Week two on Sunday morning (November 9th) of Howth Yacht Club's 50th Anniversary Frostbite Series delivered excellent racing conditions write Cormac Farrelly, with a steady westerly breeze and flat seas providing a marked contrast to last week's light and shifty opener. The race management team took full advantage of the favourable conditions, setting an Olympic course for both races.
With low water at 11:45 and a flooding tide throughout the racing, competitors had to factor in the increasing tidal influence as the morning progressed. While the wind direction remained relatively stable, oscillating 15 degrees either side of west, some competitors found themselves caught out by over-enthusiastic starts in the second race, leading to individual recalls.
ILCA/LASER FLEET: FOX MAINTAIN LEAD WHILE FAGAN DOMINATES
The ILCA 7 (Laser Standard) fleet continues to provide close racing at the top, with Tom Fox (Rush SC) maintaining his overall lead on 5 points, after discarding a third-place finish. Howth's Colm Cunningham has moved into a strong second position with 6 points, following an impressive victory in race three. Dan O'Connell (RStGYC) demonstrated his improving form with a bullet in the final race of the day, securing third place overall. Skerries Sailing Club's Daragh Kelleher showed strong form with a third-place finish in race three, contributing to his solid fifth position overall.
The morning sun tries to break through as Carla Fagan and Cillian Macken take their ILCAs to windward. Photo: Ronan McDonnell
In the ILCA 6 (Radial) fleet, Carla Fagan (HYC) has established a commanding lead with three wins from four races. The battle for second place remains tight between Charlie Power and Dylan Cassidy, both from HYC, with Power's more consistent performance in the second week giving him a slight edge. Peter Hassett made a notable impact with a win in race three, though an unfortunate OCS in race four affected his overall standing.
Nicole Quinn continues to represent the ILCA 4 (4.7) fleet, showing improved confidence in the steadier conditions and completing both races.
PY FLEET: SHERIDAN SETS THE PACE IN TESTING CONDITIONS
The PY fleet saw some dramatic action, particularly during the second race's first reach where gustier conditions challenged the asymmetric boats, with both the 49er and RS800 crews taking unexpected swims. In the overall standings, Daragh Sheridan has established an impressive lead with three wins from four races. John Phelan holds second place with consistently strong finishes, while Ryan Cairns maintains third position despite a challenging second race of the day.
Ryan Cairns of Clontarf with the classic IDRA 14 has stayed in the PY frame. Photo: Ronan McDonnell
MELGES 15 FLEET: TIGHT RACING AS LEADERS TRADE PLACES
The Melges 15 fleet, racing within the PY fleet but also scored separately, saw Mike & Sara Evans bounce back strongly from last week's OCS to claim both of Sunday's races. This performance, combined with their earlier results, moves them into the overall lead. Cormac Farrelly with Rob McConnell and Sarah & Charlie Robertson are locked in a tight battle for second and third respectively, separated by just one point after the worst race discard.
Fiachra Farrelly and Jamie Malcolm get to grips with the Olympic 49er skiff. They were to take a baptism in Howth Sound before the morning was out. Photo: Ronan McDonnell
FIRST HALF COMPLETED
This opening event marks the beginning of the first half of the series, which will run every Sunday until December 15th. A special thanks goes out to the race management team who took full advantage of the stable conditions to deliver two excellent races. Racing continues next Sunday, where competitors will be hoping the steady breeze remains but perhaps with fewer unexpected swimming opportunities for the skiff sailors.
Results here: https://hyc.ie/results
A touch of class – Richard Tate's classic Olympic Finn gets in a spot of November racing at Howth. Photo: Ronan McDonnell
