Sport

Slalom course proves a treat

SAILING CORK WEEK: SLALOM COURSES received a firm thumbs-up from the competitors at ACC Cork Week yesterday as winds gusting…

DAVID BRANIGAN Reports
Wed Jul 16 2008 - 01:00

SAILING CORK WEEK:SLALOM COURSES received a firm thumbs-up from the competitors at ACC Cork Week yesterday as winds gusting to 20 knots produced exciting racing conditions off Roche's Point. But an incomplete Harbour Course for some classes for the second day was a disappointment for the organisers.

The 410 entries are split across respective classes and into fleets within the event, each receiving a different style of racing each day that has proven probably the most appealing aspect of this biennial event.

But yesterday saw the fresh winds bring out the best that the new "slalom" course can offer.

Basically sailing a W, it starts upwind to the first mark then turns back down the course in a series of fast-reaching legs that mimics slalom skiing.

READ MORE

Yesterday saw the turn of the 1720 Sportsboats, IRC Class 3, Sigma 38-footers and X332 classes to sail the course, and the reaction of crews returning to Crosshaven was of a mixture of exhaustion and elation.

"It was simply great fun," said Paul Kirwan from Sigma 38 Errislannan. "The slalom course was mighty and a great test of boat-handling ability."

Fellow Dun Laoghaire sailor Biddy Clark from Gringo echoed the enthusiasm, though with a proviso. "We could have done without the 50,000 gybes - it was very challenging in 20 knots of wind and a big rolling sea."

It was a form of sorting those with a broad range of skills from just those used to light airs and standard courses, exactly what the organisers intended. Kirwan could be happy as Errislannan retains the class lead.

Meanwhile, in the 1720 Sportsboats, also competing on the slalom course, this report yesterday said that Olympian Peter O'Leary was busy leading this fleet.

In fact, his brother Nicholas has widened his overall lead of the class while the youngest O'Leary brother, Robert, is in third place.

However, all didn't go quite according to plan for the classes competing in the Harbour Course.

IRC divisions One and Two plus the J109s were scheduled to sail the hallmark course of Cork Week, past Roche's Point lighthouse and in to the turning-mark located before the ideal grandstand which is provided by the town of Cobh.

Yesterday, with breeze plentiful, the fleet of the day was despatched on a 36-mile course that was mostly staged in the open water outside the harbour with the finale intended to be the sail past Cobh.

However, with the time limit on the race set to expire, the race was shortened at Roche's Point once again but before any of the boats entered the harbour.

And to cap it off, none of the J109s actually finished inside the limit and were scored as did not finish.

Late last night, the protest rooms at Crosshaven were busy with requests for redress.

Results

Overall provisional results after two days: IRC Super 0 1 Ran (N Zennstrom); 2 Numbers (D Meyers); 3 Stay Calm Of London (S Robinson); Tp52 1 Ran (N Zennstrom); 2 Flash Glove (C Barrington); 3 Stay Calm Of London (S Robinson); IRC 0 1 Oystercatcher XXVI (R Matthews); 2 Tiamat (T Costello); 3 Inis Mor (B Gouy); IRC 45 1 Werewolf (J Otter); 2 Fortis Excel (A Nilsson); 3 Freddie Freeloader (E O'Nolan); IRC 1 1 Jammy Dodger (N Martin); 2 Apollo (N Passmore); 3 Argie Bargie (A Hogg); IRC 1 ACC 1 Trilogy Ii (JG Samzun); 2 Freya (C Doyle); 3 Pi Squared (F McGurran); IRC 2 1 Rockabill V (P O'Higgins); 2 Barafundle Of Mumble (N White); 3 Nexus (Mike Budd); IRC 2 ACC 1 Barafundle Of Mumble (N White); 2 Duckwall Pooley (K Aitken); 3 Encore (S Anderson); X35 1 Nexus (M Budd); 2 Kiss (D Pinner); 3 Xpletive (M Crompton); IRC 3 1 Bengal Magic (J Moorehead); 2 Aztec 3 (P Beamish); 3 Flashback (D Breen); IRC 3 ACC 1 Wavetrain (SA Coveney); 2 Eos (D Scott); 3 Exhale (D Good); IRC 4 1 Dick Dastardly (S Kinnear); 2 Fixation (N Fullagar); 3 Hi Time (BP Crowley); IRC 4 ACC 1 Dick Dastardly (S Kinnear); 2 Hephzibah Of Lymington (D Lees); 3 Zoom (NS Harris); IRC 5 1 Obsession Vi (B Rose); 2 Chia Chia (P Eagleton); 3 Kinetic (R Colwell); IRC 5 ACC 1 Chia Chia (P Eagleton); 2 Catch 22 (D Rider); 3 Flash Ii (A Kyffin, J Oliver); IRC 6 1 Shilleiagh (J Twomey); 2 Bandit (I Travers); 3 Peanut (R Campion); IRC 6 ACC 1 Bandit (I Travers); 2 Peanut (R Campion); 3 Impacunious (E Rice); 1720 1 Wet N Ready (N O'leary); 2 Yknot (MA Wilson/Ellis); 3 Antix (R O'leary); J109 1 J Dream (DK Apthorp); 2 Juke Box (B Moreton); 3 Tigh Soluis Ii (K Grant); SB3 1 City Of Cape Town (D Hudson); 2 Redman Fisher Ridgefence (D Cheyne); 3 SailingwestIe Sharkbait (B Duncan); Sigma 38 1 Errislannan (P Kirwan); 2 With Alacrity (CV Choules); 3 Pavlova III (M Walker); Corporate Class 1 Anticipation (P Newlands); 2 Hot Stuff (G Christie); 3 Jedi Knight (S Fenton); Gentlemens Class 1 1 Orna (P Dilworth); 2 Nadie (S McCarthy); 3 Persistance (C Broadhead); Gentlemens Class 2 1 Cavatina (I Hickey); 2 Minx III (T McNeice); 3 Meltemi (F Heaslip); X332 1 X Rated (JG Gordon); 2 Brightwork (BJ Baker); 3 Roxanne (R Smith); Beneteau 317 1 Tigger (Cassidy Mulhall); 2 Alpaca (PD Tingle); 3 Prospect (R Columb Johnson).