Rockshore / Bosun Bobs RS400 Winter Series at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - Week 7

The penultimate week of the Rockshore Bosun Bobs RS400 Winter Series brought classic winter racing conditions to Belfast Lough. A steady 10-12 knots of breeze kept the 14-boat fleet on their toes, with occasional stronger gusts adding to the excitement. Despite the gloomy skies, there was no shortage of action as sailors battled to secure their positions ahead of next week's grand finale.

Luke McIlwaine and Ryan Wilson had a less-than-ideal start to their day, frantically scouring the boat park for spare sails after a power cut left Luke locked out of his garage. Despite the scramble, the pair showed great resilience, finishing a respectable 6th in the day's standings, proving that improvisation can go a long way.

Race 1

The day kicked off with a commanding performance from Rob Espey and Mike Ferguson, who led the fleet from start to finish to secure the win. Liam Donnelly and Rick McCaig followed closely in second, demonstrating impressive consistency, while Luke and Ryan recovered from their earlier setbacks to clinch a well-deserved third with their borrowed sails.

Race 2

The second race proved eventful, with the fleet pushing the start line to its limits. Two general recalls forced the race committee to raise the black flag, leaving no room for errors. Once under way, Espey and Ferguson maintained their form, claiming another win. Robert Hastings and Rory Higgins capitalized on a perfectly timed left shift on the second beat to take second place, while Peter Kennedy and Stephen Kane rounded out the top three with another solid performance.

Meanwhile, the day's most notable splash came from Jocelyn Hill and Rowan Berry, who capsized in dramatic fashion. Depending on who you ask, the blame lies either with a cleated jib (Jocelyn's version) or a cleated main (Rowan's story). Regardless, the pair handled it with good humour and quickly got back into the race.

Race 3

The final race of the day brought new faces to the top. Kennedy and Kane found their groove, making all the right calls to secure their first win of the day. Espey and Ferguson followed closely in second, maintaining their consistency, while Hastings and Higgins sailed superbly to grab third.

In a moment worth recording in the history books, Liam and Rick managed to lose grip of their tiller extension near the windward mark. Despite this hiccup, they recovered quickly enough that it didn't affect their overall performance, finishing a strong fifth for the day.

Overall Results

With one week left, Espey and Ferguson remain firmly in control of the series, leading the leaderboard with 23 points. Kennedy and Kane hold a secure second place with 36 points, while Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan, despite missing this week, cling to third.

Further down the standings, the real excitement lies in the battles for position. Jocelyn Hill and Rowan Berry are within striking distance of the podium, while Liam Donnelly and Rick McCaig remain in contention for a top-five finish. These close contests promise an action-packed final week.

Looking Ahead

The final week of the series promises high stakes and plenty of excitement, followed by the much-anticipated RS400 Christmas Dinner at the club. It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate an incredible series, share some laughs, and toast to the season's achievements. Whether you're fighting for points or just looking to enjoy one last day on the water, make sure to join us for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season!

A huge thank you goes out to the volunteers, race committee, safety teams, and, of course, our sponsors Rockshore and Bosun Bobs, whose support has been instrumental in making this series such a success. We look forward to seeing everyone next week for the final showdown!

Series Results for far: