Mirror Nationals – Day 2

Having a healthy 53 boats racing at the nationals is all well and good, but it is a little bit annoying when you come into the shower and punk kids like Cian Hickey have used up all the hot water!

Day 2 of the nationals saw Mike Hill looking to extend his lead at the top of the pack. Once again the winds were light at the launch, but this time they didn’t die away to nothing, and the first race started without any major delays. Myself and Mike Hill foolishly trusted Met Eireann and went left in search of a promised shift, and were shocked when the wind suddenly shifted right, and kept shifting, sending Karl Mackey and Mark Boylan round the top mark dicing for the lead. Cian Gallagher was also in the leading pack, along with Adam McCullough and Mark Armstrong. Frustrating conditions continued for the rest of the race, with light winds and a steep chop. Karl and Mark were still fighting tooth and nail for the lead, Karl having the advantage downwind, but Mark having the edge up the beats. In the end it was Mark who crossed the line in first, with Karl in second. Mark Armstrong was third, Peter Todd fourth and Mike Hill, having rounded the windward in the thirties, finished in fifth.

  For race 2, the wind was back up to a less frustrating speed. The start got away the first time and we set off towards the windward. The early pace setter was Don McCormack, who gave a good shot at port tacking the entire fleet. First around the windward mark was me. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared on a race course in my life! Mike Hill and Mark Boylan were just behind, and Karl Mackey and Mark Armstrong not far behind them.

  I wasn’t able to hold off Mike for long, and he sped away to win the race, leaving me and Mark Boylan to fight it out for second, as Karl Mackey closed all the time. Eventually I held Mark off to finish second, just a few boat lengths ahead. Fourth was Karl Mackey, and fifth was Mark Armstrong.

Back on shore there was nearly a tragedy before the AGM as Andrew Collings burnt his foot on some soup, and then Kevin Hackett’s trousers were mercilessly attacked by a frog.

  Standings at the end of Day 2 were-

     1-     Mike Hill- 3 Points

2-     Mark Boylan- 6 Points

3-     Karl Mackey- 8 Points

4-     Mark Armstrong- 10 Points

5-     Rachel Guy- 16 Points

6-     Peter Collings- 17 Points

7-     Peter Todd- 20 Points

8-     Gerard Healy- 20 Points

9-     Joe McLoughlin- 21 Points