The legendary Yellow Rose is the new frontrunner in the Cumann Badoiri Acla Yawl racing season which started two weeks ago in Clare Island. This weekend saw Michael the Shore-Patten from Bunnacurry, Achill skipper his late father Sean's famous 26 footer yawl to two great victories in Mulranny, winning both the Mulranny Old Great Southern Hotel Regatta Cup and the Park Inn Hotel Cup in great style. Weather conditions for yawl racing in both Clare Island and Mulranny were good, though the first race in Mulranny was confined to one lap due to the light breeze, which soon picked up for the second race. Michael The Shore in the Yellow Rose has been the one to watch this year. He started the yawl season in fine form with a number two placing in the Clare Island Yawl Race just two weeks ago. He was beaten to the post by a fine perfromance by the well experienced and celebrated Sean Patten Belfarsad and crew in San Telmo who had a stunning victory in Clare Island just the week before. But Michael TheShore was not to be outdone in Mulranny where he robbed Beagnach Neamh of silver in the first race, and then went on to storm ahead of San Telmo in the second Mulranny race. John Dara O'Malley in Beagnach Neamh had to settle for third place on this outing.
Third in Clare Island and fourth in Mulranny in both races was the Mayoman and crew under skipper Kevin Cowley, who had a great start and led the pack in the second race, only to fall behind, but ahead of newcomer Frank Sweeney and crew in the Naomh Brendan in both races. Debutante skipper Frank had a much better showing in Clare Island where on his first ever outing he finished ahead of Curraun neighbour John Dara O'Malley and crew. We all look forward to next weekend in Derreens where the yawl races will happen every evening after 6pm in this premier location from next Friday right through to next Monday. Chairman of Cruinniu Badoiri Acla Dr Jerry Cowley has paid tribute to all who take part in the annual cruinniu and has especially welcomed the new boat the Naoimh Breandan and crew. "There's a Cead Mile Failte to all and sundry to join us for a feast of exciting yawl racing every weekend in Achill right up to September. Bigi linn, he said.
