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ROWING: The Boat Race in London had to to be stopped after a swimmer jumped into the Thames. The swimmer was pulled out of the water and taken away in a police launch. The decision was made to re-start the race between Cambridge and Oxford on a much shorter course.

Cambridge won the re-started race, but Oxford’s Alex Woods needed medical attention and there has been no trophy presentation.

Published in Rowing

Twin brothers Turlough and Patrick Hughes (20) will vie for dominance in the Gannon Cup, the annual colours race between Trinity and UCD, on the Liffey on Bank Holiday Monday. UCD, who will be seeking their fifth consecutive Gannon, will be stroked by Turlough Hughes, while Patrick will be in the five seat in the Trinity boat. UCD’s Dave Neale will be seeking his fifth Gannon Cup title.

Trinity’s women’s eight, winner of two of the last three Corcoran Cups, have experience in their crew for Monday. Sinead Rodger and Keira Buttanshaw compete in their second Corcoran Cup; Susannah Cass her third and Caitlin Condon, an American, her fourth. UCD Ladies Boat Club have yet to announce their crew.

Mark Pollock, the adventurer who competed in the Gannon in 1995, 1996 and 1997 – and won all three - will be the guest of honour at the event. Pollock has shown tremendous fortitude in taking on blindness and then, separately, paralysis sustained in a fall.

Men’s Senior Eight (Gannon Cup)

UCD: Vincent Manning, Emmett Feeley, Simon Craven, Conor Walsh, Gearoid Duane, Dave Neale, Finbar Manning, Turlough Hughes; cox: Hannah Fenlon.

Trinity: P Mannix, AJ Rawlinson, Will Hurley, Charlie Landale, Patrick Hughes, Paul Flaherty, Ian Kelly, Danny Ryan; cox: Maeve Crockett.

Women’s Senior Eight (Corcoran Cup)

Trinity: Rebecca Dowling, Sinead Rodger, Keira Buttanshaw, Suzanne Daniels, Susannah Cass, Rebecca Deasy, Caitlin Condon, Ruth Morris; cox: Naomi O’Sullivan.

Monday’s Programme: 8:30 Sally Moorhead Trophy (Novice Women). 9:00 Dan Quinn Shield (Novice Men). 9:30 Corcoran Cup (Senior Women). 10:00 Gannon Cup (Senior Men)

Published in Rowing

About the TP52 Racing Yacht

The TP52 racing yacht is a remarkable example of cutting-edge technology in the world of competitive yachting. Measuring 52 feet (15.85 metres) in length, this vessel is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, making it an incredibly light and agile craft.

The TP52 features a 6.25-metre high rig, complete with a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker and a self-tacking jib. This design reduces the workload of the crew, allowing for more efficient manoeuvres and freeing up the crew to focus on the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The spinnaker rigging set-up, measuring 15.00 m2, presents a challenge to even the most experienced crews, requiring them to be fit and perfectly coordinated. Maneuvering the boat requires athleticism due to the vessel's lack of inherent stability and the high speed generated by the fully battened mainsail and jib.

The TP52's hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout, resulting in a weight of just 74kg. The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is made up of three parts, featuring an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease overall weight. The capsizing moment, which can be generated by a heavy mast tip, is also reduced through this design. The TP52's foils are constructed from either aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel.

Overall, the TP52 racing yacht is an exceptional example of the latest advancements in yacht design and technology. Its lightweight construction, advanced rigging, and high-speed capabilities make it a top contender in the world of competitive yachting, challenging even the most skilled and experienced crews.