There’s all to play for in Diehard Dinghy Series

There’s all to play for in Diehard Dinghy Series

26 October 2016

A COLD, crisp autumn afternoon with steady easterly breezes saw 17 competitors take to the water in the penultimate week of the Diehard Dinghy Series at Killyleagh Yacht Club.

After losing a race to the conditions last week, the series got back on track as race officer David Young packed in three short races back-to-back.

With just one week to go, the heat is definitely on for the top spots in each class.

In the dinghy handicap class, Phil McFarland took charge of Gordon Reid’s RS Quest, but three seconds on Saturday were not good enough to keep last week’s leader in the top spot.

Despite being deserted by his daughter Nina this week, Bryan Monson in his Mirror Miracle, Soggy Bottom, put in a sterling performance sailing single handed, taking three bullets and jumping to the top of the table. With just one point separating the top two, it is all to play for next week, while Catherine Pooler and Anna Wilson in their RS200 look safely set to lift third place overall. 

Adam Morrison, meanwhile, remained uncontested in the Laser 4.7 class, and is now in an unassailable position, whether the remainder of his fleet show up next week or not.  A lovely way to say goodbye to his Laser 4.7 as he moves into the larger Laser Radial fleet next year.  

Catching up on a race on Saturday suited the Laser Radial squad sailors who missed week three due to training commitments.

Flying the flag for the home club, Angus Ferris lifted two firsts and one second this week to put him well ahead, in fact almost, but not quite impregnable, at the top of the table.

With both discards now in force, the high results accrued by any training week absences have been negated and a second, third and fourth on Saturday saw Ben McMeekin overtake older brother Paul and move into second overall, but only by one point. 

While there is a five-point gap to the best of the rest, the results in this class are by no means set and clean sailing will be needed next week to stop William Browne in fourth or Adam Fermor in fifth taking one of the medal places on the final day.

Perhaps the biggest battle next week will come in the highly competitive Topper class as Anna Rose Kelly takes on Colin Crichton in a race to lift the top prize.

A week at squad training put young Crichton on the back foot on the leader board for a couple of weeks, but as the eight-race discard kicked in on Saturday, his first, second and third place has put him right back into contention in second place overall.

The ever consistent Anna Rose is currently leading the pack, counting three firsts and three seconds and not willing to give up without a fight.

While Strangford Sailing Club’s golden girl, Evie McLaughlin, also took a first, second and third on Saturday and currently sits in third place overall, she cannot attend next week leaving a big space open for the best of the rest to grab some glory.

Currently in fourth place, Aimee Cushley looks like the mostly likely candidate to fill Evie’s shoes. However, stronger winds could also see Philip Crichton in contention for a place on the podium.  Either way, all eyes will be on Kelly and Crichton next week and the battle lines are already drawn.      

Overall results with just one week to go are as follows:

Dinghy Handicap — 1st Soggy Bottom, Nina and Bryan Monson, 8 points; 2nd RS Quest, Gordon 

Reid, 9 points; 3rd Wingbeat, Catherine Pooler and Anna Wilson, 19 points.

Laser 4.7 — 1st Adam Morrison, 6 points; 2nd Fergal Mooney, 16 points.

Laser Radial — 1st Angus Ferris, 7 points; 2nd Ben McMeekin, 16 points; 3rd Paul McMeekin, 17 points.

Topper: 1st Anna Rose Kelly, 9 points; 2nd Colin Crichton, 11 points; 3rd Evie McLaughlin, 16 points.