Porter & McDowell triumph as the Fireball summer season blazes into action..
The Fireball summer season got off to an early start last weekend (5/6 April) at Lough Ree Yacht Club where 18 Fireballs and over 20, 420s joined forces for their respective Open Championship and Ulster Championship's.
Saturday’s forecast was lively. The Met Eireann forecast of average easterly winds in the high teens and some strong gusts was actually exceeded on the water and sailors were treated to very lively conditions for their first race with some gusts touching 30 knots. Inevitably there was a sprinkling of capsizes in both fleets and despite a generous contingent of rescue ribs, race officer David Dixon wisely called a halt after one race, sending everyone ashore to see if conditions softened somewhat.
After an hour or so ashore racing was closed off for the day. Sailors basked in the sunshine, enjoying refreshments provided by a team of volunteers at the club. The first race was won by Noel Butler & Stephen Oram, with Josh Porter & Cara McDowell second and Ewen Barry & Sandy Rimmington third.
On Sunday racing got underway at 10am in medium easterly breezes, with occasional decent gusts and also light patches to keep sailors on their toes. The second race was again won by Butler & Oram, with Frank Miller & Ed Butler Snr second and Adrian Lee & Ossian Geraghty third.
While things were looking good for team Butler & Oram the next couple of races unwound their plans somewhat, with scores of a 5thand 3rd, keeping the event wide open. Races three and four were won by Barry & Rimmington bringing them strongly into contention. Meanwhile Porter & McDowell had a tricky second race scoring a 9th but returned to consistent form for races three and four with a 3rd and a 2nd. It should be said that conditions were quite tricky and judging which side to favour upwind and down was challenging, with variations of pressure and direction around the course.
With all to play for in the final race Porter & McDowell came through with a first, Barry & Rimmington with a 4th and Butler & Oram suffered a 7th. When the single discard kicked in Porter & McDowell prevailed by their consistent sailing across a very wide range of conditions, with Barry & Rimmington second and Butler & Oram third.
The silver fleet prize was won by Olin Bateman & Conor Kelly with Paul Cottier & Brendan Dwyer second and Alan Blay & Hugh McNally third.
Special mention is due to race officer David Dixon and his team who managed to keep the Olympic Triangle courses square and fair and who turned everything around with remarkable speed, especially considering that two classes were in play. The club itself and all the volunteers deserve enormous credit for their organisation and for outstanding hospitality with included a superb meal on the Saturday evening. The atmosphere throughout the weekend was brilliant with very many sailors taking advantage of the great camping facilities on offer. And once again the match of 420s with Fireballs proved to be a perfect one with plans by both classes to continue cooperation into the future.
Further Fireball events this summer include a Leinsters at Blessington SC in May, a Munsters at Monkstown Bay SC, a Nationals at Fenit in August and an Ulsters at Mullaghmore SC in September. Several coaching weekends are also planned with one already under the belt at LRYC the weekend before the Open, and more to follow at DMYC in July, at Monkstown Bay date tbc and at Fenit just before the Nationals.
This year’s Fireball World Championship takes place on Lake Garda in late August and already several Irish boats have signed up for what promises to be an outstanding Worlds..