McAleavey and Murphy champions

THE Portsmouth yardstick handicapping rule declared the husband and wife team of Cathy MacAleavey and Con Murphy, in a Hurricane 5.9 catamaran, the 1996 Carlsberg Irish Multihull champions.

They triumphed by a single point after a four race battle on Dublin Bay at the weekend.

Hosted by the National Yacht Club, the two day event drew a combined fleet of 21 Hurricane, Dart, Hobie and Condor catamarans. They raced to speeds of over 20 knots to produce spectacular.

Overnight leaders Gary Mangan of Blessington Sail ing Club slipped to third overall in their Dart 18 catamaran when the twin wire Hurricanes of both MacAleavey and Murphy and Steven and Gary Duffy surged through to take the top two places. But the points were close and the Duffys clinched second because of a higher discard.

Veteran campaigner Wic McCready from Northern Ireland - a dinghy champion in several classes - competed as a Dart 18 single hander, and though he was third in his class, he admitted his choice to sail without a crew was an error given the blustery conditions. He was eighth overall.

Yesterday's lighter breezes saw MacAleavey and Murphy of the host club start race three in a conservative mid line position to round the weather mark second, just behind the Duffys, and hold their position until the finish.

In the final race they went one better to win as the southerly conditions freshened to give them a one point winning margin and 4.75 points after a discard.

The championship was subject to handicap adjustment, so the overall result was not known until the fleet was ashore. The Mangans found consolation in winning the individual class prize for the 11 boat Dart class.