420 week concluded today at Howth Yacht Club with the third day of racing in the 2018 420 Open and National Championships. And what a week it was, it kicked off with a three day training module followed by a second one day training module prior to the start of championship racing.
The first two days of racing were in moderate winds. Day one produced a nine point spread covering first to fifth positions and this spread increased to eighteen points at the end of day two when a pattern emerged with the GBR team of Alex Colquitt/Rebecca Coles putting together a string of race wins to carry a score of 6 points ahead of Grace O’Beirne/Kathy Kelly of the Royal St. George on 13 points and Gemma Mc Dowell/Emma Gallagher on 17 points of Malahide Yacht Club. Tied on 24 points each, fourth overall and third Irish boat were Micheal O’Suilleabhan/Rob Keal of Kinsale Yacht Club and Morgan Lyttle/Patrick White of the Royal St. George Yacht Club and Lough Ree Yacht Club respectively.
So it was all to play for on the final day with two races held in a freshening but challenging breeze that was oscillating through 60 degrees and ranging from 6 to 14 knots. Alex Colquitt and Rebecca Coles had enough cushion to all but have wrapped up the open title so the real contest was going to be for the Irish National Champions title and the Irish Sailing medals. Race 8 allowed the leading GBR boat to nail down the Open Champions title with another win but the chase to be Irish Champion hotted up with Mc Dowell/Gallagher closing the gap on the leading Irish boat of O’Beirne/Kelly to three points. So all to play for in the last race and the title was won between the final weather mark and the finish. With Mc Dowell/Gallagher rounding the final weather mark in first place hotly pursued by Colquitt/Coles it looked as if they may have done enough to close out the 420 National Championship title with O’Beirne/Kelly rounding in fifth. But it is never over until it is over as the saying goes and a lot can happen in the final downwind leg followed by a mark rounding to the finish. The tight battle between the two leading boats in the final race ended with Colquitt/Coles claiming another win and the first two boats were able to then wait to see how the race was unfolding behind them. The next three boats were closely spaced and O’Beirne/Kelly were able to reel in the two boats ahead of them so that when a luffing duel started they were able to surge through to take third place in the final race and with it the title of Irish National Champions and first ladies crew.
The 420 Association congratulated Howth Yacht Club on their excellent hosting of the event, both the top quality training and the race management led by PRO Larry Power.
Gold fleet:
1st – 2018 420 Irish Open Champion – Alex Colquitt and Rebecca Coles of West Kirby Sailing Club and Annadale Sailing Club respectively
2nd – 2018 420 Irish Champion and first ladies crew plus Irish Sailing Gold medal winners – Grace O’Beirne and Kathy Kelly of the Royal St. George Yacht Club
3rd – Irish Sailing Silver medal winners – Gemma Mc Dowell and Emma Gallagher of Malahide Yacht Club
4th – Irish Sailing Bronze medal winners – Micheal O’Suilleabhain and Rob Keal of Kinsale Yacht Club
Silver fleet:
1st – Daniel Hopkins and Robert O’Brien of Howth Yacht Club and Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club respectively
2nd – Cian Lynch and Daniel Thompson of Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club
3rd – Louis Milla and Harry Ingram of Holyhead Sailing Club
