#rssailing – A cold north-westerly wind greeted the Dun Laoghaire RS400 fleet as they ventured out to the start line of the 2015 DMYC Frostbites. With reports of 25-30 knots from boats competing in the Spring Chicken series early in the morning.
With 2 races scheduled and a dying wind the committee and mark laying boats set a short but challenging course spread through the harbour.
At the go most of the fleet fought for the best committee boat position some deciding to stay out of trouble and venture further down the line from the main pack, this lead to the fleet splitting in two, on each side of the course. The fleet all converged at the windward mark. The fleet then power reached across the top of the harbour. The three pack leaders, of the Ryan brothers, Sean and Donal and Alexander and Kevin, all pulled off the synchronised gybe capsize so beautifully that they then spent the next ten minutes trying to untangle themselves, this left the race honours to the 200s to battle it out,
Alexander later recalled "What was a race of boatspeed now became a race of capsize recovery!" Team Cleary/Murphy were first to fully recover and went on to chase the new leading pack. The next two laps were a major catch-up for the three capsized boats with Team Cleary/Murphy reaching into the leading pack. Marty O'Leary and Rachel Williamson taking the honours after being pushed hard.
The start of the second race showed the eagerness of the 200 and 400 fleets with both being "Miles over" as said by Kenneth Rumball in the Fireball fleet. This prompted a general recall and a black flag to put some manners on the boats. The second start was clear with a quick tack onto port by Team Cleary/Murphy and Team O'Leary and Williamson while the bulk of the fleet continued towards the HSS ferry terminal. Following a tack onto port by the fleet on the left side of the beat the leaders (team Ryan) emerged at the top mark. Most of the fleet learned from the previous race about the importance of keeping the boats upright so most of the fleet opted to hoist their kites once in the lee of the breakwater. The race was won on the water by team Ryan followed closely by Cleary/Murphy and Rumball/Brazel. In what was a very quick race, only 25 minutes to complete the three laps. This wasn't enough for the 400s to stretch their legs, and again the 200s took the overall Honours.
This weeks weekly mug went to, Chris Helme and Alan Claffey for race 1 and Enzo Michel and Tom Gillan for race 2.
Thanks to Alexander Rumball for this weeks write up.
