Over the weekend of 29/30 November, Blessington SC organised a RS400 Winters Event to round off the 2025 season with a final fling before the Christmas period. The plan was for some light-hearted, fun and fast racing before the cold sets in and return to the big burning stove in the ever-friendly clubhouse.
Dave Mullaly, among his rescue crew, ably performed OOD duties, setting the plan for 2 races each day, windward-leewards, with quick turnarounds. The local HAWK20 keelboats also joined in on a separate start to total 13 boats.
Saturday began with a flurry of people rigging up their RS400s with a tuning session from Alan Claffey for the 12-18knot Northerly, chilly and shifty breeze. Boats planed out full beam to the racecourse hitting over 15 knots speed starting off and setting the tone for the day.
Race 1 got underway around 1.30 with locals Chris Helme/Alan Claffey linking the shifts and pressure best to steam ahead. Barry McCartin/Harry Thompson took a while to settle but lead a late charge on the last run to close up but ultimately came in 2nd with Andrew Mullally/Dominic O'Sullivan in 3rd. There was a flurry of action behind, a few swims and tales to tell.
For race 2 Canice Keane was ferried out to his rs400 to take up helming duties from Peter Dolan. The start got away with McCartin/Thompson away well but then capsizing on their first tack. A passer-by Aaron Bailey/Mike laughing at their misfortune then had exactly the same happen to them. Once again, Helme/Claffey sprinted away to a more comfortable win with Mullaly/O'Sullivan and Ben Graf/John McGonigle in pursuit. Each boat had some mishap, a swim, a rip in the kite, a broaching experience but with a gybe-set and a big gust on the last run McCartin/Thompson robbed 2nd at the final mark from Mullaly/O'Sullivan in 3rd and that called an end to the 1st day.
Everyone returned ashore content for the day, keen to derig and pack up before cold and darkness set in. The warm stove and cups of tea were warmly received and the club very kindly had a curry ready for all the competitors which went down a treat, as did some of the brews. Plenty of action and debriefs were had, which concluded at the local bar, O'Connor's.
Day 2 dawned with less wind but filling in, and Race 3 got underway right on 11am by Dave Mullaly. This time in the 7-10knots, McCartin/Kinsella (in for day 2) started to streak clear. Ben Graf/John McGonigle today were the nearest challengers, while Helme/Claffey came back to make it 3 boats vying for the win, with ultimately McCartin winning out, Helme in 2nd, Graf in 3rd, Sam Street/Jim Haide fairing better in 4th.
For race 4 it was still on for the winner and wind settled 9-12 knots. McCartin/Kinsella again started well and were ahead but Helme/Claffey were never far behind. Both boats duelled it out with even the Hawk20s' dirty air coming into play on the upwinds, while Ben Graf/John McGonigle closed enough to close down any wind missed by boats ahead. It was tight and on the last run helme/Claffey judged their port gybe better to roll in 1st. However right at the bottom, with a couple of last dice gybes McCartin/Kinsella got Starboard and Room on the final turning mark and so gybed to the finish to reclaim the win and take the Sprint trophy on countback from Helme/Claffey after an exciting finish. Ben Graf/John McGonigle remained consistent, taking 3rd.
