Cranley A Broken Man

With the late season drawing to a close and the Lyon Trophy slipping from his grasp, Kieran Cranley dispensed with brother Brian's services and brought in renowned Laser 2000 expert Tim MacAdorey to try and ensure a good result. But twas all in vain when an early capsize at the windward mark snapped his mast neatly in two, perhaps a fatal blow to his Lyon campaign? MacAdorey was therefore relegated to retirement again after the briefest of appearances, his glory days still a distant memory.

This left Paddy Rooney and Catherine McDonagh two easy victories in a shifty wind from the west gusting to force 4. Jim Linton snapped up two seconds with ease.

In the B Fleet Conor O’Farrell got the only good starts of the day, spotting the heavy port bias on the start line and leading not only the B fleet but nearly the A fleet as well at the windward mark. He easily matched Rooney's two bullets. Stephen Finnegan had to settle for two seconds, with Conor Quinn, Anna McNulty and Kate MacAdorey having to take what was left.

There were capzises and retirements galore with 3 and 4 boats at a time knocked flat in the gusts. Race Officers Catherine Sweeney and Annette Young did a fantastic job co-ordinating safety boats and setting courses in the difficult conditions. John White, Tim Gibbons, Terry Rafferty and Ian Finnegan were flat out in the rescue boats with the number of rescues required.

Nerves are on edge as juniors await the announcement from RYANI re Junior and Youth Squad places for 2012, due any day now. Sailing Secretary Philip O’Connor was “confident we can get at least 4 places on squads this year”. Let's hope he is right.

For tickets for the Annual Dinner Dance and Presentation on Saturday November 12th, see www.CLYC.info for details.

Stephen Finnegan sailing well in difficult conditions.