Visitors Steal The Silver!

Last weekend the Laser 2000 Irish National Championship was held at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club. With top English sailors John and Pauline Cox visiting it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the locals. However ace Irish sailors Finbar Bradley and James Waugh had been hotly tipped to keep the Shamrock Trophy in Killowen.

Michael O’Farrell and Paul Bradley led the race management team from “Gannet” and had their work cut out for them on Saturday with the easterly wind shifting every minute and frequently dropping altogether.

In race one local hot shots Paddy Rooney and Catherine McDonagh showed the visitors that they were going to have to work hard by taking a clean victory, leaving Cox to take second and the McLaughlins in third. Bradley/Waugh fell foul of the shifty winds with fourth. Race two was shortened after one lap and a last minute shift saw Cox robbed of victory by the McLaughlins and Bradley/Waugh in second. Race three finally allowed Cox to claim a bullet with Rooney /McDonagh in second and McLaughlins third.

Overnight results left Cox in pole position, McLaughlins in second and Rooney/McDonagh in third, but with Bradley breathing down everyone's neck in fourth.

Despite attempts to distract the competiton with fine wine, food by The Duke and sleep deprivation on Saturday night, the Cox’s stole Race 4 on Sunday when the wind had freshened and come to the south east, Bradley/Waugh had upped their game and took second place from McLaughlin in third. Race 5 was a nail biter with the McLaughlins leading by the narrowest of margins from Cox right up to the line. Bradley sneaked in at the pin end and robbed Cox of second place after the McLaughlins had taken their second bullet. This result left it all to play for in the final race and Bradley pulled it out of the bag with a storming victory over Cox, with McLaughlin being relegated to fourth by Wiclif McCready who was starting to perform as the wind picked up strength.

Final analysis of the results showed that Cox had held on to first place with McLaughlin and Bradley tying for second. The rule book then had to be consulted to sort out second and third. On countback with 2 firsts, the McLaughlins stole second place from Bradley and Waugh who were magnanimous in defeat.

Sailing Secretary Philip O’Connor presented the Shamrock Trophy and thanked all his crew who had run such a successful event.

There will be no racing on Easter Sunday as a large number of sailors will be away at the Munster Championships in Baltimore. Normal service will be resumed on Sunday 1st of May.

Start Line action (courtesy Ita Bradley)	Finbar Bradley and James Waugh ...still waiting to pass the test! (photo Michael O'Farrell)	Bradley and Waugh show John and Pauline Cox a clean pair of heels in race 6. (photo Ita Bradley)