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| Etchells Irish National Championships |
| by Laura Dillon |
Congratulations to Dan O’Grady, John White, Richard Hogan and Killian McGreer who won the Etchells Irish National Championships in HYC this weekend, on 1st and 2nd September. Dan O’Grady and his team sailed an almost perfect series winning 5 of the 6 races.
Peter McKenna, PRO and his race management team did an excellent job throughout the weekend. Sailing conditions were very enjoyable and there was sunshine for the entire weekend. On Saturday, there was a fresh south-westerly breeze, 14-18 knots with stronger gusts and shifty oscillating conditions. 4 races were held on Saturday and Dan O’Grady started off as he meant to continue with 3 first places. Mike Evans, Dave Cotter and Des Flood sailed excellently downwind in the third race to win the 3rd race. Overnight, Dan O’Grady lead the regatta, Stephen Quinn, Stephen O’Flaherty and Peter Kingston were in 2nd and Robert Dix, Tom O’Reilly and Sebastian Perry were in 3rd position overall.
Sunday, saw lighter conditions from the north-west, 6-10 knots and again with shifty conditions. Two races were held on Sunday with Dan O’Grady finishing the regatta in style with 2 first places. The reigning Irish Etchells National Champion, Jay Bourke, David Cagney, Graeme Grant and Laura Dillon, had a better day on Sunday with a 3rd and 2nd position to move up to 3rd overall. Stephen Quinn, Stephen O’Flaherty and Peter KIngston, retained their overall position and finished in 2nd overall.
Simon Knowles, Jonathan Hartshorn and John O’Shea finished the regatta with a stronger performance and came 3rd in the final race. Flor O’Driscoll, Dave Bailey and Eoin O’Fearghail were newcomers to the fleet for this regatta and hopefully we will see them sailing etchells again in 2013!
The fleet is now looking forward to the autumn league and the Etchells Worlds in Italy in 2013! Hopefully we will be able to build numbers again for the 2013 sailing season and encourage some more etchells owners to launch their boats in 2013. If you are interested in coming sailing in an etchells at any stage, please just contact Laura Dillon ( [email protected] ) and we will arrange a sail for you. The class is very keen to increase the number of people sailing etchells and the number of etchells sailing in 2013 and beyond.
Particular thanks must go to:
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 | Peter McKenna, PRO, and their entire race management team on the Sea Wytch who did an excellent job to get in the full regatta schedule of 6 races completed |
| | David Cagney, the event Chairman and etchells class captain. Thanks also to his organizing team |
| | John Deane for doing the results, taking the photos and all the website updates |
| | All the rescue drivers and crews |
| | All the participants |
| | And of course all the HYC staff |
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