Monaghan Motoring in B-Fleet

With a fair proportion of the fleet away at regional or national events, the planned Dinghy Regatta has been postponed until September. Kieran and Brian Cranley stepped into the breach as race officers and unusually were still talking to each other after the races. With a light south easterly breeze a nice course was laid for what remained of the fleet. After a slight delay the McLaughlins finally reached the start line of race one as the rest made their way to the windward mark. Paddy Rooney having dispatched his crew to foreign shores for remedial training, was in his Laser and causing chaos with calls for turns etc. The confusion allowed the McLaughlins to slip away despite an atrocious start and settle into a nice lead for the rest of the race. Rooney should have taken second but with his eyes on Tim Gibbons instead of the finish line, tacked away and handed Gibbons the second place. Perhaps the wrong crew member was sent away?

In the B Fleet Meabh Monaghan and Aislinn Fegan fought tooth and nail, but Monaghan managed to take the bullet in the end. Both are improving every week.

Race two was held in secret with only the McLaughlins noticing the series of large flags flown from the committee boat and the loud noise issued with each flag. As they were a minute down the course no one else had started, so Cranley kindly abandoned the race and restarted with the rest of the fleet slightly more attentive on this occasion. Jim Linton was the star this time, Gibbons limping home with a broken boom. Rooney didn’t have the skills or experience to match the wiley Linton and settled for second. McLaughlins took third not quite able to sail to the difficult handicap of the RS400 on this occasion. Resident windsurfing guru Colin Matthews gave a fair account of himself and was only pipped at the post by Commodore O’Connor.

Congratulations to our three new sailing instructors who qualified last week, Anna McNulty, Kate MacAdorey and Hannahelisa Smyth. Sailing courses continue throughout the summer. See www.CLYC.info for details. The Orr Trophy continues on Tuesdays at 7pm for juniors.

Colin Matthews settling into the Laser nicely.

Meabh Monaghan getting to grips with the Pico.