Fireball Leinsters Report – Mullingar Sailing Club 10/11th May

The first race of the series was started in 5/10 knots of breeze and the course was set in the Olympic style that wasn’t to change for the weekend. Two weekends ago saw silver fleet training in Mullingar, and it was a Silver fleet boat who gained from the knowledge of the venue to lead to the Windward mark. Not only are Derval O’Carroll and Siobhan Hayes in the silver fleet, but they are also the Silver Fleet captains. It might be time for new captains as their fine 3rd position in race one saw them come 2nd in the Gold two fleet overall for the weekend. Following this team to the mark, were Andy Boyle and Brian Flahive. This team had shown fine form in the Winter DMYC “Frostbite Series”, where they finished 2nd. Today however they were to go to 1st, drop to 6th and then finish this race in 4th. 

Finding the breeze was the clear goal today, and it was Pearse/Rowan who managed to sort this area to finish 1st in race one. The defending Leinster Champions of Noel Butler and Seamus Moore, who had a poor first beat to end 10th at the windward mark, finished 2nd in this race.
 Race two started in much the same vain, as the top four boats changed places at least 6 times during the course of the hour long race. It was again Pearse/Rowan who won out with the new team of Conor O’Toole and Chris Clayton, who finished 2nd. Conor and Chris broke out their new boat this weekend, and this and their partnership seemed to excel in the conditions to be strong contenders throughout the weekend. 3rd place went to the Butler/Moore partnership.  Consistency would be the key to this weekend, and Boyle/Flahive showed this with another 4th.  Race 3 of the day would be the final race and again it was Pearse/Rowan winning from an extensive lead gained at the windward mark. The newest boat in the fleet sailed by Owen Laverty and Ed Butler finished 2nd having been in this position from the onset. 3rd place went to O’Toole/Clayton following an excellent downwind battle with Butler/Moore and Boyle/Flahive.  The fleet now returned to shore for a much needed break. The fleet  retired to Weirs in Multyfarnham for dinner and a few pints. Much craic was had and a few sore heads arrived the next morning.

 Sunday dawned with a glass lake outside the clubhouse. Racing was postponed from 10am to 1pm and finally race 4 in the championship would be sailed, thus allowing a discard. It was Boyle/Flahive who lead to the windward mark followed by Pearse/Rowan. The other teams in contention for 2nd (Butler/Moore and O’Toole/Clayton), had gambled on the right paying and were well down the fleet by the first mark. Wind whispering, much like horse whispering was called for, as the search for new breeze ensued. Following a strong first lap Moore/Butler were up to 3rd. This is where they would remain. Boyle/Flahive slipped to 2nd, but on the final lap O’Toole/Clayton took advantage of new pressure and drove them to 4th. So a nervous time was had by Butler/Moore on the final beat to finish 3rd.

 In the Gold 2 fleet a fine performance by Laverty/Butler, saw them clinch the title from the Silver fleet sailors of Derval O’Carrol and Siobhan Hayes. The best performances for both teams to date. Third in the fleet was the ever present team of Jon Evans and Aidian Caulfield.

 In the Silver Fleet, another new team came to the front. Marie Barry in her first event helming, and Leo Bishop crewing for Marie for the first time gained top spot following a fine consistent performance in the tricky conditions. 2nd went to Henry Rice and Frank Neylon, 3rd went to the local team of Paddy and Sean Mulholland.  

 Special thanks must go to Mullingar Sailing Club. An incredibly beautiful venue, with a log cabin for a club house, and a two minute sail to the race area. The race officer managed to set fair courses in the most difficult of sailing conditions.  The next event is a training event next weekend in the National Yacht Club, with the British 470 coach Adam Bowers. Hope to see you all there.

Gold Fleet Results
1. Andy Pearse, Francis Rowan 3pts
2. Noel Butler, Seamus Moore 8pts
3. Conor O’Toole, Chris Clayton 9 pts

Gold 2 Fleet Results
1. Owen Laverty, Ed Butler 15 pts
2. Deval O’Carroll, Siobhan Hayes 19pts
3. Jon Evans, Aidian Caulfield 21pts
Silver Fleet Results
1. Marie Barry, Leo Bishop 39 pts
2. Henry Rice, Frank Neylon 48 pts
3. Paddy Mulholland, Sean Mulholland 50 pts

Results in full can be found on:
http://www.fireball-international.com/ireland/