October 19 / 20

Our NEXT event is the Hot Toddy in Lough Erne Yacht Club the weekend of October 19 / 20.

Hot Toddy entry is now open. Please enter now. Free gin after sailing on Saturday for first 50 entries!

Please get you entries in asap to help the organisers with their preparation.

CLICK HERE for NOR and Online Entry

Report(s): Ossian Geraghty and David Evans. Sam Streets report will be published shortly

*Youth Championship at Sligo Yacht Club*

David Evans

After Saturday’s racing was canceled due to high winds, the Race Officer rescheduled the first gun for 10:00 AM on Sunday. Conditions were much improved, with a steady breeze ranging from 8 to 13 knots, increasing throughout the day.

*Race 1* featured an intense battle between Sam and Adam for the top spot, while Arann Murphy and Ben McCaldin were close behind, competing to stay in the mix. Sam eventually pulled ahead, extending his lead to claim victory, leaving Adam to settle for second. Further back, Ben, Arann, David, and Jessica engaged in a tight race for third.

In *Race 2*The pin-end of the start line offered an advantage, which Jessica expertly seized, crossing the fleet on port tack. However, by the top mark, Riaghan and Meadbh had taken a significant lead, with David in second and Adam in third. Riaghan extended his advantage through the second leg, ultimately finishing well ahead, while David and Adam couldn't close the gap.

Heading into the final race, Adam led the standings with 5 points, closely followed by Sam with 6 points, and David and Jessica both sitting on 7 points. The championship was poised for a dramatic conclusion.

In *Race 3*Sam and Josh had the best start, leading at the windward mark, with Mateo and his dad in hot pursuit. By the leeward mark, Sam and Mateo had created a comfortable gap, leaving the rest of the fleet battling for third place. Adam secured third in a tight contest with David, Jessica and Ben.

With these results, Sam and Josh were crowned Youth Champions, Adam and Emily took the U19 title, and Ben McCaldin, alongside his dad JP, won the U16 title. It was an impressive day of sailing, showcasing the talent and determination of the young sailors at Sligo Yacht Club.

The GP14 Youth Championship and Autumn Open
14/15 September @ Sligo Yacht Club
Regatta Report - Ossian Geraghty

Like so much of this season, the weather did not co-operate on Saturday morning,
eventually forcing the Race Committee to abandon racing for the entire day. This gave PRO
Michael Conway a tall order to complete with just one days racing to satisfy two discrete
fleets within this combined event format.
Sunday morning brought with it, perfect sailing conditions. The Race Management team
were on the water early, course set and got the first race of the Youth Championship off bang
on time at 1000hrs.

Youth Championship

The GP14 class have worked hard to attract younger sailors into the class. And the fruit of
their labours were plain to see with twenty Youth (U22) helms lined up for the start. Sam Street and Josh Lloyd sailing Cloud Nine from Blessington Sailing Club, had a great  start and after sailing an impeccable first beat they rounded the top mark ahead of Kokomo (Adam & Emily Torrens) from Newtonards//Lough Erne and Sligo team Jessica & Mark Greer in Ghostlight. These three boats pulled away from the chasing pack and positions remained all the way to finish line.

Race Two of the Youth Championship, saw the Rush SC boat Midas, with Riahgan Boardman and Maedhbh Butterly onboard get away clean. This, however, was a much closer affair than race one. Midas was chased up the first beat, by two Sligo Teams Ghostlight and current GP14 Youth World Champion team David Evans and William Drapers, unnamed boat but locally known as Red Boat. It looked like Jess and Mark Greer in Ghostlight were going to come on top but an infringement and 720 penalty saw them slip out of contention. Midas and Red Boat battled it all the way to the finish, Midas taking line honours away from the Sligo Team. Kokomo, Ghostlight and Cloud Nine making the top five.

The Race Committee signalled a third race for the Youth Fleet. With four boats all within two
points of each other and no discard available. The podium places were all up for grabs. The breeze had built a little since the start of the day and the Youth teams were tightly bunched as they reached the first windward mark. Mateo & Keith Louden in 14214 joined Street/Lloyd in Cloud Nine, Evans/Draper in Red Boat, Torrens & Torrens in Kokomo and the Greers in Ghostlight in the leading pack. A close battle continued around a full Triangle Course, with places changes happening upwind and downwind. At the end of the final short beat to the line, Cloud Nine (Sam Street, Josh Lloyd, Blessington SC) took the gun and secured the top step on the podium.

Youth (U22) Championship Results

1st Cloud Nine - Sam Street, Josh Lloyd - Blessington SC
2nd Kokomo – Adam & Emily Torrens – Newtownards / LEYC
3rd “Red Boat” - David Evans, William Draper – Sligo YC
Top U19
Kokomo – Adam &; Emily Torrens – Newtownards / LEYC

Top U16
14293 – Ben McCaldin, JP McCaldin – Lough Erne YC

Autum Open Report

As the boats crossed the finish line to complete Race 3 of the Youth Championship, crews swapped over from awaiting Ribs and the Autumn Open could get under way. The Race
Committee were keen to keep things moving and in short order Race 1 was underway. The Sligo YC boat Wolf with Niall Henry and Ossian Geraghty on board was quick off the line and quickly worked to the right of the beat. In close pursuit were two teams, Cloud Nine (Street & Lloyd), 14214 (Keith Louden & Mateo Louden). These four boats made it to the
top mark ahead of a compacted chasing fleet, allowing them to pull away during the downwind reaches. While the leading boats stayed in contact up the second beat, Henry and Geraghty extended their lead during the remaining legs, showing a form that was to be devastating evident throughout the remaining races. Race 1, 1 st Wolf (Henry/Geraghty), 2nd Cloud Nine (Street/Lloyd), 3 rd 14214 (Louden/Louden) Race 2 got underway without delay and once again Sligo boat Wolf closed the distance to the top mark before all others, but not by much, 14293 (JP & Carolyn McCaldin), Red Boat, (Evans & Draper) and a stream of other contenders rounded the mark bow to stern. Henry and Geraghty had found their groove and despite a more closely packed fleet, no one could catch them. The rest of the podium places were hard fought before finally Evans and Draper managed to squeeze ahead of The McCaldins on the last downwind reach. Race 2: 1 st Wolf (Henry/Geraghty), 2 nd “Red Boat” (Evans/Draper), 14293 (McCaldin/McCaldin).

The Committee boat signalled for a third race and wasted no time getting it off. A wind shift in the last few minutes saw a crowded committee boat end. The fleet stacked up and closed slowly on the line with still twenty seconds to go. Once more Henry and Geraghty seemed to have a plan in place. Having hung back, they spotted a gap, and pulled the trigger. With many of the fleet early and close to stalled, Wolf hit the line at full speed and right on the gun. They were bow out, in clear air and gone. While the boats behind fought it out Henry and Geraghty went about their business to complete a hat trick of wins.

GP14 Autumn Open Championship Results

1 st Wolf - Niall Henry, Ossian Geraghty – Sligo YC
2 nd “Red Boat” – David Evans, William Draper – Sligo YC
3 rd Cloud Nine – Sam Street, Josh Lloyd – Blessington SC