Lough Foyle Yacht Club

^{Many Thanks to Danny Gallagher who put in a huge effort to ensure this event was brilliantly organised. Many thanks also to The Culture Company who sponsored the event. Thanks of course to all those who helped us to run the event, to our Officer of the Day Ruan O Tiarnaigh, our saftey officer and good friend from MBC, Mr Seamus Bovaird and all those on the flagship including Joan Doherty, Ryan Louden (results) and George Coyle. Special mention to all the people who helped out as rescue boatmen, especially L Harrigan, G Doherty, R Louden. Of course special thanks to the Loughs Agency who kindly provided rescue cover and gave us a loan of the Bradán to act as a flag ship. The event was sailed down by the Black Brea in one of the finest sailing ares in Ireland. Special thanks as always to the LFYC ladies who did a fantastic job making sure all the shore based activities were executed perfectly. Many thanks to Mayor of Derry, Martin Reilly who arrived to give us support and join in the crack. We really appreciate his support.}

^{This race report is from the GP14 Ireland site:}

^{The fleet set off in shorts and t-shirts for the GP14 Ulster Championship at Lough Foyle Yacht Club.}

^{The first race of the day was unfortunately abandoned due to a timepiece/start flag malfunction. Stephen Boyle & Eanna Lawlor were the ones that had to walk away from a first position after having sailed for nearly 40 minutes in a dominating lead.}

^{The wind had played ball for the first race but then it started flicking and falling. The wind over the lough became sets of holes and puffs. The race officer, Ruan O’Tiarnaigh, did a great job at trying to get starts going but the wind would not settle for long enough. Eventually the fleet got away. Locals Keith Louden & Alan Thompson pulled into a great lead and managed to get themselves into the way of the right gusts and got away from the fleet to take the 2nd race.}

^{By the time the 3rd race got away boats could beat up either side of the windward leg but the ones who choose to go up the middle of the beat had to fly their kites. The tide was now against the windward boats and as the wind dropped the tidal effect took over. Some boats that had got away well from the line were now struggling and got drifted back behind the line again. Some stuck it out but when some gold fleet sailors were about to get lapped a few towels were thrown in. Those that had got away up the first leg managed to keep the wind for the remaining legs with Shane McCarthy & Damien Bracken taking the shortened race line honours followed by Ger Owens & Melanie Morris and Norman Lee & Richard Gallagher in third. It was obvious there was no more steady wind on the horizon so it was a long trip home to shore. Typically as the fleet got about half way home the black clouds started to roll in and the gusts came in with it giving the sailors a hard beat to shore.}

^{All races were windward leewards. The OD and committee boat kept the Olympic course flag well hidden away.}

^{The sailors were treated to a hog roast on Saturday evening in the marquee where we were welcomed by the LYFC Pink Ladies who made sure that everyone was well feed and watered.}

^{The 2nd day’s forecast did not look too much better than the day before. The wind was due to shift throughout the day and the afternoon showed heavy thunder storms. Ruan had set an earlier start time of 10:30am and even though the fleet set out promptly the incoming tide meant the time to get to the race area was over an hour and with the wind coming and going some of the tail enders had to get towed up to the start area.}

^{The wind seemed to settle to a southerly and the OD Ruan got the racing started. The first race of the day saw Ger & Melanie in the lead until the last beat. They choose to go the left side of the beat with Niall Henry & Oisin Geraghty and Alistair Duffin & Brendan McGenaghan heading right. Unfortunately for Mel & Ger the right paid.  Niall & Oisin took the race with Alistair & Brendan 2nd then Mel & Ger. The 2nd race of the day saw Ger & Mel get out to a great start and held well and this time they did take the first followed by John & Donal McGuinness with Dan & Mairin O’Connell in third.}

^{The horizons all round started to look very stormy. Wet weather gear was unstowed. A line of rain could be seen coming over the channel towards the fleet but strangely no wind gusts before it. All boats backed their jibs. The rain was so heavy and straight down that it bounced off the water causing a mist up the hulls of the boats. No crews could be seen as they were huddled under their sails trying to stay dry. All very Marie Celeste. It lasted about 5-10 minutes. Then the sun broke out again. Boats started making their way back to the starting area. The wind however did not settle and more rain & thunder storms were brewing on the horizon. Ruan took the right decisions sounded the horns, N over A was raised and Mel & Ger became the Ulster champions for the 2nd year in a row.}

^{The fleet started the long trek home and as the tide had turned it was again a journey against the very fast flowing tide. The wind started dying but there were enough rescue boats and the fleet got towed back to the club.}

^{The prize giving was started with an inviation from Tom Jobling to the Chase Race at EABC 7th September in aid of the Meningitis campaign. See here for more details.}

^{Thanks were given to the memebers and helpers of LFYC with the biggest cheers going to the well deserving Pink Ladies and Danny Gallagher.}

^{Overall & fleet prizes were presented to:}

^Gold

^{1st Ger Owens & Melanie Morris}

^{2nd Shane McCarthy & Damien Bracken}

^{3rd Keith Louden & Alan Thompson}

^Silver

^{1st Peter Fallon & James Hockley}

^{2nd Lawerence Baalham & Mark Ireland}

^{3rd Bill & James Johnston}

^Bronze

^{1st Kevin & James Lynch}

^{2nd Maurice Baalham & Sipho Walness}

^{3rd Tony & Jenny Patterson}