505 Irish Nationals at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club

Monkstown's Ewen Barry & Charles Dwyer (8961) take the 2008 Irish National Championships

Race One, Windward/Leeward: The fleet of 23 boats started on the first attempt in a 5-7 kt SE breeze. First to the top was Matt Hart and Terry Scutcher in 8694 closely followed by Peter Scannell and Paul O'Sullivan in 8514. Most boats opted to gybe and 8694 showed good speed to lead from 8514 at the leeward mark with Ewen Barry and Charlo Dwyer in the their new boat 8961 moving into third. Plenty of gains were to be made in the shifty breeze but 8694 played them well extended their lead to win ahead of 8961 with Brian Goggin and Brendan Dwyer in 8511.

Race Two, Windward/Leeward: The second race got off in a dying breeze with 8694 quickly finding the front and settling into a comfortable lead ahead of Colin Barry and Tim O'Conner in 8269. The wind was patchy and shifty and huge gains and losses were made especially on the second beat. 8269 went hard left and into a hole that stopped them in their tracks. The wind disappeared and then filled in from the right giving 8694 the win followed by Simon and Harry Briddon in 8906 with Jim Berry and Barney third in 8907.

A third race was started but PRO Dave Barry decided the wind was too light and shifty to complete the race and it was abandoned before the fleet reached the first mark.

Race Three, Windward/leeward: Day two began with more light winds. Alex Barry and Andrew Lane in 8408 started well and tacked off to the right side of the beat where they caught a big shift and had a commanding lead over the fleet at the first mark. lots of place changing was going on behind but Ewen and Charlo recovered well and moved into second place by the second beat. Another large shift to the right meant that 8408 overstayed the second windward mark and their lead was cut in half with 8961 chasing hard. Approaching the leeward mark the gap had reduced to nothing and 8961 rounded just ahead to steal the race from 8408. Matt and Terry in 8694 finished third to maintain their lead overall.

Race Four, Windward/Leeward: A number of attempts were made to start race four all ending with general recalls as most of the fleet charged over the line early. When the fleet did get off cleanly there was about 6kts and 8961 lead to first mark followed by Charles McCarthy and Ed Moloney in 8380. Ewen and Charlo held onto the lead to the finish with Tim Bird and Richard Nurse in 8526 finishing second and 8694 third.

That gave Ewen and Charlo the overall championship by a single point over Matt and Terry with Simon and Harry Briddon third.The Irish nationals were combined with this event with Ewen & Charlo first, Brian Goggin and Brendan Dwyer second Irish boat and Alex Barry and Andrew Lane third.

Many thanks to PRO Dave Barry, Tom Browne and John Moynihan who ran a great series in very difficult conditions.

Many thanks also to the 9 visiting boats who travelled from England and Belfast.

Overall Results: