Lough Foyle Yacht Club

Race day 28/04/18 and FINAL RESULTS
Races 11+12 racing in Culmore bay on a fluky day with two 180 degree wind shifts. Beat up to Harts, get becalmed and then beat back to the power station in R1. In race two a reaching start and run up to Harts then a gust and run back to the power station.

Todays racing also concludes SERIES A. Two discard races have been allowed (marked d).

First place: Ken and Davy L

Second place: Anton H/Owen McC

Third place: James P H/Alan T

Race day 21/04/18
Races 9+10 A bright windy day – perfect for sailing. A request from the Harbour Master was received not to sail until a large boat passed into the port. The OD observed this request and racing was duly delayed by about 30 minutes. Racing from the start line between flags and Leonard’s mark. Up to the Power station, run to Faughan, reach to Conniburrow beat back to the power station. Windy and gusty with an exciting reach from Faughan to Conniburrow. Bill J and Joe McC took the lead in race one but Ken and Davy passed them on the reach – which was too tight for a spinnaker. Anton H took the Jibe mark too close and hit the mark with the main sheet and had to do a 360. In race 2 Anton H, racing in the club laser was buzzing the stern on Bill J and Joe McC on the reach. Bill and Joe pulled away again on the beat but Anton H took second on LFYC handicap. Kevin T got blown over  on the beat but managed a a dry capsize  – nice trick and recovered without much loss.

Race day 14/04/18
Races 7+8 A bright breezy day blowing Easterly F5 and gusty. A big wind shadow behind the power station causing all sorts of swirling conditions. Racing from the Perch to a mark by the old docks, reach down to Fahan then tight reach (no spinnaker) to Conniborrow. It was touch and go decision to fly the spinnaker at all. Great racing very tight between Anton H and Owen McC and Ken and Peter L in both races. Great to see George G out in his Solo.

NB: Back by popular demand: Two discard races will be allowed in the final result calculation.

Race day 07/04/18
Races 5+6 I didn’t see this race myself but note long race times in race 1 (winners at 78.50) and short race times in race 2 (winners at 28.01). I suspect light winds and a shorter race course set for race 2. Great to see George G on the score sheet. James H and Alan T sailing very well with two wins and moving up the series table.

Race day 31/03/18
Races 3+4
Racing at low tide from the perch to Faughan, tight reach over to a mark near Conniborrow back up to a mark near the Perch X2. Light winds N F2/3. Bright but a bit cold. Running aground was a high risk. Very strong flood tide in the second race. Making the correct navigation decisions was at a premium.

Ken and Davy L were on top form making it all look too easy. Great to see Joy W out in the club Laser.

Note: The results above reflect the LFYC handicap. Total number of participants in the race +2pts for a DNS. Total number of participants +1pt for a DNF. No discards will be applied.

Races 1+2
The first race of the season. Good luck to James P H who launched his new GP14 today. Great to be back sailing after a long summer and a beautiful day to start the season. Sunshine and a good breeze (F3-4). Sailing in Culmore Bay. Starting at the slipway, up to Harts, run down to Gilmores, reach over to the Power station through the line X 2 for the first race, X3 for the second. Good racing, lots of place changes. Great to see James H Snr out on the Phantom.

Races start on time: The time of the race start indicated is the time of the five minute gun. It is up to sailors and crew to be on the water and in the proximity of start line. The OD (depends who it is, take your chances) will (probably) not wait!

Rescue Coxwain: Liam Harrigan (unless stated)
OD: Peter Fallon Snr (unless stated)

Shrove Regatta – 29-30 July 2017
Greencastle Regatta – 12 – 13 August 2017

GP14 EVENTS 2017
29-30 Apr – O’Tiarnaigh Challenge & Purcell Trophy
17-18 June – Ulster Championships
7-9 July – Leinster Championships
19-21 August – Irish Championships
16-17 September – Autumn Open
14-15 October – Hot Toddy
2016 Race reports (archive)
2015 Race reports (archive)
2014 Race reports (archive)
2013 Race reports (archive)
2012 Race reports (archive),
2011 Race reports (archive),
2010 Race reports (archive)

The last sail of the year – and it felt like it. Windy, rainy, cold. Nonetheless two lasers went out.

Race 9

1st Anton H
2nd Kevin T

Race 10

1st Anton H
2nd Kevin T

Race 11

1st Anton H
2nd Kevin T

A few dodgy Jibes today over near the jetty – made more difficult because the wind near there is affected by the power station.
After the sailing we adjourned to the hut and had Christmas Pudding. Many thanks to Liam and Ken and Pete for rescue and officer duties.

As we were packing up work was in full flow laying the timber founds for the new changing room. It will be a great bonus next year – see you then.

O+O 2017

Three short races, first race two laps, second and third one lap each. Wind picked up for last race leading to very fast times. Anton H and Joy W showing a bit of nice style with quick spinaker raising and lowering.

Racing in Culmore Bay, James McL going very well in the Laser. Shifty conditions ranging from F1 to F5. Cold but bright and sunny. Race No 4 was two laps, Race No 5 was one lap.

To keep people warm instead of the usual five we adopted a two minute gun for the frostbite series. Two mins, one min, Go.
After the racing we headed to the hut for coffee.

This year for the first year in a long time we ran a Frostbite series. The Series comprised of four SAT morning races in November. The Frostbite series was primarily intended for the Laser class but all boats are welcome.

Race 1 (2 Laps)

1st Anton H
2nd Kevin T
3rd Dermot D

Race 2 (1 lap)

1st Anton H
2nd Kevin T
3rd Dermot D

Race 3 (1 lap)

1st Anton H
2nd Kevin T
3rd Dermot D

Racing in Culmore Bay with variable winds. Just before racing was started a squall came in and Anton H went over twice in quick succession. Dermot also took a swim a bit later. Many thanks to Liam H in the rescue boat and to Big Pete and Ken L as officers. We adjourned after the race to the hut for coffee and cake.

The sailing on this year’s Hot Toddy was blown out. A freezing gale was blowing. But on the upside we still had the whiskey!

So we did the only thing we could and sat in the new hut and drank merrily.

This year’s Hot Toddy was partaken in the new hut, which has a good roof, a window, a door and heater. It also has a plug for the kettle and a table and seats. A great improvement over the usual location in the castle – nice as the castle is.

Many thanks to George D who once again provided the hospitality.

Blowing a gale!! It was doubtful if we would get out. Eventually three Lasers set out.

1st Kevin T

2nd Bill J

Rtd. Anton H

The course was in Culmore Bay. Congratulations to Kevin T, nice sailing.

On the 14 Oct 17 LFYC was pleased to join the Foyle Flotilla. The Foyle Flotilla was organised by the Loughs Agency and it brought together all the main boating clubs including ourselves, the rowers, the canoe club, Sea Scouts and Foyle Sailability.

We sailed from Culmore into the city centre had a bit of fun in town and a picnic then turned back with tide. A great day.

Special thanks to Kevin Lynch who made the arrangements from the LFYC side.

Many thanks to all the organisers and helpers (esp, those in rescue boats, we all appreciated the tow home when the wind dropped near Thornhill bank).

About 10 LFYC boats went into town a mix of GP14s, Punts and Lasers.

This race was started from the water using a whistle. The times were accurately recorded using a swiss watch. The handicap was calculated using a deep learning neural network running an advanced algorithm developed by NASA. The results you see above are the considered working of the processes mentioned.