Champagne sailing conditions have often been bantered about in sailing reports but at Foynes Yacht Club for the Dublin Bay Mermaid Munster Championships this weekend you would think you were sailing in the Algarve!
Sailors were greeted this morning with a two hour postponement by OOD Liam Madden ably assisted by Donal McCormack and crew. It was a wise move, and as the morning progressed to the afternoon a southerly sea breeze filled in with glorious sunshine conditions. Racing got underway at 1300hrs with the competitors getting away to a clean start. Positions changed regularly but ultimately 188 Innocence, Darragh McCormack, Cathal McMahon & Mark McCormack were pushed hard by both 123 Vee, Jim Carthy, Muriel & Paula Carthy in second place and 119 Three Chevrons, Vincent McCormack, Roisín McCormack & Michael Lynch a very close third.
For race two the wind veered and dropped slightly. The OOD decided to reduce the length of the beat and move the gybe mark. Racing got underway at 1435hrs. After another clean start and due to the shorter beat, it was all to play for by the windward mark. Tight reaching continued throughout the remainder of the race and again the crew of 118 Innocence were to the fore, with 119 a close second and 135 Cara II, Frank Browne, Oisín Finucane and Frankie Browne finishing a very solid third.
The social side has already kicked off with crews enjoying drinks on the point looking out over Foynes Island waiting patiently for at dinner at about 1830 and the highlight of the night, the band Flog the Dog, a favourite of the Mermaid crews, at the sun soaked FYC. Racing will resume tomorrow at 1200hrs.
