Dinghies galore at Killyleagh

Dinghies galore at Killyleagh

5 October 2016

KILLYLEAGH Yacht Club was definitely the place to be last weekend for dinghy sailors, both young and old, with a packed programme of racing on both Saturday and Sunday.

The DieHard Dinghy Series started on Saturday with two races in sometimes blustery conditions. 

This is the second year this event has been run at KYC and 18 competitors lined up to get some points on the board, ahead of late entrants starting next week. 

In the dinghy handicap class, Gordon Reid and Anne Dorrian in an RS Quest, were left uncontested as strong gusts sent the other competitors ashore, giving them a great start to the series with two firsts.

KYC’s Adam Morrison also put in a strong performance, holding off SLYC’s Fergal Mooney in both races in the Laser 4.7 fleet to take two firsts on day one, with Mooney in second place overall on two seconds. 

In the highly competitive Laser Radial fleet, KYC’s Angus Ferris battled the McMeekin brothers from SSC at the top of the fleet.

With a first and second place on Saturday, Paul McMeekin is currently in the top spot, but a first and third place sees Ferris just one point behind in second overall. Ben McMeekin held off the best of the rest and a second and third place on the day puts him in third overall, four points clear of the rest of the fleet.

Racing was also very competitive in the Topper class, the biggest fleet on the day.

After a great race one for SSC’s Evie McLaughlin, too much enthusiasm on the line in race two saw Strangford’s rising star with an OCS, putting her in third place overall after day one of the event. However, with two discards in the series, she is one to watch in the coming weeks. 

KYC’s Topper queen, Anna Rose Kelly, put in two consistent performances to leave her in second place at this stage, but it was young Colin Crichton, last year’s 4.2 winner, who took an early lead with a first and a third, giving him pole position at the top of the fleet.

An unfortunate finishing penalty for big brother Philip Crichton means he currently sits in fourth, but like Evie, when the first discard kicks in the tables could be turned.

With just one week complete, entries to the DieHards are still open, so no matter what age you are, come along and extend the sailing season. There are eight races still to go between now and Halloween.

After the blustery conditions on Saturday, the race officials at KYC arrived to find a flat calm on Strangford Lough on Sunday morning — not ideal conditions for the last Topper Traveller of the year.

The event had originally been scheduled for September, but gale force winds forced a cancellation.

Although the later date reduced the number of sailors taking part, as a sea breeze filled in across the lough, 32 competitors took to the water in the hope of being the Topper champion for 2016.

In what is often a male dominated sport, girls definitely ruled the world in the Full Rig class with a female 1-2-3 at the top of the table. 

East Antrim Boat Club’s Lucy Kane put in a sterling performance with two firsts and a second setting her firmly on the podium with first overall. 

Not only did she take first overall at KYC, but consistent racing throughout the series meant a haul of trophies as she also claimed Best Female and Best Overall in the Topper class for the entire series.

It was a family affair in second and third place with Ellen McCarlie finishing ahead her sister, Jenna, and taking second overall. However, Jenna’s earlier performances saw the Country Antrim Yacht Club sailor in second place in this year’s Traveller. 

Despite the main trophies all leaving the lough, in the individual age categories, the local sailors performed much better.

In the Under 12 class, Erin McIlwaine from Newcastle Yacht Club finished first overall, while Strangford Sailing Club’s Colin Crichton second and East Down’s Eva Briggs in third.

In the U-17 class, Sarah Jennings, also from EDYC, came second behind Hannah Liddle from East Antrim Boat Club, with Abby Williamson, also from EABC, in third.

Girl power carried on into the Topper 4.2 fleet as County Antrim Yacht Club’s Hannah Dadley Young powered ahead of the rest of the fleet to take three firsts, putting her first overall on the day and also in the 2016 Traveller Series.

Lewis Thompson from Donaghadee Sailing  Club finished second, while Daniel Corbett from County Antrim Yacht Club finished third.

Killyleagh Yacht Club would like to thank all the local clubs who helped support the event by providing much-needed rescue cover on the day.  Particular thanks go to Steven Martin from SLYC, who stepped in as rescue co-ordinator for the day, and to Roisin Kelly of Rhoda Stewart’s in Ballynahinch, who supplied the catering for the event.