alan Green and Caroline Hanniffy, while Alastair Court and Conor O'Leary completed the podium.
The evening's race was sailed in gentle south-easterly conditions with Island serving as the opening windward mark. The long-standing belief that an inshore route always pays in a south-easterly was again tested, with successful boats employing both inshore and offshore strategies during the opening beat.
Writing after the race, fleet member Dennis O'Sullivan admitted his own race began poorly after an OCS and a delayed restart.
"It might have been easier to retire home for an early shower, supper and a couple of beers, but hope sprang eternal and we decided to persevere."
Despite the setback, O'Sullivan recovered one place on the final leg to the finish, although he acknowledged it left him unable to follow the front of the fleet closely enough to provide a detailed tactical account.
After rounding Island, the fleet enjoyed a broad-reaching spinnaker leg to Poldy before gybing towards Molly. The fleet spread widely across the bay, with different approaches paying dividends as sailors searched for the strongest breeze.
The second beat back to Island again produced contrasting tactical choices, with some hugging the shoreline while others initially stood offshore before returning inshore. By the second rounding of Island, Craig and Boyle had stretched their advantage over the chasing pack of Green, Dumpleton and Colin.
As the breeze eased in the closing stages, keeping the boat moving became increasingly important. The race was completed in full, with Race Officer John McNeilly praised for setting a course that made the most of the conditions.
Craig and Boyle's latest victory leaves them firmly in control of the Thursday Series standings with just eight points. Neil Colin and Margaret Casey remain second overall on 32 points, followed by Green and Hanniffy on 38.
Results
DBSC Flying Fifteens – Thursday 23 July
Sean Craig & Stephen Boyle
Alan Green & Caroline Hanniffy
Alastair Court & Conor O'Leary
Neil Colin & Margaret Casey
Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey
Thursday Series Overall
Sean Craig & Stephen Boyle – 8pts
Neil Colin & Margaret Casey – 32pts
Alan Green & Caroline Hanniffy – 38pts
Alastair Court & Conor O'Leary – 43pts
Ken Dumpleton & Joe Hickey – 47pts
