Lough Erne Yacht Club

News > Summer Regatta Report 2009

Created: 6/20/2009 5:43:29 PM, Updated: 6/29/2009 9:33:19 AM

As 103 year old Maeve and Storm had the season's first Fairy contest, 40 sailors of all ages, in 20 sailing boats, had lively sailing, three races in a breezy west wind, with a few hard squalls, on Saturday and another two on a cool less squally Sunday.


John McVitty's photograph, best ever taken of Erne sailing, shows Maeve and Storm cross tacking at their 100th birthday race in 2006.

Several memhers have asked that the website record a special thanks to Mary Anne Sutton for her good work on the regatta BBQ and entertainment.

Yeoman Fleet
After earlier championships for GP14s and J/24s, the Regatta was Yeoman’s turn to put out a fleet, 14 sailors in seven boats. At the top, Bertie and Ian Forsythe match raced Saturday with Declan Dooley and Mary Anne Sutton, results 1, 2, 1 for Crista and 2, 1, 2 for Honeybee. On Sunday, Honeybee's crew , Commodores, past and present, with scores 1 & 1 clinched first overall.

John McCrea, Blue Diamond, chased hard with five thirds. Alex Knowles, Thief of Time’s Saturday 4, 5, 4 were enough for fourth overall, despite missing Sunday. Brendan Gallagher with Ruth Richie, Nelly Kelly, had a 5 in Saturday’s first race, but after a knockdown in a squall, near-gale, did not finish, nor start the third, but did sail on Sunday, 5 & 5 to make fifth overall. Richard Smith’s two Sunday fourths in Growler, merited sixth and Donald McCarthy’s Saturday 6 & 4 in Raj, seventh overall.

Dinghies
It was good to see seven children and teenagers have a go in the Club’s jaunty wee Topper training dinghies, first time in an LEYC Regatta for years past. Saturday’s squall cancelled the third Topper race among three 14-year olds, whose first two race scores ranked first, RYA youth squad member, Jennifer Whittaker, 1 & 1, second Cristian Muligan 2 & 2, and third Conor Louden-Brown, 3 in first race. On Sunday they were joined by younger Caoimhe Martin, Orla Louden-Brown and Stefan Iwanicki. All had a go but did not finish a race, Sarah Johnston who scored 4 and 3 to merit fourth overall. Jennifer’s Sunday 1 &1, Cristian’s 2 & 2, and Conor’s 3 & 4 confirmed their Saturday rankings as first, second and third overall respectively.

LEYC members, parents and otherwise, have invested much with boats, equipment and voluntary work on youth sailing. To see solid profit in the growth, skills and confidence of these children is most satisfying.

Teenager, Fionnan Martin, scores 1, 1, 1,2, 2, was the better Laser overall. Jarleth Mahon sailed only on Sunday, 1 & 1. Further illustrating this regatta’s themes, youth, friendship and family, Edward and son Douglas in GP14, Dr Beastie scored five firsts. Second overall, Jorgen Pederson’s crews in Probably the Best were daughter Leah and friend Sarah Johnston.

J/24 and Fairy keelboats
A couple of J/24 keelboats exchanged first and second places , Barry Humphreys’ Mejoolie, scoring 1, 1, 2, DNF, 2, was the better on Saturday, but Sunday's scores made Tim Rippey's Jigalo winner, 2, 2, 1, 1 &1. Crews included, Katrina McGirr, Ann Sheehy, Bridget Rippey and Catherine Roberts, and first time J/24 sailors, Catriona Mahon and daughter Sarah Johnston, Cristian Muligan, and others who crammed into Paul Louden-Brown’s prize giving crew photograph, a jolly crew crowd, the flavour of this regatta.

J/24 Skipjack’s owner John Kane, without crew sailed, and helmed, in the Fairy Maeve with Michael Whaley, a Saturday heritage experience. Maeve scored 1, 1 & 1 against Joey Kelly’s Storm, 2, 2, & 2, and on Sunday 1 & 1 and 2 & 2, clinching Maeve first, Storm second. The fast powerful grace of these well restored 103 year old Edwardian yachts was a delight to see.


Prize giving
Commodore (acting) Mary Anne Sutton, a happy bunny with Honeybee's Yeoman win, thanked all who helped, including regatta organiser Edward Beattie, and presented engraved glasses to John Phillips and Derek Eakin, Race Officers, Peter Scott and Ciaran Martin, safety RIBS. Glassed also went to the helm and crew of first and second placed boats in each fleet. Next such event is October’s Autumn Regatta.

Go to Downloads for Mary Anne's Results Sheet

Michael Clarke, 22 June 09. Email Webmaster@leyc.net