Strong winds make for great sailing

A cold robust November wind from the north shore made for good sailing and as the Lough state was smooth with little wavelets, there was every prospect of great racing.

A big bias in the start line for the Olympic triangle course drew the contestants to the pin end. Most opted to start on port tack which retains right of way.

Willie McIlvena in Jamie Jess thought he had enough time to get away on starboard tack crossing the heading of the fleet at right angles.

It was a gamble on his part but all avoided him and he had some early advantage.

FA2 and Corinthian soon tacked onto starboard and sailed down the centre of the course and rapidly overhauled Jamie Jess.

The wind was erratic as the boats approached the north shore where the windward mark had been set and most seemed to be putting in extra tacks as they attempted to get round that mark.

Those who had started on starboard seem to suffer worse as they were well into Kettlebottom which seemed almost windless. FA2 was round the mark and had he kite up immediately racing away to the gybe mark.

Corinthian and Jamie Jess in close company were next round followed by Gem and Elan and David Carruthers in Second Wind.

The airstream was such that the reaches were fast, the first leg skilfully negotiated by FA2 and Corinthian but the second leg was tighter and Andy Speedie in Corinthian was having difficulties. She was sailing high of the optimum course and then having problems with getting the spinnaker down.

Charlie McAlister on the helm on FA2 now had the bit between his teeth and they looked very polished in their boat-handling.

The real competition was between the Spring 25’s; Elan, Jamie Jess and Corinthian all being identical boats. Corinthian was fastest upwind and should have been fastest on the reaches and downwind, where she was sailing with the spinnaker and a handicap rating to suit, but her relatively inexperienced crew were not yet up to speed.

Both Jamie Jess and Ronnie Walker in Elan were ‘goose winging’ downwind, sails out each side, trying to minimise the losses to Corinthian flying her spinnaker.

Corinthian was still able to put some daylight between herself and Jamie Jess and Elan as the race progressed but the real threat, once she had seen off the other Springs was Simon Doig in Gem, this little boat was shining in the latter stages of the race.

She is very fast for her size and because she is often behind the bigger boats, her real placement can be disguised, non the less she performed well for her handicap and often features on the ‘podium’, as she would on this occasion.

The committee boat took up station at the windward mark and set a finishing line trying to identify the boats as they came sailing out of the very low dazzling winter sun.

Squinting into the unseasonable glare it looked like Gem not only had a handicap advantage but had passed both Jamie Jess and Elan on the water.

Results:

1st, FA2, Charlie McAlister/Jeff Harrison

2nd, Corinthian; Andy Speedie

3rd, Gem; Simon Doig

Race officials, Alan Reilly (Race Officer), Frank Hamill & Caitlin Doig