Kinsale Yacht Club

16 February, 2010

The ASM-Marine Frostbite League continued at Kinsale Yacht Club last Sunday, 14th February, in glorious sunshine. Light and variable wind of between 8 knots down to zero made the racing very challenging for both the Race Committee and the Competitors. The first race of the day had the fleets beating towards James Fort against the falling tide and a gentle run out to the mouth of the harbour. The first boat to cross the line was the Full-Rig Laser of Mark Mulrooney in 46 minutes and 41 secs. The conditions being so light and fluky several boats were unable to make the cut-off finish time.

After the first race the wind died off and shifted slightly. A new windward-leeward course was set, but just as the Lasers were in the final minute of their sequence, the Postponement Flag was hoisted as the wind had shifted 60 degrees. Finally, the wind settled and the course was re-laid. Race 2 saw very close racing in each fleet. In the Laser Standards, Mark Mulrooney (MBSC) and Ronan Kenneally (MBSC) were neck and neck for the whole race but it was Mark that took line honours at the finish and is the new class leader on 1^st place overall with seven points. In the Laser Radials, Sean Murphy (KYC) held off Luke Hevers (RCYC) and Briefne Muldoon to secure two wins, which now puts him in the lead position overall. In the Laser 4.7s , the racing was very tight and Darragh O’Sullivan (KYC), with a 4^th and a 2^nd held onto his 2nd place overall, and Colm O’Regan(KYC) with two 3rds has moved into joint 3^rd place overall. But the undisputed leader of the fleet is John Flynn from Dungarvan with 8 bullets from the 8 races.

In the Squib Class, Mike Field and Victor Fusco (KYC) triumphed with two outstanding wins, but second and third place were hard fought with the positions changing constantly. Neil Prendeville and Paul Cotter (KYC) were holding second place until they rounded the leeward mark for the second time where they lost three places. Paul McCarthy and Ruth Fusco (KYC) came from 4^th place, with clever tactics, to take 2^nd place on the day from Alex Ballott of Dungarvan.

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n the Mixed Dinghies, the Laser 5000 and the 49er enjoyed the light conditions. Jimmy Nyhan and Donal Burke (RCYC) in the 5000 took first place in Race 1 of the day but it was the Feva with Dermot Lyden and Peter Stokes(RCYC) who took 1^st place in Race 2, and have moved into 2^nd place overall. Dave Kenefick and Peter Birmingham (RCYC/KYC) in the 49er arriving late for the second race had to fly a spinnaker to get back to the start line. Overall, Laura McCarthy and Louise Weaver (RCYC) in their 420 are currently leading the Fleet.