Davy O’Connell takes a one-point Class 1 lead into the final race of Monkstown Bay Sailing Club’s September league, as the Cork Harbour club also celebrates its young sailors’ success at the Optimist Connacht Championships.
Davy O’Connell in his Laser 7 continues to lead Class 1 of the Friday evening league at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club, just a point ahead of Judy Moynihan and Therese Loesberg in their Laser II, with Paul Swanton a further point behind.
It continues O’Connell’s strong season at Monkstown Bay. As Afloat reported earlier this month, he won both opening races of the September series after carrying his winning form forward from the club’s August league.
A close finish to the series is predicted, with the final race of the league tomorrow (Friday) evening.
There is also a tight contest among the Feva XLs in Class 2, where Eli and Joan Jeffers lead on seven points from Conor and Muireann Flannery on eight.
Young Sailors Honoured at Monkstown Bay
MBSC, on the edge of Cork Harbour, is devoted to dinghy sailing and encourages young entrants to the sport.
The club celebrated that approach at its clubhouse following the strong showing by its young sailors at the recent IODAI Optimist Connacht Championships on Galway Bay.
“MBSC sailors won every competitive fleet at the Championships,” said club Commodore Ewen Barry.
“A fantastic fleet of 141 sailors from clubs across Ireland travelled to Galway for what was the final IODAI event of the season and Galway Bay certainly didn’t disappoint.
“Conditions ranged from seriously spicy on the Saturday to light and shifty on Sunday, putting the young sailors to the test. Despite the challenging and varied conditions MBSC sailors did their club proud, producing outstanding results across all fleets.”
George Creighton was first in the Senior Gold Fleet, Jack Ryan was first Junior in the Gold Fleet and Dara O Suilleabhain was first in the Regatta Fleet.
Mary Kenneally was third in the Regatta Fleet, while Cara Scallan finished fourth in the Senior Silver Fleet.
Strong performances were also put in by Max O’Sullivan and Sadhbh Stafford in the Senior Fleet; Brody Hayes, Eva Ryan and Jamie Scallan in the Junior Fleet; and Beatrice O’Sullivan in Regatta.
“A brilliant way to finish the IODAI season for MBSC and a great reflection of the hard work put in by all of our sailors throughout the year,” Barry said.
October Dinghy League Next
The club has announced an October dinghy league as an open event, with five race days, beginning on Saturday week, October 3.
