Irish Fireball Nationals at Mayo Sailing Club
by Marguerite O’Rourke 28 Jul 2009 16:01 UTC
24-26 July 2009
Racing during the Irish Fireball nationals © Olivier Bauduin / Ob2 Photography
Mayo Sailing Club again hosted this year’s Irish Fireball Championships, laying on a top class event in a friendly atmosphere. After last year’s event, in which only six out of the nine races scheduled were completed, it seemed appropriate to return to resolve unfinished business. Race Officer Harry Gallagher and his team also returned for this regatta. The race area was again in Clew Bay, an area of outstanding natural beauty, which laid on cracking breezes for the event. Twenty eight fireballs entered the event, including two visiting helms; Will Moody on a summer break from South Africa, and Andrew Pearce, a regular visitor from Portishead in the UK. The scene was set for some fantastic racing.
The forecast from mid-week had been warning of winds of over 30 knots on the Sunday, so the race committee were already allowing for the possible loss of a day’s racing. Chief Race Officer Harry Gallagher, and his highly qualified team, ran four successful races each on the Friday and Saturday with really efficient turn arounds. Tide conditions made starting quite tricky for what is already quite an eager fleet, so black flags were produced when it was appropriate so as to keep racing on schedule.
Friday morning was bright and sunny. A north-westerly breeze filled in nicely as the fleet slipped from the inshore islands out to the race area. Race one started in 15 knots of wind. Noel Butler and Seamus Moore marked the fleet’s cards by scoring their first gun of what would be a stunning day for them. Kenneth Rumball and Karl Cooney chased hard taking second place, Phil Lawton and Francis Rowan opening with a third place. Will Moody, sailing with Ed Lowe from Killaloe, took fourth.
The breeze increased to the high teens for the second race. A sharp chop kicked up as the wind direction pushed against the last of an ebb tide. The breeze was now gusting 20 knots and boats were making the most of the nice surfing conditions on the reaches. Andy Pearce and Hugh Butler creamed through the finish line in first with Kenny and Karl on their tail. Noel and Seamus followed in third. Various teams had unfortunate gear failures during the day, some in boat and some in body, and lost racing as a result.
The beat from the committee boat was shortened 0.2 miles for Races three and four to keep the finishing times around the 50 minute mark. Noel and Seamus returned to form in the third and fourth Races taking guns in both to complete a string of three wins for the day. Andy Pearce and Hugh Butler took a second place in Race three, this time chased by Kenny and Karl who finished in third. In Race four, Francis and Phil recovered their form to finish second, with Andy and Hugh this time taking third place.
The Silver Fleet competition opened with Northern Ireland’s Brian O’Neill sailing with son Ruaidhri taking line honours in 16th overall, and getting home ahead a few Gold Fleet boats. Carolina Keegan sailing with her father Michael on trapeze were first Silver boat in Race two, Marie Barry and Paul Flannery took Race three, and Ian O’Gorman and Siobhan Hayes won the fourth race.
The day’s racing drew to a close and the fleet threaded its way around some of Clew Bay’s islands back to Mayo’s beautiful club house. The fleet had dinner and then relaxed in some very comfortable leather chairs. Chat abounded and the feeling was one of satisfaction with what had been a challenging set of races. A few power naps were had before the fleet hit the bright lights of Westport.
Saturday brought with it a light and shifty breeze which eventually settled from the south after a heavy rain shower. Pressure across the course moved up to the high teens as more cloud built over Croagh Patrick. The first race saw the top boats head out to the left of the course on a lift. The wind soon headed dramatically, opening the gate for those out right to get around the windward mark in front of them. With the top boats rounding at the back it was going to be a long climb back up. Phil and Francis opened the day with a first place from Andy and Hugh, followed by Niall McGrotty and Robert McMahon. Noel and Seamus had to be content with fourth place.
By the start of Race two, the incoming wind shifted right as the Atlantic low pressure system began to make its presence felt. The windward mark was moved in response. The last of the ebb caused a messy chop on the beat and also forced the fleet to sail very deep to get around the leeward mark after reaches. Noel and Seamus led the race until a tactical experiment on the run let Kenny and Karl through to take the gun. Noel and Seamus were second, Andy and Hugh after them, with Will and Ed working their way to a fourth place.
During races three and four the new flood tide was coming into play and caught out the unwary rounding the windward mark. Noel and Seamus won race three. Andy and Hugh finished their day with a top place in race four, with Noel and Seamus staying in contention to take second. Owen Laverty and Ed Butler had a storming finish to their event by taking third place. By this stage, Noel and Seamus had done enough to lead the event and earn the title of National Champions. Noel celebrated by climbing Croagh Patrick! The top six were now locked off even though there was one more race to go. Second overall went to Andy and Hugh. Third overall and second place in the Irish Championship went to Kenny and Karl. Third place in the Irish Championship went to Phil and Francis.
Silver fleet guns went to Ian O’Gorman and Siobhan Hayes in three of the day’s races, a clean sweep for the day blocked by Brian and Ruaidhri who had an impressive 13th place overall in Race two. The Silver Fleet results were now Ian and Siobhan in first, Marie and Paul second, and Carolina and Michael in third place.
A delicious BBQ was held on the club deck. Afterwards the pubs of Westport again beckoned. The top teams went into relaxed mode, assured of their places, while the rest of us merrily convinced ourselves we couldn’t / shouldn’t / wouldn’t be racing because of the expected weather. Tottering out of the pub onto a wet and windy main street later that evening only served to strengthen this sentiment.
Sunday brought the forecast stronger winds and the fleet were happy enough to finish the event without race number nine. N over A was shaken out over the club and delicious soup and rolls were served up. Class Chairman Cormac Bradley initiated the prizegiving ceremony and after it Louise McKenna spoke briefly in memory of the late Tommie Gibbons, a local man who had very strong links with the Glenans Sailing Centre on near-by Collanmore Island. Quite a few Irish Fireballers, including Louise, have graduated from Glenans over the years and would remember Tommie ferrying trainees back and forth to the base. He also provided much needed backup in times of difficulty.
The event then concluded and boats were packed up quickly in between the rain showers in order to get a head start on the expected traffic from the annual Reek pilgrimage. This annual event sees thousands of pilgrims, many in bare feet, climbing the 2,500ft Croagh Patrick which towers over Clew Bay on the outskirts of Westport.
The next domestic event for the class in the Munster Championships in Dunmore East on the 26-27th of September. In the meantime, eight Irish boats will be attending the European and World Championships in La Rochelle just over two weeks from now.
Overall Results:
1st Noel Butler & Seamus Moore
2nd Andrew Pearce & Hugh Butler
3rd Kenneth Rumball & Karl Cooney
4th Phil Lawton & Francis Rowan
Irish Championship:
Gold Fleet
1st Noel Butler & Seamus Moore
2nd Kenneth Rumball & Karl Cooney
3rd Phil Lawton & Francis Rowan
Silver Fleet
1st Ian O’Gorman & Siobhan Hayes
2nd Marie Barry & Paul Flannery
3rd Carolina Keegan & Michael Keegan