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Looking Back at this year's Event.
By Andy Sargent
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This years Autumn League sponsored by OLYMPUS Cameras has reaffirmed what is the Premier Annual Autumn series in the country. As the finale to the seasons racing programme albeit for the Brass Monkey Series which is currently underway at Howth, skippers and crews alike deem this event to be the highlight of their season culminating with the cream of their respective classes doing battle for overall honors or the challenge for an improved result from the previous year. This year saw a comprehensive revision of the Courses providing better courses for all fleets.
For many years the Autumn Series in Howth has attracted entries from all over the country and this year was no exception. In Class 0 it was J Killeen's 'Nimmo' (ex- 'Victric' from Galway Bay Sailing Club along with club member E Conneely in the GK34 veteran West of Ireland flagship of many years, 'Ibraki' (ex. Joggernaut) sailing in Class 2. From Mayo, the sole entry was the Baird/ Tully partnership sailing 'Obsession'. Sligo Yacht Club's premier sailor Martin Reilly upgraded his Beneteau this season to a 36.7 'Whats The Rush' and was not traveling alone in this class as B Raftery sailing 'X-Div' also competed.
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| In the Results section click Show Open Events
and select Autumn League, then Class and Date.
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The 33.7's seem to be gaining in popularity as Pat Kelly sporting his new 33.7 'Breeze' joined us from Rush Sailing Club as did many from the local clubs such as Malahide Y.C., Clontarf Y&BC, and the Dun Laoighaire waterfront clubs.
This years total entries hit 167 with the traditional Inshore Courses for the One Design Boats namely Puppeteer 22, Squib, HYC 17 footers and Shipman classes and the Off-Shore courses for Class 0, 1,2,3, Beneteau 31.7 and the Non Spinny Class. This year was the first attempt to attract the not so racy sailors who enjoy participating at a more leisurely pace and be part of the apres sail atmosphere. With only 6 entries, this class has the potential to become more attractive to the cruising groups in general.
Racing throughout the 6 week series was hotly contested with many new design's hitting the headlines, some for the wrong reasons. A brand new JS9000 was launched during week 1 but unfortunately was dismasted the following week. In class 0 it was however the new kids on the block namely Eamonn Crosbie NYC sporting his brand new Kerr 32 'Voodoo Chile' who showed true Corinthian spirit and emerge worthy winners of Class 0.
Class 0 (16 Entries).
This years fleet was the largest Class 0 fleet seen at an East Coast series in the past 10 or more years and the revival of this fleet certainly augers well for the future of the newly formed ICRA and availability of contenders for selection for the Commodores Cup.
The three dominant boats in this fleet were the consistent 'Voodoo Chile', Colm Barrington's Corby 38 'Gloves Off' which is currently for sale and the legendry 'Crackl'n Rosie' Corby 40 owned by Roy & Vera Dickson which constantly undergoing modifications to keep up with the fresh Corby designs.. Voodoo Chile was the pace setters but a Sailing Instruction infringement by 'Gloves Off' in Race 5 cost her the chance of an overall win on IRC. She however had to settle for 2nd overall with Eamonn Crosbie in Voodoo Chile stamping her authority in this division with a comprehensive win in the last race to secure the title. 'Crackl'n Rosie' took third.
| IRC Overall |
ECHO Overall |
Voodoo Chile - E. Crosbie 7 Pts
Gloves Off - C. Barrington 13 Pts
Crackl'n Rosie - R & V Dickson13 Pts
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Trinculo - M Fleming 11 Pts
Infinity - A Chambers 13 Pts
Voodoo Chile - E Crosbie 15 Pts
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In Class 1 a total of 20 boats fought it out for overall honors. It was to be a classic X - Yachts contest as both new and old boats battled it out week each week. The early running came from the Murphy consortium who bought their old X 372 'Midnight Express' back and to winning ways after an absence to the 1720 fleet in which they still campaign. Ex Olympic trial lest John Driscoll took the helm and looked to be on course for great things. It was however Charlie Boyle's new X332 Sport 'On The Rox' that showed better consistency and less spinnaker in the water! that brought them up the pecking order. But it was the Hyland fling namely 'Maxim' an X 332 owned by Jim & Tino Hyland helmed by Andy Mollard who showed true consistency to take the title in this competitive fleet. Dave Turner's 'X-Rated', an X 332 took 4th on IRC.
| IRC Overall |
ECHO Overall |
Maxim - J Hyland 10 Pts
On The Rox - C & J Boyle 10 Pts
Midnight Express - J Murphy 11 Pts
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Maxim - J Hyland 6 Pts
Trix (X332) - R McGonagle 10 Pts
Changling - K Jameson 14 Pts
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Class 2 (30 Entries) was also somewhat of an X yacht contest between the IRC 2002 Champion, Sovereign's Week Top Boat and the Fingal Series Champion 'Dux' an X 302 owned/helmed by Anthony Gore-Grimes and Terry Giles X 302 'Xebec'. 'Dux' made the early running with Terry Giles not quite firing on all cylinders for most of the series except for a fleet whitewash in the last race where they romped home to win by a massive margin on corrected time and ensure his young and energetic crew partied till the early hours. They don't normally need an excuse!
Pride of place however went to the newly acquired Elan 31 which has certainly proved that this modestly priced yacht can take on the best of the X's when it matters. Paddy Gregory from Howth teamed up with a few 1720 rock star crews and drew on the experience of Philip Watson to do the tactics and sail trim As the event progressed they began to excel and clinched overall victory in the last race by a single point albeit for 'Xebec's' last race honors. They also took the Echo Division having tied on points with 'Dux' and being ½ a point ahead of Rose & Robert Michael's Sun Fizz 40 'Mystique'.
| IRC Overall |
ECHO Overall |
Benola - P Gregory 10 Pts
Dux - A Gore-Grimes11 Pts
Xebec - T Giles 19 Pts
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Benola - P Gregory 18 Pts
Dux - A Gore-Grimes18 Pts
Mystique - R & R Michael 18.5 Pts
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Class 3 had a total of 32 entries with this fleet down in numbers on recent years. Racing was very close and it was the East Coast Cruiser 3 Champion 'Relativity' which made the early running. Having had an unassailable lead going into the last race they were unfortunate to suffer a DSQ from the series. It was however the legendry Clontarf dinghy veteran Basil McMahon (now HYC) in his H-Boat 'Holly' that took overall victory on the last day. The H-Boats are a popular Scandinavian boat used for many top Match Racing events and as the X-Yachts have not yet entered this sector of the market perhaps maybe the boat to buy.
The Butler /Arthur partnership from Malahide YC in 'Cracker' took second overall just ahead of club mates Delaney/Slye and partners in 'Turnabout'. Michael Marr's 'Sunchaser' won the Echo division.
| IRC Overall |
ECHO Overall |
Holly - B McMahon 9 Pts
Cracker - Arthur/Butler 12 Pts
Turnabout - Delaney & Others 16 Pts
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Sunchaser - M Marr 14 Pts
Turnabout - Delaney/Ors 16 Pts
Cracker - Arthur/Butler 21 Pts
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The almost One Design Beneteau 31.7 Class has been actively seeking new blood and Don Breen played a large part in ensuring a good turnout again this year with 10 boats. B.J. Marine have been great supporters of this class at this event and provided individual race winner prizes in addition to those on offer weekly and held a drinks reception for all Beneteau owners after Race 4.
It was the Dream Team aboard Don Breen's 'Sosumi' who again took overall honors with a clean sweep of 5 wins. The Hall/McDonnell partnership of 'Thirty Something' clinched 2nd 1 point ahead of 'Tigger' sailed by Keith Cassidy and Alan Markey. 'Sosumi' whilst won the echo division passed the Trophy to 'C'est L'Vie' Flannelly & Others as one cannot win a IRC & Echo Prize in this class.
| IRC Overall |
ECHO Overall |
Sosumi - D Breen 5 pts
30' Something - Hall/McDonnell 13 Pts
Tigger - Cassidy/Markey 14 Pts
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C'est L'Vie - Flannelly 9 Pts
Clever Clogs - M Higgins 13 Pts
Geritratic - G.O'Neill 20 Pts
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The Non Spinny or Gentlemans Class had a total of 6 entries with the 36-40 ft cruising enthusiasts taking to the racing scene with the odd serious campaigner included. Frank Hughes in 'Hideaway' took overall honors from Neil O'Reilly in 'Petrel'.
The Puppeteer 22 fleet has grown further since last year with a total of 26 Pupp's battling it out in this One Design class. This year Alfire Myers in 'Papagena' represented East Antrim Boat Club and Freddie Woods in 'Gold Dust' from Dun Laoghaire swelled the local numbers of what is becoming one the largest One Design Keelboat Class turnouts in Ireland.
Dave Clarke and crew in 'Harlequin' sailed a near faultless series despite being pushed hard by Andy & Sandra Sargent's 'Mayfly', 'Papagena' and the Callan/ Stanley partnership of 'Mojo' throughout the series. It was a classic Match Race contest between 'Mayfly' & 'Harlequin' who had a grueling dice for the full 1 ½ hour final race with just 1 second separating the two at the finish. It does not get much closer than that.
One the echo division it was down to the newly engaged partnership of Meaney/McEntee in 'March Hare' who won the final race from Howth's Junior sailor Dave Flood in 'Cloud Nine' who finished 2nd in the last race and 2nd overall (and a creditable 7th on scratch in his 1st series to helm) despite being tied on points.
| SCRATCH Overall |
HCAP Overall |
Harlequin - D Clarke 6 Pts
Mayfly - A&S Sargent 10 Pts
Papagena - A Myers 21 Pts
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March Hare - Meaney/cEntee 8 Pts
Cloud Nine - D Flood 8 Pts
Gepetto - E O'Reilly 23 Pts
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Howth 17 Footers were out in force as usual with 82% of the entire fleet challenging for scratch and echo honors. This fleet is the most active one design fleet in the country with a rigorous sailing calendar with this year seeing the Howth fleet travel en-mass to the mecca of sailing in the southern hemisphere, Cork where they held their Intergalactial World and Irish Championships!! This has been reported elsewhere in previous issues of Afloat and this years Autumn League was a battle royal between the usual suspects.
It was Ian Malcolm in 'Aura' who made his mark on the event by winning Race 1 and 4 but it was Peter Courtney in 'Oona' who had been crowned 'World Champ' in Glandore who began to put the pressure on and counted a 2,3,1,4. The Kenny Partnership aboard 'Erica' however pushed all the way with a 3,1,3,2 but it was the 'Aura' crew who triumphed overall counting a 1,1,2,2.
The echo honors went to 'Bobolink'.
| SCRATCH Overall |
HCAP Overall |
Aura - I Malcolm 6 pts
Erica - Kenny & Ors 9 Pts
Oona - P Courtney 10 Pts
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Bobolink - Doyle/Walsh 5 Pts
Silvermoon - Deegan/O'Brien 7 Pts
Isobel - Mulligan & Others 16 Pts
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The Squib Class in Howth has seen an upsurge of interest since a few owners moved to the Puppeteer fleet. This year saw the Squib Class from Howth being hosts to the Special Olympians in Dun Laoghaire. Many sailors from the waterfront clubs had the opportunity to see 1st hand the kind of boats we have sailed in Howth for so many years and not getting as wet as our Flying 15 brethren. On sailor namely Derek Jago was so taken with the Squib he purchased one and a fleet is currently emerging in Dun Laoghaire.
Derek came to Howth and challenged the 17 other 19ft One Design Squibs over the series but in the end it became a two horse race with Peter Byrne in 'Aurora' settling for 3rd. Veteran squib sailor Mark Thompson who had just returned from the US and stepped aboard 'Pot Black' with Se O'Leary after a three year absence and took the gauntlet to Brian O'Neill sailing 'Fox' who has showed great form all summer, it being his 1st season after campaigning his Impala 28 'Wild Mustard' for many years.. The pair were set for a showdown in the last race to battle it out for the title as they were not only tied on points but also had identical results to count. Unfortunately the weather conditions for the last race forced the Principal Race Officers Peter McKenna & Neil Inglis to consider the safety of competitors in this fleet and cancelled the race. The tie-break was applied which gave the title to 'Pot Black'.
| SCRATCH Overall |
HCAP Overall |
Pot Black - Oleary/Thompson 7 Pts
Fox - B O'Neill 7 Pts
Aurora - P Byrne 10 Pts
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O'Leary - B Jackson 14 Pts
Shadowfax - P Merry 15 Pts
Artic Fox - G Barry 20 Pts
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A total of 6 Shipman 28's competed in this class which has been a diminishing fleet in Howth over the last few years but is still flourishing in Dun Laoghaire. John Johnson's 'Foxy Lady' from Dun Laoghaire was an easy victor and had a comfortable margin over 'Bluefin' sailed by the Bryson family. Henry Robinson sailing 'Whiterock' took echo honors with 'Samphire' sailed by Hickey/Berg took second. A clean sweep to the visitors .
The Top Boat award for the series went to Don Breen's Dream Team on 'Sosumi' 31.7 who won by the biggest margin on Irc /Scratch.
A total of 15 Teams entered for the Olympus Team Trophy. This is made up 3 boats from different classes with the winners being the team with the lowest aggregate points overall on Irc/ Scratch. The winning team was the following
| 'Sovereign's Flight' Team |
| Dux |
Class 2 |
Anthony Gore Grimes |
| Mayfly |
Puppeteer 22 |
Andy & Sandra Sargent |
| Aurora |
Squib |
Peter Byrne |
Our thanks to Our sponsor, Race Officials and the Protest Committee, Paul Murphy International Jury, and Ed Alcock and Niall Colfer National Judges for a superb event.
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