Irish Fireball Frostbite Series 2 at Dun Laoghaire - Day 4
By Cormac Bradley on 7 Feb5 February 2012
A lively session!
Fifteen Fireballs took to the water for last Sunday’s Frostbite race but only 14 of them got a finish – Andy Boyle & Barry Hurley (14934, Royal Irish) – were recorded as an OCS! Wind conditions were lively with a WSW Force 4/5 blowing with gusts flashing across the course. The start had a boat-end bias for a change and my various correspondents advise that there were a few capsizes on the day. It also appears that people were doing 720º and 360º for rule infringements and mark-touching.
The first three boats over the finish line, Noel Butler & Stephen Oram, Neil Spain & Hugh Butler and Owen Laverty & Ed Butler effectively sailed their own separate race from the rest of the fleet and they enjoyed a race of nip and tuck with places changing between them.
Neil Colin & Margaret Casey finished fourth but behind them a tight bunch were fighting for places. Included in this group were Messrs Rumball & Moran, Malcolm & Diviney, Court & Syme and Miller/Donnelly before the all-lady teams of McKenna & O’Keefe and Power & Barry.
The ladies were well represented today with three all-female teams out on the water, the third being Mary Chambers and Brenda McGuire, who finished thirteenth. Derval O’Carroll was also a welcome returnee to the Frostbites, sailing with Stephen Campion. And our Sligo friends, Peter Armstrong & Matt Mayron were also out sailing the all-wooden 15060.
Class stalwart Louis Smyth, sailing with Joe O’Reilly, had a bad day at the office – an early interaction with another boat required a 720º with a capsize thrown in as a 'double-whammy'. At the first weather mark there was another revolution taken when they hit the mark. Enough said!
DMYC Frostbites; Series 2, Race 4:
| Pos | Helm & Crew | Sail No | Club |
|---|
| 1 | Noel Butler & Stephen Oram | 15061 | DMYC |
| 2 | Neil Spain & Hugh Butler | 14807 | RStGYC |
| 3 | Owen Laverty & Ed Butler | 14990 | RStGYC |
| 4 | Neil Colin & Margaret Casey | 14775 | DMYC |
| 5 | Kenneth Rumball & David Moran | 15058 | INSC |
Mug winners for the day were the ladies of 14691, Louise McKenna & Hermine O’Keefe of the Royal St. George Yacht Club.
In overall terms, Butler & Oram stretched their lead over Rumball/Moran to 5pts, while the latter pair have a comfortable 8pt margin over third placed Laverty/Butler.
Results after Day 4:
| Pos | Helm & Crew | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Noel Butler & Stephen Oram | DMYC | 5 |
| 2 | Kenneth Rumball & David Moran | INSC | 10 |
| 3 | Owen Laverty & Ed Butler | RStGYC | 18 |
| 4 | Louise McKenna & Hermine O’Keefe | RStGYC | 32 |
| 5 | Neil Colin & Margaret Casey | DMYC | 35 |