RSGYC Weekend Sailing Wrap Up

Last weekend was a busy one for RSGYC sailors with sailors competing in Howth Yacht Club in both the RS Feva, RS200 and RS400 Eastern Championships along with SB20 Sailors competing for their SB20 Eastern Championships. Also last weekend up in Ballyholme the ISA Youth Pathway National Championships 2017 took place. All events had strong representations of RSGYC Sailors.

Congratulations to all RSGYC sailors who proudly flew the Flag for the RSGYC.  

RS Feva Eastern Championships 2017

Particular mention to the newly crowned RS Feva Eastern Champions 2017 Henry Start and Morgan Devine who sailed a superb regatta. Well done also to fellow RSGYC sailors Marcus O’Leary / Oscar Lubliner who were 5^th overall and their Club fellow Club members also competing Elysia O’Leary / Lorcan Little in their first Easterns together with Robert O’Connor / Harry Roche all who had a great time. The Feva class is enjoying continued popularity at the RSGYC with the mix of a good double hander boat which promotes friendship along with fun racing and good times ashore.

SB20 Eastern Championships

Congratulations also to Royal St. George Yacht Club sailors Michael O’ Connor and Owen Laverty with Ed Cooke aboard ‘Sin Bin’ who also proudly took the silverware this past weekend in Howth Yacht Club. ‘Sin Bin’ was the overall winner of the  2017 SB20 Eastern Championships at Howth Yacht Club. As is often the case with the SB20 fleet, racing was tight and came down to the final day. RSGYC was also proudly represented by the crews of ‘Timber’ (Marty Cuppage, David Bailey and Chris Chapman)  and ‘Sunday Brunch’ sailed by David Dwyer and crew along with Chris Arrowsmith aboard ‘Sacrebleu’. Full details can be found here on Afloat.ie.

An awesome turnout of sailors, volunteers, and parents at the ISA’s Youth Pathway National Championships this year, with a record turnout for new hosts Ballyholme Yacht Club in Bangor.

The RSGYC was very well represented at the ISA Youth Pathway National Championships this year with 28 sailors proudly flying the flag for the Royal St George Yacht Club in what was a super regatta.

Laser 4.7 Class

Congratulations to National Champion Jack Fahy who took first in the Laser 4.7 class, closely followed by Tom Higgins in 5^th with Helen O’ Beirne hot on their heels in 11^th. Sarah Fogarty, Finn Walker,  Ben Hogan , and Luka Flanagan followed in a very competitive fleet.

420 Class

In the hotly contested 420 fleet, the Royal St. George Yacht Club was represented by Kate Lyttle and Niamh Henry who were third overall, with only one point separating them from 2^nd place. Grace O’ Beirne & Katherine Kelly sailed a great regatta and were 6^th overall out of the 16 boat fleet.

Laser Radial Class

In the uber competitive Laser Radial Class there was a scattering of past champions battling it out in the 43 boat fleet. The Royal St. George Yacht Club was proudly represented by Peter Fagan, Henry Higgins and Hugo Kennedy who finished 5^th, 6^th and 7^th respectively. Followed by Toby Hudson-Fowler and Tara Coveney in 16^th and 17^th respectively.

Well done to all Royal St. George Yacht Club sailors, you’re Club is proud of you.

Photo Credits to the RS Feva Ireland Facebook page
and to Afloat.ie

Full event report, photographs and videos can be found here: https://www.sailing.ie/2017youthchampions/

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Dun-Laoghaire-Junior-Series-2017-SIs

Junior-Series-NOR-2017

DBSC combined clubs series will run for 9 Fridays. This is a great way to gain racing experience and have fun at the same time.

There will be 2 races each Friday night and first gun is at 6pm. This is always a great series – good racing for the sailors and an opportunity for parents to meet up for a pint/BBQ at the end of the week!

The series is available to those under 19 on 1st January 2017 and is for Optimists, Toppers, Lasers (Radial and 4.7), 29ers, Fevas, RS200s, and 420.

Barbecue and prize-giving will take place on the final day of racing – Friday 23rd June in the RIYC

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We are pleased to announce that we will be offering a RS200 Coaching weekend with Rio 49erfx Olympian Saskia Tidey on the 4^th and 5th of February 2017.

The training is open to all RS200 sailors/owners

Coach is Olympian Saskia Tidey (12th in the Rio Olympics 49er FX Class

Focus will be on Downwind technique and boat handling

Please confirm participation and interest scraig@fideuramireland.ie  

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Friday- Glorious sunshine and light steady breezes ranging from 5 – 8 knots made for challenging but fair racing. The RS400’s completed all four races, two of which were sailed outside Long Island in dying breeze and two of which brought sailors back inside the sound where the breeze was just about holding up.  In the RS400’s, reigning national champions Alex Barry & Richard Leonard appeared to have had a good day with a 1,1,3,4 only to have been OCS in race 1 which meant Bob Espey and Tiffany Brien took the overnight lead with a 5,3,1,3. The weekend was to continue to be a battle between the two teams with it going right to the wire on Sunday. There were four different race winners on the day with class stalwarts Emmet & James Ryan taking race one and laser supremo Chris Penney and Simon Martin taking race four. Katie Tingle and Fionn Lyden deserve a mention for leading to the first windward mark in race four in what was their first outing ever in an RS400 and likewise, a strong performance on the day for Laser Radial sailor Johnny Durcan and crew Grattan Roberts who sat in 5^th overnight.

The RS200’s managed three races on Friday, Neil Spain and crew Shane Hughes had no intentions of being bridesmaids again and lead the unstoppable Marty O’Leary and Rachel Williamson by one point overnight. It seemed this was a sign of the weekend to come with the two boats continuing to blaze a trail on the rest of the fleet for the weekend. Jocelyn Hill and Katie Kane from Antirm had a great day and lay in 3^rd place overnight.

Super Saturday:   An earlier start of 11am on Saturday allowed for four races to be completed by both fleets. Winds had increased considerably from Friday and sailors enjoyed the perfect RS conditions with a South Easterly wind blowing 15 – 20 knots all day. The new breeze meant for a change in faces at the top of the RS400 fleet. Class President Dave Cheyne and Stevie Kane having sat 13^th overnight came out blazing with a 1,2 in the first two races and scored an impressive 15 points on the day having scored 50 the previous day. Likewise David Rose and Ian Hef had a very strong day with a 3,7,2,2 to score 14 points having scored 49 the previous day. At the top of the fleet things weren’t looking good for the leaders with Bob & Tiff scoring a DNF in race one having to return to shore with slot gasket issues and Alex & Richie broke a rudder before the race but just made the start having secured a replacement. Bob & Tiff were back out of the blocks and recovered to score a 1,4,4 with Alex & Richie under pressure after a 4,5 managing to close the day with a 1,1. This left Alex & Richie in the lead by a mere 2 points going into the last day. The day took its toll with sailors bruised and battered but still smiling and three boats on their side over night as their owners prayed that the replacement  slot gaskets would dry overnight.

In the RS200’s Neil and Shane took the spoils scoring an impressive four 1^st places and showing they meant business. Marty & Rachel had a DNF in the first race but came back out to take three 2^nd places. Past President Frank O’Rourke with local sailors Noah McCarthy were back on form with four 3^rd places on the day but consistency on day one was rewarding Royal St. George pair Toby Fowler and Greg Arrowsmith who sat in 3^rd place overnight. Special mention must go to the three boats from Cullaun Sailing Club who persevered on the day and particularly Aoife Cleary Ward and Niamh Edwards who were still smiling coming up the slip.

Sunday The RS400’s had two final races on Sunday with all three medal positions up for grabs. Sailors were greeted outside by a giant Atlantic swell and very light and shifty conditions as the sea-breeze fought the thermal North Westerly. With Alex and Richie scoring a 2^nd over Bob and Tiff’s 3^rd in race one Paddy Power had the odds in the Cork boys favour. All they needed was for Bob and Tiff not to win the race or for them to score a fourth but having hunted each other down in two general recalled starts, the Northern team slipped away on the first beat and found the best breeze to lead by ‘miles’ at the top mark, a lead they carried safely all the way to the finish. Alex & Richie were left at the back of the fleet having fallen foul to the conditions and could only watch on as Bob Espey and Tiffany Brien crossed the line to secure the 2016 National Championships by one point, this being Bob’s second time securing the trophy and first time winning the event outright. Alex and Richie did enough for second place and Emmet and James Ryan did enough to fight off the pressure from young guns Johnn Durcan and Grattan Roberts to take third place and the bronze ISA medal.

The RS200’s needed three races to complete the card and with it all but sewn up, Neil and Shane had a scare in race 1 scoring a 3^rd while Marty & Rach took the bullet. This wasn’t enough to phase the experienced pair who went on the win race two giving them the 2016 National Title and the freedom to head home early and miss the last race. A convincing win for the boys left them with 9 points and Marty & Rachel went on to win the final race giving them the silver medal on 13 points. Toby Folwer and Greg’s consistency continued as they scored a 2,5,2 on the day securing them the Bronze medal.

Social: Brosnan’s Centra in Schull kindly layed on a BBQ immediately after sailing each day which was  very well received by sailors. Despite the tiring conditions of Super Saturday and impromptu party kicked off in the upstairs of Newman’s bar with massive craic had, a South v North sign off, apt for the year that’s in it, adding to the banter. Special mention for John Downey and Stevie Kane who’s countries can be very proud of their performances on the night.

All in all an excellent weekend was had by all, only made possible by David Harte and his massive team in the Fastnet Marine Outdoor Education Centre in Schull including RS400 OOD Alan Crosbie, the generous support from Centra, the people of Schull for providing camping facilities, good food  and tasty pints.

Full results available at- http://sailwave.com/results/FMOEC/RSNats2016.htm

The next event for the classes is the end of seasons in Blessington on the 24^th & 25^th September.

RS Nationals Final Day Video https://vimeo.com/181403544

RS Nationals Day 2 Video https://vimeo.com/181302027

RS Nationals Day 1 Video https://vimeo.com/180968414

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With a cruise ship occupying the course racing was postponed for one hour. Competitors gladly took the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality and breakfast rolls laid on by the members and staff at Poolbeg, which more than lived up to its welcoming reputation.

Once the large obstacle had departed, PRO Barry O’Neil and his team wasted no time in getting racing under way. The race officer’s briefing emphasized the aim of the event was to pack as many high quality but fun races into the allowable time and he duly delivered on all fronts. The ten knot Westerly breeze allowed for a perfect windward leeward course to be set. The start line located directly in front of the club house was the ideal spectator vantage point to view the action as boats had a beat towards the East Link toll bridge and barrelled their way back downwind to the leeward gate. There was also plenty of head turning from the passing traffic that paralleled the race course only meters from the water.

Given the tight nature of venue crews had to decide, which side of the river to play upwind. Some beats it appeared to favour going as close as helms dared to the North Wall while other times it paid to tack along the Poolbeg marina and take a chance by dodging into the forest of moorings and club boats on the South side of the river, all of which added to the excitement.

As the day went on the number of spectators grew as the Poolbeg Regatta cruiser racer fleet which include a newly adopted class of six Ruffians returned ashore.  The cruisers raced in two classes, with smaller boats competing in a round the cans race on Dublin Bay and the larger yachts enjoying a costal “Three island race”, which took in Dalkey Island, The Muglins and Ireland’s Eye.

After nine races for each of the RS classes and the small matter of another sizeable ship on its way up the river, the fun was over on the water at least. With multiple race winners in each class everyone was left guessing how the final scores would tally up. The competitors had lost count long before the finish.

In RS200’s Neil and Maeve Spain had a very impressive day taking six race wins. Aaron Jones and Rebecca Rock had a very solid event to take second. In third place, with a very consistent set of results, were Triona Hinkson and Helen O’Bernie who showed plenty of potential and will definitely be a team to watch in future RS200 events.

In the RS400’s Peter Bayly and Paddy Blakely grew stronger as the nine race series went on and finished with a three point win over Dave Sweeney and John Downey who took second place on count back from Emmet and James Ryan.

With boats de-rigged crews joined in with the Regatta festivities in the Poolbeg club house just in time to cheer on fellow RS400 sailors Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern as they did all proud in Rio. The evening’s entertainment followed a distinctly Rio theme, with an authentic Brazilian Samba Band complete with Dublin Ports first man-made beach installed at the club for the occasion.

A huge thank you to everyone at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club from all the RS teams and to Dublin Port Company who very generously sponsored the event and facilitated the racing to take place amongst the non-stop shipping operations of the port. The talk amongst the RS sailors was of making this an annual fixture.

Below are selection Youtube Clips of the day’s action.

13 minute long full King of the Liffey race

RS400 Start and first beat

RS400’s Downwind

Some great photos of the event can be viewed here

RS200 RESULTS

Helm                       Crew                        Club                         R1   R2   R3   R4   R5   R6   R7   R8   R9   Total       Overall

Neil Spain                Maeve Spain           Howth YC                2       1      1      1    1    (5)   1    1     2         10          1^st

Aaron Jones            Rebecca Rock          Greystones SC          1       2      2     (4)   3     2    2     4    3          19          2^nd

Triona Hinkson        Helen O’Bernie       Royal St George YC   4      3      4       2   (5)    1   4      3   4         25           3^rd

Greg Arrowsmith    Toby Hudson Fowler Royal St George     3        5     5      (6)   2      4   5     2    1         27          4^th

Jemima Owens       Peter Naessens       National YC               (5)      4     3       3    4       3   3    5     5      30           5^th

Emer Raferthy         Herbie Fowler         Royal St George YC   6         6     6      5    6       6   6   DNF DNS  48          6^th

RS400 RESULTS

Helm                       Crew                        Club                         R1   R2   R3   R4   R5   R6   R7   R8   R9   Total       Overall

Peter Bayly              Paddy Blakely   Greystones SC                 (4)    2     2      1      1      1    3      4      1      15              1^st

Dave Sweeney        John Downey    Bray & Monkstown SC   (7)    3     4      3      2      2    1      1      2      18              2^nd

Emmet Ryan           James Ryan       Royal St George YC           1      1     3    (5)    3      3     2      2      3      18             3^rd

Sean Cleary             Luke Murphy     Oxford Sailing Club           3      6     1     7     4      4    (8)    5       5      35             4^th

Conor Cleary           Luke O’Rourke   Greystones SC                   5     (8)   5     2     6      7      6     3       6     40              5^th

Stephen Craig         Conor Foley       Royal St George YC            2     4   (8)    6     8      6      4     6       4    40               6^th

Kevin Brazel            Henry Higgins   Dungarvan SC                      6    5     7      4     7      5      7    (8)      7   48               7^th

John Malone           Patrick Whyte   Mullingar SC                        8    7     6      8     5      8      5     7   (OCS) 54              8^th

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