Crosbie top helmsman, Liddy sets record

Sailing: The National Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire is in double-celebratory mode today following a weekend of highlights.

In a close contest at Howth yesterday, David Crosbie won the Anglo Irish Bank Helmsman championship, while in the early hours of this morning, Capt Mick Liddy was bringing his 40-footer afoam.com home to set a solo round Ireland record.

Crosbie won his nomination to the "All-Ireland" of sailing as helmsman on Voodoo Chile, the second-placed boat in the Sovereign's Cup IRC National Championship. Anthony O'Leary won that championship, but was in Lake Garda competing in the 1720 European Championship that ended on Friday night.

The line-up for the event comprised 24 class champions or nominated alternates of high ranking.

Spread across two flights on Saturday, the fleet was pared down to the top eight sailors plus a repechage series yesterday morning that made a final round of 12 sailors.

Crosbie faced several top helms, including Olympians and national champions.

Past winner Gerald Owens (26), on his ninth outing in the event, put away two first places and appeared unstoppable until a mark-rounding incident resulted in a seventh place.

Then the fleet swapped boats and a second seventh followed, sealing his fate and second overall.

The winner produced a seventh place as well, but added a first and a second, which was enough to win by 1.75 points.

"I didn't really expect to win the event, I thought I might make the top three and I'd have been chuffed with that considering I was second last in the final last year," Crosbie said.

"I went out to enjoy myself and not get too wound up about it, just take each leg as it comes."

The racing was very close, and with the whole fleet finishing within a minute of the winner any mistakes really show up.

Good teamwork really paid, and while it is a helmsman championship, Crosbie points to his brother, Alan, for constantly feeding him information that was vital for tactics.

Meanwhile, 420 class champion Fionn Jenkinson from Howth YC emerged overall winner of the Junior event with a highly consistent set of results that included two second places, two thirds and a first for good measure.

His qualification for the final was even more impressive, with a string of first places.

George Kenefick from the Royal Cork and Will Atkinson of Lough Derg YC were close rivals on a final day that was sailed in lighter airs and sunshine, a complete contrast to the wet and wild weather on Saturday.

In the Girls championship, Diane Kissane won overall in home waters.

Air Corps search-and-rescue pilot Capt Liddy is on course to set a solo Round Ireland speed sailing when he is expected to reach Dún Laoghaire at the end of his 704-mile circumnavigation in the early hours of this morning.

Since he set off from Dún Laoghaire last Tuesday afternoon, the 28-year-old has battled a series of problems, but has managed to remain ahead of schedule.

The current record stands at seven days and 10 hours; Liddy hopes to take a full two days off that time.

While changing sails off the north coast earlier in the week, the 40-footer named afoam.com flooded when a hull fitting came loose.

The skipper went below to find himself up to his knees in water before rectifying the problem.

Later on, his auto-pilot failed, but this was fixed on Saturday morning, allowing him time to sleep effectively for the first time since starting out.