Perfect sailing conditions off Sherkin Island today with a steady 12-16 knot breeze provided exhilarating conditions for Mark Mansfield and Terry English and the crew onboard Gut Rot to secure the championship with a 10 point lead and a race to spare.
Denis Murphy from RCYC on Aquatack won the first race of the day and Gut Rot won the second while Nicholas O’Leary onboard T-Bone owned by Crosshaven duo Tom Durcan and Clive O’Shea won the final race in the series. Neil Angle from Brighton YC was the top UK boat finishing 8th.
Commenting on his win, Mark Mansfield said:
‘It was a tremendous event with a very strong tough field sailed in ideal conditions and well organised by Baltimore Sailing Club. No quarter was given nor expected and I think everyone had great sailing over the three days. I have to pay special tribute to my part owner Terry English and the crew, Mike Budd, Joe Bruen and Bernard Fitzpatrick. It was a fantastic showpiece for the 1720 class which is building significantly in numbers’.
1. Mansfield/Terry English 17 pts
2. Tom Durcan/Clive O’Shea 27 pts
3. Anthony O’Leary 30 pts
4. Peter O’Flynn/John Crotty 37 pts
5. Ben Cooke/Jim Griffith 46 pts
6. Denis Murphy 51 pts
7. Robert O’Leary 52 pts
8. Neil Angle 64 pts
9. Finbarr Jeffers 66 pts
10. Andrew Brook 84 pts
Day two Report Friday 02 September 2011
Mark Mansfield holds the lead after six races at the 1720 Corona Euro Championships in Baltimore, West Cork. Nicholas O’Leary onboard T-Bone owned by Crosshaven duo Tom Durcan and Clive O’Shea is now in second place having discarded an ocs from yesterday and father Anthony is in third on the same number of points.
Conditions were testing off Sherkin today with strong tides and 12-14 knot winds. Three further races in the series were completed despite a bit of a delay for resetting the course between Races 5 and 6.
Race Officer David O’Brien commented ‘Races were longer than yesterday and that made racing more testing for the competitors. There were no black flags today although there was a general recall’.
Racing is on schedule to complete the championship tomorrow.’ (Sat)
Day One September 1st
Leading a strong contingent of eleven Royal Cork boats Current 1720 National Champion Mark Mansfield leads the 1720 Corona European Championships in Baltimore after a long day close sailing in steady 10-14 knot conditions. The 28 strong fleet completed three races off Sherkin Island and Mark Mansfield started well with the first win of the day.
It was a reasonably good day for Anthony O’Leary on Wet n’ Ready lying third overnight and son Robert lying seventh overnight. Son Nicholas is sailing on T-Bone owned by Crosshaven duo Tom Durcan and Clive O’Shea, and had a close second in the first race, an OCS in the second and went on to win the final race of the day. Nicholas, however, will be hoping to discard the OCS and counting a first and second must be considered a strong contender. Local team Peter O’Flynn’s Aquatack with John Crotty on board is lying second overall with consistent scores of 4,4,5.
This is an absolutely fascinating sailing competition with the cream of helms and crews battling it out and is one that will definitely not be over until the Fat Lady sings.
The ever willing and vastly experienced Race Officer David O’Brien commented on today’s racing: ‘Conditions were light with strong tides affecting the racing throughout the day. Thankfully wind held fairly steady and we were able to complete the three races with just one general recall’
First gun tomorrow (Fri) and Saturday will be at 10.55 with nine races scheduled for the series. Five races to constitute a series and if fewer than 6 races are sailed no discard will be permitted.
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