International Laser II Class Association of Ireland

(Photos by Heather Davies, more excellent pics on www.fotoboat.com)

A very tense 24 hours on the last day of the Laser II European Championships at Teignmouth, Devon. with 2 races to go, Conor Byrne / Kate Fitzsimmons (Uni. Limerick S.C.) lie only 1 point ahead of Nigel Skudder / Keith Hills (UK), and Marty O'Leary / Yvette Deacon (Courtown S.C.) another point behind in 3rd place.

The last day dawned with very light breezes, then thunderstorms, then wind. No race could be started after 4pm, and 2nd and 3rd placed boats were very anxious to get racing, for obvious reasons. It was decided to hold only one race, at 3pm. Byrne / Fitzsimmons would have to keep Skudder / Hills behind them no matter what, but also had to be, at worst, one place behind O'Leary/Deacon.

As the starting gun fired, the top three boats were placed beside each other at the starboard end, with plenty of room around, no other competitors dared become involved. Byrne / Fitsimmons were keeping all options open and places themselves between the rivals, with enough gaps to provide escape routes. The course was to be the longest of the week, 4 lap triangle around 3 marks lasting over an hour and a half.

Mark 1 and Byrne / Fitz were in the lead by inches, followed by Skudder / Hills, then O'Leary / Deacon. The reach was tight and Skudder / Hills made every effort, in vain, to overtake. O'Leary / Deacon took the low route but lost out. Byrne / Fitz were inching ahead until the end of the second beat saw the wind shift right to favour the Brits, and the lead was shortened. Shooting the mark, disaster struck as Ireland's mainsail brushed the tall inflatable mark and were forced to take a 360 degree turn penalty.

Now about half a leg ahead of the rest of the competitors, Britain were ahead of Ireland by mere inches, which they held for exactly one lap, all the time making ground upwind with heavier weight in the increasing winds. Things were not looking good for Ireland at all.

Rounding the second last mark, with only minutes before the end of the championship, Britain had it in the bag as they were at least 10 boatlengths ahead. Byrne / Fitz did not relent and used direct covering tactics, coupled with their blistering downwind pace, to catch upon their transom. The wind died slightly. A quick glance behind and then at the spinnaker and Ireland smelled a windshift. Clean gybe. Keep distance so they cannot luff. Britain gybes, and as predicted they begin to luff. Ireland powers over them, halting their breeze. Britain is on the offensive, crossing our transom by milimeters and both boats are close reaching, in the opposite direction to the mark! Britain bears away for the mark in an attempt to regain lost ground, but Ireland spies wind to the far left of the run and carries on, only for a gust from god to catch their spinnaker and a beautiful plane to the last mark, several boatlengths ahead. The race would be over in several minutes. Ireland rounds first, waits for Britain, then both boats tack simultaniously. The wind is progressivly shifting to the left, favouring Britain. We could smell the gunsmoke from the finish line at this stage. The wind increases and Britian destroys our lead in seconds. Britain tacks to lay the finish, and are now level with Ireland. Ireland throw in a leebow and are inching ahead. A knife wouldn't even cut the tension between the two boats. Ireland tacks, followed by Britain, and cross the line. According to the finish officer 'to say half a boatlength ahead would be far too much'

That was by no means the end.

Bang, bang, as both boats crossed the line. Byrne drops the tiller and roars in jubilation, the boat bears off and hits the opposition. 'protest' is hailed. These boys were not going out quietly.

The prizegiving is postponed, competitors are delayed from leaving, anxious to discover the outcome. The protest is heard, witnessed by the gunner on the finish boat. What seemed like weeks passed, until finally, at about 9pm, the protest was dismissed as both boats had finished the race before any incident occured. Conor Byrne and Kate Fitzsimmons were declared Laser II European Champions 2006. This is Ireland's third Laser II European title, won by Tom Fitzpatrick and David McHugh in Germany in 2000 and Chris Forristal and Paddy Blackly in Skerries 2004. Noel Butler and Stephen Campion won the world Championships in Holland in 2003