Record Attendance at the RS Feva Irish Nationals and Open Championship - 27th to 29th August
30 August
Hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club, the RS Feva Nationals took place over the weekend of the 27th to the 29th August. An unprecedented total of 58 boats, from both Ireland and the UK, competed at this three day event. Amongst the competitors were the reigning World Champions, Owen Bowerman and Charlie Darling.
Conditions were varied over the weekend. Friday was a mixture of moderate and light airs but Saturday brought fresh north-westerly winds which tested the fleet and organisers. Sunday's sailing had ultimately to be abandoned. However, by that time a championship series had been completed and competitors enjoyed a sun-drenched forecourt where dancing and swimming replaced racing for the day.
The winners of the National Championships and Open Competition were Brendan Lyden and Marc Cudmore from RCYC followed by Vikki Cudmore and Amy Harrington also from Cork. Two of the UK visitors , Robert and Emma Loveridge from Draycote Water SC and Morgan Peach and Herbie Harford from Royal Torbay YC took third and fourth respectively . Two more RCYC boats, Richard Roberts and Eoin Lyden , and Dermot Lyden and Peter Stokes finished fifth and sixth.
The reigning World Champions, Owen Bowerman and Charlie Darling finished tenth, while the top finishing host club boat, Amelia O'Keeffe and Annabel Elliott, from RSGYC ,came twelfth.
Seventeen Irish boats, which all also competed in the 140-boat Feva Worlds in France in July, were present at the Nationals this weekend. They were joined by other fleets from around the country, the RCYC, Greystones, Cove, Howth, NYC, RIYC, Lough Ree and Rush.
Thank you to all volunteers and staff of the Royal St George Yacht Club who worked tirelessly over the three days, especially Jack Roy, the most experienced of the International Race Officers based in Dun Laoghaire, who ensured racing - when weather permitted - went without a hitch.
David Kelly
About the RS Feva Class
The RS Feva is the world's best selling two-handed sailboat in recent years, an ISAF International Class, winner of Dinghy of the Year in the USA, Coup de Coeurs in France and an RYA Recognised Junior class. It was introduced to Ireland in 2006 and has been developing steadily as a popular junior two-hander, although it is versatile enough to be enjoyed by adults too. When racing, it carries an XL rig, a 6.5 sq meter mainsail and a 7.0 sq meter asymmetrical spinnaker.
The Feva has proven to be a popular class in Ireland. It suits both those experienced sailors coming through the ranks from the Optimist and those who have arrived later into the sport. It has proved particularly popular for sailors who prefer the camaraderie of two-handed sailing and the thrill of a "modern" style rig. It has also been a versatile training ground for some of our current top youth sailors. Matty O'Dowd , Jane Butler and Jenny Andreasson, who represented Ireland in this year's ISAF worlds, all sailed fevas before graduating to the ISAF youth classes. The future looks bright for the RS Feva class in Ireland.
Photo: Newly crowned Irish Champions Brendan Lyden and Marc Cudmore RCYC / BSC lead the fleet in challenging conditions off Dun Loaghaire Harbour in the 2010 RS Feva Class Irish and Open National Championships.
Photo by Brendan Fogarty.
DOWNLOAD FULL RESULTS BELOW
