Following on from its hosting of the 420 Class Leinster Championships the previous weekend, Malahide Yacht Club’s newly re-developed Dinghy Sailing Centre at the Broadmeadows was the scene for a highly successful Early Bird Regatta (Saturday 31st March) which attracted 60 boats in four classes from Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Sutton, Rush, Skerries and Malahide.
The event, supported by Dinghy Supplies, Starbucks and Dunnes Stores, had three races for each class, sailed in moderate northerly winds on Olympic courses set by Race Officer Neil Murphy. The outstanding performance on the days was Howth’s Ronan Cull who topped the Laser class with three wins to finish 1st overall ahead of Daragh Peelo (MYC) and Daragh Sheridan (HYC).
The Laser Radial division was dominated by MYC sailors, with Derek Sheehan, Ciaran Costello and Darren Griffin heading the rankings while Stephen Craig of the Royal St.George YC won the Laser 4.7s.
His younger brother Harry headed the senior Optimist fleet ahead of Skerries’ Ben Walsh and Conor Kneafsey (National YC) while another NYC sailor Peter Fagan topped the junior fleet ahead of Malahide’s Gemma McDowell and Nicola Ferguson (NYC).
Philip McDowell (with crew Cian Buckley) of the host club won the 420 Class and the Topaz honours went to Malahide’s Conor Costello from clubmates Diarmuid Marron and Peter Cunning.
Malahide Yacht Club’s next open event on the Broadmeadows is the Topaz National Championships in late June while in April, introductory sailing courses will be provided for the three local primary schools and an Open Day for those interested in joining the club will be held on Saturday 21st April.
