The McSwiggans October League at Galway Bay Sailing Club kicked off on the morning of Sunday 5 October, with a fresh Northerly breeze making for perfect flat water sailing conditions on the Bay. Quite a few regular faces were missing, as a strong contingent had travelled to Alicante to support the Green Dragon Team at the Volvo Ocean Race's opening in-port races.

As the first of two races got underway, there was a clear committee boat bias starting on starboard. With all classes starting together, there were two approaches taken to round the committee boat. In Class 1, That's Life was followed by Catalpa and Now What on the leeward route beating to pass the committee boat cleanly. Quelle Surprise and some of the Class 2 boats took the more precarious route to windward rounding the committee boat in a better position but risking being pushed out by the boats to leeward. All boats had a clean start with That's Life crossing the line bang on the gun and Quelle Surprise just to windward.

Catalpa and Now What tacked for free air and continued up the right hand side of the course. At the windward mark That's Life led Catalpa, with Now What and Quelle Surprise close behind. After the leeward mark That's Life tacked early onto a backing wind shift leaving Catalpa on the favourable tack again out right. By the windward mark Catalpa had gained a lead over That's Life and Now What who had trouble with a wrap in their spinnaker.

That's Life came from behind to jostle for position with Catalpa and gybed early for the mark. A late gybe for Catalpa allowed That's Life to take out a small lead. At the leeward mark Catalpa handed their spinnaker late in the hope of gaining vital seconds but ended up losing time as they had not dropped it fully until after the mark. That's Life covered Catalpa from there on to take first place.

In Class 2, Rhocodar led off with Silver Foam in hot pursuit followed by Golden Eagle and Sandrine. Cormac Furey, at 11 years old the youngest helmsman in the fleet, skilfully helmed Rhocodar on the downwind legs. To his delight and that of his younger sister Rhona, Rhocodar dominated the race from start to finish.

The start for the second race was similar to the first with That's Life narrowly avoiding being pushed up by Rhocodar. Now What again tacked for clear air.

The wind had shifted considerably and Catalpa and That's Life fought it out on the right hand side of the course again. That's Life maintained their lead throughout to win the race with Catalpa crossing in second.

Rhocodar again led the Class 2 fleet away whilst, behind, Sandrine and Silver Foam fought a close battle for most of the race. Sandrine had a narrow advantage as they entered the final leeward mark but their fortunes suddenly changed as the spinnie halyard jammed, preventing them from dropping the spinnaker and gybing. When the panic was over they were pleased to have held onto third place over Golden Eagle, with Rhocodar enjoying another convincing win and Silver Foam a solid second.

Arriving back at the club in the heat of a beautiful sunny afternoon, the cruiser fleet was met by a big squad of junior sailors engrossed in their training, as well as dinghy sailors starting to launch for the afternoon's racing. Rinville on an Autumn Sunday is truly a hive of watery activity!

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