EVENT REPORT FROM JOHN ELMES:
The Event was held in Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club (WHBTC) on the 25th/26th June and fourteen teams took to the water. Grace O’Beirne and Katherine Kelly won the silver fleet and well done to them on their second event. Six races were sailed in ideal conditions over the two days and WHBTC provided great hospitality on shore after the racing.
Racing got underway on Day One in a shifting 10 – 14 kn NW breeze and this provided the sailors with plenty of challenges both on the upwind and downwind legs. Consequently, there were lots of changes throughout the fleet with some very close racing taking place. Shane McLoughlin and Patrick Whyte read the shifts very well and sailed very consistently to lead the Event after day one. They were closely followed by Geoff Power and James McCann. The scene was set for a highly competitive last day.
Day Two brought somewhat lighter conditions with the wind direction backing to the prevailing south west and filling in to about 8 – 10 kn. Again the OD set a large trapezoid course which also happened to provide an excellent view of the ongoing Wexford Maritime Festival activities taking place both onshore and on the water. As predicted racing was closely fought at the upper end of the fleet and it was good to see the fleet bunching more tightly as competitors started to read the conditions well and build on boat speed as the Event progressed. Gemma and Cara McDowell started to challenge the leaders as did Kate Lyttle and Niamh Henry.
The prize for the best local boat went to Scott Anderson and Rory Ward and the overall results are available by clicking here.
Many thanks to the OA & WHBTC for a great weekends sailing.
