Manx Sail Racer

Report by Dave Kneale

Fourteen boats from Ireland, Scotland, England and the Isle of Man are contesting the 2010 National 18 Class Dinghy Championship, sponsored by Isle of Man Assurance.
Hosted by the Isle of Man Yacht Club every four years as the Championship venue rotates between the competing nations, recent Manx championships have been typified by strong winds and large seas.  This year’s event has offered a different challenge with light winds dominating the first two day’s action but the competition throughout the fleet is typically fierce.

Three races opened the Championship on Tuesday.  Race 1 saw an intense fight for first as Manx boat Crossfire (Antony Ellis, Mike Wilson and Nigel Collins) was able to maintain a fragile lead despite constant pressure from the Scotsmen aboard Howlin’ Gael ( CONTACT _Con-3E437A6C1FA Stuart Urquhart, Richard Urquhart and Ross Young).  Local boat Gorrum, helmed by Michael Kneale, took third.

All bets were off during Race 2 as fickle winds took their toll: at the first rounding mark Howlin’ Gael and Gorrum found themselves fighting for the wooden spoon at the back of the fleet, only to claw their way back through the pack to finish second and third respectively.  Irish entry Das Boot (Tom Dwyer, Peter Hassett and Gregor Davidson), took the win.
Steady breeze returned for Race 3, which once again saw Crossfire (IOMYC) and Howlin’ Gael (RFYC) duelling at the front of the fleet.  The Scottish boat prevailed to take first, with Ellis’ crew second and Tommy Dwyer’s Das Boot claiming third.

Wednesday dawned to a little more wind and ominously dark skies.  Irish boat Ball’n’Chain (Dave O’Connell, Kevin Horan and John O’Connell) led throughout to win Race 4 in a very tight finish: less than three minutes separated the entire fleet after an hour of racing.

A disastrously-timed capsize forced Crossfire, lying second overall after four races, to miss Race 5 as a brief rain squall brought strong winds before leaving a calm spell in its wake.  Tommy Dwyer’s men on Das Boot were quickest to adapt to the changing conditions and won the race, with ever-consistent Scots of Howlin’ Gael claiming second and Mick Kneale’s Gorrum taking third.  Crossfire’s luck was to change as they comfortably won Race 6, with Irish boats Ball’n’Chain and Das Boot taking second and third.

After six races, the consistency of Howlin’ Gael puts them top of the overall standings, with Das Boot only a point behind them and Michael Kneale’s Gorrum in third place.

Racing continues until Saturday; as the final races are held the competitors can discard their worst results, leaving the overall championship wide open and the coveted Cork Harbour Trophy still up for grabs.

For a selection of photos from races 1 to 6 take a look at the MSR Gallery