With the Laser 2000 Irish Championship next weekend, sailors were out in force yesterday to finalise their preparations. Finbar Bradley and James Waugh arrived looking very dangerous and set the cat amongst the pigeons with the regulars. The weather was magnificent with sun and steady breeze from the south east. Chris O’Hare was at the controls for another set of windward leeward courses.
The first race was a tense affair with Bradley swapping the lead with Henry McLaughlin Junior many times. At the finish it was McLaughlin who took the honours, with Bradley second and Rooney /McDonagh just behind in third. Ian Roche fought hard to get into the top 3 but his daughter having no respect for her elders was having none of it!
The second race with only two laps and increasing wind was closely fought between Bradley who had the upwind speed and the McLaughlin Seniors who had the edge downwind and were leading right up to the last leeward mark. Bradley just edged them out by less than a second on the line leaving Rooney /Mc Donagh in Third. Todays performance must see Bradley/Waugh with a strong chance of taking the Irish title next weekend.
Meanwhile in the B Fleet, a fantastic turnout of Toppers and Lasers brought the total fleet to 28. Dara O’Connor sailed to the top of the league with 2 firsts keeping the pressure on Helen McParland who was forced to accept two second places. James McNulty kept the pressure on, taking a joint 3rd with Anna Gilfedder and a third in the last race. The Launching Party takes place in the club house next Saturday with food and live music by Paddy Maguire.
Emma Finnegan sailing well in the Topper
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