Blue skies and a cold northerly breeze greeted the fleets in Kinsale Harbour yesterday as the Kinsale Yacht Club Frostbite Series got underway. RO John Stallard assembled his usual crack team to ensure that the racing is top notch. Bruce & June Matthews, integral parts of the team, also kindly provided the Committee Boat and lunch, so we were very comfortable and well looked after aboard Destiny. Three fleets participated - Squibs, Mixed Dinghies and Toppers and racing got under way at 11.03hrs.
Race 1 got underway with 8 – 9 knots of breeze and gusts up to 18 knots. The Northerly breeze ensured that there was no swell and made for ideal sailing conditions. In the Squib Fleet Fuggles with Jeff Condell and Jeff Cochrane dominated from the first beat in Race 1 with Fifty Shades, Cliodhna O’Regan and Colm Daly and Allegro, Colm Dunne and Fiona Ward battling out for 2nd and 3rd. However things changed significantly in Race 2 with Fifty Shades leading from the start with two newcomers to the fleet Outlaw, Ian Travers and Keith O’Riordan and Badger, Rob Doyle and Rob Gill taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. An ebbing tide and lighter breeze made for interesting times at the windward mark I believe. Race 3 started with a slightly lighter breeze of 6 – 7 knots and the ebb in full flow. Fifty Shades again lead the pack with Allegro coming 2nd and Outlaw in 3rd. Only 1 point now separates each of the 2nd to 5th placings so it looks like discards could play a huge part in the overall Squib results. Protests are pending in the Squib Fleet on Race 2 so an update may be posted next week.
The Topper Fleet also welcomed some new members today and for some it was their first time racing in the fleet. Well done to Dorothy Matthews who got 1st place in all three races. Daniel Akerlind came 2nd in Race 1 & 2 and Rachel Akerlind got a 3rd in Race 1, and it was her first time racing. Francesca Lewis put in a very steady performance, her results improved with each race and she came 2nd in Race 3. Frances Corkery also had a good day with 3rd place in Races 2 & 3. Max Dillon got a 4th in Race 1 so well done to him. A big shout out to Harvey Matthews who at only 9 year of age came out in a slightly modified rig Topper, unfortunately he didn’t race as the 18 knot gusts were too strong for him. There are protests pending in the Topper Fleet also so updates next week after they are held.
The Mixed Dinghy Fleet consisted of a Full Rig Laser, Radial Laser, 4.7 Laser, 420 and 2.4m and they sailed under PY. Line honours went to the 420, Micheal O’Suilleabhain and Michael Carroll, in Races 1 & 3 with Master Laser sailor Gary Horgan taking it in Race 2. Well sailed Gary. Sean Collins in the Radial put in a very consistent performance and was over the line in 3rd for all three races. This was enough to put him in 2nd overall on corrected time. David Carter, 4.7 Laser and Georgina Griffin, 2.4m, were 4th and 5th respectively.
Many thanks to Bruce & June Matthews for sponsoring the day prize – all participants in the racing are entered into a draw and today’s winner was Micheal O’Suilleabhain.
Results: 1st 2nd 3rd
Squib
Race 1 Fuggles Fifty Shades Allegro
Race 2 Fifty Shades Outlaw Badger
Race 3 Fifty Shades Allegro Outlaw
Toppers
Race 1 D. Matthews D. Akerlind R. Akerlind
Race 2 D. Matthews D. Akerlind F. Corkery
Race 3 D. Matthews F. Lewis F. Corkery
Mixed Dinghies
Race 1 420 Laser Laser Radial
Race 2 Laser Radial Laser 420
Race 3 420 Laser Radial Laser
