Fireball Munsters at Killaloe Sailing Club
by Frank Miller 12 Sep 2016 08:26 NZST
10-11 September 2016
Noel Butler and Shane McCarthy have won the Fireball Munsters at Killaloe Co Clare after racing was abandoned for day two of the event.
On Sunday morning the forecast strong southerly winds kept building and while initially it looked sailable a series of wind readings from the race team on the water persuaded the sailors that it might be better to go home with masts, boats and bodies intact.
On Saturday eleven Fireballs enjoyed good if sometimes flukey conditions on the first day of the event. Race officers Liam Maloney and Jeff O'Donoghue continuously adjusted the courses to allow for a tricky wind which veered from South to South West in unpredictable phases. While there were plenty of veins of very good wind with flat out trapezing there were also flat patches around the course especially at the windward mark under a large hill.
The brave amongst the fleet found that the best pressure was often at the edges, especially the port layline, but it was a nerve-wracking journey to that layline. In the first two races the Clancy brothers Conor and James stamped their mark on the event by winning the first two races but Butler/McCarthy managed to win races three and four races and with two second places their overall score pulled them into the lead overnight and ultimately delivered the title. Third place was won by Niall McGrotty and Neil Cramer with Louise McKenna and Hermine lying fourth on equal points.
The travelling fleet was boosted by 4 local boats, with John Bolger and Jay Dalton being best of the local boats, winning the silver fleet prize from Jim Ryan and David Tanner. The classic trophy was won by Susie Coote and Mick Collins.
At the prizegiving the visitors expressed their appreciation to the club volunteers who made the event such a success. The final Fireball regional event of the year takes place in the National Yacht Club on October 1st and 2nd when the club hosts the class for their Leinster Championships in tandem with events for Flying Fifteen and SB20s.