Chameleon's third spot enough to take series

WHITE horses abounded the outer harbour and some gusts reached forty knots during an exciting and sometimes tough final race of the Southmoor Properties March League at Kinsale Yacht Club.

It created a real tussle for the overall positions and eventually Padraig O’Donovan on Chameleon, leader going into the race, secured a fine third on the day to take the overall.

His total of 5.75 points gave him the victory over second placed McCarthy Brothers on Mac Magic II who totalled 7 points for the series after taking second on the day.

Third wa John C. Twomey on Cool Runnings Too who finished with 11.75 points after charging up the leader board with a superb victory in the final race.

The course on the last day set the fleet on a tough beat to windward in a fresh south easterly breeze of about 22knots. Indeed there were some moments of tremendous boat handling as the boats rounded the Bullman Buoy, Centre Point and Hake Head marks.

Gary Horgan’s Lobster led the fleet and took line honours, just fives minutes ahead of Mac Magic with the O’Riordan-Murphy team finishing three minutes later.

But Cool Runnings was going great guns and went on to victory on handicaps, just fifty six seconds to spare over Mac Magic. The challenge was really put up to series leader Chameleon and Padraig O’Donovan rose to it superbly to finish third on handicap and take the series.

The day was also notable in that Mike Carroll’s new J109 made her maiden race voyage, gearing up for the Kevin O’Leary Nissan April League which starts a week late on April 6. The delay facilitates the necessary dredging work for the new Kinsale club Marina.

Meanwhile, entries for the 2003 Sovereigns Cup Regatta at Kinsale have now topped 100 boats just as Brown Thomas announce that they are back on board as day sponsors. Entries from Sligo round to Dublin compliment the enthusiastic and popular Welsh fleet now considered regulars.

Proving extremely popular is the Gentleman’s Class, which provides a “white sail” one day regatta, a more civilised option for the cruising holiday skippers heading for West Cork, where Calves Week includes a full programme for this class. Kinsale regatta director Pat Pyne sees the White Sail event as an opportunity for skippers to take family and friends out for the fun and excitement, without the two race per day demands of the racing sailor.

The third and final trials for the Optimist National teams will be held at Kinsale April 5-6, with five races scheduled. The second series was held at Howth at the weekend, an eighty strong fleet having mixed conditions.

Overall, now Fionn Jenkinson from Skerries leads with 34 points. William Atkinson (LDYC & R. St. G) and Tuathal McColgain (Surf City) are joint second on 39.75 points.

George Kennefick (RCYC) is fifth overall, Jack Crotty (RCYC) is sixth and Katie Tingle (RCYC) is seventh as well as being leading girl sailor. The U12 leaders include Jack Costigan, David Kennefick, Brian Vaughan, Conor Dolan and William Murray.

Paralympic campaigners John Twomey, Sean McGrath, and Brian O’Reilly have headed for St. Petersburg, Florida and will take part in the Disabled Mid Winter Regatta there this weekend. The championships are compulsory for American sailors, who include world and Olympic champions, and they are a qualifier for the 2003 Worlds to be held in Athens in September.

The event in Florida assures the Irish squad of top level competition and with coach Maurice O’Connell, they hope to take fullest advantage over the three days, eight race event.

SAILING RESULTS:

Kinsale YC Southmoor Properties March League final race; 1. Cool Runnings Too (J. Twomey), 2. Mac Magic II (McCarthy Brothers), 3. Chameleon (P. O’Donovan), 4. Lobster (G. Horgan). Final overall positions; 1. Chameleon, 2. Mac Magic II, 3. Cool Runnings Too, 4. Lobster, 5. X-Dream (O’Riordan-Murphy).