2023 Bretzel Bakery Irish RS Aero National Championships at National Yacht Club
by Noel Butler 19 Jun 14:32 BST
17-18 June 2023
Fleet sailing upwind, Irish RS Aero Nationals 2023 © Thomas Chaix
Paul McMahon (Howth YC) is the 2023 Irish RS Aero National Champion after a masterful display of sailing, winning the event with a race to spare - counting four firsts and a third.
He was pushed hard by UK visitors, runner up RS Sailing's Noah Rees (Lymington Town SC) and Jack Miller (Felpham/Paignton SC) in third overall. Noel Butler (National YC) and Daragh Sheridan (Howth YC) completed the Irish Nationals podium and were presented with Irish Sailing medals.
First Junior: Alexander Trickett (National YC), First Lady: Sarah Dwyer (RStGYC), First Master: Robert Howe (Monkstown Bay SC), First Novice: William Despard (National YC). Among the competitors was Irish ILCA Masters champion Marco Sorgassi (RStGYC) who was rewarded with a Bretzel Bakery "Mug of the Day" award for a truly spectacular "missed the toestrap" capsize!
24 entries, the largest Irish RS Aero fleet to date competed in six races over two days in medium SE winds on Dublin Bay. PRO Ed Totterdell and his expert race management team with mark layers Mal Nowlan and John McNeely ran three Olympic courses on the Saturday and 3 windward/leeward courses on Sunday, deftly dealing with a stubborn fog bank on the Sunday morning.
On the water jury Ailbe Millerick and Eunice Kennedy kept the fleet on their toes with regard to Rule 42 as they enjoyed full hiking conditions upwind and surfing conditions downwind with the wind against the building ebb tide.
National YC Head Coach Thomas Chaix, in conjunction with Irish Sailing, ran a class coaching session on the Friday. This was open to all sailors in the class and designed to prepare sailors at all levels for the National Championship on the Saturday and Sunday. 14 sailors participated and mark roundings, starts, boat trim, sail shape and use of controls were the learning points of the day with excellent video analysis and notes circulated on the event group chat. Thomas was also on coach duty during the racing and facilitated a de-brief on the Saturday evening where hints and tips were shared by the race winners and interesting discussions were had over delicious catering provided by the National YC.
Thanks to title sponsor Bretzel Bakery whose MD Dymphna O'Brien presented the prizes. Owner William Despard competed in the event and provided delicious bread and pastries for the fleet each day.
Thanks also to RS Sailing Ireland and Kenneth Rumball for providing complimentary charter boats for the visitors. The RS Fest next weekend in Blessington SC will have racing for all RS classes with boats available to try/charter, more information here.
The RS Aero fleet plans to continue the very popular format of coaching/racing as the fleet develops. The National YC also runs weekly coaching sessions which are open to all. Anyone who would like to participate is very welcome and should get in touch with the class by emailing
Seven of the Irish sailors who competed at the Nationals will represent Ireland at the upcoming RS Aero World Championships in Sardinia at the end of July.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Rig | Category | Sail No | Club | Rating | R! | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Paul McMahon | 7 | | 2524 | Howth Yacht Club | 1063 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ‑4 | 7 |
| 2nd | Noah Rees | 7 | | 4295 | Lymington Town SC | 1063 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ‑6 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3rd | Jack Miller | 7 | | 3926 | Felpham/Paigton SC | 1063 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | ‑5 | 2 | 14 |
| 4th | Noel Butler | 6 | | 3289 | National Yacht Club | 1105 | 7 | ‑9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 19 |
| 5th | Daragh Sheridan | 7 | | 4179 | Howth Yacht Club | 1063 | 4 | ‑6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 21 |
| 6th | Robert Howe | 7 | Masters | 3844 | Monkstown Bay SC | 1063 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6.5 | ‑8 | 25.5 |
| 7th | Roy Van Maanen | 6 | Masters | 3822 | RStGYC | 1105 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | ‑12 | 12 | 40 |
| 8th | Kevin Stallard | 7 | | 3409 | Blessington SC | 1063 | 10 | 4 | ‑13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 43 |
| 9th | Marco Sorgassi | 7 | | 3187 | RStGYC | 1063 | ‑12 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 45 |
| 10th | Sarah Dwyer | 6 | Masters | 3433 | RStGYC | 1105 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 6.5 | ‑14 | 46.5 |
| 11th | Emmett O Sullivan | 7 | Masters | 3365 | Monkstown Bay SC | 1063 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 12 | (RET) | 7 | 49 |
| 12th | John Phelan | 6 | | 3291 | Howth Yacht Club | 1105 | 11 | 11 | 9 | ‑14 | 11 | 11 | 53 |
| 13th | Stephen Oram | 7 | Masters | 3288 | National Yacht Club | 1063 | ‑19 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 66 |
| 14th | Paul Phelan | 7 | Masters | 4230 | Greystones SC | 1063 | 15 | 16 | 11 | ‑17 | 13 | 13 | 68 |
| 15th | Christina Cunningham | 6 | | 3823 | Ballyholme YC | 1105 | 14 | ‑20 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 74 |
| 16th | Damien Dion | 6 | | 3431 | National Yacht Club | 1105 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 9 | 8 | 10 | 77 |
| 17th | William Despard | 7 | Masters | 2523 | National Yacht Club | 1063 | (RET) | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 87 |
| 18th | John D Woods | 7 | Masters | 3181 | Ballyholme YC | 1063 | 18 | ‑19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 88 |
| 19th | Nigel Harris | 7 | Masters | 3845 | Swords S & BC | 1063 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 19 | (RET) | DNC | 92 |
| 20th | Jemina Owens | 5 | | 3824 | National Yacht Club | 1136 | 13 | 15 | 15 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 93 |
| 21st | Karl Leavy | 6 | Masters | 3186 | Swords S & BC | 1105 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 21 | (RET) | DNC | 103 |
| 22nd | Alexander Trickett | 7 | Junior | 3290 | National Yacht Club | 1063 | 16 | (DNC) | DNC | 20 | DNC | DNC | 111 |
| 23rd | Conor O Leary | 7 | Masters | 3644 | RStGYC | 1063 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 125 |
| 23rd | Peter Townend | 7 | Masters | 1428 | N/A | 1063 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 125 |