Exactly two weeks ago today, Johnny & Tina Treanor stepped the mast on their new J112e Grand Prix in Hamble, UK. With the tight knit crew,headed up by Evan O’Connor, working to get the boat race-fit, it was weighed for its rating; kitted out with sails; marks were programmed into the nav system & brand new sheets were bent on almost as the first gun went at the UK J-Cup event the following day.
Long-standing NYC member, Johnny Treanor, along with Nicole Hemeryck, showed dead-eye qualities on the helm. Dara Totterdell took navigation & pit, Adam Winkleman took the mainsail while other crew members came from Wexford via Athens; Cork as well as other DL waterfront clubs.
Under the keen eye of Mark Mansfield, Key Yachting agent in Ireland, the team pulled together and the results spoke for themselves! Winning IRC 1 class against sleek J boats in the historic racing area of the Solent was exhilarating. Winning the Prix D’Elegance of the regatta gave Johnny & Tina another reason to celebrate.
With one event down and the promise of a bigger, grittier regatta in Kinsale the following week, the crew sailed for Ireland and Sovereigns Week.
Seventeen boats, many with strong reputations in coastal racing, lined up on the start line. ValenTina’s crew, whipped together by ‘Prof’ Maurice O’Connell of North Sails, were in no uncertain terms informed that sailing is a sport, not a leisure activity… What next? Tacking again and again, changing head sails, gybing & peeling spinnakers, priming code zeros and chasing down laylines, calculating apparent wind angles for next legs, our game was raised to a whole new level and the team couldn’t get enough of the excitement.
Even so,the results were more than we ever hoped for. Second overall in coastal fleet in both IRC & ECHO, ValenTina made her mark.
We left Kinsale a cohesive group of enthusiastic & committed team members. With Volvo Dun Laoghaire Week dawning, the work continues to keep the momentum. Can we do it again? Well, Johnny would feel we’ll be giving it all we have got. And when the racing is done, the camaraderie & spirit aboard will keep the flame alive. Well, during DBSC, ISORA, Calves Week, J-Cup Ireland & ICRA Champs for starters anyway…..
