Mid Term Sailing in Baltimore & Schull enjoyed by 18 sailors 25/02/10

Mid Term Baltimore & Schull Sailing by Emma Geary & Niamh Connolly.

 

Mid-term began in Schull on Friday for those less dedicated to school. We started off with 3 boats.   Dave Harte led an intensive rules session and answered hundreds of questions on racing rules and imaginary scenarios.  The weather was perfect for practicing the rules in high-pressure situations.   Day 2 we continued sailing in tight courses until we got dizzy and lost our voices from shouting rules at each other, the day came to a close with a high quality match-racing event. Richard Roberts and Robbie English who fought tooth and nail with Emma Geary and Niamh Connolly to claim the title of Junior Americas Cup Champions are still protesting the winner. The jury of Tom Mapplebeck, Iarlaith Kennedy, Daniel Browne and Philipp Wiehen are still out on their decision. Aodh Kennedy and Jack Hogan were sadly knocked out in the early stages of the competition. Day 3 saw cracking sunshine but very slack winds, after a long debrief and more disputes over the match racing, we set sail for Baltimore.

 

The following day, Monday, saw the arrival of 5 more boats in Baltimore and Johnny McGovern, British Olympic 470 helm, to coach us with Tom Mapplebeck. We sailed every day for the 5 days in a variety of wind and wave conditions inside and outside the harbour, as we spent the week climbing Johnnys pyramid of racing necessities. The prestigious Baltimore Growler was contested on Wednesday, with 4 teams of 2 boats. The final of the team-racing event was sailed between the Currabinny Yacht Squadron and Helims, with the Helims winning in the end. The last day finished off with the Medal race in Baltimore Harbour, won by the new kids on the block, Fiona and Patrick Daly.  Unfortunately we learned our lesson of keeping care of our equipment and not leaving things in boats when various boats gear went missing.  Entertainment was provided for the week by everyone looking in every corner and under every pile of fishing nets in the village.

 

Special thanks is due to Tom & Johnny, the coaches, Brid Cudmore, Nora and Neil Hogan, Fiona and Charlie Bolger, Eric and Anita Geary and Adrienne Kennedy, who cooked us all dinner on the various evenings, and also to Tony Connolly and Brid who organised the training event, and to Baltimore Sailing Club for kindly hosting us.