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Displaying items by tag: Neptune Regatta

Neptune Regatta, scheduled for April 4th, has cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19. The date lies beyond the current period of restriction imposed by the Government, but entries would have to have been in by March 25th. The regatta was to be the first of the rowing season.

 Commercial Regatta followed suit today and also cancelled. It was scheduled for April 5th. 

 The St Michael’s Head of the River (March 21st) has also cancelled.

Tagged under

#Rowing: Commercial and UCD took the senior eights titles at Neptune Regatta in different fashions. Trinity's women's eight led UCD passing the Neptune boat house, but UCD fought hard and passed their great rivals to win by a canvas. Commercial beat UCD by one a half lengths in the men’s race.

On a cool, sunny day, Enniskillen boys competed in numbers – their girls will take part in Sunday’s Commercial Regatta – and had a set of good wins, the pick of them being a three-length win over Colaiste Iognaid in the men’s junior 18 eight.

In a battle of two strong junior 18 quadruples, Three Castles beat Neptune, while Trinity won the club one eight, also beating the hosts.

Two Neptune men, twin brothers Ronan and Colum Brennan, fought it out in the men’s junior singles, with Ronan coming out on top.

Rhiannon O’Donoghue of Killorglin beat Commercial’s Katie Dolan in the women’s club one single – Dolan had earlier won the senior single.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday (Selected Results)

Men

Eight, Sen: Commercial bt UCD 1 ½ l. Club One: Trinity bt Neptune 3l. Novice: UCD bt Trinity A canvas. Jun 18: Enniskillen bt Col Iognaid 3l. Jun 16: Col Iognaid bt Blackrock 3ft.

Four – Club One, coxed: Enniskillen bt Neptune Jun 18, coxed: Enniskillen B bt Enniskillen A 2½ l. Masters, coxed: Commercial, Belfast BC, Galway bt Neptune.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Fermoy A bt Neptune 1l. Jun 18: Three Castles bt Neptune. Jun 18, coxed: Enniskillen A bt Enniskillen B. Jun 16, coxed: Cork. Double – Jun 16: Athlone bt Neptune A. Single – Sen: New Ross (Kennell-Webb bt Portadown (Laivins). Club One: Enniskillen (N Timoney) bt Enniskillen (J McDade) easily. Club Two: Trinity (Dennis) bt Carlow (Bolton-Dowling) . Jun 18: Neptune (R Brennan) bt Neptune (C Brennan) easily. Jun 16: Carlow (D Nolan) bt Neptune (A Gillick) easily.

Women

Eight – Sen: UCD bt Trinity canvas. Club One: UCD A bt Neptune. Novice: Trinity A bt Neptune 3l. Jun 16: Castleconnell bt Methody easily. Masters (G) Old Collegians bt Commercial, Belfast BC, Galway. E: Tribesmen A bt Neptune.

Four – Sen, coxed: Killorglin bt Akademiska Roddforeningen 2l. Club One, coxed: Commercial bt UCD B. Jun 18: Col Iognaid bt Carlow easily.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Killorglin bt Trinity easily. Jun 18: Athlone bt Graiguenamanagh easily. Jun 16, coxed: Col Iognaid bt Castleconnell.

Double – Jun 16: Shannon A bt Clonmel 3l.

Single – Sen: Commercial (K Dolan) bt New Ross (L Brown) 4l. Club Two: Carlow (Egan) bt Commercial (Norinho) 3l. Jun 18: Commercial (Healy) bt Commercial (Maloney) 2l. Club One: Killorglin (R O’Donoghue) bt Commercial (K Dolan). Jun 16: Three Castles (O’Loughlin) bt Shannon (Hickey).

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Trinity looked strong as they beat UCD in the men’s senior eights final at Neptune Regatta this evening. The final verdict was under a length, but as the crews passed the Neptune boathouse the men in white looked in control.

Neptune took two wins by tiny margins. They won the club one coxed fours by two feet and the club two coxed quadruple by just one foot.

There was a spectacular incident at the end of the women’s masters’ eight final. Tribesmen beat the hosts, but crashed against the bank just after the finish.

The regatta was hit by a hail and rain shower just after 5.20 and the programme ran late.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Senior: Trinity bt UCD ¾ l, 3:13. Club One: UCD B bt Neptune ¾ l, 3:20. Novice: UCD B bt Trinity 3l, 3:30. Junior 18: Neptune bt Col Iognaid 2l, 3:27. Jun 16: Col Iognaid bt Blackrock 3l, 3:49. Jun 15: Bann bt St Joseph’s 1 ½ l. Masters: Old Collegians bt Neptune 1l.

Four – Senior, coxed: Trinity B bt UCD 2l, 3:35. Club One, coxed: Neptune bt UCD 2ft, 3:43. Jun 18, coxed: Col Iognaid bt Commercial 2/3 l, 4:14. Masters, coxed: Athlone bt Neptune ¾ l.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Neptune bt Bann 1ft, 3:57. Jun 18: Col Iognaid bt Three Castles 2l, 4:06. Jun 16, coxed: Fermoy bt Bann 3:50. Jun 15, coxed: Blackrock A bt Galway easily, 4:16.

Double – Jun 16: Col na Coiribe bt Commercial A 3l, 4:01.

Single – Senior: Commercial (N Beggan) bt Portadown (A Laivins) easily, 3:58. Inter: Offaly (C Brady) bt Garda (P Ryan) 2 ½ l, 4:40. Club One: Commercial (D Crowley) bt Portadown (A Laivins) 2/3 l 4:10. Club Two: Clonmel (S O’Donnell) bt Garda (P Ryan) 4l, 4:25. Jun 18: New Ross (L Sutton) bt Commercial (C Kelly) easily, 4:00. Jun 16: Neptune (T Orlic) r/0.  

Women

Eight – Club One: Commercial bt UCD B 2l, 3:50. Jun 18: Graiguenamanagh bt Col Iognaid, canvas 3:53. Novice: UCD A bt UCD B 4l, 4:00. Jun 16: Commercial bt Fermoy 2 ½ l, 4:07. Jun 15: Galway bt Enniskillen 4l. Masters: Tribesmen bt Neptune 3l.

Four – Club One, coxed: UCD B bt UCD A 2 ½ l, 4:48.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Graiguenamanagh A bt King’s Hospital 2l, 4:27. Jun 18: Col Iognaid bt Neptune 3l, 4:56. Jun 16, coxed: Commercial bt Carlow 2 ½, 4:12. Jun 15, coxed: Carlow bt Athlone 2 ½ l. Double – Jun 16: Fermoy A bt Commercial B, easily, 4:34.

Single – Club One: Athlone (Y Curley) r/0. Club Two: Clonmel (S McGrath) bt Clonmel (E Fitzpatrick) 4l. Jun 18: Commercial (K Dolan) bt Neptune (N Clarke) 1ft, 4:30. Jun 16: Carlow (S Scully) r/o.

 

Published in Rowing
Tagged under

#Rowing: The first set of finals at Neptune Regatta was a good one for UCD. Their B crew beat Neptune – by three-quarters of a length – in the competitive club one eights and their B crew beat Trinity in the novice eights. However, Trinity won the battle of the senior coxed fours – their B crew beat UCD. The host club provided be the top junior 18 eight, beating Coláiste Iognáid in the final.

 The women’s junior 18 eight gave Graiguenamanagh a win over Coláiste Iognáid by a canvas, while the club one eights went to Commercial, who beat UCD B. In the closest race of the session, Katie Dolan of Commercial beat Niamh Clarke of Neptune by just one foot in the women’s junior 18 single sculls. Luke Sutton of New Ross won the men’s junior 18 single.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Club One: UCD B bt Neptune ¾ l, 3:20. Novice: UCD B bt Trinity 3l, 3:30. Junior 18: Neptune bt Col Iognaid 2l, 3:27. Jun 15: Bann bt St Joseph’s 1 ½ l.

Four – Senior, coxed: Trinity B bt UCD 2l, 3:35. Masters, coxed: Athlone bt Neptune ¾ l.

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Fermoy bt Bann 3:50.

Double – Jun 16: Col na Coiribe bt Commercial A 3l, 4:01.

Single – Club Two: Clonmel (S O’Donnell) bt Garda (P Ryan) 4l, 4:25. Jun 18: New Ross (L Sutton) bt Commercial (C Kelly) easily, 4:00.  

Women

Eight – Club One: Commercial bt UCD B 2l, 3:50. Jun 18: Graiguenamanagh bt Col Iognaid, canvas 3:53. Novice: UCD A bt UCD B 4l, 4:00. Jun 15: Galway bt Enniskillen 4l.  

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Commercial bt Carlow 2 ½, 4:12. Double – Jun 16: Fermoy A bt Commercial B, easily, 4:34.

Single – Club Two: Clonmel (S McGrath) bt Clonmel (E Fitzpatrick) 4l. Jun 18: Commercial (K Dolan) bt Neptune (N Clarke) 1ft, 4:30.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Neptune’s Club One eight came through two rounds to qualify for Saturday’s action in the Neptune Regatta at Islandbridge on Friday. They beat Commercial A in the first round and then had just a canvas to spare over a Trinity crew which had beaten UCD A by three feet in the first round. The strong flow made conditions difficult, especially for inexperienced rowers, but the racing programme went ahead.  

 In the intermediate single sculls, Claire Feerick of the host club qualified for the final and Tristan Orlic won his round of the junior 16 single.

 

 

 

RaceSchedEventNorth StationSouth StationWinnerTimeDistanceNextComment
117:00M Club 1 4+UCD BC (A)DUBC BUCD BC (A)3:501L198 
217:04M Club 1 4+Commercial RC AUCD BC CUCD BC C3:413L228 
317:08M Club 1 4+DUBC ACommercial RC BCommercial RC B3:502L229 
417:11M Jnr 18 1XCommercial RC, Bolger, TNew Ross BC, Ferguson, JCommercial RC, Bolger, T4:175L30 
517:14M Jnr 18 1XBlackrock Col. RC, Crowe, LNeptune RC, Byrne, SBlackrock Col. RC, Crowe, L4:090.5L30 
617:17M Jnr 18 1XThree Castles RC, Grace, JNew Ross BC, Sutton, LNew Ross BC, Sutton, L4:19E70 
717:20M Jnr 18 1XBlackrock Col. RC, Fennelly, JGraiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, JGraiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, J4:223L31 
817:23M Jnr 18 1XThree Castles RC, McKnight, TNew Ross BC, Harrington, LThree Castles RC, McKnight, T ROW OVER31 
917:26M Jnr 18 1XThree Castles RC, Higgins, CCommercial RC, Campion, MCommercial RC, Campion, M4:34EASY71 
1017:29M Jnr 18 1XThree Castles RC, O'Briain, DCommercial RC, Kelly, C   72race moved to Sat 08:55
1117:35W Inter 1XNeptune RC, Feerick, CGarda BC Ryan, JNeptune RC, Feerick, C4:333L32race moved to Fri 18:50
1217:38M Club 2 1XKings Hosp. BC, Henry, NKings Hosp. BC, Gilchrist, KKings Hosp. BC, Henry, N DNF117 
1317:41M Jnr 16 1XCommercial RC, Crooks, LNeptune RC, Stapelton, JNeptune RC, Stapelton, J4:45EASY212 
1417:44M Jnr 16 1XNeptune RC, Orlic, TNew Ross BC, Gibbon, RNeptune RC, Orlic, T4:334L36 
1517:47M Jnr 16 1XCommercial RC, Humm, CGraiguenamanagh RC, Hennessy, BGraiguenamanagh RC, Hennessy, B R/O36HUMM SCRTCH FLORIN
1617:50W Jnr 18 1XCommercial RC, McKeon, MGraiguenamanagh RC, Connolly, KCommercial RC, McKeon, M4:403L77 
1717:53W Jnr 18 1XNew Ross BC, Pendergast, FOffaly RC, Dowling, EOffaly RC, Dowling, E4:37CANVAS115 
1817:57M Club 1 8Commercial RC ANeptune RCNeptune RC3:221.5L41 
1918:01M Club 1 8UCD BC ADUBCDUBC3:293FT41 
2018:05M Club 1 8Commercial RC BUCD BC BUCD BC B3:232L139 
2118:09W Club 1 4+UCD BC BCommercial RCUCD BC B R/O193 
2218:13W Club 1 4+UCD BC CUCD BC AUCD BC A4:291L194 
2318:17W Club 1 4+New Ross BCUCD BC DNew Ross BC R/O194 
2418:21M Club 2 4X+Neptune RC BDUBCNeptune RC B4:144L195race moved to 17:30
2518:25M Club 2 4X+Neptune RC ACommercial RC BNeptune RC A4:01EASY230 
2618:29M Novice 8UCD BC ADUBCDUBC3:434L133 
2718:33M Novice 8UCD BC BCommercial RCUCD BC B R/O133 
2818:37M Jnr 16 4X+Blackrock Col. RC ACommercial RCCommercial RC4:031L85 
2918:41M Jnr 16 4X+Carlow RCNew Ross BCCarlow RC4:092L121 
3018:44M Jnr 18 1XCommercial RC, Bolger, TBlackrock Col. RC, Crowe, LBlackrock Col. RC, Crowe, L4:143L70 
3118:47M Jnr 18 1XGraiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, JThree Castles RC, McKnight, TGraiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, J4:583L97 
3218:50W Inter 1XNeptune RC, Feerick, COffaly, Nolan, C   F 
3318:53W Jnr 16 1XCommercial RC, Walsh, ENeptune RC, Stapelton, HNeptune RC, Stapelton, H R/O186WALSH SCRATCH
3418:56W Jnr 16 1XCommercial RC, Spencer, ENeptune RC, Rowland, OCommercial RC, Spencer, E R/O224 
3518:59W Jnr 16 1XNeptune RC, Carpenter, SCommercial RC, Healy, GCommercial RC, Healy, G5:004L225 
3619:02M Jnr 16 1XNeptune RC, Orlic, TGraiguenamanagh RC, Hennessy, BNeptune RC, Orlic, T3:542L248 
3719:06M Jnr 15 2XCarlow RCBlackrock Col. RCCarlow RC4:151.5L119 
3819:10W Club 1 8Neptune RCCommercial RCCommercial RC3:472L132 
3919:14W Club 1 8UCD BC AUCD BC BUCD BC B DISQ132 
4019:18W Club 2 4X+Neptune RC BKings Hosp. BCKings Hosp. BC4:32EASY223 
4119:22M Club 1 8Neptune RCDUBCNeptune RC3:28CANVAS139
Published in Rowing

 

#Rowing: Trinity’s senior eight won at Neptune Regatta – but only just. UCD, with less than a full-strength crew, stormed back at their rivals coming up to the finish and lost by just half a canvas. Commercial beat the hosts in the men's junior eight and also won the women’s club one eight. An Islandbridge eight beat a crew from Dutch club Nereus in an invitational eights event.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday (selected results)

Men

Eight – Senior: Trinity bt UCD ½ canvas 3:24. Club One: Trinity bt Neptune A 2l, 3:30. Novice: UCD A bt Trinity A disqualified. Jun 18: Commercial bt Neptune ½ l 3:30. Jun 16: Blackrock bt Methody 1l, 4:10. Masters: Commercial bt Neptune 1 1/2 l

Four - Sen, coxed: Trinity A bt Trinity B 3/4l 3:45. Inter, coxed: UCD B Bt UCD A 1l 3:37, Jun 18, coxed: Commercial bt Clonmel 1 1/2 l 3:50

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: New Ross bt Graiguenamanagh.  Jun 18: Enniskillen bt Methody 4:12. Jun 16, coxed: Enniskillen bt Blackrock A 1 ½ l 4:08. Double – Jun 16: Three Castles bt Bann A 3 ½ l, 4:16.

Women 

Eight, Club One: Commercial bt Belfast RC A 2l 4:15. Nov: UCD bt Trinity B easily 4:15. Jun 18: Commercial bt Galway 1l 4:09. Jun 16: Enniskillen A bt Athlone easily

Four - Sen, coxed: Commercial A bt Commercial C 1 1/2 l 4:20. Inter, coxed: Commercial bt Galway 2 ¾ l, 4:22. Club One, coxed: Cork BC bt Belfast A r/o.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Clonmel bt Neptune D 4l 4:28. Jun 18: New Ross bt Kings Hos 2l 4:20

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Commercial beat UCD in the men’s senior eights final at the Neptune Regatta in Islandbridge today. The winners had taken on and beaten Trinity in a fine race in the semi-finals, while UCD had beaten Trinity’s second crew. Commercial also won the men’s junior 18 quadruple.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge Saturday (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Senior: Commercial (C Dowling, M Maher, R Peguet, S McEoing, F Groome, D Burke, W Hurley, N Gahan; cox: M Crockett) bt UCD 3l, 3 mins 25 seconds. Club One: Commercial B bt St Michael’s 2l, 3:44. Novice: Trinity bt UCD, disq. Junior 18: Neptune bt Commercial 1¾ l, 3:40. Jun 16: Portora bt Blackrock.  Masters: St Michael’s bt Neptune ½ l.

Four – Senior: Trinity bt UCD 1¼ l, 3:50. Intermediate, coxed: Trinity bt Commercial 2l, 4:23. Club One, coxed: Trinity bt Commercial 1l, 3:57. Masters, coxed: Carlow, Athlone, Northridge bt Neptune 3l.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Belfast RC bt Commercial A 3l, 4:06. Jun 18: Commercial bt Castleconnell 2l, 3:44. Jun 16, coxed: Commercial bt Castleconnell, disq. Jun 15, coxed: Castleconnell bt Portora 3l, 4:23.  

Double – Jun 16: Killorglin bt Graiguenamanagh easily, 4:25. Jun 15: Three Castles bt Blackrock easily, 4:34.

Single – Senior: Trinity (M Corcoran) bt Neptune (K Coughlan), 2l 4:23. Inter: Clonmel (D Lynch) bt Castleconnell (E Whittle) 1l, 4:15. Club One: Castleconnell (E O’Connor) bt Commercial (J Healy), canvas; 4:29. Club Two: Trinity (S Addison) bt Clonmel (J McKenna) 3l, 4:40. Jun 18: Graiguenamanagh (A Lennon) bt Commercial (N Beggan) 1½ l. Jun 16: Clonmel (O’Donnell) bt Commercial (Browne) 2l, 4:38.

Women

Eight – Club One: Commercial bt Trinity 1l, 4:20. Novice: UCD bt Trinity B 4l, 4:22. Jun 16: Portora bt Carlow easily, 4:28.

Four, Club One, coxed: Commercial B bt Commercial A 3l.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club Two, coxed: Athlone bt St Michael’s 1l, 5:15. Jun 18: Commercial bt Belfast RC easily, 4:50. Jun 16, coxed: Portora bt Graiguenamanagh B, 5 min 16. Jun 15, coxed: St Michael’s A bt Offaly 6l, 4:56.

Double – Jun 15: Killorglin A bt Killorglin B 3l.

Single – Senior: Killorglin (M Dukarska) bt Garda (J Ryan) easily, 4:42. Club One: Killorglin (M O’Connor) bt Commercial (A Rodger) row over. Club Two: Garda (Ryan) bt Garda (Moore) easily, 5:14. Jun 18: Neptune (Feerick).

Jun 16: Belfast RC (A Hall) bt Castleconnell (L Mulligan) easily, 5:22.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Trinity had a good run in the early set of finals at Neptune Regatta in Islandbridge today. Their senior coxed four – with a strong set of rowers in Patrick Moreau, Mark Kelly, Liam Hawkes and David Butler, beat UCD, and Michael Corcoran won the senior single sculls. Monika Dukarska of Killorglin took on and beat Breanna Larsen in a semi-final and Jacqueline Ryan in the final of the women’s single.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge Saturday (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Club One: Commercial B bt St Michael’s 2l, 3:44. Novice: Trinity bt UCD, disq. Junior 18: Neptune bt Commercial 1¾ l, 3:40.

Four – Senior: Trinity bt UCD 1¼ l, 3:50. Intermediate, coxed: Trinity bt Commercial 2l, 4:23. Masters, coxed: Carlow, Athlone, Northridge bt Neptune 3l.

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Commercial bt Castleconnell, disq

Double – Jun 16: Killorglin bt Graiguenamanagh easily, 4:25. Jun 15: Three Castles bt Blackrock easily, 4:34.

Single – Senior: Trinity (M Corcoran) bt Neptune (K Coughlan), 2l 4:23. Club Two: Trinity (S Addison) bt Clonmel (J McKenna) 3l, 4:40. Jun 18: Graiguenamanagh (A Lennon) bt Commercial (N Beggan) 1½ l.

Women

Eight – Club One: Commercial bt Trinity 1l, 4:20. Novice: UCD bt Trinity B 4l, 4:22. Jun 16: Portora bt Carlow easily, 4:28.

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 18: Commercial bt Belfast RC easily, 4:50. Jun 15, coxed: St Michael’s A bt Offaly 6l, 4:56.

Single – Senior: Killorglin (M Dukarska) bt Garda (J Ryan) easily, 4:42. Club Two: Garda (Ryan) bt Garda (Moore) easily, 5:14.

Jun 16: Belfast RC (A Hall) bt Castleconnell (L Mulligan) easily, 5:22.

Published in Rowing
1st April 2016

Neptune Draw Changed

#Rowing: The Neptune Regatta on Saturday at Islandbridge has revised its draw, moving a number of crews around on the schedule. The overall shape of the regatta, which runs from 8.30am until just after 6pm, remains in place. There are men’s senior eight semi-finals scheduled for 4.24 and 4.27, with the final set for 5.42.

 The changes are highlighted in yellow in the attached draw.

Published in Rowing

# Rowing: Trinity’s Ian Hurley won the the men’s senior single sculls at the Neptune Regatta in Islandbridge today, beating Colm Dowling of Commercial by half a length in the final. Elise Maurin of New Ross took the women’s title. UCD won the club one eights, while Trinity’s crew of Michael Corcoran, Patrick Moreau, Mark Kelly and Liam Hawkes, with cox Kate Salley, won the men’s senior four crown. The regatta was held in calm and sunny weather.

Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday (Selected Results)
Men
Eights – Club One: UCD bt Portora 1½ l, 3:20. Novice: Trinity A bt Trinity B 3l, 3:43
Four – Senior, coxed: Trinity (M Corcoran, P Moreau, M Kelly, L Hawkes; cox: K Salley) bt Neptune/Trinity 3l, 3:30. Masters: Commercial bt Carlow 3l.
Sculling
Quadruple – Junior 16, coxed: Three Castles bt Portora 1l. Junior 15, coxed: Commercial A bt Neptune, disqualified
Double – Junior 16: St Michael’s B bt Clonmel 3l, 4:40.
Single – Senior: Trinity (I Hurley) bt Commercial (C Dowling) ½l, 4:05. Club Two: Trinity (L Addison) bt Trinity (Norton) 3l, 4:20. Junior 18: Athlone (Munnelly) bt Graiguenamanagh (Lennon) 2l, 4:25
Women
Eights – Club One: Trinity bt UCD 2l. Novice: Commercial bt Trinity B 1½ l. Junior 18: Portora bt Neptune easily, 4:04. Junior 16: Portora bt Athlone easily, 4:11. Junior 15: Portora B bt Portora A 1½ l.
Four – Senior, coxed: Trinity bt Commercial 3l. Intermediate: Portora bt Trinity canvas, 4:12
Sculling,
Double – Junior 15: St Michael’s A bt New Ross 4l, 4:50
Single, Senior: New Ross (E Maurin) bt Portadown (Martin) easily, 4:45. Club Two: Garda (J Ryan) bt Clonmel (O’Malley-Adair) 2½ l. Junior 16: Fermoy (Murphy) bt Fermoy (O’Sullivan) ½ l, 4:55.

Published in Rowing
Page 1 of 2

About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth

Main Trophies

Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy – overall race winner under IRC Time Correction

Boccale de Mediterraneo – winner of ORC category

RLR Trophy – winner of monohull line honours

Captain Morgan Trophy – winner of multihull division on corrected time (MOCRA)

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