Tiger has prosperous day as Autumn League Series attracts 1,000 sailors

MORE than 1,000 sailors took to the water at Crosshaven on a mild and sunny autumn weekend, three-quarters of them competing in the opening session of the O’Flynn Exhams Autumn League Series from the RCYC.

The fleet included visitors from Waterford, Kinsale, Cobh, Baltimore and Dungarvan.

There were two fleets, one racing on a windward-leeward course on the eastern bank running from Cuskinny to Aghada, the other on a harbour course. The wind, however, was fickle, going up and down in strength and changing direction.

The competition was particularly hot between the flying machines in Class 0: Kieran Twomey’s Gloves Off helmed by Mark Mansfield, the Phelans on Jump Juice, Conor Doyle’s graceful and stately X442 Freya with Tony O’Gorman calling tactics in a partnership that has been going for some 27 years in Dragons, and also Tom Roche’s Salona 45 Meredian.

Classes 3 and 4 and White Sail had been advised they were to sail on the eastern bank early in the morning and there were some reservations about this. However, race officer Richard Leonard was proven correct in his choice and they had two races after a short postponement for the start. Class 4 got off to a start on a short windward leeward course and by the time they reached the windward mark the higher rated class 3 had caught them making for a few interesting port and starboard exchanges.

In Class three IRC, the overall winner was the Kenefick/O’Brien Tiger followed by the Kinsale raider, Ian Travers in Bandit with the Lostys’ Woody in third.

In Echo, Fergus Coughlan’s Whyte Knight took first overall on the day followed by Tiger in second with Padraig O’Donovan’s Chameleon third.

In Class four Echo Michael Murphy’s Shelly D was a very popular winner followed by Alan Mulcahy’s Sundancer and the Morrison/Higgins La Maraquita third on equal points with Peter Webster’s Thistle with La Maraquita winning out on countback.

In Class Four IRC, Sundancer took first overall on the day followed by the well-sailed GH 24 Mike Sexton’s Granny Knot with both boats on three points.

In Whitesail One Echo and IRC went to Tom McNeice’s Minx III with Conor O’Donovan’s X-tension second and the Carroll brothers’ Chancer third. In Whitesail Two, Roy Hanan’s Plumbat took the honours ahead of Clive Doherty’s Phaeton with Michael and Tadgh Lynch’s Lady T third. Whitesail Two IRC went to Phaeton with Plumbat second and Lady T third.

The Echo handicap system is a progressive system and the adjustments for next week have already been made.

Racing will continue next Sunday, with first gun at 10.55am.