#CowesWeek - Maurice O’Connell and three other Irish sailing stalwarts are headed to the Isle of Wight to join the crew of Tschüss, Christian Zugel’s MAT 1180, for Cowes Week.
Navigator Ross Monson, boat captain and pit boss Johnny Mordant, Simon Johnson at bow and mainsheet trimmer O’Connell will be racing one of three MAT 1180s in the 16-boat IRC Zero fleet, alongside Leeloo from the Netherlands and strong debutante Gallivanter.
But they won’t be the only ones to watch out for in a fleet that includes Piet Vroon’s Tonnere, Round the Island winner TP52 Gladiator and last year’s winner, Daniel Hardy’s Ker 46 Lady Mariposa.
Other Irish at Cowes Week from this Saturday 29 July to 5 August include Damian Foxall, the Kerry offshore veteran on deck with Vestas 11th Hour for the Round the Island as part of preparations for the next Volvo Ocean Race.