Cruisers at Quoile

Cruisers at Quoile

25 August 2021

QUOILE Yacht Club hosted a successful two-day cruiser event at the weekend.

Sponsored by Cuan Marine Services, Denvir’s Coaching Inn, Downpatrick, and the Artisan Cookhouse and Lobster Pot in Strangford, the event was making a welcome return after last year’s enforced absence owing to the Covid lockdown.

There were 31 entries, but the number of boats taking to the water was slightly lower because of the less than optimistic forecast for the weekend, particularly on Saturday.

In testing conditions, race officer Jody Innes and her team did an excellent job, even though some of the classes were unable to finish on Sunday when the wind fell to virtually nothing.

There was a strong visiting contingent, which was reflected in the overall results.

The IRC 1 big boat class went to Mike Spence and the crew of Le Basculer, from Killyleagh, who claimed three ‘bullets’ — that is, winning all three races — while Jonathan Gifford, from the host club, won the IRC 2 class in Apache.

James Regan, from East Down YC, took the honours in the NHC 1 class and Jack Kennedy, from Whiterock, won the NHC 2 category in his Sonata, Meltemi.

Steven Andrews, from Quoile, was the winner of the NHC restricted sail class and Keith Carr, from East Down, lifted the top prize in the NHC 2 restricted sail class.

Club commodore Joanne Magowan congratulated the prizewinners and thanked the sponsors and everyone who made the event a great success.

Results

IRC 1: 1st Le Basculer, M Spence, KYC; 2nd Go To Red, P Holden, SLYC; 3rd Hijacker, S Cranston, DCC.

IRC 2: 1st Apache, J Gifford, QYC; 2nd Wild Mustard, K Maxwell & A McRobert, EDYC; 3rd Flashpoint, J Murray, PSC.

NHC 1: 1st Lizante, J Regan, EDYC; 2nd Cheval de Mer, R Barr, KYC; 3rd Magdaleyne, M Petticrew, EDYC.

NHC 2: 1st Meltemi, J Kennedy, SLYC; 2nd Carnelian, C McClements, PSC; Shanty, B Kelly, PSC.

NHC 1 restricted sail: 1st Scarybird, S Andrews, QYC; 2nd Mannaman Mac, M & M Broughton, KYC; 3rd Tiger Lily, R Beattie, KYC.

NHC 2 restricted sail: 1st Kestrel, K Carr, EDYC; 2nd Tarka, G & G Baker, QYC; 3rd Lauran, R Leigh, KYC.