Rssailing – With all forecasts promising a chilly Northerly force 4 with gusts up to a 6 the RS extended family descended on Blessington for the last event of 2013 Irish RS Circuit. Crews were welcomed at registration with cakes & hot chocolate. Outside, boats were hastily unpacked, rigged and tuned as fingers became numb.
Layers, hats and the odd drysuit were donned in anticipation of the colder water of the lake and thoughts of a cold night camping for the hardier crews. A thorough briefing was given by Race Officer Barry O'Neil detailing the 'no go shallow areas of the lake'. The committee boat even went to the trouble of showing the sailors exactly where the bottom was. After a brief pit-stop on the sand the committee boat was soon on its way again. After launching and clearing the shallows the thirty boats had swift blast down the lake to the race area.
In The RS Feva class it was the local team of Alison Dolan & Grainne Young who dominated proceedings scoring an impressive five wins from six races. The local lake sailors showed their salty rivals how to do it fresh water style. Triona Hinkson & Katherine Kelly were the best of the rest in 2nd place with a 4 point margin over third place Lorcan Tighe & Cian Murphy.
A reduced fleet of RS400's enjoyed belter of an event. A few new pairings and formidable experienced crews enjoyed some of tightest racing of the season. Four boats shared the same score after discards at end of race 6. With the series allowing for up to eight races and things running so efficiently the Race Officer decided to run a 7th race. This put final order on the results.
The 7th race developed into an epic match race between Sean Cleary & Steve - STAAAAARBOOARD!!!!!! Tyner, Versus Emmet Ryan & new crew Luke "Laser" Murphy. Despite some very impressive crew work and trimming by young Murphy and chucking the kitchen sink at them down the last run, Cleary & Tyner held on for a deserved first traveller series win.
Now that the Irish 400's are up to speed with lake sailing the 2014 RS Euro Cup in Lake Garda should be a piece of cake! But Blessington will be hard to beat.
Among the 200s were a few new pairings: Lisa Smith with Megan Hayes, sister of her usual crew looking at the gusty conditions with glee tinged with a touch of trepidation as one of the lightest boats. Maeve Rafferty took the 'old man' on board for Saturday and Meg Tyrell, an experienced Feva sailor was looking forward to her first spin in a 200 with Sarah Byrne.
Young Aaron Jones set the early pace and led around the first loop of the trapezoid, however at the leeward mark, his outhaul come off the boom – and no duck-tape to hand. In all very close racing was had on day one with places changing as often as the wind direction. Trevor Fisher/Emily Watt and Steven Craig/Conor Foley both showed good speed in the conditions but it was father son team Frank & Kevin O'Rourke who found the groove winning the first 2 races. Race 3 upset the trend and Roy Van Maanen got to the front keeping the chasing fleet at bay.
The O'Rourkes slept peacefully on just four points leaving fellow Greystones team Roy Van Maanen/Glen Reid on 8 points with the young George team of Stephen Craig/Conor Foley overnight. Father and daughter Graeme/Katie Noonan closely following on 11 points along with Trevor Fisher and Emily Watts from East Down YC.
On Day two, Roy and Glen forged ahead in the leading pack to take the next three races, but not without a struggle. Race 6 was a particular interesting affair with the whole fleet bunched at the start of the last run. Picking the right line downwind and the approach to the leeward mark was critical.
Race 7 started with just one point separating the two Greystones boats Van Maanen/Reid and the O'Rourkes. At the first mark, both boats rounded in the back half of the fleet having gone right up the beat, but the O'Rourkes went left and Van Maanen stayed out right pulling ahead little by little, making the third lap leeward rounding in the lead but losing two places on the final reach to the finish with youngsters Stephen Craig/Conor Foley pulling ahead with National duo Conor Totterdell/Myles Kelly in close pursuit. The final results had Roy and Frank tied on equal points with Roy winning on count back and taking the Inlands trophy home, the O'Rourkes finished second but took the Irish RS200 Circuit trophy for their season's efforts and Stephen Craig and Conor Foley came in third just missing out on the Circuit trophy by half a point.
Looking ahead, at least 6 RS200's and 6 RS400's are expected at this year's DMYC Frostbite series. Numbers continue to grow up North with up to 15 RS400's expected at the RNIYC and Ballyholme winter series.
The RS Association have already put together a provisional calendar for 2014 hoping to start in April with a Munster event coupled with a try out session for the 200s in Cork Harbour. Any clubs interested in looking at the RS Boats as a potential double hander 'Club Pathway' from 6- 66 years, please contact Sarah Byrne (087 235 8489) to arrange a try out session in your Club.
