Blake/Horrigan Northwest Match Racing Event 22/23rd Oct.
There were 8 teams, 5 from Sligo Y.C., 1 from Rush S.C., 1 from Galway Bay S.C. and 1 from Mayo S.C.
Racing started at 10.30 on Saturday in 3 to 4 knots of breeze and the first round (28 races) was completed by 6pm, at this stage the wind had dropped to 1 knot.
After the first day the top four teams were,
Paddy O'Connor Sligo YC
Chris Horrigan Rush SC
Blair Stanaway Mayo SC
Niall Henry Sligo YC
On Sunday the conditions were perfect with 10 knots of wind and flat sea. Racing was held close to the Club House so a large number of spectators watched the semi-finals and finals.
Paddy O'Connor's team sailed against in Niall Henrys team in a best of 3 semi final which Niall won 2-1.
Blair Stanaway beat Chris Horrigan 2-0 in their semi-final.
The other four boats also raced off in semi finals with Justin Cullen, Sligo YC beating John Buckley also Sligo YC 2-0
Stephen Murphy Galway SC beat Nicholas Jeanniot, Sligo YC 2-0.
The silver fleet final was won by Justin Cullen and his team of Fionnula Carter, Jimmy Mulcahy and Brian McDonagh.
The gold final which was best of 5 was won by Niall Henry and his crew of Ossian Geraghty, Nancy Pyl and Pilar Perlines Castro. It went down to the last race, Blair was leading 2-0 but Niall won the next three races to take the title 3-2.
Sligo would like to recognise the Sponsors, Blake/Horrigan Solicitor, Dublin and Martin Reilly, BMW Dealer, Sligo.
Sligo Yacht Club proposes to run a club competition in March 2006 with a view to finding a representative to compete in Cork in April 2006.
Contribution by Tim Corcoran of Sligo Yacht Club