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IUSA College Western Championships - Report!
IUSA College Western Championships at UL Sailing Club / UL Activity Centre, Killaloe
By Suzanne Byrne
Over 150 sailors, 25 teams, 24 fireflies, 10 umpires, 5 DJs all adds up to one class event! Yes this was the scene of the 2005 IUSA (Irish University Sailing Association) Western Championships which were held in our very own ULAC in Killaloe on the 22nd and the 23rd of October. This proved to be a terrific weekend for both Irish sailing and ULSC who were the organisers of the intervarsity competition.
ULAC was the perfect place for such an event, with the turf sauna steaming, the winter sun beaming and over 150 students participating, the centre really came to life. A very clever man organised a Barge the 45m (the oldest working barge of its kind I will have you know) as a platoon for sailors in between races, which really added to the buzz of the event. Further more with Abba and other bands of that calibre blaring over the PA system, courtesy of our very talented Party Secretary Rachel, the craic was had by all!
So the sailing got underway on Saturday Morning as soon as everyone managed to get their weary heads out of bed and into a wet suit. Despite light winds, as soon as all 24 fireflies were rigged up the races began. The conditions may not have been ideal but nonetheless the standard of team racing was very high and Teams such as CIT, DBS, and UL1 were standing out from the rest.
With roll tacking a plenty the start boat with race master Paul Ruddy was flying through the races and everything was going smoothly and we were happy out listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers blaring out da tunes, when all of a sudden the heavens opened and took the wind from our sails...literally! Just when all looked like it had to be abandoned the umpires used their magical superpowers and together with boy wonder Conor Byrne persevered and sure enough a pretty rainbow came out and the wind filled in and we all lived happily ever after in sailing harmony or at least for another hour!
So, now less of my waffle and more to serious stuff, because as we all know in UL a club would not be a success if they could not throw a kick ass fancy dress party. Albeit I am being slightly biased here, but we put on a cracker of a party in the Kincora Hall Hotel with a little help from the talented DJs in the new and highly recommended ULDJ society who helped us boogie our way into the wee hours of the morning.
Well as you can imagine Sunday got off to a late start as people woke up with throbbing heads and MDIs (mysterious drunken injuries) but it was nothing a few pain killers could not mend and with that philosophy we got out on the water and finished the rest of the races from the day before. Then it was time for the serious business of knockouts to begin_dun dun dun_this is when the gloves come off and the claws come out.
Although UL1 finished top of their group alongside DBS and CIT1 on Saturday, they were knocked out in the quarter finals by TCD1 who came 3rd overall. Then DBS and CIT1 met in an exciting final and though CIT1 sailed exceedingly well and put up a great fight the ever successful DBS team took the title. Even though they didn_t quite make it into the gold fleet on Sunday UCD1 redeemed themselves and won the silver fleet in an all UCD final.
All in all this was an unforgettable event (notwithstanding the few black spots from Saturday night) and it never would have happened never mind been the success it was if it was not for the hours of work, blood, sweat and tears that ULSCs chairperson Conor Byrne put into the organisation of the event. If he was not towing a boat half way round the country or on the phone organising barges, lake boats etc., he was trying t