Friday Night League – 24/6 Race review

A smaller fleet than usual came to the line for round 9 of Cove SC’s Friday Night League, last Friday. While the inclement weather and forecast of 30-35 knot gusts prompted some initial talk of a postponement, a fleet of 11 boats enjoyed a great night’s sailing in Cork Harbour. An excellent ‘end-of-month’ prize-giving barbeque was later held at the Quays Bar in Cobh, in conjunction with the start of the first ‘Cobh Traditional Sail weekend’.

Race officer, Robert Keating, set an ‘L-shaped’ course on the night. Starting at EF2, the fleet were sent into the teeth of a stiff South Westerly breeze to a weather mark at number 8, off Crosshaven, before running to a gybe mark at number 13, off Cuskinny, and reaching to a finish back at EF2.

Most Skippers chose to take the gun on port and beat towards the Spit Lighthouse before tacking onto starboard and skirting the first of the incoming tide on the eastern edge of the channel. The leading boats in particular, chose to stay as long as possible on starboard, waiting until the last moment before tacking under Fort Carlisle and dashing across the tide to number 8. Re Eile led the fleet around the weather mark, closely followed by Away on Business, Jay and Gaelic Kiwi.

Finishing positions were determined on the long run from number 8 to number 13.  Re Eile and Gaelic Kiwi both stretched their legs under spinnaker whilst the under-crewed Jay and Away on Business prudently chose not to hoist in the breezy conditions, and fell behind. Re Eile placed first in IRC on the night, with Gaelic Kiwi taking second and Jay third.  Rory Allen’s well sailed Mystic took first in ‘Whites’.