The RS Ireland Traveller Series opened with a 53-boat fleet at Carrickfergus Sailing Club on 17–18 April. Sailors from across Ireland competed in RS Aero, RS Feva, RS200 and RS400 classes. Conditions proved challenging throughout.
Saturday brought shifting northerly winds and cold rain. Gusts built into the high 20 knots, forcing retirements and gear failures. Race Officer Sheila Lewis managed three races before ending racing early due to conditions. In the RS200 fleet, Frank and Kevin O’Rourke dominated with three race wins.
In the RS400s, Gareth Flannigan and Knox Wilson secured two victories. Peter Kennedy and Stephen Kane took the opening RS400 race. In the RS Feva fleet, Ellen Nolan, Niamh Coman and Leo West-Hurst, with Ben McCaldin, shared race wins.
The RS Aero class saw wins shared between Daragh Sheridan, Sophie Crosbie and Noel Butler. Sunday brought lighter and more unstable winds. Racing was briefly abandoned after a 180-degree wind shift before restarting.
Flannigan and Wilson secured the overall RS400 victory with consistent results. Noel Butler delivered a clean sweep on Sunday in the Aero fleet. In the RS200s, Jakob Ozarek, Amy Stocking and the Ridout sisters took race wins, ending the O’Rourkes’ run. Final class winners were Flannigan and Wilson (RS400), O’Rourke and O’Rourke (RS200), West-Hurst and McCaldin (RS Feva), and Butler (RS Aero).
Organisers credited Carrickfergus Sailing Club volunteers for delivering the event. The series now moves to Greystones Sailing Club for the RS Easterns in May.
