Lough Foyle Yacht Club

A nice evening with a good breeze (F2/3 N). Black Brae, Muff, a mark near the slipway, X2.
The gp’s benifited from the long beat, while the phantoms and lasers caught up on the long broad reach home. Everyone finished within 4 minutes. The corrected times using the LFYC handicap system showed a tie, so the higher place was awarded to the boat first across the line.

F3/4 Start at the perch, down to a mark between Muff and Black Brea (the water was too low to use the regular Muff Mark) Black Brea, Fahan X2 and back up to the line.
The reach on the second lap from the temporary mark to Black Brea was spectacular, the wind came on and there was a bit of chop and all boats flew across bouncing on the waves at great speed.  Brilliant fun. Worth sailing all year just to get that Reach!

Many thanks to George D for rescue cover and John O K for times.

Port Course in Culmore Bay. Very Close finish with all boats crossing the line within 6 minutes after 50 minutes of racing.

Variable force 1 to 0, Narrow gate start,cup to dropped mark nr mckennas, then to Harts,Coolkerragh and back through line x2.
The new shorter start line policy is definitely sharpening up starting skills, and the higher density of competing boats led to an odd light bump or two .

Lap 1 ok, Lap 2 wind fell off even more,and despite 2 ships entering culmore bay and docking at lisahally all boats negotiated course and returned home safetly. Thanks to John Okane for times, and Roy for providing rescue boat cover in the absence of the OD.

Port course: wide gate start(perch over to power station!), beat up to lower faughan(black brays), coneyburrow, power station, x2, wind F2 easterly

culmore bay course, narrow gate start, up to mark nr mckennas, harts, power station, x3, wind F2-3. Congratulations to George G who sailed very well in his Laser.

A wet night, wind light at start f1, and fell off during the race. Port course, faughan, mark in from conneyburrow, hartsx2. George D shortened the race so the finish was with the tide.

Start at perch, Harts, Fahan, Muff x2 Finish at the perch. F3 increasing with gusts. The start line was busy as boats tried to squeeze in near the perch. For some, sudden jibes were needed. David and Joy caught a gust near Muff and went for a swim, recovering well. George G capsized while negotiating Harts but made good time nonetheless. Joe K sailed a laser and has been awarded a LFYC handicap of 1150.

Thanks to James H Jnr for rescue cover and timekeeping.

F2/3 SE, sunshine!

A figure of eight course. Start line between shore and a mark near the pier, over to the end of the old jetty, across to a mark near mckennas up to a mark in the channel near the port, run down to and through the line, X3.
Anton H found a bit of speed in race 2.

Kevin L is in Rathmullen at the Seafest and a few other boats are going down to join him on Sunday.

Start at the perch, down to black braes, over to conniborrow, back to power station, over to a mark just past the slipway finish by the perch. Variable Light winds F2/3 at best, none sometimes.

A very unusual race tonight. Danny G and Keith L established a good lead on the way to black braes. Then the wind dropped near conniborrow and many boats caught up. Then the wind dropped again and 7 boats sat at the power station mark for about 15 minutes. All was quiet as no one was for giving up with the finish line in sight and the race having been shortened to one lap. Then the wind picked up at there was a mad dash for the finish line. The fastest finishing boat completed in 62mins 13 sec and the slowest? boat finished in 63.16. Close!

Once the LFYC handicap was applied the results looked all different.  Blessed are the first they shall be last (Matthew 5.lfyc)