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#powerboatchallenge – The winning Team of the ISA Powerboat Challenge 2014 at Lough Ree Yacht Club went to North Shannon Powerboat School. The school entered two teams in to the challenge with nick names of "Leitrim" and "Roscommon" and the Roscommon gang came up trumps with a 3.5 point lead on 24th Galway Sea Scouts, who had previously won the past two years. Home team Lough Ree Yacht Club came in at a close third place.

28 entrants in 7 teams were at the ISA National Powerboat Championship at Lough Ree Yacht Club on Saturday 1st November. Teams arrived from Irish Sailing Association clubs and training centres in Roscommon, Galway, Wicklow, Leitrim, Bray to compete against a home team from Lough Ree in a challenge of powerboat safety boat skills. There were no high speed manoeuvres on the agenda for the day, just boat control challenges in circumstances experienced in sailing schools and clubs on a daily basis. All a bit like a driving test afloat, but with a team and against the elements.

Challenges for each team were General Boat Handling, Coming Along Side, Picking Up a Mooring, Right an Inverted Dinghy (with no crew) and Lee Shore Landing. Conditions deteriorated as the day continued, with heavy rain and cold winds adding an extra edge to the tasks for all teams, but spirits didn't dampen though and each team rose the challenge. Judges were not only looking at the skills and techniques of their manoeuvres, but also communication and overall team work, so a helm may have performed a manoeuvre perfectly, but poor team communication would reflect in their total score, because to be a truly competent powerboater you need to communicate well with your crew.

Dennis Dillon was the creator of the Powerboat Challenge in 2009 (originally known as the ISA Rib Challenge) and came down to lend a hand on the day, he commented "What stood out most of all is the involvement of the youth and their dedication in this year's challenge. They had trained and their powerboat control skills were excellent." Each team must have two youths aged between 12 and 17 and they are an integral part of the team working as helm, as well as crew. The overall aim of the challenge is to embody the knowledge of safe use of powerboats to young drivers.

A new award of Best Lady Powerboater was presented this year to Linda Laird of North Shannon Powerboat School (Leitrim) and Best Overall Powerboater was presented to Stan Bradbury of Lough Ree Yacht Club, and the local RNLI, for his exceptional communication, coaching and team work.

Full final results are as follows

North Shannon Powerboat School Team 1 Roscommon 82 points
Galway Sea Scouts 78.5 points
Lough Ree Yacht Club 78 points
Wicklow Sailing Club 76.5 points
North Shannon Powerboat School Team 2 Leitrim 67.5 points
Bray Sailing Club Team 1 67 points
Bray Sailing Club Team 2 64 points

Team Details