Rooney and McDonagh find the Start Line (Eventually)

Last Sunday's races were run in bright sunshine, scorching heat and light shifty winds, presenting no problem to race officer Sean Lane, ably assisted by Ian Roche and Terry Rafferty. A good fleet of boats including the long overdue return of Nik White who managed the Xenon single-handed - no mean feat.

Race 1 caused confusion for the travel addled brain of Paddy Rooney who, thinking he had stolen a march on the rest of the fleet, suddenly realised that the starting line he was using only existed in an alternate universe. By the time he corrected his mistake the fleet were long gone and even the Buzz couldn’t catch McLaughlin Junior taking his Nth bullet (where N is a large positive integer).

However, he made no such mistake in the second race having violently dispatched the McLaughlins on the (correct) start line, and leaving them taking penalty turns, he proceeded to lead from the start to the finish line which he had no difficulty identifying. Conor O'Farrell and Dara O'Connor sailed well in the radials to take second and third.

Wednesday's race was another scorcher with Sarah McCann 30 seconds clear at the finish in a well deserved victory. Uncle Tim Gibbons needs to sharpen up his act soonish - settling for 5th behind the Cranleys with various McLaughlins taking second and third. In the B Fleet Stephen Finnegan scored a narrow (eight minute!) victory over Aidan McKay who also needs a bit of act sharpening.

Newcastle Sailing Club regatta is being held on Saturday 27th August and CLYC are hoping to send a delegation, so make sure your road trailer is ready.

Sailing courses are underway at CLYC at present and details can be found at www.clyc.info

Conor O'Farrell ahead of Henry McLaughlin Junior in the second race.