After a break of five years, former class European champion Mark Mansfield returned to the 1720 class at the weekend and won the CH Marine sponsored national championships in Cork Harbour from a fleet of 14 boats.
The last race of the eight race championship decided the winner between Anthony O'Leary and Mansfield. In a fleet packed with previous owners the fleet also had all three helms from the winning 2010 Commodores' cup team sailing. Andrew Creighton was steering Aquatack, Nicholas O'Leary was steering T bone and Anthony O'Leary steering his own boat.
Although the sailing in 8-12 knots went according to plan a number of support boats were damaged in an incident unrelated to the racing.
Mansfield and his crew of Terry English, Mike Budd, Dave Meagher and Joe Bruen won half of the eight races and discarded a fourth to take the national title. Second overall was Anthony O'Leary and third Nicholas O'Leary.
The class hope that more crews can be attracted in to the sportsboat and the resurgence of the class in Cork Harbour continues.
