05 Jul Friday Night League – Round 10
The weekend’s sailing began on Friday with round 10 of the popular Friday Night League. This was a hotly contested affair as recent absentees, Bedlam, Kodachi and Sonar rejoined the fleet and returned to competitive action. In a light Southerly breeze, race officer – Fergus Coughlan chose to start the fleet at EF2 and thereafter set a fine Olympic style course, between the start-line, a weather mark at number 9 and a gybe mark at number 13.
With most skippers choosing to take the gun on starboard, the fleet beat towards Aghada before tacking onto port at the layline for number 9. Jay lost heavily in this early phase. Starting on port she was forced to dip the entire fleet and was immediately disadvantaged by her resultant mid-line start. With a freshly scrubbed bottom, Away on Business performed well on the first beat and sailed competitively until a ripped spinnaker put pay to their charge.
At the head of the fleet, the Alastair, Doyle and Russell team, were joined aboard Bedlam by Aidan Kneeshaw and together they contrived to frustrate the under-crewed Corby 27, Kodachi. Bedlam placed first in IRC with Kodachi second and Sonar third. Series leaders Re Eile and Gaelic Kiwi had a quiet night on the water – both finishing down the order. Robert Keating’s Serendipity placed first in the ‘White Sail’ division with Wader second and Mystic third.