1720 Euro Champions Take the Lead in 44-Boat Cork Week Fleet

11th July 2022

The first 1720 fleet race at Volvo Cork Week Credit: Rick Tomlinson

Current 1720 European champions Robbie English, Aoife & Ross McDonald from Royal Cork YC / Howth YC lead after the firsthree races sailed at Volvo Cork Week.

Despite the balmy air temperature, RCYC's own sportsboat class’s return was marked by dense fog on the windward-leeward course about a mile outside Cork Harbour.

The mist soon cleared, revealing 44 1720s going at it, guns and blazes.

44 1720s are racing at Volvo Cork Week Photo: Rick Tomlinson

There were three highly contested windward-leeward races between Roches Point and Ringabella Bay. An outstanding performance from Rope Dock Atara gives the team from Royal Cork and Howth a whopping 11-point lead after three races. Padraig Byrne & Donny Wilson’s Zing from the Royal Cork is second and Tom, Neil & Paul Hegarty’s efolioaccounts from Baltimore won the first race but finished in third at the end of Day one.

Ross McDonald, Robbie & Aoife English, and Killian Collins racing 1720 Rope Dock Atara. Photo: Rick Tomlinson

“We are delighted with a 2-1-1 today, “commented Rope Dock Atara’s helm Ross McDonald. “Our aim was to keep the race results in single digits, as I believe this will be a high-scoring regatta, so to get off to a flyer is fantastic. We got one good start, one okay, and also one that we had to get out of jail. In this fleet, especially in light air, it is all about getting the fresh air and the wheels on.”

efolioaccounts.com Tom, Neil and Paul Hegarty from Baltimore SC lies third overall Photo: Rick Tomlonson

1720 Top three after three races

1st Rope Dock Atara Robbie English, Aoife & Ross McDonald Royal Cork YC / Howth YC
2nd 1720 ZING Padraig Byrne & Donny Wilson 1792 Royal Cork YC
3rd 1720 efolioaccounts.com Tom, Neil and Paul Hegarty 1724 Baltimore SC

Results here

Published in Cork Week, 1720

Published in Cork Week

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About The Author

Louay Habib

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Louay Habib is a Maritime Journalist & Broadcaster based in Hamble, United Kingdom

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