GP14 takes Quayleisure Series at RNIYC

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   The series began on Sunday 2nd October and concluded on Sunday 18th December.  As is often the case at that time of year several weekends were blown out resulting in an eleven round series with nine to count.  Michael Browne and Gerry Reid of Quayleisure very kindly sponsored the series.  Quayleisure are Northern Irish agents for the hugely successful range of RS dinghies as well as Zapcat race boats and Gemini RIBS.  Quayleisure.com is soon to be an online chandlery.

 The bulk of the handicap fleet were RS200’s and 400’s with several crews sailing different rounds in both models which made keeping up with the scoring a real challenge! Dave Cheyne, Greg Bell and Gordon Patterson were amongst those to progress to the RS400 during the series.  Also making regular appearances were the 505 of Michael Ennis/Fenton Parsons and the Laser Radial of Andrew Vaughan.  It was good to see two visiting dinghies in the form of the victorious GP14 of Newenham De Cogan/Emily Brough and the Laser 4000 of Neil Strain/Emily Hadden from Strangford Lough Yacht Club.

 The Quayleisure.com Series saw some very tight handicap racing through the fleet and there was in fact one round where the 505 was tied on corrected time to the second with the RS400 of Greg Bell/Michael Wright, a very rare occurrence indeed! De Cogan and Brough sailed the well handicapped GRP GP14 to four victories, mostly on the lighter days, with Dave Cheyne and Stephen Kane, RS200/400, taking three wins.  In the heavier weather the 505 of Ennis/Parsons was able to sail to it’s low handicap winning the final two rounds to snatch second overall in the Series by one point from Cheyne/Kane despite having missed the first four rounds.  The RS200 of John Todd/Declan Bradley took one race win as did long time Series leaders Greg Bell/Michael Wright, RS200/400.

 A successful and closely fought Series was completed with prize giving in the Clubhouse after the final round with De Cogan and Brough deservedly crowned 2005 Quayleisure Autumn Series Champions with Ennis and Parsons runners up and Cheyne and Kane taking third, the RS400 crew also winning the RS Fleet prize.

 Adult dinghy sailing is alive and well at Royal North after many years of hibernation. This current breed refuse to hibernate at all and intend sailing all winter! 2006 is looking like a great year…

Fenton Parsons

2005 Dinghy Class Sec.