Junior bravehearts take centre stage at Quoile

26 June 2013

THE weather took its toll at Quoile Regatta on Saturday.

With the forecast predicting gusts of 20 knots and heavy showers, it was not surprising that numbers were down slightly on previous years.

Even so, 80 boats made it to the starting line and the crews enjoyed keen and, at times, hairy sailing.

Pride of place went to the small number of juniors who braved the conditions to race a triangular course which brought its fair share of capsizes.

The young ones showed great ability and not a little courage as they managed to pull themselves out of the water and complete their races.

Ella Anderson and Olivia Mooney led the way in the Topper full rig and Topper 4.2 classes respectively, brother and sister Manus and Molly O’Kane were impressive in their Teras and brothers Paul and Matthew Stacey did well to get round in their Pico, despite capsizing just before start.

There were good performances also from David Patterson, Christopher Cannon and Killyleagh visitor Angus Ferris.

Elsewhere, Raymond Killops and the crew of Movistar Bleu took the honours in the IRC 1 class and Steven Andrews’ Pandanova had a couple of minutes to spare over the Fletcher brothers in their new RS Elite as he won the IRC 2 category.

It was a good day for the Quoile contingent with victories for Ronnie Crosby’s Mad Fish in PY 1 and James Heron’s Straidorn of Down in PY 2.

Strangford Sailing Club enjoyed a clean sweep in the Flying 15s.

The honours being taken by Gerry Reilly and Tom Lusink, while Don and Stevie Bridges were best of the Squibs.

Results

IRC 1: 1st Movistar Bleu, R. Killops, KYC; 2nd What’s the Rush 2, E. Kelly, BBC; 3rd Hindsight II, D. Hinds, PSC.

IRC 2: 1st Pandanova, S. Andrews, SLYC; 2nd Cardinal Puff, M. & A. Fletcher, SLYC; 3rd Alcyone, Messrs Thompson and Watson, EDYC.

PY 1: 1st Mad Fish, R. Crosby, QYC; 2nd Lizante, J. Regan, EDYC; 3rd Tiger Lily, K. Beattie, KYC.

PY 2: 1st Straiddorn of Down, J. Heron, QYC; 2nd Wandering Angus, R. Kelly, PSC; 3rd Digit, C. Patterson, EDYC.

Restricted sail 1: 1st Drumlin, I. Bogie, SLYC; 2nd Trinity, J. Baker, QYC; 3rd Mississippi, J. Gibb, KYC.

Restricted sail 2: 1st Extreme, M. Bridges, KYC; 2nd Silmarillion, D. Neilly, RCC.

Flying 15: 1st Over the Moon, G. Reilly & T. Lusink, SSC; 2nd Art Gekko, M. Crichton & W. Findlay, SSC; 3rd No Excuse, P. & A. Sandford, SSC.

River: 1st Laragh, K. Smyth, SLYC; 2nd Strule, Edwards, Hinds & McKnight; SLYC.

Glen: 1st Glen Lark, R. Aiken, SLYC; 2nd Glen Cona, N. Bloch, SLYC.

Squib: 1st Firecracker, D. & S. Bridges, KYC.

Dinghy Handicap: 1st RS 400, C. Horder & W. McCatcheon, SLYC.

Topper full rig: 1st E. Anderson, QYC; 2nd A. Ferris, KYC.

Topper 4.2: 1st O. Mooney, QYC; 2nd D. Patterson, QYC.

Tera: 1st Manus O’Kane, QYC; 2nd Molly O’Kane, QYC.

Pico: 1st P. & M. Stacey, QYC.

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder