Finnegan Hits Form at Nationals

Stephen Finnegan in his Topper	David Corkey

Stephen Finnegan who has been showing great promise recently has finished third at the Topper Nationals in the under 12 age group. Held at Ballyholme Yacht club last weekend and with light shifting winds, conditions were very difficult. On the Saturday the sailors spent 8 hours on the water for only two races, with several abandonments and postponements. This makes his 3rd place all the more significant and promises a great future. Sailing Secretary Philip O’Connor commented “Stephen has been sailing very well in club races recently and it was only a matter of time before he achieved a good result“.

Meanwhile at CLYC, Sunday racing took place with Michael McCann in charge of affairs for a long windward-leeward course, the wind starting with light airs but after many shifts, settling to southerly and brisk. Pat Dunbar who had been brought in to help Keith Thornbury raise his game, led after a good start but struggled downwind and left Tim Gibbons leading at the first leeward mark. Paddy Rooney, looking good initially, failed to get the boat speed or pointing ability of Gibbons and had to settle for third place to Thornbury's second and Gibbons' first. Dara O’Connor and David Corkey were the only juniors to launch and both sailed well, despite Corkey's prolonged engagement with a mooring buoy!