Nationals Event Report 03/09/09
The Irish 420 National Championships sponsored by Curradinghy Sailing were run over the weekend 5th/6th Septemeber, hosted by The Royal Cork YC. Race officer David O’Brien and his team ran a total of 6 races for the 26 boat fleet which saw competitors from all over Ireland.
With a 12 knot westerly breeze on saturday, racing took place on Currabinny Bank, although an ebbing tide mae the courses smaller than the sailors would be used to, the shifty and tidal conditions still made racing very challenging for the sailors and spectators.
Race 1 saw Stephen Tiernan and Dermott McMorrough lead the race from start to the finish with Jane Butler and Jenny Andreason taking second from Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy after a bad hoist on the reach. The second race saw Jane Butler and Jenny Andreason take the bullet from race 1 winners, Stephen Tiernan and Dermot Mcmorrough. Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy again took the 3rd place spot.
With an increase in breeze, although gustier and shiftier, the race officer made the decision to try lengthen the course to make the most of these great sailing conditions. Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy got off to a great start by working the favoured side, they took the lead from Jane Butler and Jenny Andreasonon the top reach, with Cian O’Regan and Mark Boylan finishing in 3rd.
With a bad forcast for Sunday, the race officer made the decision to run a fourth race for the day, Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy again dominated the race with the conistant Jane Butler and Jenny Andreason coming second and Cian O’Regan and Mark Boylan coming 3rd again.
Sunday saw the change in weather as expected, with 20 knots coming from the South, racing again took place on the Currabinny Bank. Racing kicked off with huge squalls and rain hitting the sailors up the first beat, Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy lead for most of the race, however managed to loose at the final leeward mark to Tim O’Laiiore and Brian Kelleher. Scott Flanigan and Luke Malcolm took 3rd place.
The final race of the event was in very similar conditions, although now gusting 25 knots, this did not seem to deter any the sailors. Tim O’Laiore and Brian Kelleher won again with Stephen Tiernan and Dermott McMorrough coming second and Rob Lehane and Ialaith Kennedy coming in 3rd.
Gold Fleet
1st Rob Lehane and Iarlaith Kennedy
2nd (1st girls) Jane Butler and Jenny Andreason
3rd Stephen Tiernan and Dermot McMorrough
Silver Fleet
1st Connor Lyden and Richard Roberts
2nd Aodh Kennedy and Troy McNamara
3rd Killian O’Keefe and Daniel Browne
Final results can be found on www.royalcork.com, http://sail420.com/live/732.html and www.curradinghy.com