CH Marine Laser Munsters in Baltimore Draws Fleet of 95

23rd April 2019

30 clubs were represented at the Laser Munsters in Baltimore Credit: Deirdre Horgan

This weekend saw Laser sailors from 30 clubs around the country converge on Baltimore for the annual Munster Laser Championships sponsored by CH Marine.

Ninety-five sailors took to the water on Saturday morning to a light 4 – 8-knot breeze. PRO Ciaran McSweeney and his team got two races completed for all fleets before heading for home. Overnight leaders were Jonathan O’Shaughnessy in the 4.7’s, Clare Gorman – radials and Ronan Wallace in the standards.

On Sunday morning a blanket of mist shrouded the harbour but fleets launched and racing got underway after a postponement waiting for breeze. The largest fleet racing was the radials with 38 sailors competing for the first regional title of 2019. It was also some great race training for the radials and 4.7’s as many of the young sailors competing will also take part in the Irish Sailing Youth Championships being held in Royal Cork Yacht Club this coming weekend. It was great to see some new faces joining the familiar faces racing this year – one Cork standard sailor was returning after a 10-year hiatus from racing!.

The PRO and his team got two races completed on Sunday under a misty sky with similar breeze to Saturday but without any sunshine. None of the overnight leaders held their spots due to the competitive racing as the results were updated after each race.

Hugh O Connor Hugh O'Connor (left) with Baltimore SC Commodore Niall O'Neill

The 4.7 fleet was won by Hugh O’Connor (NYC) at his first 4.7 event having moved from the topper fleet last Autumn. Jonathan O’Shaughnessy (RCYC) secured 2nd place and club teammate Cillian Foster was 3rd with two bullets recorded on Sunday. It was also Cillian’s first Laser event. First Lady and fifth overall was Alana Coakley (RStGYC).

Radial winner Jamie McMahon

The Radial fleet was won by Jamie McMahon (HYC), Rob Keal (RCYC) secured second racing in the radial rig for the first time and Micheal O’Suilleabhain (KYC/RCYC) was third. First Lady and fourth overall was Clare Gorman (NYC). Nine masters raced in this fleet with Sean Craig (RStGYC) securing 1st, Conor Clancy (RStGYC) 2nd and Darrell Reamsbottom (HYC) 3rd master.

Standard fleet winner Rory Lynch

It was great to see 26 sailors racing in the Standard Fleet – this fleet was won by Rory Lynch (Blessington/NYC), second overall and first master was Russell McGovern (BYC/RUYC) and third Ronan Wallace (Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club). The second master was Roger O’Gorman (MBSC) and third master – Nick Walsh (RCYC/BSC).

The Baltimore team of volunteers worked their magic again this year to ensure the success of this annual event. Thank you to all who assisted across the various areas – registration, mark laying, committee boat, finish boat, trolley pulling, tally numbers, sandwich making, safety boat cover, results to name just a few of the many jobs!.

Commodore Niall O’Neill presented prizes to the winners at the prizegiving yesterday evening and thanked all the sailors for racing and the Irish Laser Class for hosting the event in Baltimore.

Full Results can be found here.

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About the ILCA/Laser Dinghy

The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):