SAILING: Finn Lynch hot favourite on track to take ISA Topper Pathway title

09 Apr 2010

- Day Three at ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway Championship 2010
- Finn Lynch hot favourite on track to take ISA Topper Pathway title.

Very light and variable winds provided tricky sailing conditions but close racing at the ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway Championship in Schull, Co Cork.

Although entering the competition as the 'hot favourite', fleet leader Finn Lynch - the world's number two Topper sailor - did not necessarily have it all his own way.

ISA Youth Development Manager Rory Fitzpatrick explained: "The Topper fleet is extremely competitive this year, and Jack Brien is showing good form with three race wins, keeping the pressure on Finn."

Currently placed in second overall Jack Brien (Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club) will need to win the final race tomorrow, with Finn Lynch (Blessington Sailing Club) placing eight or below if he is take the title from Lynch.


The RS Feva class also have just one race to conclude their regatta with Brenda Lyden & Mark Cudmore (Royal Cork Yacht Club / Baltimore Sailing Club) just 3 points ahead of Julie Tingle & Amy Harrington from the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

On Roaring Water Bay, conditions are fairly light, with a south westerly breeze of 5-6 knots. There was a small chop but overall the seas were smoother than earlier in the week. The double handed 420 class successfully completed three races today, although their final race did have a shorter beat.

Cian O'Regan & Scott Flanigan (Kinsale Yacht Club) lost their overall lead of the 420 fleet when they were disqualified from race 10. The new fleet leaders, Jane Butler & Jenny Andreasson (Royal St George Yacht Club) are just one point about of O'Regan/Flanigan.

As the wind continued to die off, National Race Officer David Harte sent the Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 sailors ashore after just two races.

In the Laser Radial fleet Rory Lynch won the day when he scored first and second places in today's races. However Mattie O'Dowd continues his strong form in the Laser Radial fleet and leads Philip Doran (Courtown Sailing Club / Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club) by 12 points. However with up to three races still to count tomorrow and just one discard the title is still open.

In the Laser 4.7 fleet the title is still very much up for grabs with John Flynn, Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club, leading the largest fleet at the Championship, by just one point.

 

ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway Championship - Provisional Day Three Race Winners:

 

420 - 13 boats

  • Race 7 Diana Kissane & Hazel O'Neill, Howth Yacht Club
  • Race 8 Diana Kissane & Hazel O'Neill, Howth Yacht Club
  • Race 9 Emma Geary & Niamh Connolly, Royal Cork Yacht Club

 

Topper - 28 boats

  • Race 8 Finn Lynch, Blessington Sailing Club
  • Race 9 Jack Brien, Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
  • Race 10 Helen Rutherford, East Antrim Boat Club

 

RS Feva - 5 boats

  • Race 8 Brenda Lyden & Mark Cudmore, Royal Cork Yacht Club / Baltimore Sailing
  • Race 9 Dermot Lyden & Peter Stokes, Royal Cork Yacht Club
  • Race 10 Julie Tingle & Amy Harrington, Royal Cork Yacht Club

 

Laser 4.7 - 31 boats

  • Race 7 Colm O'Regan, Kinsale Yacht Club
  • Race 8 Colm O'Regan, Kinsale Yacht Club

 

Laser Radial - 30 boats

  • Race 7 Rory Lynch, Blessington Sailing Club
  • Race 8 Mattie O'Dowd, Royal St George Yacht Club