Day one of the Laser Frostbite League hosted by Monkstown Bay Sailing Club kicked off last Saturday, January 3rd, in an uncharacteristically early start for the event. Sailors undeterred, this proved to continue on the fine momentum created by the previous week's St.Stephen's race, attracting thirteen boats to the start line on a fine winter morning.
A hard frost covered the Sandquay, not a breath stirred the Bay. Spars were cold and painful to the touch, and a low sun added little warmth. With the competitors still full of the delights of Christmas dinner, light and shifty conditions in Monkstown were greeted with a certain amount of scepticism. Nonetheless, the boat park was teeming with life and with complaints of slightly shrunken wetsuits, the lasers were launched into still waters and a slack tide.
ILCA dinghies edge off the start line in near-glassy conditions at Monkstown Bay's Frostbite League Photo: Bob Bateman
With Tony Geraghty as OOD and Conor Kelly Snr as rescue crew, the 10:15 am start got underway and Race One began. A small start line and the mud flats at Raffeen creek made for a crowded first leg, with sailors dashing to shallow water to escape the flood tide. Those who exercised finesse came out on top, and at the first mark it was still all to play for. With incredibly shifty winds, race leader Ronan Kenneally of MBSC rounded in first. Recovering from a late start, former frostbite rival Chris Bateman, also of MBSC, sailed through to round right on his heels.
Overtaking Kenneally on the run, he held first, while Kenneally finished second, and James Murphy (who played the building tide with expertise) took third. In the radials, first place went to Olin Bateman, with Kyle Joyce in second and Conor Kelly Jnr in third.
Sailors in the ILCA class navigate shifty downwind breezes and slack tide during a calm winter morning in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman
Race two was similarly difficult, with position changes happening all throughout the race. Wild shifts of sixty degrees blew off the Monkstown shoreline and it was all anyone could do to sail conservatively. Taking first place was Bateman, Kenneally second and sailing fast to finish ahead of a looming pack of lasers was Rob Scallan in third. Winning the radial division was Conor Kelly Jr.
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Winter League Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman
Race three was a short affair in a dying wind. With almost no wind, the fleet got away to sail through the glassy waters carefully. The course was shortened to finish at the windward mark, making it a half-lap race. Everyone had their share of glory in the wild shifts, but coming out on top was Kenneally after a vicious tacking battle from Bateman, to win by a margin of a bow length. Paul O'Sullivan, event coordinator, finished in third. Winning the radials, again, was Kelly Jr.
A smile that says it all. Ronan Keneally gets a zephyr that takes him over the line ahead of Chris Bateman in Race 3 Photo: Bob Bateman
A battle to get back to the slip by all means necessary began, to get to the hot drinks and warm rooms that awaited. This being the tenth anniversary of the league, a good show of hospitality is coming from the host club and all sailors can brave the cold with the knowledge that upon arrival, the effects of frostbite and hypothermia can be halted at the cosy bar of the Monkstown Bay Sailing Club!
Laser Frostbite League hosted by Monkstown Bay Sailing Club
