RACING/Cork Dry Gin-sponsored 1720 championship: In what will be regarded as inevitable by many observers of the three- day event, Maurice O'Connell and the crew of Aquatack put the finishing touches to their assault on the Cork Dry Gin-sponsored 1720 championship at Howth with a race to spare on Saturday afternoon.
After eight consistent results, O'Connell took the trophy he previously won in 1999 back to Royal Cork where the success will be added to the achievement of Eric Lisson's Round-Ireland win, the third major yachting prize for the Crosshaven club in the last week.
Second overall was the local boat Wet 'n' Black steered by Dan O'Grady with third place going to O'Connell's Royal Cork club-mate, Anthony O'Leary at the helm of Ford Racing.
In a further boost for the Munster club Mark Mansfield, who was unable to defend his 1720 title at Howth because of a clash of dates with the Eurolymp circuit at Kiel, has, with crew Killian Collins, reaped the rewards of an early start towards Athens against a world-class fleet on the Baltic.
Nineteen of the top 30 Star keelboats crews in the ISAF world rankings were competing. The Cork paring finished second overall in a brand new boat, a finish perhaps that is all the more remarkable because they were black flagged (disqualified) for a starting line infringement in one race.
The predominantly windy series, the final grade one event of the season, was also attended by Dun Laoghaire Star pair Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks who finished 13th.
The result is only one of the German highlights for the Irish team that featured four finishes in the top 10 across four classes. Fresh from their gold fleet achievement at the 49er worlds in Hawaii, the Kelloggs-sponsored Tom Fitzpatrick and Frazer Brown were the winners of the high speed dinghy class. It is a significant win and a confidence boost for this full-time campaign.
In the single-handed Europe class, Maria Coleman from Baltimore notched another solid seventh place while David Burrows also finished seventh in the Finn class in what was his first competitive regatta since the Sydney Olympics.
Last night the achievement was hailed "an outstanding success" by manager Garrett Connolly. The results qualify for significant bonus payments of up to €10,000 each under the ISA's Olympic funding arrangements with the Irish Sports Council.
1720 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (at Howth Yacht Club) - Race 7: 1, Ford Racing, Anthony O'Leary; 2, Yonka-Paris, Tom & Mike Evans; 3, Aquatack, Maurice O'Connell/Des Faherty. Race 8: 1, On All Fours, Max McMullan; 2, Wet n' Black, Paul Reilly; 3 Aquatack. Race 9: 1, Red/Green, Shaun Douglas; 2, Ford Racing; 3, Wet n' Black. Overall: 1, Aquatack; 2, Wet n' Black; 3,Ford Racing.
