Sutton Dinghy Clubs Mandy Kelly was certainly kept busy last week and judging by the activities and numbers involved was probably busy for many weeks beforehand to ensure the 2015 Optimist Spring Training week in Baltimore was such a huge success. The event hosted by Baltimore Sailing Club attracted over 150 kids aged 7 to 15 from all across the country. 
Aside from Mandy, Sutton Dinghy Club presence included a couple of young sailors namely Oisin Kelly (youngest sailor) and Allanah McGrath. On the coaching side we had Callum Maher, Ciaran White and Saoirse Kelly with assistance from Isabel McGrath and Alannah Carroll McGeehan on the Regatta Fleet. To complete the family involvement safety officer Gordan Kelly and Darragh Kelly manned rescue for the week. One of our mums Pauline Carroll was also roped in and responsible for making sure the kids all got fed and watered each day through the busy week.
Mandy has been active over the last few years with the IODAI Regatta fleet and this year took on the task of organizing one of the classes major events of the year. With 6 days of training, 15 coaches, 20 ribs, a team of assistant instructors as well as a roster of 15-20 parents each day ready to launch and retrieve boats, prepare lunches and dole out soup this event is a major undertaking. Oh and by the way everybody must have fun!
Reports from last week suggest Mandy and her organizing team succeeded with 2015 deemed the best ever.
To wrap up the week, Mandy Kelley was interviewed by Marcus Connaughton of RTE Seascapes programme. Also interviewed was Oisin who gave a great account of his first major sailing event. Click here to hear the interview with Mandy.