David Algeo leads the Shannon One Design National Championship after six races at Lough Ree Yacht Club, where 38 boats are contesting the week-long title series.
Algeo is six points clear of David Dickson, whose outstanding opening run was interrupted by a DNC in the sixth race.
The ongoing championship is the centrepiece of Lough Ree Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta, which attracted 94 entries across the Shannon One Design, keelboat, SB20, ILCA PY and Optimist fleets.
While the Shannon One Designs continue racing until Friday, the supporting keelboat, SB20 and ILCA divisions completed their regatta programmes, under Principal Race Officer is Alan Algeo, over the opening weekend.
Shannon One Designs: Algeo Takes Six-Point Lead
Algeo leads on 42 points after a consistent six-race performance comprising finishes of 13th, second, sixth, third, eighth and tenth.
With no discard yet applied, that consistency has allowed SOD 138 to move ahead despite not recording a race victory.
Dickson had controlled the championship’s opening stages with finishes of second, first, second, first and third.
A DNC in the sixth contest added 39 points to his score, however, leaving SOD 73 second overall on 48 points.
Harman Murtagh is only two points further back in third after finishing third in the latest race.
Aidan Breen holds fourth on 57 points, with Frank Guy fifth on 63.
Ian Croxon remains in contention in sixth on 66 points. After carrying a DNC in the fourth race, Croxon responded by winning the fifth and taking second in the sixth.
Andrew Mannion made the strongest start to the series, recording first, third and first across the opening three races. A retirement and subsequent DNC have since dropped him to tenth overall.
Margaret Delany won the sixth race, recovering immediately from a UFD in the previous contest.
The leading six after six races are:
David Algeo — 42 points
David Dickson — 48
Harman Murtagh — 50
Aidan Breen — 57
Frank Guy — 63
Ian Croxon — 66
International race officer Con Murphy described the 38-boat entry as probably the class’s best turnout since its centenary regattas in 2022.
The championship continues until Friday.
Keelboats: XTension Wins Two-Point Contest
XTension, helmed by D H Beattie, won the Lough Ree Regatta keelboat division following a closely fought five-race series.
Beattie’s boat counted two race victories, a second and a fourth to finish on eight nett points.
Fran Kelleher’s Pinta and Kieran Crowley’s Sophie tied on nine points, with Pinta taking second place on countback.
Alan Mac Neice’s Joker finished fourth on ten points after placing inside the leading three in each of its four counting races.
Only two points separated the first four boats in the final standings.
The keelboat results were:
- XTension — D H Beattie — 8 points
- Pinta — Fran Kelleher — 9
- Sophie — Kieran Crowley — 9
- Joker — Alan Mac Neice — 10
SB20s: Strictly Business Wins Six From Eight
Strictly Business, sailed by Eoin Leahy and Donie Herraghty, dominated the completed SB20 series.
The crew won six of the eight races and discarded two fifth places to finish with a perfect six-point nett score.
John Malone’s Provident CRM took second on 11 points after recording two victories and finishing no worse than third.
Ben Graf’s Bango secured third on 17 points, one ahead of Mark Rafter’s Sharkbait.
Emmet Sheridan’s Rockhopper completed the top five.
The SB20 results were:
- Strictly Business — Eoin Leahy/Donie Herraghty — 6 points
- Provident CRM — John Malone — 11
- Bango — Ben Graf — 17
- Sharkbait — Mark Rafter — 18
- Rockhopper — Emmet Sheridan — 23
ILCA 6: Byrne Completes Perfect Counting Series
Ellie Byrne won the ILCA 6 division with the minimum possible three nett points.
Byrne won all four races and discarded one victory when the four-race series applied its single discard.
Orla Turner finished second on six points after recording four consecutive second places.
Myles Fallon took third on ten points, followed by Micheal Malone and Evan Sheridan.
The ILCA 6 results were:
- Ellie Byrne — 3 points
- Orla Turner — 6
- Myles Fallon — 10
- Micheal Malone — 12
- Evan Sheridan — 14
ILCA 4: Dullea Edges Breen by One Point
Eli Dullea won the ILCA 4 division following a close contest with Hugo Breen.
Dullea counted two second places and victory in the final race to finish on five nett points.
Breen won the first two races but placed fourth in each of the final two contests, leaving him one point behind.
Fionn MacNamara and Cliodhna Martin tied on eight points, with MacNamara taking third place.
The ILCA 4 results were:
- Eli Dullea — 5 points
- Hugo Breen — 6
- Fionn MacNamara — 8
- Cliodhna Martin — 8
- Conor Groarke — 10
The Shannon One Design National Championship continues on Lough Ree until Friday, while the keelboat, SB20 and ILCA divisions have completed their Annual Regatta racing.
