News
Fastnet Int. Schools Regatta
Day 3
Winds picked up significantly on day 3 of the Fastnet International Schools Regatta, sponsored by Ford Ireland, in Schull Harbour today. Competitors were faced with a force 4 northwesterly as the Bronze and Silver fleets commenced races 5 and 6. Competition was keen as final placings were up for grabs and, despite a number of retirements, an excellent standard of racing was witnessed.
Race 5 in the Bronze fleet was won by Richard O’Donovan, Bandon Grammar in his Laser 4.7, followed by Simon McNamee, Grosvenor College, Belfast, in a Topper and the Laser 4.7 of Aisling O’Neill, Mercy Heights, Skibbereen in third place.
This was immediately followed by Race 6 which was won by Tom Lordan/Ken Gordan, St. Colman’s, Fermoy/Presentation, Cork in their Mirror, followed by Shea O’Connell/Craig Murray, SCC in a Topaz and Simon McNamee, Grosvenor College, Belfast finishing third.
The Silver fleet had identical conditions for races 5 and 6 which were both won by Peter Moriarty/Sam Johnson, Presentation Brothers, Cork, in a Mirror while Andrew Lewis, Kings School, Canterbury, sailing a Laser 4.7 finished second in each race. The third place in Race 5 went to Aisling Hennessy/Ciara Brennan, Scoil Mhuire, Cork, in a Mirror and in Race 6 Gavin Kennedy/James Sullivan, CBC, Cork also in a Mirror completed the top 3.
The Gold fleet sailors were severely challenged I the afternoon what with winds picking up to force 6 and gusts to 7 and 8. The change in conditions from previous days allowed the 420’s of George Henniker-Major/Simon Wood, Radley College, U.K. and Louis Parkinson/Ed Bolam, Magdalen College School, U.K. streak ahead on the water finishing first and second over the line. However, the more favourable handicap of the Optimist gave Maeve Leonard, Colaiste Mhuire, Crosshaven first place in Race 6 with the Radley College pairing coming second to Conor Martin’s third placed Laser 4.7. In Race 7 George Henniker-Major/Simon Wood, Radley College, U.K. in their 420 came first, followed by Maeve Leonard, Colaiste Mhuire, Crosshaven second and Timothy O’Laoire, Burrow, Sutton third.
In Race 8, Louis Parkinson/Ed Bolam, Radley College, Oxford were first home in their 420 followed by Maeve Leonard, Colaiste Mhuire, Crosshaven second and Timothy O’Laoire, Burrow, Sutton third.
The three days had a mixture of wind conditions giving light and heavy sailors all a chance to prove their abilities. The overall results are:-
BRONZE FLEET
1 Shane Murphy/Diarmuid Fahy, CBC in a Mirror
2 Simon McNamee, Grosvenor College, Belfast in a Topper
3 Paul Collier/Christopher Kearney, Glenstal Abbey in a Laser 2
SILVER FLEET
1 William Quirke/Johnny Leahy, Clongowes Wood/Spoirid Naoimh in a Mirror
2 Peter Moriarty/Sam Johnson, Pres Brothers in a Mirror
3 Andrew Lewis, Kings School, Canterbury in a Laser 4.7
GOLD FLEET
1 Maeve Leonard, Colaiste Mhuire, Crosshaven in an Optimist
2 Timothy O’Laoire, Burrow, Sutton in an Optimist
3 George Henniker/Simon Wood, Radley College, Oxford in a 420
Day 2 of the Fastnet International Schools Regatta, sponsored by Ford Ireland continued at Schull Community College on Wednesday.
Lack of wind again delayed the start for the Silver and Bronze Fleet, however a southeasterly breeze eventually filled in allowing races 3 and 4 to commence before noon.
The fleet of 50 boats went to the line and first to pull out a good lead was the Laser 2 of Cathlin Cuppage / Aoife English, Scoil Mhuire, Cork, while in the bronze fleet Paul Collier / Christopher Kearney, Glenstal Abbey, Limerick, also sailing a Laser 2 were well ahead of the chasing pack. These two boats continued to lead the fleets finishing first over the line in Race 3. However, with handicap applied it was the Mirror of William Quir