Howth Yacht Club fielded 4 teams to the SB3 Ireland JG Property Management Southern Championships in Baltimore over the 30/31st May for some competitive racing, and to enjoy all that West Cork has to offer. With the event clashing with ‘something� going on in Galway, HYC crews made up a quarter of the fleet at an exceptionally well run event, managed by Baltimore Sailing Club.
With racing inside Baltimore Harbour and also around the corner in Roaring Water Bay, there was something for everyone, with a particularly ‘interesting� 4th race taking boats all over the harbour and resulting in one of the biggest splits in the fleet seen this year.
In just their third event in the class, Sonic Zoom (Emmet Ryan, John White & Bernard Fitzpatrick) excelled on Day One to be in contention overnight, before losing the racing line on the second day and slipping to 5th overall, but still a very well deserved result after some close & competitive racing.
Emmet commented on the event: "We began our first days racing with a bowman who is more used to the front of a Melges 32 than an SB3. But the newbie learned quickly, and after our first few knotted kite hoists and efforts at trawling for fish in Baltimore Sound we began to "get our act together". With two 3rd's and a 4th we were left in 2nd place overnight, a position we would have gladly taken at the start of the day. Unfortunately for us we were a little too happy with ourselves and fell foul of the local hospitality on Saturday night (that's our excuse anyway!) and suffered a little in the increased breeze on Sunday. All in all a superb venue and fantastic event."
Lia (Dave Barry, Joe Turner & Breffni Jones) were also often seen at the pointy end of the fleet, but somehow managed to find trouble at the corners of the course and in one race dropped from 2nd to last after hooking the top mark around the keel.
An 8th placing overall for the Lia crew was also well deserved, whilst placing 3rd in the Silver fleet and only just being denied a race win after leading until the last mark! Dave reflected on the weekend, noting "the heavenly run down to Roaring water Bay, the glorious downwind burns towards Cape Clear at 12+ knots, and the delightful tacking back through the North Channel to the welcoming arms of Baltimore and the hallowed Bushe’s beer garden!"
Aquaserge (Jerome Aguesse & crew) also took full advantage of one last class event before Jerome moves back to France at the end of July, and will definitely be missed from the Howth SB3 fleet. Aquaserge suffered gear failure on day two, but still managed to walk away with a 3rd placing in the Bronze fleet after missing 3 races!
However, dominating the series with 5 race wins and a second placing, the title was lifted by the crew aboard Sharkbait, with Ben Duncan, Ric Morris & Brian Moran capping off an amazing month of three SB3 event titles, and keeping the Howthies at the top of the game in the Irish SB3 fleet!
Full results and report soon at www.sb3ireland.com
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