Two Howth boats travelled to Weymouth for the UK 420 Winter Championships, on 2nd-3rd March, as part of a 5 boat group. The event forms part of the qualifying programme for a new ISA 420 Academy and qualification for the 2013 ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships in Limassol, Cyprus in July.
Out of 40 entries, the Irish boats did themselves proud in extremely cold conditions. 3 Irish boats finished in the top 10. Unfortunately having travelled the great distance only 1 race was sailed on Saturday due to a lack of wind. However, Sunday’s 25-30 knots made up for it with 3 races completed in tough conditions.
Howth duo Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove finished 9th overall with a solid performance, and a 4th place in Race 3. Ewan McMahon (HYC) and Colin O’Sullivan (MYC) finished a very respectable 24th in their first international 420 event.
A total of 5 boats have now reached the qualifying standard at international events by finishing in the top 40% of the fleet, namely Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove (HYC), Harry and David Whitaker (RCYC), Patrick Crosbie & Grattan Roberts (RCYC), Adam Hyland (RsTGYC) and Bill Staunton (SSC) and Lizzy McDowell and Cara McDowell (MYC). The latter two teams had already qualified at prior events.
The next big event is the Leinster 420 Championships, 23-24 March at Malahide Yacht Club with a training camp at the same venue the weekend beforehand. For more information please see www.sail420.com
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