Visitors carry off the silverware at Quoile weekend

Visitors carry off the silverware at Quoile weekend

21 August 2013

THE visitors walked off with the major prizes at Quoile Yacht Club’s annual two-day event at the weekend.

Home crews were left empty-handed as three of the six classes were won by Killyleagh sailors, another two went to Whiterock and there was success too for East Down Yacht Club.

Full marks to the organisers who managed to get three races sailed when at one stage it looked as if the event would be in doubt.

With winds gusting to 30 knots-plus on Saturday morning, a decision was taken to postpone sailing until the afternoon.

It proved to be the correct decision. The wind moderated sufficiently to allow one race to be sailed and apart from the odd sharp gust, conditions on Sunday were ideal for two more races.

There was a slightly reduced turn-out of 31 boats competing in the six races and pride of place over the two days went to Frank Petticrew and the crew of his beautiful Nicholson 43, Magdaleyne, who ensured that the PY1 top prize would be going to East Down YC.

Ronnie Crosby’s Maxi, Mad Fish, from the host club, finished a close second, while Ronnie Barr, from Killyleagh finished third in Cheval de Mer.

The Killyleagh gold rush was begun by Don and Steven Bridges, who topped the Squib fleet standings once again.

Second in Squibs were Gary Watson and Robert Marshall, also from Killyleagh, with Quoile commodore Warren Cannon and his wife, Frances, third.

Raymond Killops kept the Killyleagh bandwagon rolling when he steered Movistar Bleu to victory in the big boat IRC 1 class. Ernie Kelly’s What’s the Rush was a close second and Dermot Hinds was not far behind in Hindsight II.

Steven Stewart completed a great weekend for the Killyleagh club when he swept all before him in the PT restricted sail class. David Neilly was second in Silmarillion and Gordon Galloway and David Thompson were third in Finola’s Wing.

Whiterock’s Denis Kirk was a popular winner of the PY2 class, finishing just ahead of the Billy White and the crew of Shanty, from Portaferry.

Steven Andrews, also from Whiterock, held off Jonathan Gifford’s Apache, from the host club, and Portaferry’s James Murray to finish top of the pops in the IRC 2 standings.

The Quoile club wishes to thank the following event sponsors for their generous support:

Thomas Parker Marine, Killyleagh; Franklins of Banbridge; Zara Shoal Bistro Restaurant, Strangford; and Strangford Lough Services.

IRC1: Movistar Bleu, R. Killops, KYC; 2nd What’s the Rush, E. Kelly, BBC; 3rd Hindsight II, D. Hinds, Portaferry SC.

IRC2: 1st Pandanova, S. Andrews, SLYC; 2nd Apache, J. Gifford, QYC; 3rd Flashpoint, J. Murray, PSC.

PY1: 1st Magdaleyne, F. Petticrew, EDYC; 2nd Mad Fish, R. Crosby, QYC; 3rd Cheval de Mer, R. Barr, KYC.

PY2: 1st Load of Mischief, D. Kirk, SLYC; 2nd Shanty, W. White, PSC.

PY restricted sail: 1st Fantisera, S. Stewart, KYC; 2nd Silmarillion, D. Neilly, RCC; 3rd Finola’s Wing, Messrs Galloway & Thompson, KYC.