Fireball Leinster Championship at Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club

Strong winds in the region of 30 knots greeted the Fireball fleet for its opening event of the 2007 season, the Merrion Investment Properties Fireball Leinster Championship. Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club hosted the class for the weekend in what was to be a very hospitable, masterfully run event. Saturday’s sailing and tidal window of opportunity was closed at 2pm as the winds failed to ease and the fleet were sent to the bar to watch the FA cup final, followed by an excellent night of entertainment, comprising of a barbeque and live band.

In order to start a decent number of races in on the Sunday the race committee brought forward the start time by an hour and amended the sailing instructions to allow the last race to start after 3pm. The excellent management shown by the race team led by Harry Gallagher and Scorie Walls saw 4 races completed in 10-15 knot condition with even, well set courses.

Race one saw the committee setting an Olympic course, and it was Damien Bracken and Brian O’Hara’s from the local club who lead the race from start to finish. Second and third place swapped between the newly formed team of Conor Clancy and Francis Rowan and the defending Leinster Champions, Noel Butler and Seamus Moore. Butler/Moore showed keen boat handling to end the race in 2nd and Clancy/Rowan in 3rd. Eddie Ferris and Cormac Bradley showed that they meant business with 4th.

Race 2 started in the same vein, and it was Clancy/Rowan who took the win, followed closely by Butler/Moore and next Bracken/O’Hara.

Race 3 and it was the turn of Butler/Moore to take the win, followed home by Bracken/O’Hara and then Clancy/Rowan. Mick Creighton and Stephen Oram in their new boat IRL14937, showed new found speed to contend with the front runners.

Thus, the fleet went into Race 4 with Butler/Moore, Bracken/O’Hara or Clancy/Rowan still looking at becoming the ’07 champions. Race 4 saw a Windward/Leeward course set. Butler/Moore had the better of the starts and led the fleet to the windward mark, but alas the guys forgot the spreader mark, hoisted the kite and away down the course they went. A dropped kite, a gybed boat and a rounding of the spreader mark next saw the pair in 10th position, Clancy/Rowan and Bracken/O’Hara lead the fleet down the run. The next beat saw a number of shifts which saw the defending champions up to 5th. Butler/Moore tacked onto the starboard lay line and headed to the windward mark, Bracken/O’Hara moved up the port lay line. Bracken/O’Hara tacked in the two boat length circle, in Butler/Moore’s water, a collision ensued and Bracken/O’Hara took the penalty. Butler/Moore got into 3rd position. The fleet was lead to the finish by Conor Byrne and Leo Bishop who continued their winning partnership which started last year in France. Clancy/Rowan took second and Butler/Moore in 3rd. This was enough to clinch the title for the defending champions, Noel Butler and Seamus Moore.

The Gold 2 fleet was a mix of the new boys, but it was Brian Flahive and Mike Murphy who took 1st, following some close racing from Ciaran Hickey and Ismail Inan. The Skerries duo of Conor O’Toole and Daire McNally took 3rd place. This fleet showed some tight racing over the weekend with a new rating system injecting added impetus into the mix.

The Silver fleet saw a stellar performance and return to form for Eddie Ferris and Cormac Bradley, who returned to the podium having regularly led the gold fleet to come out top. Clontarf’s Brian Nolan and Tim Leonard finished second in the silver fleet with Cariosa Power and Marie Barry showing good form to be on the podium again, in what was a fine performance from the team.

Overall Results:

Gold 1
1st Noel Butler/Seamus Moore (DMYC/SSC) 2, 2, 1, 3, 5pts
2nd Conor Clancy/Francis Rowan (RstGYC) 3, 1, 3, 2, 6pts
3rd Damian Bracken/Brian O’Hara (CYBC) 1, 3, 2, 4, 6pts

Gold 2
1st Brian Flahive/Mike Murphy (WSC) 7, 6, 7, 13, 20pts (7th overall)
2nd Ciaran Hickey/Ismail Inan (NYC) 8, 10, 16, 6, 24pts (8th overall)
3rd Conor O’Toole/ Daire McNally (SSC) 13, 16, 12, 9, 34pts (13th overall)

Silver
1st Eddie Ferris/Cormac Bradley (CYBC) 4, 8, 18, 10, 22pts (9th overall)
2nd Brian Nolan/Tim Leonard (CYBC) 15, 18, 13, Rtd, 46pts (17th overall)
3rd Cariosa Power/Marie Barry (DMYC) 20, Rtd, 19, 18, 57pts (21st overall)

Twenty eight boats contested the event and a brilliant weekend was had by all. Superb race management was the abiding memory of the weekend with four back-to-back races turned around in minimal time. Special thanks to Harry Gallagher and Scorie Walls is extended from the fleet. Clontarf held a great event and Hugh Johnston, the Clontarf Fireball Captain, was the lynchpin which held it all together.

Special thanks also to event sponsor Tony Judge of Merrion Investment Properties whose contribution to the event made it all the more attractive.

The fleet now turns to the Munster Championships in Dunmore East in June, with a high bar being set by the team in Clontarf.