2004 East Coast Optimist Polar Series
  Report on Day 1 - 31st Oct, hosted by HYC
  Author: Kevin Darmody      Posted on: 4/11/04

A strong ebb-tide and light south-westerly winds faced the Optimist competitors in the first day of the Polar Series hosted by Howth Yacht Club. The PRO, Neil Murphy, decided to hold the racing behind the West Pier in Howth to minimise the tidal effect but it was still a very significant issue for the racers.

Entries were down on last year, possibly due to the fact that some clubs were beginning their junior coaching programmes on the same day. Halloween was another reason why the less competitive sailors decided that 'Trick or Treat' was a higher priority.

Those who did enter were of the highest quality, most of them fresh back from the IODAI End of Seasons in RCYC where they had strong results.

At the start of Race 1, the sailors went for the pin-end of the line but the tide swept them back from the line and without the necessary gas they couldn't start as they had obviously planned. However, the two sailors who kept clear of the melee gained in a big way and although Katie looked like the leader on the first beat, it was Patrick who took the lead at the top mark and held it all the way to the finish.

The PRO had to shift the course as the wind went westerly for Race 2. By then, the sailors had learned their lesson with the tide but it was still a matter of finding the best balance between the depth of the tidal stream and the area of maximum wind pressure. Tim and Diana both found it in the second race and had a very close race for line honours with Tim just getting his bow over the line in time before dropping back ahead of hitting the pin-end mark. Patrick and Ross had an equally close race for the 3rd and 4th places although they both took different tacks to reach the line.

For the final race, it was a victory for the Katie (who said it was for the girls!). Ryan picked up a couple of places to finish well in second and Diana continued a steady day with a third.

Going into the second event (to be hosted by MYC 14 November and held in Broadmeadows, Malahide), the leader by a point is Tim O Laoire with the two girls Katie and Diana snapping at his heels.

The attendance prize was a hand-held digital compass & multi-function hand-held unit. Gillian drew the winner from all attendees and Andrew Tyrrell won it.

A note of thanks to the following volunteers who manned the committee boat and the safety craft:
Neil Murphy (PRO)
Richard Kissane (Assisting)
Sean O Laoire (Assisting)
Elizabeth Ferris (Race Office)
Alice Kissane (Race Office)
Kevin Darmody (RIB)

Gillian Guinness participated in a HYC Dinghy Coaching capacity.

Race Results
Race 1Race 2Race 3
10771114119271
92721023210632
114131077310233
106341116411164
102351029511415
10296106369376
1116DNF927710297
937DNF937810778

Overall Results
EntriesR1R2R3Total
1141Timothy O'Laoire3159
927Katie White27110
1023Diana Kissane52310
1077Patrick Dix13812
1063Ryan Scott46212
1116Ross Darmody84416
1029Andrew Tyrrell65718
937Scott Flanigan88622

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  Associated Articles
HYC Sailors take part in the Dutch Optimist Association squad selection trials
Highlights of 2004 Dinghy Racing at HYC
2004 East Coast Optimist Polar Series
Optimist Trials 2005 - Lough Ree - April 1st to 3rd
Optimist Easter Regatta at Braassemermeer in Holland
Optimist IODAI Trials 2005 - Some Statistics
Final Results of the 2005 Optimist Trials
2005 IODAI Optimist Connaught Championships
HYC is well represented in the 2005 World and European Irish Optimist Teams
HYC's Scott Flanigan wins 2005 Optimist Crosbie at RIYC 23rd & 24th July
2005 Optimist World Championships - Preliminary report
Optimist Worlds 2005 - Final Report
Helen Mary Wilkes Elected IODA President of Honour
Irish Optimist National Championships 2005. 17th - 20th August
Ice on Broadmeadows prevents Racing
Optimist Easter Regatta at Braassemermeer
Optimist Trials 2006 - Final weekend at Skerries
16 boats from Howth YC go to the Optimist Leinsters
HYC Optimist Sailors Clean Sweep at Ulsters
Optimist Team Racing trophy returns to Howth
Optimists - Howth trio taste success at Crosbie Cup
Irish Optimist Championship again won by HYC's Diana Kissane
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