Visiting helmsman Charles Apthorpe from Hayling Island Sailing Club, crewed by Alan Green of the National Yacht Club, picked up the Flying Fiftteen East Coast Championship at the weekend., writes Ronan Beirne. Second overall were Ben & Mary Jane Mulligan, with Strangford Lough’s Brian McKee & Steve Martin third.
With 29 boats on the start line, Jack Roy and his team (Rosemary, Eddie and more) set three races on Saturday. With marks set by the experts Mal, Gearoid and David and with the full scope of the bay, the wind died just as the last race finished.
After racing, a barbecue was provided and the Leinster v Munster match on the TV in the JB Room. Your recorder missed the singing later on!
Regretfully, there was no wind on Sunday, with the fleet taking the opportunity to run the AGM on the balcony in the sunshine and voted in favour of a return to the NYC for the East Coasts in 2013 and the Championship of Ireland to be at Dunmore East.
Charles Apthorpe, in his prize acceptance speech, mentioned how it is always a pleasure to visit and sail from the NYC. Ten boats travelled to the event from as far as Dunmore East and Whitehead Co Antrim, with a strong “Strangford squadron”. Chris Doorly dropped in from his desert posting for the event to crew with David Gorman.
The Silver prize won by Niall Meagher and Nicki Matthews, and the bronze by Frazer Mitchell & Gabriel Grier. Adrian Cooper and Joe Corrigan took the classic.
