Biting wind fails to deter hardy souls as season ends

THE season’s racing finally drew to a close at the Royal Cork YC at Crosshaven with the last events of the Laser series and of the multihull leagues.

But there will still be some action on the Cork Harbour sheltered waters over the holiday period and indeed Monkstown Bay SC host a Christmas race on Sunday, December 29.

A biting northerly breeze did not deter the 20 or so hardy sailors who braved the winter chills for the last three races of the Laser series. Race officer Kevin Lane managed to get three races in and, happily, the light wind ensured that capsizes were at a minimum.

In the Full rigs it was Nick Walsh who again emerged victorious overall, beating Andrew Lane into second. There was no stopping George Kingston in the Radials and he took the overall in very convincing style.

It was the turn of the ladies to take the honours in the 4.7s, Katie Dolan winning the overall from Andrew Guerin. The experienced Mark Donegan and Ranaith Long emerged victorious in the Lasers 2s, with Joanne McCarthy and Grainne Reid second.

The final three races of the Sheeran Insurances Multihull League produced a variety of combinations, new helms to boats, new boats to crews and new crews with helms. Neil Mangan and Jenny Wallace won all three races on the day, but the overall and the Subway Trophy for the two-month league went to Rob Doyle and Rob Gill with champagne going with the award.

The July Dognose Trophy was also presented at the weekend and that also went to Doyle and Gill.

Through the November-December league, racing was exceptionally tight and eventually the top two boats finished on level points, with the issue decided on the number of first places. RCYC Multihull racing restarts on February 1.

The Cork Dry Gin Irish Sailing Annual is now in the shops and an added feature is a pull-out preview of the fixtures for 2003. This year’s production is an impressive 108-page full colour glossy with many thought-provoking articles. One particularly interesting one looks at the fall-out from the recent shock decision by the Royal Ocean Racing Club to pull the scheduled Admirals Cup from Ireland.

The annual looks back at the sailing scene throughout Ireland and also includes writing by Winkie Nixon on a 2,285 mile voyage around Iceland undertaken by an Irish crew last summer.