Rockshore / Bosun Bobs RS400 Winter Series at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club - Overall

by Robert Hastings 27 Dec 14:59 PST 3 November - 22 December 2024

Sadly, the final day of racing was not to be. The forecast was for extreme wind, so it was called off the day before. On arrival at the club there was no doubt that this was the right call. There was no way a rescue rib could have been launched as the waves were massive.

Belfast Harbour was recording Force 10 winds; all the ferries were suspended and lingering in the lough and to top it off there was the surprise dump of snow on the top of the Belfast hills.

Even though we couldn't get sailing, there was still important business to attend to. We had our Christmas Party and Prize Giving and the beer supplied by Rockshore wasn't just there for show. With sailing cancelled, it was great to see such a good turnout, with more people turning up than anticipated, meaning more chairs and tables had to be found to accommodate everyone in the club dining room.

After a great Christmas feast, the prize-giving started. RNIYC was thanked for hosting the event, along with Gerry Reid our Race Officer and his team of helpers, rescue and marker layers for putting on a great series. Gerry thanked our sponsors Bosun Bob's Chandlery, Rockshore and Steven Kane From Ridgeway who supplied the wine for the tables.

Our veteran sailor Liam Donnelly, has been in the fleet for a considerable length of time. He was thanked for all that he did at the Champions Cup this year and for all the support, advice and cheek that he generously dishes out to the fleet. He was awarded a bottle of Laphroaig which probably didn't last long or touch the sides.

The wooden spoon award was handed out to the person who turned up the most but might not be at the right end of the result sheets and surprisingly, this was handed out to Gareth Flannigan and his crew Knox Wilson which they took in good spirit. Gareth is no stranger to picking up silverware, so it goes to show how tough the fleet is.

After running through the nominations for the hotly contested award of the prestigious W Anchor t-shirt, it was decided that it should be awarded to two people, Bob Espey and his crew Michael Ferguson as they had the audacity to turn up on the first day in yellow bibs with the number 1 printed on their backs which certainly raised a few eyebrows. The red t-shirt was discarded, and two yellow W Anchor t-shirts were produced and awarded to the chaps. Michael Ferguson came forward and put on the t-shirt to thunderous applause and lots of laughs.

Over the series we lost three days of racing due to storms but in total we managed to get 16 races in. We had twenty six RS400s in the yard representing nine different clubs. That's over fifty people who have taken part, with an age range from 14 to 73 which is brilliant to see. We also had Luke McIlwaine and Paul Robinson appear into the dinghy park this series with very fresh 15## numbered boats which is exciting.

We had five separate race winners, and the biggest cheer went to Brian Holmes and Rose White who won a race on the first day. Brian has been in the fleet for a long time, and it was great to see them pick up some bottles of wine for their achievement.

To the results and in 3rd place representing RNIYC was Ross Kearney and Andrew Vaughan in 1436. In 2nd place representing SLYC & RNIYC were the previous winners Peter Kennedy & Stevie Kane in 1522. Winning the event and taking 9 bullets, representing BYC & RUYC was Bob Espey & Michael Ferguson in 1533 who were awarded the Bosun Bob's Trophy. Unfortunately, Bob couldn't make the prize-giving due to family commitments, but Michael gracefully received the trophy and thanked all involved.

2024 has been a strange year for the fleet. The first event at Larne had to be abandoned as there was zero wind on both days. At the Nationals at Carrickfergus, we lost a day due to too much wind and we also lost a day at the Southerns in Killaloe due to zero wind. Fingers crossed that in 2025 the weather behaves itself. The 2025 calendar has now been released and the dates are as follows:

• RS Northerns - Strangford Lough Yacht Club (Whiterock) - 18th & 19th May - RS400, RS200 & RS Aeros
• RS Inlands - Blessington - 5th & 6th July - RS400, RS200, RS Feva & RS Aeros
• RS400 UK & Irish Nationals - RNIYC - 4th to 8th August
• RS200 & RS Feva Nationals - Greystones - 9th & 10th August
• RS Southerns - Baltimore, Co. Cork - 6th & 7th September - RS400, RS200 & RS Aeros

The big event of the year will be the combined UK & Irish Nationals at RNIYC in August. It was last held at the club in 2019 and was won by Nick Craig and Toby Lewis. Bob Espey was second in that event but in an older boat than he has now. Can Bob & Michael beat the visitors from England? It will be an exciting year ahead.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16	Pts
1st	1533	Rob Espey	Mike Ferguson	BYC/RUYC	2	1	3	3	1	1	1	1	1	(5)	(5)	4	1	1	1	2	23
2nd	1522	Peter Kennedy	Stephen Kane	RNIYC/SLYC	4	4	(12)	2	4	2	2	4	2	1	1	3	3	(7)	3	1	36
3rd	1438	Ross Kearney	Andrew Vaughan	RNIYC	1	3	2	5	8	3	3	5	3	3	3	1	2	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	66
4th	741	Jocelyn Hill	Rowan Berry	CAYC/CSC	(12)	(12)	8	6	5	4	6	3	4	4	6	5	6	4	11	7	79
5th	1405	Liam Donnelly	Rick McCaig	CSC	3	2	5	1	2	11	(14)	10	5	8	(13)	12	9	2	5	8	83
6th	1283	Patrick Hamilton	Sam Kelly	East Down YC	(13)	10	4	12	9	5	5	2	10	(RET)	9	6	5	6	6	9	98
7th	1001	Adam Lockhart	TC Mulvenna	RNIYC	8	9	6	11	(RET)	(DNS)	11	7	8	12	7	8	7	11	10	6	121
8th	1004	Tom Purdon	Olivia Hayes	SLYC	10	14	13	8	7	12	4	8	6	(RET)	(DNS)	14	8	8	7	11	130
9th	1353	Robert Hastings	Rory Higgins	SLYC	5	11	7	10	11	6	7	12	7	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	9	2	3	138
10th	1259	Gareth Flannigan	Knox Wilson	BYC	9	6	11	16	18	(RET)	9	9	9	6	(DNS)	DNS	DNS	5	4	5	145
11th	877	William Findlay	Peter Gilmore	Strangford SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	9	17	10	12	6	11	11	4	13	12	10	8	10	157
12th	1179	Ben Martin	Rory Flannigan	RUYC/BYC	14	13	10	17	6	9	13	RET	DNS	9	11	10	13	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	181
13th	1316	Stephen McLernon	Edwina Ternan	CSC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	4	3	8	DNC	DNC	DNC	2	2	2	4	DNC	DNC	DNC	193
14th	1440	Simon Hutchinson	Ben Williams	RNIYC/SLYC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	7	13	RET	10	DNS	DNS	10	8	11	11	DNC	DNC	DNC	219
15th	1530	Luke McIlwaine	Ryan Wilson	CSC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	7	10	7	14	3	9	4	222
16th	1178	Brian Holmes	Rose White	CSC	7	5	1	13	16	15	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	RET	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNC	DNC	DNC	229
17th	1322	Dave Cheyne	Susan McKnight	SLYC	11	8	9	DNF	12	16	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	12	12	13	234
18th	762	Zak Dalzell	Max Robinson	RNIYC	16	16	16	15	19	RET	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	14	15	DNS	DNS	14	13	14	235
19th	1188	Will Browne	Rachel Browne	SLYC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	18	10	13	8	RET	12	RET	14	15	15	DNC	DNC	DNC	236
20th	1366	Hammy Baker	Richie Ferron	SLYC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	14	14	7	DNC	DNC	DNC	13	12	9	10	DNC	DNC	DNC	247
21st	1506	Paul Robinson	Adam Robinson	CSC	6	7	14	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNF	11	13	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	259
22nd	1044	Andrew Irvin	Aisling O'Grady	National YC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNF	15	14	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	13	14	12	281
23rd	1379	Anthony Strain	John Ferguson	RNIYC	15	15	15	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	309