Ross McDonald of Howth Yacht Club Dominates European 1720 Championship at Volvo Cork Week

19th July 2024

The Rope Dock Atara McBearla crew, skippered by Ross McDonald of Howth YC, retained the European 1720 Championship in style at Volvo Cork Week Credit: Bob Bateman

Ross McDonald of Howth Yacht Club, who won the national title at Baltimore in June, has made a clean sweep of the 1720 2024 calendar by retaining his European Championship title at Volvo Cork Week.

After a faltering start on Monday, defending champion McDonald stamped his authority on this 14-boat sportsboat class in a range of conditions, including Thursday's fog.

McDonald finished the 12-race series with a win and a 20-point advantage.

McDonald finished the 12-race 1720 European Championships with a win and a 20-point advantage

On Friday's final day, Cork boats vyed for the other podium places. Runner up was Brian Twomey’s Dark Side (RCYC), and the third was Kinsale YC’s Mícheál Ó’Súilleabháin sailing Dutch Gold.

“It’s very hard to get the double, although we did manage it in 2022,” said Ross. “The quality of the fleet is very high, so there is always someone there to knock you off your stride. So we are delighted to have won at Volvo Cork Week. The weather has been very changeable, as have the course areas, but moving into the Harbour yesterday was a great decision; we had flat water, good visibility and stable wind. This has been a smallish entry but it has been a quality turn-out on the water and in the race village afterwards, I am sure there have been plenty of pints had!”

The Volvo Cork Week Grand Prizegiving and Closing Ceremony was held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club and billed as one of the greatest parties on the international yachting calendar. Royal Cork Admiral Annamarie Fegan, Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy and Johnson and Perrott Volvo Dealer Principal Peter Russell presented prizes.

Read WM Nixon's review: Volvo Cork Week Becomes Celebration of Crosshaven Skills and J109 Fleet

Race Results

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Published in Cork Week, 1720

Published in Cork Week

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