Some hoped for less wind on day 2 of the Seachange Now RS Aero Easterns – they got more. With a solid 18 knots gusting 24 at times from the Southeast throwing up a tricky chop on Dublin Bay that challenged upwind and downwind technique. RO Michael Conway and team set a great windward-leeward course in Seapoint Bay that really tested the competitors after day 1 which was also windy.
Brendan Foley (Aero 7)
In the end, Hammy Baker sailing an Aero 7 was unstoppable, producing more firsts with athletic performance in the breeze. He was crowned RS Aero Eastern Champion. In second place Roy Van Maanen in an Aero 5 took a race win today to cement his overnight second place. Roy who will compete in the RS Aero European later this month at Lake Garda showed great speed and was mixing it with the top boats in the 7 fleet. A place change in 3rd spot saw Brendan Foley (Aero 7) overtake Sarah ‘Skinny’ Dwyer (Aero 5) with 1 point separating the two boats. The PY handicap saw a mix of two 7’s and two 5’s at the top but the 9’s struggled in the big winds.
Roy Van Maanen sailing an Aero 5
Sarah Dwyer was first female in the event, sailing a very strong series in her RS Aero 5
Robin Gray IRO was the winner of the masters prize sailing smartly to stay out of trouble and the right way up!
In the RS Aero 7 class, sailing with 9 of the 14 boats entered, one to five were; Hammy Baker, Brendan Foley, Noel Butler, Emmett O’Sullivan and Stephen Oram. The feedback from the sailors was very positive with gratitude to the Royal St George, the race team and in particular event organiser Sarah Dwyer. Sponsor Brendan Foley of Seachange Now was delighted with turnout and good friendly competition.
Teddy Byrne (1264) and Stephen Oram (3288)
Richard O’Connor, Commodore of the Royal St George thanked the fleet for choosing the club for their very first event and expressed his wish that the George would continue to have a place in Aero history into the future. As is customary at RS Aero events all the participants and race committee got a giant Aero chocolate bar.
Brendan Foley, MD of sponsor Seachange Now (and third place competitor), Hammy Baker first overall and Richard O’Connor Commodore of the RstGYC
The next event is the RS Aero Northern Championships in Carrickfergus on the 14th/15th of August.
Full results here
