The 2010 Westerns at Galway were epic!

Galway Bay Sailing Club hosted the SB3 Ireland Western Championships, over the weekend. The legacy of the city being host to the 2008 Volvo stopover means that, with the addition of a few further basic amenities, Galway is now a first class championship venue. The fleet were hosted by Galway Harbour Company in the docks and clear water out to the west meant the course had superb wave conditions to go with the 20-25kts of breeze. Ideal conditions for ripping it up in an SB3. But for a single 30kt squal the breeze barely wavered all weekend putting boatspeed, technique and fleet management skills to the fore.

Dave Quinn and the crew of Investwise have been in increasly fine form at HYC so it was no surprise to see them storm off the line to round the first windward mark in the lead. Sharkbait looked to follow them but badly misread the tide and had to eject out below the windward mark eventually rounding 6th with McCready Gill Racing in 4th. The first helterskelter run of the weekend followed with the entire fleet powering down the run under A-sails at the bottom of which Sharkbait pulled through the last couple of boats to take the lead on the drop. From there they eased away to a comanding lead whilst back in 3rd McCreadys spun out at the final gate (caught on camera for the entertainment of the masses in the bar that evening) and went wide of the gate. Once they realised their error they retired from the race leaving Investwise a comfortable 2nd with Lia in third followed by Belfast Kitchens and Duff Beer in 4th and 5th.

In the second race the trio including Loch Derg stalwarts Geoff O’Donoghue and Michael McCarney launched out of the left and into an early lead closely followed by Ronan Downing in Profile Park. But the pack slowly hunted them down with Sharkbait taking their second win, followed by the McCreadys. Profle Park held on for 3rd followed by Belfast Kitchens and Lia.

In the third and final race of the first day Sharkbait jumped clear off the first line with a significant bias to take up a controlling position. Marking the fleet most of the race they let slip at the top half to let Peter Kennedy through. PK, Tom Molloy and Peter Mackel on Belfast Kitchens sailed up the beat to round first with inches to spare. Down the run the McCreadys belted out to the left hand side of the run while the two leaders headed off neck and neck down the right. Belfast Kitchens held their own with Sharkbait down the run leaving a frantic pressure drop from both boats at the leeward gate. Bow vs bow to get the kites down and under control it was honours even as Sharkbait closed to within inches of Belfast Kitchen’s stern before being ready to tack off. Both boats crossed tacks half way up the final beat with Belfast Kitchens having extended to a 2 boatlength lead. Both teams worked their boats for all they were worth and the finish was greated with celebration on the Northern Irish boat as they took the pin end line bias for a win by feet to serve notice that they will be there to defend their National title come September. Discount them at your peril. McCready Gill Racing came 3rd with Sean Craig, Stephen Boyle and Alan Green in Yeti making their first appearance at the front of the fleet this year from Profile Park.

With the lock gates firmly closed until 1pm on Sunday full advantage was taken of the Captains Morgans sponsorship at McSwiggans Bar in the evening. As the poster said ‘we’re off the edge of the map now lads, here be monsters!’.

On Sunday afternoon a steady 18-20kts westerly welcomed the competitors back to the race course. Despite enjoying all that Galway has to offer for the evening Dave Barry wiggled Lia up the first beat to round first, followed by Sharkbait and McCready Gill Racing. All the Lake Garda practice paid off when their kite went up with a wrap. they gybed off smartly undoing the wrap and holding 3rd to the end of the race. Sharkbait powered away to an early lead down the run with the McCreadys’ hot on their heels and an early drop closed the race right back up again. Patrolling the middle of the course up the second beat Sharkbait took a 10 boatlength lead into the final run which they extended to 15 boat lengths before wiping out in the final gybe of the race. All the advice on broach recovery came in handy and but by the time the kite was back up the mast McCready Gill Racing where hot on their heels. Perfect drops from both boats at the gate and a game of tack and cover to the line saw the Howth team home for their 3rd bullet sewing up the event. Game Sharkbait.

In the 5th and final race McCready Gill Racing tidied up 2nd place overall with a race win from Dinghy Supplies, Monkey, Duff Beer and Yeti.

1 -  Sharkbait – Ben Duncan (1,1,2,1) Total 5.0
2 -  McCready Sailboats – Garreth Flanagan (2,3,2,1) Total 8.0
3 -  Belfast Kitchen Company – Peter Kennedy (4,4,1,7) Total 16.0
4 -  Lia – Dave Barry (3,5,8,3) Total 19.0

Complete Results

More event photos by Olivier Bauduin are here.

Captain Morgan SB3 NOR & Entry Form 2010

Captain Morgan SB3 Western Championships 2010 SIs (pdf file)

The event social headquarters is at McSwiggans Bar and Restaurants for the duration of the event.  Friday and Saturday Evenings after racing.

HOW TO GET THERE.
Those travelling from the North West may consider turning left at Claregalway and slipping on to the motorway. All others will approach Galway from either the motorway or the dual carriageway after Oranmore. Follow the signs to the Docks. You will approach a junction with the G Hotel on your right and The Huntsman Inn on your left. Take the left hand slip road at this junction and 100m later continue straight along Lough Atalia as the main road veers right up a hill.  You will go under a green railway bridge and see the Harbour hotel in front of you. The lift in point is directly behind the Hotel and you can get there driving down either side of the hotel.

LIFT IN AND LIFT OUT
Friday
The harbour crane is available all afternoon until 8pm and the National Crane Hire crane will be available from 5pm until 8 pm.

Saturday
The harbour crane is available from 9am until 11.30am and the National Crane Hire crane is available from 8am until 11.30am.

Sunday
Both cranes are available from 5.15pm until completion.

There is also a slip available. This is immediately across from the Dock gates and is accessed through the Harbour Enterprise Park. To get there take the road to the left of the Harbour Hotel, turn immediately left, next left, next right and continue on by the overflow car park to the pier head.

PARKING
Trailers will be parked in the parking spaces in front of the Harbour Masters Office. Please park the trailers ‘Head to Toe’ to maximise space available and please don’t block the Life Boat area of operation. One of us might need them! There is limited free parking by the lift in point and also in the overflow car park. There is also metered parking all around the dock area. There is Campervan parking by the marina berths.

BERTHING
The principal berthing area is at the North West corner of the Dock by McGinns Pub. Other pontoons and berths that are free may also be used for the duration of the event. The shore side co-ordinator will assist.

RACE OFFICE
All race management will take place in the Centre Pier Shed. This is a dark grey barn type structure on the centre pier. Registration and payment of entry fees will take place here between 6pm and 7.30pm on Friday and from 9.30am to 11.00am on Saturday. The briefing will take place here at 11.30am on Saturday. The event notice board is here, results will be available here and signals made ashore will be here also.

PRIZE GIVING
This will take place as soon as possible after racing on Sunday at the central shed. Results of Saturdays Racing will be announced in McSwiggans at 10.00pm that evening.

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The event was held by Crookhaven Sailing Club,  with Sailing outside Crookhaven harbour on Saturday in a fantastic 10 to 14 knots. The OOD managed to provide 4 very good races anticipating the gale warning for Sunday with a very competitive 23 boat fleet treated to some excellent sailing conditions. Competitors had to fight hard for every place with positions changing at every mark and a different race winner for each of the 4 races.

The first race was won comfortably by Stefan Hyde and Gerry Dowling. Race 2 saw Andrew Algeo take a nice lead which he extended to the finish, however from 2 to 10 saw constant place changes right to the finish with Mccready sailboats managing to get into 2nd at the finish.

Race three saw Gareth Flanigan take the gun from Ronan collins.

Race four was won by John Downey and crew who sailed very well downwind to extend the lead to the finish.

This was followed by plenty of pints and good food in Crookhaven for the 23 boats and crew.

Sunday started with the gale as forecast. The committee boat went out to check the conditions and it was decided that racing should be cancelled with gusts in excess of thirty knots.

This left the results from saturday to stand with McCready sailboats (Gareth Flannigan) taking the Event.

The top results were as follows,

1st McCready Sailboats  Gareth Flannigan

2nd Modus Operandi  Ronan Collins

3rd   Flutter Andrew Algeo

4th  Sharkbait  Ben Duncan

5th Broomsticks  John Downey

Full results to follow shortly

The Sharkbait team of Ben Duncan,Brian Moran and Ric Morris retained the Sb3 Airtricity sponsored SB3 Northern Championships.This was sweet revenge to coming second to Gareth Flanagan in the Easterns. The event was hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Y.C. whose hospitality was second to none. The whole weekend was a real adventure, from the launching in Belfast Lough on Friday night to the bar on Saturday night. The launch drivers need special mention for their skill in getting us in off the water safe and sound on the Friday night.

We shared the course with RS Elites, which added a positive dimension to the weekend of racing.
The PRO, Alister Hunter performed brilliantly with his team, giving us superb courses and never once kept us waiting around, on behalf of the SB3 fleet I want to convey our thanks for a job really well done.

23 boats competed, an increase on the 17 last year, a real testament that the SB3 fleet is as progressive as ever. This was in no small part down to the great work that Gordan Patterson put in, his reward was line honours in the last race on Saturday. All race winners were rewarded a bottle of champagne, Gordan had his drunk before he hit the dock !!!!

The racing was extremely close with a point separating 4/5/6 and 7th positions. Greg Bell on Duff Beer was unlucky to have sail damage on the Sunday, and was pipped for fourth spot by Bád/Kilcullen. Emmet Ryan sailed supremely to be edged into third spot by Gareth Flanagan in McCready Sailboats. Peter Kennedy our current Irish Champion finished sixth.

We hope its not too long before we return to the Royal North, they gave the SB3 class a real welcome which we will never forget. Its off to Crookhaven for the Southerns, hope to see you all there for more fun and games.

J.Dowling
Sb3 National Chairman

2010 Northerns Results (pdf file)

Crookhaven Harbour Sailing Club takes pleasure in inviting you to compete in the SB3 Ireland Southern Championship which will be held in Crookhaven, Co. Cork on 3rd & 4th July 2010

Away oh we go to far west Cork for Atlantic swell, good winds, great pints and brilliant craic.

Notice of Race is here.

Yes, there will be a crane, details and Google map in the NoR…bring mooring lines and good fenders.  Don’t need the jib to pick up a mooring!

Yes, there will be perfect pints and superb seafood in O’Sullivan’s right on the water front.

Yes, there will be great racing, wonderfully wacky story telling and did I mention the perfect pints?

Ronan Collins has kindly supplied a Google maps link which shows:

A: Crookhaven.
B: Free camping.
C: Official camping.
D: Barley Cove Beach Hotel.

Click here.

Driving:  Make your way from wherever to the Dunkettle Roundabout at the bottom of the N8 Cork Road from Dublin, go through the Jack Lynch Tunnel, past Douglas, over the Kinsale Road Roundabout, following the N71 to Bandon, then to Clonakilty, then Rosscarbery, Leap and Skibbereen (handy town bypass).

Next is Ballydehob, turn left on to the R592 direction Schull, through the village and drive on to Altar, turn left on to the R591 direction Goleen, Leenane and Crookhaven.  You’ll see the Crook fjord on your left, and then around the other side as you go on.  Whew, you’ve made it!

Lots of small west Cork towns, purchase a pound of patience for driving through their narrowlanes.  But then, most are seaside towns and are well used to boats moored on Main Street.

Be there!

To encourage us to attend they have offered the fleet some special rates with a view to getting the numbers up.

We need  at least 10 boats to have our own start.

If we achieve 15 boats the entry is  reduced from € 420 to € 350.

In excess of 20 boats and the entry is reduced to € 300.

This is a great offer for five days racing.

Please contact :  aileen@corkweek.ie

Summary of the SB3 event (pdf file)

ONLINE ENTRY FORM

Notice of Race has been published (pdf file)

Amendment 1 to SB3 Nationals NOR – 4th August

Facebook page with crew wanted / available.

Representatives from sixteen nations will compete in the World Championships, the largest spread of that the Laser SB3 class has ever enjoyed. Forty boats will attend from the UK, still the largest national entry and the host nation field a twenty boat entry, their largest turn out to a World Championships yet. Entries come from as far afield as Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Ukraine and Russia will all be represented in Torbole in July.

The two Laser SB3 World Champions, Geoff Carveth (2008 Champion, Dun Laoghaire) and Craig Burlton (2009 Champion, Cascais) will both compete again for the Championship title and the honour of lifting the Waterford Crystal Trophy on Friday 23 July. Both Carveth and Burlton are British and so far the Laser SB3 World Championship has not been won by another nation. John Pollard, another British sailor recently won the Laser SB3 Volvo Cup on Lake Garda by a good margin and will be gunning hard for the top of the fleet.

However, this event is far from a walk over for the Brits! Tough competition will be provided by the Russian entry helmed by Ukrainian Rodion Luka who recently won the Laser SB3 Eurocup in Morgat, France. Luka, who took silver at the 2004 Olympics in Athens in the 49er class has already demonstrated good boat speed and hot tactics on the race course. Father and son, David and Roger Hudson, the founders of the South African sailing foundation “Race Ahead”, will field two entries, crewed by sailors from the foundation. Race Ahead has achieved second at the World Championships in 2008 and 2009. Will it be third time lucky for them?

For a number of the crews taking part in the 2010 Laser SB3 World Championships, this will be their first trip to Lake Garda, but for many, a trip down memory lane. Laser SB3 World Class President Dave Cheyne (IRL) can barely contain his excitement! “We have some mouth watering racing ahead of us! There are forty seven entries already for the Italian Nationals, we have an absolutely incredible few weeks of sailing coming up!”

Entrants will be split into two qualifying fleets for the first six races of the World Championships. Gold and silver fleet finals will begin on Wednesday 21st July. For anybody still wanting to enter, there is still time. Please contact Katie Ashworth via the website for further details.

The Laser SB3 Italian National Championships will take place in Torbole, from 25th – 27th June. A number of keen teams from across Europe will travel to Italy early for a pre-match warm up and to eye up the local competition.

LaserPerformance through Italian dealer Negri Nautica will provide event support to the Italian Nationals and the World Championships ensuring every boat is able to race each day. Negri Nautica will also be making special offers to the fleet on spares and sails.

The Laser SB3 Class proudly claims to be one of the most tightly restricted one design keelboat classes in the world with little variation from the builder’s final product permitted. With minimal maintenance, easy to trail and low campaign cost, the class thrives on its philosophy of providing inclusive, high intensity, great fun and easily attainable, quality racing for it’s members.

Further news and developments can be followed at the new SB3 International Website.

Three races on Saturday and two on Sunday will see the SB3 fleet sharing the windward-leeward course with the Dragons.  First gun at 1100 hours.

Download the Notice of Race and Entry Form HERE

Afloat Magazine