McNulty Nails it

As part of the Fiddler's Green Festival, last Sunday's race was intended to be to Rostrevor Bay. Race Officer McDonagh was temporarily deserted by her helm Paddy Rooney who was recovering from celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss. This left her in charge and dealing with a last minute shift requiring a complete course reversal. To add to her problems a massive squall hit the fleet as they were launching and lifted two boats clean in the air, depositing them on the beach, luckily with minor damage only.

The beat to Rostrevor was a sorry affair with wind shifting left to right every 2-3 minutes and dropping to a flat calm intermittently. Jim Linton was first to the mark but then his GPS failed him and he headed off to the wrong mark. James McNulty and Adrian Hand made no mistake as the wind suddenly picked up with the arrival of another big squall.

Several boats including Colin Matthews, Connla Conway and Tim MacAdorey were quickly overcome and an early swim resulted. McNulty and Hand looked like they were going to have it all their own way when from the back of the fleet Henry and Liz McLaughlin nipped in under gennaker and beat Hand by just one second, but it was too little too late as McNulty was just ahead by 3 seconds on the line. Matthew Collins was first B Fleet boat home ahead of Kate MacAdorey.

British Nationals at Pwllheli
Four Sailors travelled to Wales for this week-long event with over three hundred competitors. Conor O'Farrell and Conor Quinn had both qualified for the gold fleet. O'Farrell finished a tremendous 26th position and Quinn 113th. In the Silver fleet Stephen Finnegan came 48th and Anna NcNulty 51st - ll great results in such a large event.

Wednesday Race
A shortened race in disappearing wind and strong tide was won by Henry McLaughlin Junior who just nipped Andy Browne and Diane Burgess on the line. Tim Gibbons had to settle for third. In the B fleet Matthew Collins was first and Matthew McNulty second.

Cruiser Results

1 Atlantic Diva - Gerry Byrne & John Gray
2 Gannet - Brian & Dorothy McCann
3 Maximeyes - Mick McCann & Michael McAteer

James McNulty - Winner of the Fiddler's Green race

Stephen Finnegan in action at the British Topper Nationals