420 Connacht Championships 2009 05/06/09

420 Connacht Championships 2009

420 Connacht Championships 2009

  
As the Open 70's tore a foamy path across the Atlantic in to Galway Bay the 420 Connaughts kicked off on Saturday to a fresh westerly breeze of up to 20 Knots. 16 Boats arrived at the Bowwaves Sailing Centre, with representatives from Munster, Leinster and Local Clubs, Galway Bay Sailing Club and Spiddal Sailing Club. The Fleet had three trapezoid Courses set in front of the Promenade in Salthill. The Main contenders on day one was Timmy O Laoire and Luke Malcolm from Howth Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club; Emma Geary and Robbie English for the Royal Cork Yacht Club with Rob Lehane and Iorlaith Kennedy from Kinsale Yacht Club battling up the hard beats, down screaming reaches and flying runs. Best from Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC)was the combination of Gerry Drudy and Dympna O Byrne whilst the Combination of Father Stephen O Gorman and son Ronan lead the Spiddal fleet.

Following the tumultus arrival of the Open 70's in to the docks during the early hours of the morning, the dock gates had to be closed for security reasons and the Rescue and Mark Laying boats were left locked inside the dock, however Harbour Master , Brian Sheridan and his very tired and obliging team arranged a crane at short notice and lifted the boats over the Dock Gate. This allowed the racing go ahead and and completion of the series. Whilst many forecasters had expected the weather to moderate on Sunday the reality was quite different, a fresh to strong breeze filled in from the south west with gusts in excess of 25 knots, Principal Race Officer and his team decided to lay courses from the Leverets Light to seaward in the relative shelter of the Bay with upwind and downwind legs which made for very exciting and spectacular racing close to the LE CIARA anchored nearby.

The event was finally won in the last race by Timmy O Laoire and Luke Malcolm who quite clearly thrived in the strong breeze and tough sea conditions planing up the beats and surfing downwind to win the title convincingly. Top GBSC boat went to Gerry Drudy and Dympna O Byrne and top Spiddal Sailing Club Boat went to Father and Son Combination of Stephen and Ronan O Gorman.

- John Leech