National 18 Nationals at Royal Cork Yacht Club

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The Royal Cork YC, Crosshaven, hosted the 2003 National 18’ Class Championship, 4th – 8th August. 32 boats entered, including 11 visitors: 6 from Findhorn, 3 from the Isle of Man and 2 from England.

The fine, calm weather was a double-edged sword, giving RO Johnny Moynihan a headache running the races but allowing the annual 18’ clan gathering plenty of opportunity to work at their own headaches each night. It was a case of waiting for the sea breeze to establish itself before trying to squeeze in 2 races a day. General recalls were made at pretty well every start as boats pushed for clear air in the light breezes.

Monday: Race 1 was won by Tom Crosbie and crew sailing 351 “Sellulite”, second came newcomer Colin Chapman, 370 “AquaHolics” with Ewen Barry, 369 “Goose Drank Wine” in third. These boats were in the half of the fleet that decided to go left, out to sea, on the first beat. The ones who chose to go right, towards Cork Harbour entrance, spent the race looking at a lot of transoms.

This set the pattern for the week: a fight off the crowded line, find clear air - toss a coin to decide where some pressure was going to be found and commit. However, the fleet was always very close, causing great bunches at marks and the yellow flag from the on the water judge was welcome/unwelcome to the respective half the fleet at each corner.

Colin Chapman won race 2. Second was the Scottish boat 337 ”Jafiica” helmed by Martin Cruden. In third came 2001 Champion, Davy O’Connell and crew sailing 356 “Ball n’ Chain”. As an indicator of how easy it was to drop places, Tom Crosbie scored 11th and 15th in races 2 and 3.

Tuesday: Race 3 was won by Isle of Man entrant, Mick Kneale and crew, sailing 350 “Carrey Beayn”. This team usually prefers stronger winds and for this race, the breeze nudged into double figures for an hour, making them feel at home. A very close second was “Jafiica” and third, another Manx boat, 348 “Ant-e-dote” sailed by Antony Ellis. The highly competitive Cork fleet scratched their heads between races, the breeze fell away slowly and normal service was resumed for race 4. Tom Crosbie get another bullet, fellow Cork sailor Eddie Rice, 363 “Hat Trick” got second and the ever-present Ewen Barry finished third.

Wednesday: Race 5 was started in what was hoped to be the real sea breeze but after the first leg it vanished. There was a great cheer when the race was abandoned and in the increasing heat, competitors took to swimming to cool off - not often you get to swim about lazily 2 miles off Roches Point, with not a care in the world. After an hour or so, the breeze returned and racing resumed. This one was won by Colin Barry, 358 “Happy Days” with Tommy McCarthy, 357 “Badger” second and the consistent Scot “Jafiica” third. Colin Barry certainly had a happy day as he won Race 6 too putting his brother Ewen into second and 2002 Champion, Nick Walsh and crew sailing 372 “3 Blind Mice” third.

The coveted Cock o’ the North Trophy, for the first half of the event, was won by Colin Chapman and crew in their first year in the 18’. A very competitive team, this one!

Thursday: Ewen Barry won race 7, with Tom Crosbie second and Tim Sullivan and crew, sailing 353 “More Agents Inc.” managing third. Race 8 saw Nick Walsh and crew get another bullet, Tom Crosbie another second and Ewen Barry notched up a third.

Friday: It was a miserable foggy day after another hectic night but there was no let up. One more race; scores were close and the result could go several ways. After a 2-hour delay the race was run inside Cork Harbour, on the bank, as they say locally. There was a curtain of thick fog at the entrance, which extended out to sea but inside, visibility was adequate. The currents in the area are complex and the wind was shifty. Local knowledge didn’t get it all its own way, however. Tom Crosbie was very happy to get to the top of the pile with Eddie Rice second. Third place went to The English boat 349 “1 over the 8” sailed by Jeremy Vines and crew from the Tamesis Club, Teddington.

Tom Crosbie, Barry O’Meara and Keith McKeown won the overall Championship and the Cork Harbour Trophy (presented to the Class in 1965 by one Thomas Crosbie). “Young” Tom was Champion in 2000, in this boat, at Findhorn. He also won the title in his first year in the 18’, 1991, sailing 317 “Morsecock” at Datchet. All these championships were light airs regattas, which obviously to suit the former Enterprise sailor.

Overall results: