43 boats enjoyed mixed conditions in Dublin Bay for the Laser SB3 fleet's start-of-season event from the Royal St George, the Mitsubishi SB3 Easterns. Gareth Flannigan, defending champion, did the business and his McCready Sailboats team of Jeremy Tomalin and Stephen Milne took the trophy home to Ballyholme for another year.
Ben Duncan's Howth Sharkbait team, the 2009 rankings winners, had to settle for silver.
The fleet headed out into 27 knots on Saturday and saw more mixed, shifty conditions on Sunday, with the race management team filling the six-race schedule with apparent ease. The turnout was impressive, and the fleet continues to attract new sailors, with 1995 Helmsmans Champion and GP14/Dragon/Squib guru Ruan O'Tiarnaigh and Finn sailor Guy O'Leary from the RIYC two of the most recent additions.
Existing visitors from Cobh, Kinsale, Galway, Kilrush, Lough Derg, Carrickfergus, Royal North, Sligo, Crosshaven, East Down, Royal Ulster, Ballyholme, Arklow and Dunmore East swelled the numbers, along with local Dun Laoghaire and Howth teams.
Class Chairman Sean Craig said:
"Flanners did very well to sail so consistently, the only boat to have all six races inside the top 10. The first and last races of the series were very tricky as both had 40 degree+ windshifts to the left.
"We had all conditions, 5-25 knots, five different race winners and Ben Duncan was probably a bit unlucky with that shift in the last race especially. He had dominated after 4 races. Aidan O'Connell had a storming second day. Things are looking good for a very busy well-attended SB3 circuit.
"Also of note, we had zero protests all weekend. We have talked a lot amongst ourselves about fair sailing and sportsmanship and it seems to be rubbing off."
More details as we have them, but for now, head to fotosail.com to see Gareth Craig's images from the event.