Irish Crew Victorious on Black Seal at ClubSwan 36 European Championships

9th October 2022

Richard Thompson's Guernsey Black Seal crew are crowned European Champions in Croatia. The Thompson crew includes National Yacht Club bowman Will Byrne, North Sails sailmaker Nigel Young from Royal Cork and Kinsale ex-pat Jeremy Elliott

A string of top-five results paid off handsomely for an Irish crew who won the ClubSwan 36 European Championships sailing on board Richard Thompson's Guernsey Black Seal entry.

The largest fleet of ClubSwan 36s gathered in the historic Croatian port of Split for the competition that saw Black Seal leading going into the final day of the competition.

The Thompson crew includes National Yacht Club bowman Will Byrne, North Sails sailmaker Nigel Young from Royal Cork and Kinsale ex-pat Jeremy Elliott.

After a long wait, the last day's racing was abandoned due to lack of wind and confirmed the Balck Seal win.

Richard Thompson's Guernsey Black Seal is the 2022 ClubSwan 36 European Champion

No fewer than 12 of the state-of-the-art one-design racing machines contested the event.

National Yacht Club bowman Will Byrne prepares for a downwind leg on Richard Thompson's Guernsey Black Seal at the ClubSwan 36 European Championships

The result is a fitting end to a successful 2022 season for Black Seal, which, in June, saw the international crew takes a string of five back-to-back race victories at the Swan Sardinia Challenge for another well-deserved win.

Racing in largely idyllic conditions Black Seal took the title without winning a race.

Instead, a relentless focus on steady sailing, and avoiding racing penalties which handicapped a number of their competitors, saw the British-flagged one-design claim victory six points clear of Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G Spot and Lorenzo Mondo's Farstar, both of whom had led the 12-strong fleet earlier in the event.

With the focus now turning to the Swan Croatia Challenge, hosts ACI are already thinking ahead.

"Split is one of the most attractive places in the Mediterranean with some of the most tactically challenging sailing in the most picturesque of surroundings.

"I'm delighted that so many teams accepted our invitation to the first edition of the ClubSwan 36 Europeans. It was a great combination of a fantastic party, excellent sailing, weather and breeze, and a fabulous atmosphere in the group here."

Final top five
1. Black Seal - Richard Thompson, GBR, 23.0√ 2. G Spot - Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio, MON, 29.0
3. Farstar - Lorenzo Mondo, ITA, 30.0
4. Goddess - Nikolai P. Burkart, GER, 34.0
5. Cuordileone - Edoardo Ferragamo // Nautor Swan, ITA, 35.0

Race Results

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Published in Racing

Tagged under

ClubSwan 36

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