[ad_1]
After a tough second day of racing at the Investwise Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, all five classes have now started racing with the Royal Cork Yacht Club boats leading in two of the five events.
The wind and the tide proved difficult for the 136 young sailors who competed on two different courses in the port of Cork.
Sam Ledoux of National YC leads the ICA4 (Laser 4.7) class while Rian Collins of RCYC leads the night standings in the Topper fleet. Both classes were racing in the Curlane Bank area near Crosshaven where changing winds ultimately allowed three races to be completed.
It was a different story through the port of Cuskinny where an additional race was organized for the ILCA6 (Laser Radial) and 420 classes on their second day of racing. These established Pathway classes were joined by the 29er single sculls who had three races.
Continuing in her form from Thursday, Eve McMahon of the Howth Yacht Club maintained her lead in the overall standings, although the growing form of the chasing pack in this 30-boat means Sunday’s final result is far from certain. McMahon’s teammate Rocco Wright won a race, as did RCYC’s Michael Crosbie, who is tied on points.
Back-to-back wins for the pair from Malahide and Wexford Harbor of Jack McDowell and Henry Thompson propelled them to the top of the overall 420 class with plenty of opportunities for fast sailing on the type of trapezoidal course used off the Whitegate refinery. .
Among the 29er skiffs, RCYC’s James Dwyer and Ben O’Shaughnessy hold a slim lead over Clementine van Steenberge with Chiara Carra of Royal St George YC in a very competitive field.
“The fight for the lead of the 29†fleet was very impressive with the level of competition and the level of racing they were showing, â€said Sean Evans, director of the Irish Sailing Youth Academy. “The hard work and training pays off and rewards the efforts of seafarers.
“We saw close results in all fleets and Eve McMahon was again consistent even under difficult conditions, but now we are seeing more challenges from the fighter squad, especially Rocco Wright and Michael Crosbie. am happy to see a good knowledge of the pack leader fleet while not taking the turns of the course in such variable conditions and keeping their options open. “
Saturday will be the penultimate day of the championship with all five classes competing in medium-strength winds forecast before Sunday’s final which ends at 2pm.
The championship is normally played during the Easter school holidays but has been postponed to the mid-autumn break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
[ad_2]
