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GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy

Hunter Formula One Nationals at Courtown Sailing Club

by Bob Sherriff 1 Jul 2006 09:21 BST 23-25 June 2006
18 Hunter Formula One's for their nationals in Arklow © Bob Sherriff

The U.K. and Irish Formula 1 Sailing Championships were organized by Courtown Sailing Club in Arklow over the weekend of 23rd to 25th June. Moderate to fresh winds meant the 18 Formula 1 boats had an exhausting but exhilarating and challenging racing weekend.

The racing consisted of a total of 7 races with 2 windward / leeward courses on Friday , 3 Olympic triangles on Saturday and again 2 windward /leeward courses on Sunday, one discard to apply. Conditions were similar on each day with moderate to fresh winds ensuring plenty of planeing downwind and lots of action at marks. All crews had to be on their game when flying spinnakers, there were a number of notable broaches and thankfully no injuries or serious damage.

Nine English and a corresponding number of Irish boats competed. This was the first time the U.K. and Irish Championships were held outside England and the Irish boats were hoping local knowledge of tides, waves and conditions would help them get into the prizes.

This certainly didn’t prove the case with the English visitors dominating the top spots taking all top 4 places after 3 days of challenging and exhausting racing, . The winning boat ‘Enigmatic’ was skippered by Paul Harkness from Lake Windermere, second was ‘Kingfisher’ helmed by Chris Wright from Rutland and third spot went to ‘Tearaway’ with Bruce Bonner at the tiller

The organizers would like to thank their generous sponsors O.C.M. Construction, Roadstone, Arklow Building Suppliers, Trinity Hire, James Toomey Architects, and Robert Roberts. Also special thanks to Arklow and Courtown Sailing Club and lastly a special mention for the OOD for the weekend Michael Doyle from Wexford Sailing Club.

Overall Results:

PosBoat NameSail NoR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1stEnigmatic80482211421912
2ndKingfisher8030345324218
3rdTearaway80188196813329
4thTenacious805012147195433
5thJ Ni Mac8020487457935
6thHitchhiker8044119311661037
7thJou Jou8057310679537
8thHi Fly72936585881240
9thBitz8002919210313643
10thWhiskey Mac80605131919101149
11thTyphoon802410619913111160
12thWar Dept805215151113910765
13thApocalypse7283141013121212867
14thJibberish8001111191414141473
15thFracas80421312121511151376
16thMerry Hell8016169151616161688
17thAsterix81401816141716171595
18thSpritzer80371714161816181999