Toppers at Quoile Yacht Club
by Betty Armstrong 20 May 2003 10:55 PDT
Ryan Seaton from Carrickfergus SC made a clean sweep of the racing at the second in the Topper Travellers' series held at Quoile Yacht Club on 17th May. Runner up was Rory Murphy from the home club.
The venue on Strangford Lough has some considerable tidal effect and this coupled with the southeasterly gusting 5-6 at times gave the youngsters plenty of practice in heavy weather dinghy sailing.
With short triangular courses and plenty of safety boats, the racing was very controlled and although difficult for some of the less experienced, the more seasoned sailors in the top half had a high degree of competitive sailing.
This is Seaton's second overall win but there is plenty of opportunity in the rest of the series for a challenge to his position. Runner- up was Rory Murphy of the host club who counted an excellent set of results with a 3rd, 4th and 2nd. In third slot was Paul McLauglin from the Topper stronghold in County Antrim, Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club, He took a fifth, 2nd and fourth. Other commendable results from further down the fleet were clocked up by Michael Murphy who disappointed in the first race with a low score but more than made up for it in the other two, counting a sixth and fifth.
Overall Result:
1 R Seaton Carrickfergus SC
2 R Murphy Quoile YC
3 P McLaughlin Cushendall S&BC
1st girl M Doherty Lough Erne YC
U 16 S Webb Lough Erne YC
U 14 N Cody Lough Erne YC
U 12 C Penney Carrickfergus SC