| |
Photos from the SAAB Nationals are now posted in the Gallery.
Friday & Saturday started a bit gray & misty, but brightened up later in the day. So, the later photos each day are brighter.
|
SAAB - the Event Sponsors
viewing the action on Gerry O'Neill's boat
|
| |
Event Report - Final Day (Day 3) - 18th May |
| |
by Graham Smith - Posted Sunday 18th May |
|
| National Titles Decisions go to the Wire |
Although boats from 23 different clubs in Ireland and the UK were represented among the 106-boat fleet at the Saab Cruiser Nationals this weekend, the eight national titles at stake were claimed by boats from Cork (two), Dun Laoghaire (four) and one from Howth.
As befits such an important fixture on the national racing calendar, the overall results were dependent on the last day's racing and in some cases by the seventh and final race. And in the case of Class 0, with two boats tying for top slot on IRC, it was only decided on the most race wins.
Class 0
|
'Marinerscove.ie' - Dave Dwyer - RCYC
|
The tie-break decision went in favour of Dave Dwyer's 'Marinerscove.ie' which pipped fellow RCYC entry 'Jump Juice' (Conor Phelan) by virtue of two wins on the second day to the Ker 36.7's solitary race on the same day. Ironically, the crew of the Mills 39 thought they had blown their chances, with two of their worst results in the series, a 3rd and 4th on the last day, but after discards the two were level, with the tie-break kicking in for 'Marinerscove.ie' by the narrowest of margins. (There was an HYC connection, with Tom Murphy playing a pivotal role on board the winner!)
It proved a clean sweep for the four Cork boats in Class 0, with 'Blondie IV' and 'Antix Eile' filling the next two spots, the latter finding it harder to be as competitive as the wind strength increased. For 'Blondie', there was some consolation in taking the ECHO title by three points from Howth's Stephen Harris/Frank Hughes in the First 40.7 'Tiger', helped in no small way by wining the last three races in the series.
On another positive note, it was a good work-out for members of Ireland's Commodore's Cup Team before that event takes place later in the summer in Cowes.
|
Class 1
Tino Hyland and Nigel Biggs of the Royal St.George YC made the most of their J109 'Checkmate XII's performance capability and handicap to win Class 1 on IRC with a string of good results.
Their only place outside the top two - a third in the third race - was their discard and the win will give their Sail4Cancer appeal even more profile!
|
'Sail 4 Cancer'
Hyland & Biggs - RStGYC
|
It was enough to give them a comfortable five point buffer over the runner-up - their namesake 'Checkmate', Mike MacCarthy's Ker 32 from Royal Cork - with 3rd placed Barry Cunningham in the Corby 33 'Contango' (RIYC) a further three points adrift.
On the ECHO standings, Hyland & Biggs had to play second fiddle to Paul O'Higgins' new Corby 33 'Rockabill V' which emerged at the head of the 31-boat fleet without a single race win but with consistent scoring in the top ten in each race. Third place went to the sole Rush Sailing Club representative 'Storm', the First 36.7 of Pat Kelly.
Class 2
|
'Kinetic' - Colwell & Murphy - HYC
|
The disappointment of being OCS in the first race was quickly forgotten about on board 'Kinetic' (Richard Colwell, John Murphy and crew) as the Howth boat set about winning the Class 1 IRC title in some style. Four firsts, a third and a fifth allowed the Corby 25 to head the single biggest fleet by the single biggest margin (15.5 points) as the only host club success.
It was impressive sailing by any standards but the best results on the last day - two second places - was sufficient to elevate Tim Goodbody's Sigma 33 'White Mischief' into the runners-up spot, some achievement against very new racing machines. Four points off the pace in third place overall was the defending champion 'Obsession VI', Barry & David Rose's Corby 25 from Cork.
On ECHO, it was another case of coming from behind, with Brian Cusack's veteran half-tonner 'Dick Dastardly' from the DMYC notching up a fourth and first on the last day to move ahead of yet another Corby 25, 'Wil2Win' from Pwllheli. Howth's Conor Nolan in 'Aloha' actually tied overall with the Welsh boat but lost out on better discard.
|
Class 3
The best performance of the entire regatta was in Class 3 where Flor O'Driscoll of the Royal St.George demonstrated just how fast and competitive a J/24 can be.
A stunning results card of five firsts and a second with 'Hard on Port' provided the lowest tally in any class.
Vince Gaffney's 'Alliance' of HYC was well sailed as always but couldn't match the O'Driscoll crew as the event progressed.
|
'Hard on Port'
Flor O'Driscoll - RStGYC
|
Second place, eight points behind, was reasonable reward over the seven races while another Howth boat, 'Starlet' (Fergus O'Kelly et al) was just three points further behind.
Such was the J/24's dominance that Hard on Port also took the ECHO crown, and it proved to be a 'J' double too, with Brian McDowell's Scandal from Malahide taking second ahead of the Sonata 'Asterix' (Counihan/Meredith/Caulfield, DMYC).
The event was considered to be the best ICRA National Championships yet held, with the biggest fleet, ideal racing conditions, great courses and good onshore organisation and administration. Support from title sponsor SAAB was critical and other backing from Pro-Rig and the on-the-water caterers Butler's pantry proved invaluable.
The Championship Committee was chaired by Chris Howard.
Saab Cruiser Nationals - Overall Results (after 7 races)
| Class 0 (IRC) |
| 1. | Marinerscove.ie | David Dwyer | RCYC | 13 pts |
| 2. | Jump Juice | Conor Phelan | RCYC | 13 pts |
| 3. | Blondie IV | Eamonn Rohan | RCYC | 17 pts |
| Class 0 (ECHO) |
| 1. | Blondie IV | Eamonn Rohan | RCYC | 23 pts |
| 2. | Tiger | Hughes/Harris | HYC | 26 pts |
| 3. | Unnamed | Glen Ward | DLM | 31 pts |
| Class 1 (IRC) |
| 1. | Sail 4 Cancer | Hyland/Biggs | RStGYC | 9 pts |
| 2. | Checkmate | Mike MacCarthy | RCYC | 14 pts |
| 3. | Contango | Barry Cunningham | RIYC | 17 pts |
| Class 1 (ECHO) |
| 1. | Rockabill V | Paul O'Higgins | NYC | 38 pts |
| 2. | Sail 4 Cancer | Hyland/Biggs | RStGYC | 43 pts |
| 3. | Storm | Pat Kelly | Rush SC | 45 pts |
| Class 2 (IRC) |
| 1. | Kinetic | Colwell & Murphy | HYC | 12 pts |
| 2. | White Mischief | Tim Goodbody | RIYC | 27.5 pts |
| 3. | Obsession VI | Barry & David Rose | RCYC | 31.5 pts |
| Class 2 (ECHO) |
| 1. | Dick Dastardly | Brian Cusack & others | DMYC | 48 pts |
| 2. | Wil2Win | Williams/Partington | Pwllheli SC | 55 pts |
| 3. | Aloha | Conor Nolan & Others | HYC | 55 pts |
| Class 3 (IRC) |
| 1. | Hard on Port | Flor O'Driscoll | RStGYC | 7 pts |
| 2. | Alliance | Vince Gaffney | HYC | 15 pts |
| 3. | Starlet | Fergus O'Kelly & others | HYC | 18 pts |
| Class 3 (ECHO) |
| 1. | Hard on Port | Flor O'Driscoll | RStGYC | 18 pts |
| 2. | Scandal | Brian McDowell | MYC | 21 pts |
| 3. | Asterix | Counihan/Others | DLM | 24.5 pts |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
Click above for event photos in the Gallery
|
|
See Results section on the Site Home Page
click Show Open Events
select SAAB Cruiser Nats
then Class and Date.
|
|
Fotosail Photographs
To view and purchase photographs taken at the Nationals, please visit
www.garethcraig.com
Due to technical issues, the Fotosail web site is currently down.
|
Click for Entry List
|
|
Accommodation Listing
For those visitors requiring accommodation may we suggest the Marine Hotel, telephone +353 1 839 0000.
A full list of hotels, B&B's and guest houses in the region can be found on the HYC web site under 'Howth Area'
or by clicking here.
|
|
Championship Partners
We'd like to thank our main sponsor SAAB for their continued support of the
Cruiser Nationals and to this years championship partners;
The Butler's Pantry;
Pro-Rig; Gul; and the Marine Hotel.
|
Saab Cruiser Nationals
Irish Cruiser Racing
Association Championship
|
| Organising Committee |
|
Chairman Chris Howard
|
|
Principal Race Officers David Lovegrove
Derek Bothwell
|
|
Committee Pat Bolger
Bernie Condy
Fintan Cairns (ICRA)
Jamesie Markey
|
|
PR/Publicity Graham Smith
|
|
|
|
|
Report 17th May
