The Connachts 2009 - a report

The IODAI Connacht Regional Championship was held on Galway Bay the weekend of 18th & 19th July. A large fleet of 154 optimist sailors came to Galway Bay Sailing Club to compete in the championship, including many of the Irish team recently returned from the European Championships in Slovenia.

Early conditions on Saturday were good for sailing with an oscillating WSW breeze under overcast skies and the first races got underway between Trout and Oranmore Bay. The near-spring tides in this area added to the challenge presented to the sailors, and became more pronounced as the wind lightened progressively during the day. At the end of Saturday the main fleet had completed three races each with race wins for Ruairi Finnegan, and Seafra Guilfoyle (2) in the senior fleet and Fergus Flood, Louise Magowan, and Daire Cournane in the Junior Fleet .  Meanwhile back in New Harbour the Regatta fleet had a mix of light winds and flat calm, although they too had raced in their afternoon racing session with Harry Craig taking three wins in three races.

Sunday's conditions were brighter but more challenging for race management and competitors alike. Soon after the first Junior fleet start the light NW wind dropped away to calm and the race was abandoned before the first mark was reached. Shortly afterwards a good breeze filled in from the WNW and racing was underway briskly. The first race proper saw plenty of capsizes as conditions built into the high teens. Adam Hyland won the Junior race and Michael Magowan won the Senior. A second race was started promptly afterwards and the wind hovered around 20knots with squalls well into the 20s and a good wave building in places. Robert Dickson and Colm O'Regan took firsts in the Junior and Senior fleets respectively.

Closer to the club the regatta fleet had a shorter day on the water but completed two more races to make a series of 5. Local sailor Cian Walsh took wins in each race, thriving in the brisk winds.

At the prizegiving, IODAI committee member Kevin Henry thanked GBSC for hosting the Connacht Championships and congratulated the participants on their racing. GBSC Commodore Paul O'Brien, thanked event organiser John Leech, all the travelling parents that assited with the event, the club's volunteers and staff who helped to organise the weekend. He then proceeded to award the prizes. Full results available on http://iodai.com/live/771.html and photographs are available on: http://gbsc-foto.conservatorycentre.com/main.php?g2_itemId=12

Senior Gold (Top 5 all members of the European Team) 1. Seafra Guilfoyle RCYC 2. Tara Flood  HYC 3. Patrick Crosbie  RCYC 4. Colm O'Regan KYC 5. John Durcan RCYC

Senior Silver

1. Peter Regan LRYC

2. Peter Quelly WHSC

3. Darragh Hassey LDYC

4. Julie Power, RCYC

5. Amy Lambert, LDYC

Junior Gold

1. Robert Dickson LRYC

2. Sophie Browne RCYC/TBSC

3. Daire Cournane  RCYC/KYC

4. Lousie Magowan TBSC

5. Adam Hyland RStGYC

Junior Silver

1. Scot Levie  LDYC

2. Jil McGinley RCYC

3. Aoife Hopkins HYC

4. Donal Collins GBSC

5. Aisling Keller LDYC

Regatta:

1. Harry Craig RStGYC

2. Cian Walsh GBSC

3. Denis Looby LDYC

4. David Carberry GBSC

5. Robert Blake LDYC