Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's ever-popular Laser Frostbite League concluded in Cork Harbour on Saturday afternoon (February 10th).
A cold north-easterly wind and heavy rain were present on the final day of racing. This did not phase the eager competitors in the slightest, and racing commenced as usual at 10:10 am.
Race officer Robbie O’Sullivan and his team laid a course in difficult conditions.
As the sailors launched in good time, it became evident that strong tides, swirling eddies, banks of seaweed and big wind shifts would be the order of business for the morning.
Race one kicked off in a light breeze. Competitors dashed off a heavily port-biased line, only to be stopped dead by a hole of no wind on the starboard lay line. Utilising local knowledge, several sailors tacked through a back eddy to keep making progress. Davy O’Connell of MBSC was the wisest, reaching the windward mark first. Ronan Kenneally followed in second, with Chris Bateman in third. With some tough battles through seaweed and heavy tide swirls, the final leeward mark saw Bateman pull into first, with Fionn Lyden of BSC sailing through to take second place and Kenneally taking third. A few tight-tacking battles later, and this was the finishing order.
Race two was slightly breezier with a course change in place. The racing was incredibly close throughout the fleet. Rob Scallan of MBSC was first around the windward mark having charged in with good speed from the starboard layline.
However, he fell back on the downwind slightly, so by the leeward mark, Bateman had pulled into first with Rob Howe in second. Scallan closed up the gap in third.
By the time the finishing order was decided there had been many position changes. Taking first place was Bateman. A close second was Kenneally having sailed well to come back up through the fleet. Snapping at his heels in third place was Scallan.
Race three brought more wind again and extra laps were added to the course. This saw the sailors doing five laps. Off the start saw Ronan Kenneally pull into first. He remained reasonably unchallenged throughout the race. With two competitors returning the line due to being over early, orders were mixed. Five rounds later saw Kenneally take first place. Paul O’Sullivan of MBSC sailed a stellar race, coming up through the ranks from last to second place at the finish line. In a very close third place behind O’Sullivan was Rob Howe.
That concluded racing for the morning and for 2024’s edition of the Laser Frostbite Series.
Chris Bateman of MBSC won the “Yard of Ale” Trophy. In second place was Ronan Kenneally of MBSC. Fionn Lyden of Baltimore SC was in third place.
Ronan Kenneally second in the 2024 Yard of Ale trophy with Jacqui O'Brien, Commodore of MBSC Photo: Bob Bateman
The prize-giving was held at The Bosun, where lunch and beverages could be enjoyed comfortably. This concluded the first event of what is set to be a fantastic season.
Fionn Lyden finished third Photo: Bob Bateman
MBSC issued a big thank you to volunteers such as Robbie O’Sullivan, Emmett O’Sullivan, Dave Doherty, Bob Bateman (Photography), Colin Barry and to all those who helped run the league.
