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Fastnet International Schools Regatta - Results and report
Day 1
The Fastnet International Schools Regatta sponsored by Ford Ireland and hosted by Schull Community College commenced in Schull Harbour today with almost 60 boats competing. Competitors were divided into Gold, Silver & Bronze fleets and a wide range of dinghies including 420s, Lasers, Optimists, Toppers, Topaz and Mirrors also competed in class racing.
Light winds delayed the start of Race 1, however bright sunshine eventually provided adequate wind to commence the Silver and Bronze fleets. 39 boats went to the line and the Silver Fleet was a hotly contested affair which was won eventually by William O’Brien from Christian Brothers College, Cork sailing a Laser Radial followed by Patrick Daly of Knockaderry N.S. in an Optimist and Ruarí O’Donovan of Colaiste Sprioraid Naoimh in a Laser Radial third.
Race 2 was sailed back to back with Race 1 and the victor here was Patrick Daly with Ruarí O’Donovan in second place followed by Evan Tobin, St. Clement’s College, Limerick, sailing a Topper in third place.
The Gold Fleet sailed in the afternoon under near perfect conditions with a south westerly breeze in the Harbour. 19 competitors sailed in two classes in this fleet.
In Race 1 line honours went to Sam Petty/Max Jones of Radley College, U.K. with the Laser 3000 of Rolf Westropp/Ian Sugden of Sedburg School, Cumbria with Darragh O’Connor, Schull Community College coming in 3rd over the line and winning the Radial Class. Race 2 provided close racing in light and shifting conditions however the Petty/Jones team sere not deterred and again took line honours followed by Shane Costigan, Presentation Brothers, Cork and the Westropp/Sugden team taking third across the line. Handicap weighting will be added to these results to determine overall placing.
Racing continues tomorrow with a possibility of 3 races in each fleet.
Day 2
On day 2 lack of wind again delayed the start for the Silver and Bronze Fleet, however a south easterly breeze eventually filled in allowing races 3 and 4 to commence before noon.
A fleet of 39 boats went to the line and again an all clear was announced. The Bronze fleet was dominated by Toppers in Race 3 with Ross Murray of Schull Community College leading across the line from Shane Newman, Schull Community College, with Peter McConnell of Newtownbrien High School, Belfast, also sailing a Topper, completing the top 3 positions. Race 4 was raced immediately and the lighter conditions brought a new race winner in Katie O’Donovan, Bandon Grammar School, sailing an Optimist with Shane Newman and Peter O’Connell again filling the minor placings.
In the Silver Fleet Race 3 the dominant sailor, Patrick Daly of Knockaderry National School sailing an Optimist winning by the narrowest of margins from Henry Fletcher/ Nick Bennett-Jones, Magdalin College, U.K., sailing a 420 and another 420 sailed by Fred Macnamara/Andrew Lewis of Radley College, U.K. coming home in 3rd place. Race 4 presents a slight change in form with the overseas 420 of Macnamara/ Lewis taking the honours from Gavan Kennedy of Christian Brothers College, Cork sailing a Laser Radial and closely followed by the 420 of Fletcher/Bennett-Jones.
Afternoon conditions improved but breezes remained fickle and light as the Gold Fleet undertook the serious business of overall honours. Despite excellent sailing by Sam Petty/Max Jones of Radley College in a 420, the pair were overhauled on handicap by the Optimist of World Optimist sailor Timothy O’Laoire, Sandfort Park College, Dublin, followed by the Topaz of Billy Clarke/Daniel O’Regan of Schull Community College in 3rd place.
The radial class battle continued as in day 1 with Darragh O’Connor, Schull Community College and Shane Costigan, Presentation Brothers, Cork, exchanging positions at the head of the class through races 3 a