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Race Report 15-7-2017
- Details
- Written by Jim O Sullivan
Strong winds were forecast for Thursday night, July 13th so Mike, Young Micheal and I were looking forward to a lively night. The forecasted winds were less but a nice westerly kept up for the evening. It was fantastic to see 13 boats on the water. There was a big squall and wind shift creating a big bias on the start Line! At least that was the reason some members gave for several boats being over the line , two collisions, two capsizes and a general recall! All the drama was over quickly and a second start saw an individual recall. The black flag was flown but not put into play as Blue Peter was missing from the boat! ( I blame someone else of course).
Des, fresh back from the GP 14 Leinsters in Dun Laoighre, and his son Adam, had a great start . Sean, who was fifth in the Wayfarer Nationals last weekend , lead the way until the last triangle when the practice Hugh and Colm have put in showed and they won line honours in both races. Another family lead the fleet in the second race, with Chris and Rachel in the second race. Aishling was supporting them from the shore, following a second injury to her knee. We wish her a speedy recovery and great to see her come up to cheer on her Dad and sister.
Jim and Kevin were at the top of the fleet in the second race. There was lots of covering of boats and close racing.
Jim and George had teamed up in Dunlaoighre so four boats proudly represented Cullaun the in the Volvo regatta, the other 470 boats coming from clubs near and far. George had a new crew and they went for a swim in the squall and toured the lake rather than racing. Fionn, our senior instructor gave Brendan Glynn a private lesson on how to sail without a jib following gear failure and a collision.
There were several instructors on the water on Thursday night. Aoife and Roisin sang their way over the line in both races, Iarlaith was the first laser, Paddy teamed up with Sean. The only junior from the course was Laura, who was assisted(handicapped?) by her Dad, but great to see daughter bringing Dad out in her lovely new boat!
Conditions weren't suitable for Juniors on Thursday night, but when I callled to the club on Friday evening, several people expressed an interest in going out on Sunday. We hope to run sailing on Sunday but this depends on people volunteering to come out and do rescue. If anyone is interested in doing a powerboat course do let us know.
There was a great buzz in the club in the club Friday evening with 20 juniors, instructors, helpers and parents. One parent, David Mc Mahon showed me his picture on the wall when he did his junior course with Chris and Emmet in the 80's. Great to see families sailing together and racing against one another. We had several family groups on the water, with father and son on OOD boat, father and daughter winning boat races, son and father first over the line in both races, father and son in GP 14, daughter and father in Feva, as well as a daughter and two mothers on the water in three other boats!
The good news is that there were no quarrels and a good crowd gathered in the pub afterwards for a lively banter.
The committee asked me to remind everyone to sign in the log book before you go out on the water and sign back in when you are back in. There will be rescue on the water if we have enough volunteers so please check the website for details.
Fair sailing
Margaret, Mike and Micheal
Summer Camp 2017
- Details
- Written by Jim O Sullivan
This week saw twenty recruits from absolute beginners to level two and three sailors take to sailing on Cullaun Lake. There was great fun and learning under the watchful eye of our Senior Instructor Fionn Delahunty. Unfortunately all of our camps are now full and we hope that next year we will have our clubhouse built so we will be able to teach a lot more kids at these camps to enjoy the sport of sailing.
All set for the trip to Dun Laoghaire
- Details
- Written by Jim O Sullivan
Best of luck to all our members who are travelling to Dun Laoghaire for the National Finals. We had a great time there 2 years ago and hopefully will get some silverware this time around.
We have three Wayfarers registered for the event and our Commodore Des and Pat are travelling with their GP14.
Galway 17th Scout troop visits Cullaun for 1 day Sailing Camp
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- Written by Jim O Sullivan
There was great weather last weekend for The 17th Galway, Gort Scout Troop when they came down to see us and earn their level 2 sailing badge
Learn to sail this summer 17th 18th June
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- Written by Jim O Sullivan
Sailing Results 18-5-2017
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- Written by Jim O Sullivan
Cullaun Spring Regatta 2017 Report
- Details
- Written by Des Mac Mahon
Regattas are funny things. Their success depends on so many things and so many variables. The main ingredient as ever is people. People to sail, people to set courses, people to man the rescue, make coffee, cook food, clean up…..and the list goes on. Then you need the weather and most importantly, wind. The forecast for today's regatta was looking very dubious on the wind front and the glasslike surface that greeted us this morning did nothing to allay our fears. But as the briefing time approached, the wind began to fill and everything fell into place. The wind shifted and altered throughout the day making life interesting for the OD, making some of the beats tricky and some of the reaches beats.
The first race started in true old fashioned Cullaun style with boats approaching the rear of the committee boat from all angles and at all speeds. Mildly chaotic to say the least (protest flag anyone?) but the enterprises and RS got off to a flying start with Tom McHugh going on to win the race ( quite an achievement considering he had only taken his boat out of the garage 5 minutes before the first gun). Margaret clawed her way steadily back up through the fleet to take second place which I’m sad to say became her discard in the end.
The second race started uneventfully but the first mark saw things return to normal with Brian Parks suffering under the illusion that his enterprise is only a six inches wide. This led to some choice language, a 360, and some more choice language. Tom McHugh crossed in second with myself and Tommy Scott close behind. Thankfully for us the Portsmouth Yardstick favours the GP.
Margaret once again sailed clear to take first with all the following fleet in touch with each other throughout the race leading to close and exciting racing with the Haigs taking second place line honours (Tom McHugh taking it on Handicap) The final race had less than a minute between second and fifth. Even though the handicap moved the GP up to second it was still sickening to watch Tommy Scott pinch past us on the line (especially as we had given him a protein bar after the third race).
Four races were run back to back in glorious sunshine finishing just as the wind died altogether.
There were a lot of regular club sailors missing for a variety of reasons, other commitments, approaching exams, communions etc. But hopefully, we will see all members back on the water over the next few weeks. Thanks to all those who made the effort to travel to attend, especially Tadhg and Thomas from Killaloe sailing Club (winners of the junior trophy). It was also great to see the latest addition to the club taking to the water for the fourth race. Laura and Jane in their new Feva hopefully leading the way for a new generation of juniors.
Samantha and Maureen had the BBQ on and the food all laid out, the bucket of beer was lifted out of the lake, the boats de-rigged and a very pleasant hour or two spent socialising. The prize giving took place with the background sounds of kids swimming and canoeing.
I am a relatively new member of Cullaun but it is afternoons like this that make you appreciate what we have with this club, both with the people and the location. Sometimes we are in such a hurry to race and to get back to whatever else we have going on that we perhaps don't enjoy the possibilities of the club and the social side of being by the water as much as we could.
My thanks to all who assisted in making the day successful.
Des
Results.
First. – Margaret Haynes and Mike Hayes
Second. – Tom McHugh and Leila O Shaughnessy
Third. – Des MacMahon and Pat Biesty.
1^St Junior – Thomas And Tadhg O Mara RS200
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