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'HB OCEAN ADVENTURE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME' CONNAUGHT SCHOOLS TEAM RACING CHAMPIONSHIP 2009
'HB OCEAN ADVENTURE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME' CONNAUGHT SCHOOLS TEAM RACING CHAMPIONSHIP 2009
After a hard days training on Saturday 4th of April, seven teams contested the inaugural Connaught Schools Team Racing Championship on Sunday 5th of April in Lough Atalia, Galway City. Conditions were good with a nice steady breeze and clear skies. The first Gun was fired at 1000hrs by Minister Eamonn O’Cuiv TD as Race Officer Eddy Cats got the Round Robin Series of 21 races underway.
Racing was tight and exciting. Three Schools topped the Round Robin Series earning themselves a place in the Semi-Finals. Those were Ursalines Secondary School of Waterford (racing as an invitational team), Scoil Chroi Mhuire an Spideal and Seamount College of Kinvarra. Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin of Carraroe and Calasanctius College of Oranmore were tied on four wins each. They had a trilling race off which was neck and neck to the finish line with Carraroe coming out on top.
With a team made up of Galway Hooker Sailors who had never sailed in Dinghies before Carraroe had it all to do in their best of three races semi-finals against Spideal. Spideal won the first race easily with a one-two-three finish, but lower winds in the second race gave Carraroe a tight hard earned victory. It was all down to the last race with Spideal getting an early lead but Carraroe got back into the race on the last windward leg by taking a bold move to sail along the shore. By sailing along the shore Carraroe were not affected as much by the strong tide and as a result won the race earning their place in the final.
On the other side of the draw it was Waterford against Kinvarra. This was a close contest between the two girl schools that fought hard for every inch on the race course. At the end of the first race the Waterford school were on top with a one two three finish. During the second race Kinvarra sailed passionately for their place in the finals but alas it was not to be their day. The girls from Waterford broke away to earn themselves a place in the Final with Carraroe.
Carraroe won the Connaught Team Racing Championship as Waterford were not eligible to win the Connaught championship but they could still win the first prize of Green Dragon Racing Team clothing. The eagerly awaited final was another close battle and the spectators were not disappointed. Carraroe and Waterfords’ battle was such a good race to watch the cars on Lough Atalia Road looked like rush hour traffic as they all vied to get a glimpse of the action. In the end there could only be one winner and it was the invitational team from Waterford who stole the show only losing one race out of 13 on the day.
In the Third/Fourth place race off it was Spideal who came on top. While the team from Athenry was awarded Best Primary School.
A great day was had by all and on behalf of Galway Bay Sailing Club, Bow Waves Galway Sailing and Powerboat School and HB Ocean Adventure Schools Programme we would like to wish top three Connaught Teams (Carraroe, Spideal and Kinvarra) and Waterford best of luck in the Irish Sailing Association National Schools Team Racing Championship in Schull on the 25th and 26th of April.
If anyone is interested in getting team racing started in their school contact Bow Waves at 091-560560 or email gavin@bowwaves.com
Tar éis dóibh lá crua a chaitheamh i mbun traenála ar an Satharn 4ú Aibreán, chuaigh seacht bhfoireann i mbun catha le haghaidh na chéad babhta den Chraobhchomórtas Rásaíochta Foirne um Scoileanna Chonnacht a reáchtáladh ar an Domhnach 5ú Aibreán i Loch an tSáile, Cathair na Gaillimhe. Bhí an aimsir go maith le leoithne dheas sheasta agus spéir ghlan. Scaoil an tAire Éamon Ó Cuív TD an chéad Ghunna ag 10:00 agus chuir an tOifigeach Rása Eddy Cats tús leis an tsraith Round Robin de 21 rás.
Bhí an iomaíocht go géar agus bhí an rásaíocht corraitheach. Tháinig trí scoil chun tosaigh sa tSraith Round Robin agus bhuaigh siad áit sna cluichí leathcheannais - Meánscoil na n-Ursalach, Loch Garman (ar tugadh cuireadh dóibh), Scoil Chroí Mhuire an Spidéal agus Coláiste Seamount Cinn Mhara. Bhí cluiche cothrom ag Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin as an gCeathrú Rua agus Coláiste Calasanctius as an Órán Mór ar bhuaigh ceachtar acu ceithre bhabhta. Bhí rás iontach corraitheach acu agus iad taobh le taobh go dtí an deireadh nuair a bhí an bua ag an gCeathrú Rua.
Bhí ar an gCeathrú Rua, a raibh foireann acu a bhí déanta suas de Sheoltóirí Húicéir na Gaillimhe nár sheol i mbáidíní calaithe roimhe sin a ndícheall a dhéanamh sa cheann is fearr de thrí chluiche leathcheannais a bhí acu i gcoinne an Spidéil. Bhuaigh an Spidéal an chéad rás go héasca le críoch a haon a dó a trí, ach toisc go raibh an ghaoth níos ísle sa dara rás bhí bua cúng a bhí tuillte go maith acu ag an gCeathrú Rua. Ba é an rás deireanach a chinn an toradh nuair a chuaigh an Spidéal chun tosaigh go luath ach d'éirigh leis an gCeathrú Rua dul ar ais sa rás sa bhabhta deireanach chun na gaoithe nuair a bhí sé de dhánacht acu seoladh taobh leis an gcaladh. Trí sheoladh taobh leis an gcaladh níor chuir an taoide láidir isteach an oiread sin ar an gCeathrú Rua agus mar thoradh air sin bhuaigh siad an rás agus thuill siad áit sa chluiche ceannais.
Ar an taobh eile den tarraingt bhí Loch Garman i gcoinne Cinn Mhara. Dlúthchomórtas idir an dá scoil cailíní a bhí anseo agus rinne siad troid chrua le haghaidh gach orlaigh ar an ráschúrsa. Ag deireadh na chéad rása bhí scoil Loch Garman chun tosaigh le críoch a haon a dó a trí. I rith an dara rása chuir Cinn Mhara a gcroí isteach sa tseoltóireacht agus iad ag iarraidh áit a fháil sna cluichí ceannais ach ar an drochuair ní raibh sé i ndán dóibh. D'éirigh leis na cailíní as Loch Garman áit a thuilleamh sa Chluiche Ceannais leis an gCeathrú Rua.
Bhuaigh an Cheathrú Rua Craobhchomórtas Rásaíochta Foirne Chonnacht. Dlúthchomórtas eile a rabhthas ag tnúth go mór leis a bhí sa chluiche ceannais agus níor cuireadh díomá ar an lucht féachana. Bhí cath na Ceathrún Rua agus Loch Garman chomh taitneamhach, go raibh cuma an tráchta buaictrátha ar na gluaisteáin ar Bhóthar Loch an tSáile agus gach duine ag iarraidh an gníomh a fheiceáil. I ndeireadh na dála ní fhéadfadh ach foireann amháin an bua a fháil agus ba í an fhoireann as Loch Garman ar tugadh cuireadh dóibh a tháinig chun tosaigh nuair nár chaill siad ach aon rás amháin as 13 rás ar an lá. Bhí an bua ag an Spidéal sa rás le haghaidh an Tríú/Ceathrú háite, agus bronnadh an Bhunscoil is Fearr ar an bhfoireann as Baile Átha an Rí.
Ba iad na torthaí deireanacha ná:
1ú - Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe
2ú - Scoil Chroí Mhuire, An Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe
3ú- Coláiste Seamount, Cinn Mhara, Co. na Gaillimhe
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The First Gun will be fired at 1000hrs on Sunday 5th of April by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Eamon O'Cuiv TD at Lough Atalia.
All are welcome to come down and watch the exciting racing held for the first time in Galway City
42 Students are taking part representing 7 schools.
Schools are as follows:
Calasanctius College, Oranmore, Co Galway.
Cholaiste Chroi Mhure, An Spideal, Co Na Galliamhe.
Seamount College, Kinvarra, Co Galway.
St Patricks National School, Lombard St. Galway City.
Castlegar National School, Galway City.
Carraroe National School, Co Na Galliamhe
Ursulines College, Waterford (Invitational)
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Attention all Connaught schools sailing departments:
The first 'HB Ocean Adventure Schools Programme' Connaught Schools Team Racing Championship will take place on Sunday April 5, 2009.
The regatta is organised by Galway Bay Sailing Club in association with Bow Waves Galway Sailing and Powerboat School in Lough Atalia in Galway and HB Ocean Adventure Schools Programme.
Schools with inexperienced sailors: The Organising Authority want to promote Schools Team Racing in Connaught and are running a free training day on the 4th of April for teams entered. All Buoyancy Aids and Wetsuits will be provided if needed for the two days as part of the entry fee.
For Entry Forms contact:
Gavin Lynch-Frahill at gavin@bowwaves.com or 085-1095470
Ann Neylan at ann@bowwaves.com or
091-560560
Or visit here for Bow Waves home page
Visit facebook page here
The Regatta will be sailed in Topaz Dinghies supplied by Bow Waves and is a qualifier for the Schools National Team Racing Championship 2009 which will be held in Schull, Co. Cork, on the weekend of April 25/26.
All schools in Connaught are invited to enter. The entry deadline is April 2nd at 17.00. There is no late entry facility.
Each team consists of six sailors in three boats. Competitors must be currently enrolled in their school. All sailors and officials should wear appropriate clothing for the conditions as well as a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Races are very short, 10-15 minutes. The full program should see up to 50 races run on the day.
N.B. Each team must bring a race official volunteer to support the umpires and race committee.
Training will be provided and it is a great way to see and be part of the action.
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'HB Ocean Adventure Schools Programme'
Connaught Schools Team Racing Championship 2009
Sunday April 5th
Notice of Race
The Organising authority (OA) is Galway Bay Sailing Club in association with Bow Waves Galway Sailing and Powerboat School. Racing will governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, Appendix D Team Racing Rules and the Prescriptions of the ISA. The Regatta shall be sailed in Lough Atalia, Galway City in Topaz Dinghies supplied by Bow Waves.
Registration will take place in Bow Waves Galway Sailing and Powerboat School at 0900hrs on Sunday 5th of April with a briefing taking place at 0945hrs.
Eligibility: Entries will be open to teams representing schools in Connaught made up of members of the ISA or an ISA affiliated category 1 club which are currently enrolled in that school. The entry limit is 6 teams of 3 boats. Entries will be accepted in order of receipt with payment. If the limit is exceeded multiple entries will be reduced to 1 team.
Entry: A non-refundable entry fee of €150 per team. Entries will be accepted at Bow Waves until April 2nd at 1700hrs. There is No Late Entry Facility. Entry Fees will be put into a fund to aid the winning teams trip to the National Championships.
Race Officials: One Volunteer from each school will be requested to aid the running of the event under Principal Race Officer Eddy Cats and the OA.
Program of Racing: The Warning Signal for the first race is scheduled for 1045hrs. A round Robin Series followed by a Semi-Finals and a Final. The Format may be changed to obtain a fair result. In the result of inclement weather the event will be held with reefed boat in the sheltered area of Lough Atalia.
Damage Deposit: Each team must deposit €300 by cheque or cash on entry. Deductions will be made in the event of damage. The Deposit will be returned on completion of the event with no damage occurring.
Schools with inexperienced sailors: The OA want to promote Schools Team Racing in Connaught and are running a free training day on the 4th of April for teams entered. All Buoyancy Aids and Wetsuits will be provided if needed for the two days as part of the entry fee.
Winners of the event will go forward to the National Championships to represent the Connaught Region.
For further information contact
Gavin Lynch-Frahill at gavin@bowwaves.com or 085-1095470 or Ann Neylan at ann@bowwaves.com or 091-560560