Six young Galway sailors proved their mettle against the best in the Crosbie Cup at Ree Yacht Club, the second oldest yacht club in the world.
An annual national event for juvenile s sailors racing optimist sailing dinghies, a record 120 participants competed.
The racing proved highly competitive with Rian Conboy and Jack Lee representing GBSC admirably. Jack was victorious in the third race of the day, overtaking the disappointed race leader on the final beat to the finish line.
Five races were completed over two days in light winds. Ciaran Jordan and Jack Collins from GBSC secured first and second prizes in the junior age group (u-12 ), and second and third places overall, while Donal Collins and Diarmuid Harvey came away with at least one top-10 race finish.
At the Galway Bay Sailing Club, the second race of the Late Summer Dinghy Series got off to a sparkling start in 20+ knots of wind.
A reach on the first leg quickly saw the Hobie Tiger of Tim Breen and Noel Harvey take the lead in the multihull fleet, closely followed by Gerry Murray on an FX 1, and Tony Murphy and Ruth on a Dart 16. The monohull fleet was led across the start line by Cathal Clarke and Mags Leech in a 420, a lead they held to the finish. In all 20 boats took part - eight multihulls and 12 monohulls with a total of 36 competitors.
Despite a number of capsizes in both of the fleets, the first spinnaker of the night was hoisted by Gerry Drudy and his crew Dympna O’Byrne in the monohull fleet who came in second, while Johnny Murphy sailing an FX 1 raised the first spinnaker of the evening in the multihull fleet, which was won by Tony and Ruth Murphy.
Overall the results in the monohull fleet went to sailors on 420 boats, the conditions suited them.
Results: Monohull fleet, Cathal Clarke & Mags Leech 420, 1; Gerry Drudy & Dympna O’Byrne 420, 2; Brendan Gallagher & Astrid 420, 3.
Multihull fleet, Tony Murphy & Ruth Dart 16, 1; Tim Breen & Noel Harvey Hobie Tiger, 2.
