#RS – The weather Gods promised lots of wind, then none, then some, and then in the end there was some, then none.
That said, the excellent Race Team managed to get 3 terrific races in on Saturday in a shifty F1-2, and even more impressively managed to squeeze something out of nothing to get a two lap race in on Sunday morning when it looked like nothing would happen.
14 RS200s were immediately under pressure from local form man Graeme Noonan, who was ably assisted by the top crew Heather King, fresh from helping Trevor Fisher to top spot in the 200s at the Northerns a few weeks ago. The team put in three bullets on Saturday, and were only topped on Sunday when a left hand shift in the start sequence caught all but Roy van Maanen and Glen Reid on the hop, and they were able to launch a mighty port tack start on the pin, to clear the fleet by 40 metres and disappear off the radar to take the win. As usual, lots of jockeying for the rest of the spots, with Frank O'Rourke finishing third overall behind Van Maanen.
Top Junior boat in the 200s were David Johnston and Louise Flynn-Byrne of Howth Yacht Club.
In the 400s, with 15 entries, Bob Espey and Michael Gunning were making short work of the job, by leading home the first two races, before coming under pressure in Race 3, being caught out by some left shifts coming off the land in the dying breeze, to count a 4th in race 3. With some better sleep on the Saturday night, and some readjusted drinking techniques, they were quickly into the groove on Sunday to hold off Sean Cleary who sailed a great race after a cheeky port tack start, to raise them to third spot overall. Despite getting a Black Flag on the Sunday morning, Paul McLaughlin and Mick McKinley from Cushandall had done enough on Saturday to hang on to second spot. Rob Hastings (Bosun Bob) sailed a blinder to really up the ante and picked up fourth, whilst Andy Verso and Oisin Baugh continue to show great promise to pick up top Junior boat. Brian Holmes started to move forward, despite his dental issues and vomiting during Saturday, and a warm welcome to newly weds, Avril and David Doherty of Monkstown in Cork, who arrived with next to no time in the boat, and showed it won't be long before they are fully in the thick of it. Great too to see a girl driving an Irish 400, showing us all that it is not just a bloke's boat to helm. Sufficiently impressed were we, by their enthusiasm, that we are convinced that we should visit Cork for the Southerns in 2013, and have our Nationals there in 2014.
In the Fevas, Emer Rafferty and Roseanne Cassidy from the George took top prize ahead of Molly Wheeler abd Megan Callen of Howth YC.
So that concludes the circuit for 2013, with just the Sprints in 2 weeks time at RStGYC in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday 20th October. Some new faces will be appearing for that one, as new, second hand 400s (if you know what I mean) especially, are being purchased on a weekly basis, which should boost the fleet greatly next year. We are hoping to see James Espey, Ireland's Laser Olympian straight legging it for entire races next season, as well as a smattering of new faces (mostly blasters from the past) joining the fray – all very exciting times for the RS fleet
Thanks of course to Greystones Sailing Club for laying on the usual great hospitality with complimentary burgers and healthy side dishes with green stuff and beans for the hungry arrivals ashore, and a great evening in the clubhouse with the rugby on the big TV, a smashing meal and a real welcome for the visitors, which went on the wee small hours – great stuff Greystones!
