The fleet set out in classic weather from Kinsale with 20 knots and waves. The championships were both decided on the water in the final race at the Bandon Co-op Squib Nationals.
After the many black flags yesterday, the fleet took off for the first time with just one individual reminder flag displayed. Once again it was RicO’Shea who took the lead and was far in the distance (more on that later) but it was the Irish fleet that really got the hang of the heavy weather and it was going to be a race fierce. throughout with Fagin, Allegro and Outlaw and Fuggles all battling for the win.
Everyone had fantastic surf on their downwind legs and in the end it was Bacchante VII, Joe Henry and Roly Wilson who took the win ahead of Kinsale Commodore, Matthias Hellstern and Colm Daly in Fifty Shades.
The team of Sean Murphy and his dad Paul at Fuggles took on a well-deserved third to ensure that as crane operators the fleet would be lifted super efficiently.
Ric O Shea was unfortunate enough to be one of the recipients of the individual recall flag.
All in all a fantastic week was had by all with great racing organized by Race Offer, Peter Crowley and his team on SpareTime and the whole fleet very much appreciates their time and effort to ensure a great week of racing.
The Bandon Co-op 2022 Irish National Champions are local team Outlaw, Ian Travers and Keith O’Riordan, runners-up went to Royal North of Ireland team Fagan, Gordan Patterson and Ross Nolan while Allegro from Kinsale, Colm Dunne and Rob Gill won bronze.
The 2022 Squib National was won by Ric O Shea, Tom Jeffcoate and Mark Hogan of South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club. Second place went to Lucky Counts, Jono Brown and Chris Agar of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club ahead of teammate Spoof, Micky Wright and Alex Porteous in third.
