LAYTOWN BEACH - SATURDAY, MARCH 9 Laytown Beach, north of Dublin, is the location of choice for Irish landsailors with miles of good hard sand and the odd stream to keep things interesting... If anyone would like to find out about landsailing in Ireland please contact Alan Watson on alanwatson@eircom.net   Report from Alan Watson   7.00am: Looked out the window to see a dry blustery day so things looked good for our regular fortnightly sail on Laytown Beach. Wind was easterly about 14 knots which is the best possible conditions for an east-facing beach like Laytown, but these conditions only arise once or twice a year. By 07.30 when I had finished my breakfast and bothered to open the curtains things had changed considerably. It was snowing and everything was as fluffy as a bedroom following a pillow fight if you could have 17 knots of northerly wind in a bedroom that is, yes now northerly. 8.00 and time to send the e-mail to all pilots confirming sailing, so checked weather and wind speed/direction along with the forecast. There is nothing to be seen outside that is not completely covered in snow, the wind is now completely westerly and only 4 knots so what will I say on the e-mail? I always think the best thing to do is tell the truth so the following message is sent "Dry, bright and sunny wind ideal see you all on the beach" all systems go for today. This is a desperate attempt to encourage people to share my belief that the forecast is wrong and the snowing will stop and soon all snow will be gone as a result of the brilliant sunshine, and I want some company sailing today!. Well at 10.00am snow is gone, sun is out but the wind is gone too! God is good, as at 11.00 the wind is now W and 22 knots in lovely sunshine, a crisp day as we say. The plan for the day is fun and some mini-yacht racing if any arrived. Chris and Joe Bruen arrived from Cork having driven the 200 miles in their enthusiasm to try out their new Ludic amongst some likeminded individuals. Jim, Ronan and Colin Hickey also arrived from Cork having collected Oisin Creagh in Dublin on the way (this was a determined effort to get Oisin involved in Irish sandyachting again I think ) and bring a Class 5 and mini-yacht along. Colman Billings and Stephen Watson set out a simple course for the mini-yachts with a very challenging gybe mark. Soon we were joined by Lar Burke who said that he did not refuse to bring his kids sailing today they just decided not to come so he could use the mini-yacht himself - we've all heard that story before Lar! David and Richard Meeke along with Niall Griffin added to the growing number of mini-yachts out on what was now a dry beach basking in the spring sunshine and only for the chill in the air and the spectacular sight of the Mourne and Cooley mountains covered in snow it could have been summer. It was great to have Russell Houchin, a member of Anglia Club and a Class 5 sailor join us for the warming mug of soup after the sailing, and I think we may see more of him soon. Great fun was indeed had by all who ventured out today despite the bad weather early on and the mini-yachts were super to watch as they battled their way around the course. As for the results, well today we were all winners and so was Irish sandyachting as this time last year I think it is safe to say there were no mini-yachts in the country and only a couple of individuals sailing. So all of you who claim to have Irish blood in you, do us a favour and tell your relatives in Ireland what they are missing, encourage them to get in touch with us as soon we could be getting in touch with you! Greetings to you all Alan Watson wattie@aircom.net   SATURDAY'S IMAGES from LAYTOWN Click on photo for larger image. A long way down Laytown Beach. Some of Saturday's sailors all ready to go - Ludics, Pottys and Bootleggers all in a row! Having a good old chinwag out on the beach. One of the new Ludics going through its paces. The Ludic rounds the mark. Another rear shot of The Ludic. Another mini-yacht, this time a Welsh-manufactured "Potty". Going so quick the camera almost missed the Potty... now there's a story in that! All on his lonesome. Some close racing among the mini-yachts. Another lap and even closer...   [  t o p  ]  MAP of LAYTOWN BEACH, IRELAND [  b a c k   t o   th e   t o p   o f   t h e   p a g e  ] BACK TO THE LINCOLNSHIRE LYC OPENING PAGE and CONTENTS