GP14 Autumn Open at Greystones Sailing Club

GP14 Autumn Open at Greystones © Aaron Jones

There was a record entry of 24 boats for the GP Youth Championships hosted alongside the senior event, the Autumn Open last weekend at Greystones. With lots of sunshine on Saturday morning, a steady 15 knots of breeze a great weekend's racing lay ahead.

Watching Shane McCarthy and Damian Bracken sail at the moment I am reminded of the scene in Father Ted when he (Ted) had to explain to Dougal the difference between a small cow and a far away cow, because either Shane and Damian are sailing a very small boat or they are very far away! Thought some of you might have needed an explanation!

Anyway... race 1 was won by S&D with Ger Owens and Filup de Loosdan (distant French relation to Keith and Ken) with David Johnson and Eanna Molony Lawless coming in an excellent third place. The first two places were the same in race 2 with Keith de Louden and Alan Le Thompson in third place.

Races three and four of the Autumn Open were sailed in the afternoon on Sunday after two full races were sailed in the youths. JP and Caroline McCalden led at the windward mark but got into difficulty with their spinnaker and were passed by Tim Corcoran and Blair Stowaway who in turn were passed by Niall Henry and Ossian Geraghty. (When asked on shore what happened Tim said it was Blair's fault, and that he hadn't wanted to crew in the first place, but when we asked Blair, he told us that it was Tim's fault and that he was just wasn't a very good crew..?) Niall and Ossian just about held their lead to the end of the race as Shane and Damian sailing that very small boat were closing in very quickly downwind. Ger and Filp came in third.

GP14 Autumn Open at Greystones - photo © Aaron Jones

The final race of the championship was again won by S&D (such a pity Damian's not called Maurice) with the Skerries duo of Colman Grimes and David Lappin showing great speed to come in second followed Curly Morris and Laura Thompson.

Shane and Damian were over all winners and are just one event off a clean sweep, with Ger and Filp in second place overall followed by Niall and Ossian in third spot.

The Silver fleet was won by David and Eanna with Katie Dwyer and Michelle Rowley in second and Michael Cox and Josh Porter in third.

Adrian Lee and 2015 youth champion Edward Coyne were winners in the bronze fleet with Tom and Kevin Gillen in second just ahead of Seamus O'Cleirigh and Stephen Tiernry in third.

More Aaron Jones photos can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/Jones-Productions/200262633499250

Overall Results: