#kinsale – Ronan Kenneally received the Laser Standard Trophy, Darragh O'Sullivan – the inaugural ASM Radial Trophy, Richard Thompson – the 4.7 Destiny Trophy and Colm Dunne – the Squib Trophy after the final race day of the ASM-Marine KYC Frostbite League.
The early calm conditions on the final day of the ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club last Sunday morning did not look promising. With two previous race days cancelled due to an excess of wind it was more in hope than expectation that the Race Committee lead by OD Bruce Mathews decided to take to the race area. Their positive action was soon rewarded as the predicted South-Easterly Force 2 to 3 arrived ensuring a timely start to the final day's programme.
With a top mark laid in close proximity to Kinsale boatyard, and the incoming tide early in its cycle, a windward-leeward course was offered to the four competing classes. As racing progressed, with the South-Easterly variable and backing at times thirty to forty degrees and the flood tide increasingly more affective, the usual critical decision of which side of the beat to favour was complicated by the opposing set of conditions.
Consistency was the foundation once again this year for Ronan Kenneally (MBSC) as the returning Champion retained the Laser Standard title. Never out of the top two in any race and scoring seven wins in total, Ronan's final flourish of a second and two firsts placed him in an unassailable lead at the top of this class. Finishing in second and third overall were Matthias Hellstern (KYC) and James Long (Inniscarra SC) with two seconds and a third and two thirds and a second respectively.
Already clear ahead at the top of the Radial Fleet, an off-form Darragh O'Sullivan still retained his overall title from last year, despite just two fifth places on Sunday. Successful on the day were Ewan O'Keeffe (CSC) who won the first race with Dermot Lyden (BSC/RCYC) and Aisling Keller (LDYC/KYC) sharing the next two races, each scoring a win and a second.
Having led the Laser 4.7 League throughout, Richard Thompson (RCYC/KYC) with a fifth and a third still managed to repel a late challenge from Cliodhna O'Regan (KYC) who took line honours in the last two races of the day. Unable to discard a 'maximum points' scoring, Cliodhna had to settle for second overall. Florence Lyden (BSC) had her best day to date with two seconds.
The conclusion to the 2013 Squib Class League had all the promise of a closely fought contest for the top spot, between two very well matched boats. Neither of the two crews directly involved, nor the few privileged to view the contest could have envisaged the enfolding drama. Colm Dunne and Rob Gill in Allegro (KYC), started the first race holding an advantage overall of just a single point, to Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson in Sensation (KYC). Allegro lost that one point advantage in the first race, only to regain it emphatically in the second, thus ensuring the outcome of the final race would determine the winner. With the overall points scoring always subject to the two discards rule, both crews must have been frantically doing the 'Math' at that stage. Concerned only with the relative position of their immediate opponents and with both crews sailing tactically, Allegro quickly established a winning lead only to surrender this at a top-mark 'port and starboard' incident. Accepting the required penalty, they still managed to collect a fourth place to Sensation's second. However, with Allegro's fourth in this race and Sensation's fifth in the second going to discard, Colm Dunne & Rob Gill emerged as worthy Champions by virtue of that single point. On this occasion, Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson had to settle for second place, while Paul McCarthy & Paul Cotter held onto third place also with an excellent first and a second.
Prize-Giving was hosted by Commodore Cameron Good, who on behalf of Kinsale Yacht Club congratulated the deserving winners and thanked all the sailors for their efforts. Special mention went to PRO Bruce Mathews for his continuing and enthusiastic support for this event. Appreciation was additionally expressed for the support of the various Committee members, the Sponsor and the many helpers who had assisted, both on and off the water, to make this annual and long-standing event such an enjoyable regatta. The Commodore awarded the prizes for each class which were presented by Agnes McLaverty on behalf of ASM-Marine. Ronan Kenneally received the Laser Standard Trophy, Darragh O'Sullivan – the inaugural ASM Radial Trophy, Richard Thompson – the 4.7 Destiny Trophy and Colm Dunne – the Squib Trophy.
