Enterprise Ulster Championships at Quoile Yacht Club

GER DEMPSEY MAKES IT A CLEAN SWEEP AT QUOILE

2003 Irish National Enterprise Champion Ger Dempsey (Bray Sailing Club) completed a full house of regional event wins to take overall victory at the Enterprise Ulster Championship at Quoile Yacht Club, Co. Down over the weekend. However, his victory was not such a foregone conclusion with stiff opposition from Marty Cuppage (Bray Sailing Club) and Peter Hassett (Greystones Sailing Club), each of the latter two competitors with race wins and second places in the first three races of a championship 6 race card.

Racing was held in idyllic surroundings on Strangford Lough. The host club itself is located in a designated area of special beauty. On Saturday, winds, initially from the north to northwest, shifted back and forth, making it difficult for Principal Race John McGovern but generally continued to back throughout the day. Those who got their starts right, read the shifts and put in good opening first legs generally won out. Peter Hassett / Mary Bailey took line honours in the first race, having taken out Ger Dempsey / Dave and Marty Cuppage / Chris Nolan near the finish line following a fortuitous wind shift.

Marty Cuppage lead Peter Hassett from start to finish in the second race with Ger Dempsey recovering well from a poor start to take third place. Ger and Marty fought a very close battle in the third race with Ger eventually winning out and Patrick O'Reilly / Jason Wellers (Royal St. George YC) taking third spot after a superb show of speed and tactics in what has been a very good end to the regional circuit for Patrick. However, it was not easy for Patrick with local sailor James Heron and crew causing more than a few worries around the circuit.

A stiff wind from the south greeted a party weary fleet on Sunday. As the day progressed, the wind strength increased to around 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. Due to problems with setting marks in very deep waters, the Principle Race Officer Richard Ferguson had no choice but to lay long legs on a triangular course. As a result, the fleet was more spaced out with the results that were a bit more predictable. Nonetheless, racing was fast and enjoyable, if not physically very tough. The top three spots in each race went to Ger Dempsey, Marty Cuppage and Peter Hassett respectively.

A close battle between Patrick O'Reilly and local sailor James Heron continued right through the weekend resulting in just one point separating the two boats with Patrick winning the silver fleet prize. Bronze went to James Reid / Richard Jamison of Quoile YC.

Overall Results:

Gold Fleet:
1. Ger Dempsey / Dave McDonagh (Bray SC)
2. Marty Cuppage / Chris Nolan (Bray SC)
3. Peter Hassett / Mary Bailey (Greystones SC)
Silver Fleet
1. Patrick O'Reilly / Jason Weller (Royal St. George YC)
Bronze Fleet
1. James Reid / Richard Jamison (Quoile YC)