Hunter Formula One Nationals at Courtown Sailing Club
by Bob Sherriff 1 Jul 2006 09:21 BST
23-25 June 2006
18 Hunter Formula One's for their nationals in Arklow © Bob Sherriff
The U.K. and Irish Formula 1 Sailing Championships were organized by Courtown Sailing Club in Arklow over the weekend of 23rd to 25th June. Moderate to fresh winds meant the 18 Formula 1 boats had an exhausting but exhilarating and challenging racing weekend.
The racing consisted of a total of 7 races with 2 windward / leeward courses on Friday , 3 Olympic triangles on Saturday and again 2 windward /leeward courses on Sunday, one discard to apply. Conditions were similar on each day with moderate to fresh winds ensuring plenty of planeing downwind and lots of action at marks. All crews had to be on their game when flying spinnakers, there were a number of notable broaches and thankfully no injuries or serious damage.
Nine English and a corresponding number of Irish boats competed. This was the first time the U.K. and Irish Championships were held outside England and the Irish boats were hoping local knowledge of tides, waves and conditions would help them get into the prizes.
This certainly didn’t prove the case with the English visitors dominating the top spots taking all top 4 places after 3 days of challenging and exhausting racing, . The winning boat ‘Enigmatic’ was skippered by Paul Harkness from Lake Windermere, second was ‘Kingfisher’ helmed by Chris Wright from Rutland and third spot went to ‘Tearaway’ with Bruce Bonner at the tiller
The organizers would like to thank their generous sponsors O.C.M. Construction, Roadstone, Arklow Building Suppliers, Trinity Hire, James Toomey Architects, and Robert Roberts. Also special thanks to Arklow and Courtown Sailing Club and lastly a special mention for the OOD for the weekend Michael Doyle from Wexford Sailing Club.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Enigmatic | 8048 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 12 |
| 2nd | Kingfisher | 8030 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| 3rd | Tearaway | 8018 | 8 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 29 |
| 4th | Tenacious | 8050 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 33 |
| 5th | J Ni Mac | 8020 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 35 |
| 6th | Hitchhiker | 8044 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 37 |
| 7th | Jou Jou | 805 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 37 |
| 8th | Hi Fly | 7293 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| 9th | Bitz | 8002 | 9 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 43 |
| 10th | Whiskey Mac | 8060 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 49 |
| 11th | Typhoon | 8024 | 10 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 60 |
| 12th | War Dept | 8052 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 65 |
| 13th | Apocalypse | 7283 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 67 |
| 14th | Jibberish | 8001 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 73 |
| 15th | Fracas | 8042 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 76 |
| 16th | Merry Hell | 8016 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 88 |
| 17th | Asterix | 8140 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 95 |
| 18th | Spritzer | 8037 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 99 |