Home advantage proved the difference as local sailors Paulo Mansel and Tiago Leal took the first Melges 15 Winter series title in Cascais at the weekend. The reigning J70 European champion, Paulo set a fast pace that the Irish Armada of eight boats could not quite match.
Racing to the windward in the first Melges15 European Winter Series event in Cascais, Portugal Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
Six races were completed over the 3 days in a 10-18 knot wind range with 25 knots and 4m swells making Saturday a lay day. John and Katie Sheehy led the Irish charge with a pillar to post victory in Race 1, and looked to repeat the same in in Race 2 only to be caught on the line in a photo finish by eventual event winner Paulo Mansel. Howth sailors Mike and Michelle Evans featured prominently in the early stages of Fridays races only to lose places downwind. With top speeds on the day of 16-17 knots and the boats sailing at big angles, it was easy to go from hero to zero.
John and Katie Sheehy led the Irish charge at the first Melges15 European Winter Series event in Cascais, Portugal Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
With conditions on Saturday coming in as big as forecast, sailing was postponed for the day which allowed the Armada time to regroup and fit in some sight seeing and the occasional Pastel de nata in Lisbon.
Sunday racing started on time in another 15-knot oscillating breeze with the big swell from the day before, requiring a few different gears to keep the boats at full pace. Royal St George Sailors Theo and Clodagh Lyttle excelled in the first race with an incredible display of downwind surfing in the swell to finish second, giving the leader; Mansel a scare as he hung on to take another win.
Royal St. George Yacht Club's Theo and Clodagh Lyttle competing in the first Melges15 European Winter Series event in Cascais, Portugal Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
The second race saw another dog fight between Mansel and Sheehy, with Mansel maintaining a 15s lead for the duration of the race to close out the event. An early tack to the shoreline on the first beat the vital move, giving him an advantage he would not relinquish. This race too saw the ever-improving Farrellys finish a close 5th as the Dad, Son, Daughter panel rotated to great effect.
Melges 15 pair Cormac and Fiachra Farrelly of Howth Yacht Club charge downwind in Cascais Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
Aoibhinn Farrelly trimming the kite in the Melges 15 dinghy in Cascais Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
Royal Irish's Tom Flannery and Lily Dwyer in the big seas at the Melges15 European Winter Series Event in Cascais Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
The final race saw Stephen and Holly Quinn win the Committee boat start tack and hit the right corner to open up a big early lead, which was undone at the top mark with the final oscillation. Still though a fourth-place finish was consolation. John and Katie took the last race win holding off another local team of Madeira and Pinto who threatened as the wind dropped.
Mike and Michelle Evans of Howth go upwind in Cascais Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
Mike and Sarah Evans of Howth at the Melge 15 open event in Cascais Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
Sail Cascais are looking forward to the second Winter series event on April 12-14th, when boats will be available to charter. Closer to home, the Melges 15 demo boat made the journey south last week and was being put through her paces off Charles Fort in Kinsale at the weekend.
Swiss Irish Melges 15 pair Emmet Ryan and Kevin Brazel of Yachting Club Cern in Cascais Photo: Neuza Aires Pereira
