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Displaying items by tag: Irish Schools' Regatta

#Rowing: Methodist College, Belfast, beat Colaiste Iognaid in a thrilling first final at the Irish Schols’ Regatta at Lough Rinn this morning. The junior 16 boys eight became a battle between the two crews in the final 200 metres, with the Belfast boys finishing well to hold off ‘the Jes’ from Galway. The junior 15 women's eight was won by Coleraine Grammar School, while the women's junior 16 coxed four went to Colaiste Iognaid The windy conditions and choppy water saw the organisers decide to ask the pairs, doubles and singles to hold off on launching, though the programme had started. The University Championships was going ahead, with UCC's women's senior four starting their day with a win, and UCD winning the men's senior four. UCD also took the men's novice eight. Racing was then suspended.
Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Galway’s Coláiste Iognáid won the prize as the top school at the Irish Schools’ Regatta at O’Brien’s Bridge today. There were 11 hours of competition on a sunny, cool day. St Brigid’s, Killarney, which won the women’s under-23 eight, were second overall – Coláiste Iognáid had won the equivalent men’s race and the Junior 16 men’s eight.

 Coleraine Grammar School had a good day. They won the women’s junior 16 eight and Molly Curry won the women’s under-23 single, though she is still a teenager. Jack Dorney, competing for St Francis, was the top men’s under-23 sculler. Tristan Orlic of St Vincent's took the honours at junior 16 level. 

Irish Schools’ Regatta, O’Brien’s Bridge, Sunday (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Under-23: Col Iognáid. Jun 16: Col Iognáid.

Four – Under-23, coxed: CBC, Cork B. Junior 16, coxed: Pres, Cork.

Pair – Under-23: CRCC.

Sculling, Quadruple – U-23: CRCC. Jun 16, coxed: Skibbereen CS.

Double – U-23: St Francis. Jun 16: St Coleman’s.

Single – Under-23: St Francis (J Dorney). U-16: St Vincent’s (T Orlic)

Women

Eight – U-23: St Brigid’s, Killarney. Jun 16: Coleraine GS.

Four – U-23: Regina Mundi. Jun 16, coxed: Coleraine GS.

Pair – U-23: Col Iognáid.

Sculling, Quadruple – U-23: St Brigid’s. Jun 16, coxed: Laurel Hill A.

Double – U-23: St Brigid’s B. Jun 16: St Leo’s.

Single – U-23: Coleraine GS (M Curry) 6:25. Jun 16: Laurel Hill (N Kiely).

Published in Rowing

Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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