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#kinsale – The ASM-Marine Frostbite League for Lasers, Squibs and Mixed dinghies at Kinsale Yacht Club passed the half-way mark on Sunday when a further three races were successfully completed to bring the total races sailed to eight, with two discards to be applied. With a further six races possible over the next two Sundays and with one more discard to be taken into consideration, the eventual outcome in most classes remain tantalizingly open.
A steady Force 4 Moderate Breeze in a bright but cool morning set the backdrop for the fourth day of racing, as the KYC Race Committee lead by PRO's Bruce Matthews and Clem McElligott decided on a triangular course for the first two races, laying the windward mark just south of the beach at Castlepark with the leeward near Kinsale Boatyard. As the tide had just turned prior to the start of the first race, it would be the third race before the effect of the flood tide was to prove a decisive input into race tactics. A more determining factor was the greater wind strength apparent on the left side of the course. Due to a the wind veer of approximately twenty-five degrees prior to the start of race three, the course was re-adjusted accordingly for that final race of the day.
The combined Laser Fleet of thirty-two boats comprising Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs were boosted by the presence of the ISA Munster Training Squad and got off to a flying start @ 12.00 hrs. without incident.
In the Laser Standard Class, last year's overall winner Ronan Kenneally (Monkstown - MBSC) and leading helm from the previous week by just one point, markedly improved his advantage to eight points with an unbeatable combination of a second and two firsts. Meanwhile, his fellow competitors experienced very mixed fortunes on the day in this otherwise tightly contested series. Aided by a fine second in the final race James Mathews (KYC) managed to retain a firm hold on second overall, while Mathias Hellstern's (KYC) third place in the first race assisted his move to a third place overall. Robert Howe's (MBSC) performance of a first and second in the first two races is worthy of note, though he is not currently in contention due to several DNCs accumulated earlier in the series.
In the Laser Radial Class, the ever consistent Darragh O'Sullivan (KYC) and another returning winner from last year marked up one of the two outstanding performances of the day's racing by taking line honours in all three races. In so doing, he has leaped from fourth to first place overall. Given that the league standings have been affected by various helms including Darragh, not competing at various stages due to other commitments, his thirteen points lead in the top spot is looking comfortable. Despite Dara O'Shea (KYC) and Dermot Lyden (BSC/RCYC) not competing on Sunday as indicated above, with their accumulated points to date, they still manage to hold second and third positions overall. Two further notable results were achieved by Aisling Keller (LDYC/KYC) and Kinsale's Sorcha Ni Shuillabhain who was last year's winner of the Destiny Trophy for best performance by a Kinsale sailor when she competed in the 4.7 class. Aisling's second and two thirds moves her from ninth to fourth overall, while Sorcha's third and two seconds are her first set of scores in the league to date.
In the Laser 4.7 class, with three wins to his credit so far Richard Thompson (RCYC/KYC) has emerged as this year's leading helm. Another first, a third and a second on Sunday gives him a lead of three points and a total of eight overall. However Cliodhna O'Regan (KYC) with two of her maximum scores discarded and due to a second and two wins on Sunday moves up into second place and is definitely very much in contention for that top place. Thomas McGrath (RCYC) unable to repeat his performance of last week which delivered two wins drops to third overall and three points behind.
In the Squib Class, the competition between the two leading boats is definitely ratcheting up with both boats seldom out of the top two positions in any race. On Sunday Colm Dunne &Mark Buckley (KYC) in Allegro gained the upper hand, and overturned a deficit of two points overall with a remarkable winning performance of three firsts. Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson (KYC) in Sensation had to settle for three seconds and though they drop to second place overall are only one point behind. The final outcome between these closely matched boats remains very much open. Paul McCarthy/Paul Cotter (KYC) in Mack took third place in the second race, and Bobby Nash/Mike Walsh (KYC) were third in races one and three.
With only the elements as their main adversaries, the K6 of Peadar Murphy, Alan Bateman & Keith O'Riordan continued unchallenged in the Mixed Dinghy Class, adding its own particular spectacle to the overall excitement of the Frostbites.
The league continues over the next two Sundays ending on 24th February. It is an Open Event for all Lasers, Squibs and Mixed Dinghies. F.G. @ 11.55.