Day 2 of the Mirror World Sailing Championships on Lough Derg, Dromineer, Co. Tipperary got off to a tricky start. Race 3, the first race of the day, began with a total of three general recalls and two race abandonments due to severely quick shifting winds. Eventually, sixth time lucky, the fleet were clear and the race finally got under way. Finishing yesterday in 3rd overall, Sarah Richards and her son George (GBR) took the win in this race followed by Katie Davies & Gemma Keers (GBR) in second and father and daughter Jeremy and Lauren Stephens in third (GBR).
Race 2 got off first time under a black flag. Up the middle seemed to be the optimum tactic in the steady 18 knots breeze. First to weather mark were Davies & Keers followed closely by Nigel Thomas & Felix Jefferies (GBR), Ridgeley Ballardes & Rommel Chavez (PHI) and first Irish boat; 15 year olds Dougie Elmes & Scott Levie. With less squalls than earlier but wind of around 20 knots, the leading pack swapped places down to the leeward mark.
Up the second beat with wind now gusting 25 knots Ireland’s Elmes & Levie fought their way into 2nd place just rounding the weather mark ahead of Ballardes & Chavez. Davies & Keers had extended their lead at the second weather mark and chose not to fly the spinnaker on the reaching leg. One of the leading GBR boats Sarah Richards and her son George were not far behind the leading pack, and having won the first race of the day, are major contenders for this championship. South Africa’s brother and sister duo; Ryan & Michaela Robinson were also in this pack and will be also one to watch over the week. The pair were leaders after Day 1 and Ryan arrived at this event straight from ISAF Youth Worlds where he competed in 420 class. Three other Irish boats were in leading 15 included Jack Maye & Sarah White, Cian Hickey & Caolin Cosadell and Alfie Wisdom & Sam Warren.
Only four or five boats in the top 30 flew spinnakers on the reach. With a lot of capsized back markers his may have been a wise move. Dougie Elmes fought hard to maintain his second place spot but was caught by his Pilipino rivals before the finish. The Richards’ consolidated a strong start to the event to finish 15th following their victory in Race 3 today. With wind constantly between 20 and 25 knots and quite a few retirees, the PRO called the fleet temporarily ashore after the second race of the day. However with no reduction in wind the fleet did not venture out for a third race.
All results are provisional.