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UK helms dominated the 29 boat Irish Fireball National Championships at Mayo Sailing Club, Rosmoney, over the ‘Reek Weekend’. Tom Gillard, crewed by Frances Rowan showed impressive form by winning the final three races and the event in taxing conditions, with a 6 point lead over Andy Pearse and Hugh Butler.

The three-day event was dogged by light and sometimes absent winds, only three races sailed from a schedule of nine.

With the prospect of poor sailing contitions, race officer Harry Gallagher ran four races under Croagh Patrick in Clew Bay on Friday, only for shifting winds to turn Race 1 around with a 180 degree wind change. Races 2 and 3 provided classic Westport sailing conditions with a westerly force three to four wind and large swell. Simon McGrotty and Tim Saunders were leading both races, to be beaten by Ross Kearney and David Hynes in Race 3, but McGrotty didn’t let them past in race 3 and became the only Irish helm to win a race. Kearny / Hynes later took 3rd place overall.

After many general recalls, five top-end boats were black flagged in Race 4, Gillard / Rowan proving hard to catch and taking the bullet.

Saturday and Sunday yielded one race each, in very light and shifty winds. Sunday’s race was sailed in the bay south of Collanmore Island, and was as close to snakes and ladders as sailing gets; several boats at the very top falling down to the very back as the race progressed, and several winds blowing across different parts of the windward/leeward course.

The fight for first Irish boat, and Irish National Title, was won on equal points between Noel Butler / Seamus Moore in 4th place; and Michael Murphy / Alex Voye in 5th, Butler winning the tie break on countback.

3rd placed Irish boat was also a tie-break, awarded to McGrotty / Saunders (6th) over Damien Bracken / Brian O’Hara (7th).