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HYC's Fraculator takes honours in Audi-sponsored series
In a cliff-hanger of a finish to the 8-race series, the Howth combination of Dan O'Grady, Raz Beshoff and Paul Reilly emerged as worthy winners of the Audi Etchells National Championships ahead of the pre-event favourite Nils Razmilovic and his crew from the Royal Swedish YC.
In the end, the title hung on the last race, and with the Howth crew on Fraculator finishing 2nd and their Swedish rivals back in 8th, they took the series with a five-point margin.
The Howth boat started the Championship in sparkling form on Friday with two bullets and a 2nd to lead the fleet overnight. The Swedes had an identical scoreline on the second day while Fraculator slipped back with a 3rd, 6th and 4th and so the visitors led the series going into the final day.
A 10th in the penultimate race for O'Grady/Beshoff/Reilly to the Swedes 8th meant the last race would be the clincher and the Howth crew toughed it out for a hard-earned overall victory.
Principal race officer David Lovegrove and his team were praised for the quality of the courses and racing in what was three days of fresh, westerly winds that fully tested the 26-boat Etchells fleet.
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