East Antrim Boat Club Christmas Regatta
by Laura McFarland 29 Dec 2015 07:57 GMT
27 December 2015
Stephen & Johnny Nelson win the East Antrim Boat Club Christmas Regatta © Laura McFarland
East Antrim Boat Club Christmas regatta was held on Sunday 27th December. 38 multi fleet dinghies set out in bright sun shine and medium airs.
A number of Barbados bound GP14ers got their boats on the water for 3 good race paced outings.
Locals Curly Morris and Laura McFarland lead the GPers off the start line but got congested in traffic at the windward mark and had to forfeit a 720 penalty to an incoming 420. This let Stephen & Johnny Nelson into the lead which they carried all the way to the finish with Curly & Laura 2nd, followed by Brian Andrews & John McArthur and Michael Cox & Josh Porter.
Very little break was given by OD Richard Doig which the fleet was thankful for as it gave no time to get too cold.
For race 2, the fleet set off in an oscillating breeze and a turning tide. Curly & Laura lead all the way this time with the Nelson brothers taking 2nd. Josh took over the helm and had a good battle around the Olympic course.
By the time the 3rd race was due to start the oscillating breeze had built to the forecasted strong winds and the sailors now had to stretch their muscles a bit further.
A good start by all GP14ers but the Nelsons brothers were in their element and powered both up and downwind. Locals Curly & Laura held on well but the final race went to the Nelsons brothers giving them the overall win of the regatta.
East Antrim Boat Club put on a great regatta and was a superb training event to get the sailors into shape for the GP14 World Championship taking in place in Barbados Easter 2016.