When is a knot not a knot? The answer is, when you need it most! Just as the McLaughlins were poised to overtake Browne/Hicks (in the nursery boat), a figure of 8 knot in the mainsheet mysteriously disappeared allowing it freedom to fly. The ensuing debate as to who was in fact responsible for said knot was not pleasant, and probably heard in Omeath. This gave the lads a clean run at the finish with line honours. But lurking just behind in the 2000 were the Cranley Boys who took the win on handicap, with Tim Gibbons in third. The normal victors, Rooney and McDonagh came to grief at the end of another piece of string. Having lost his rudder Rooney had improvised cleverly with a piece of string and at one point had overtaken the knotless McLaughlins. However string is very good for pulling but not so good for pushing, which Rooney only realised after an enforced swim and an early retirement!
In the B Fleet Matthew Collins took an easy victory in the 4.7, but up and coming star Daragh McConvey was not far behind in his Topper. I suspect it won’t be long before he gets a win.
In Ballyhome last weekend, 4 CLYC youths took part in the Laser Nationals. Conor Quinn, recently crowned Topper Irish Champion was at his first event in the 4.7 class and despite this, managed 8th overall in a fleet of 39. Another top sailor Anna McNulty was 11th overall and third lady. In the more senior Radial fleet, Stephen Finnegan Tom O’Hare and Kate MacAdorey sailed well and will be expecting squad places this year. The Radial fleet was won by Olympic sailor Annalise Murphy so we will forgive our sailors for not winning!
Photos by Simon McIlwaine
Daragh McConvey, new boy on the block, powers ahead
Gentle encouragement for the crew from the knotless wonder 
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