The 1720 Sportsboat Class in Ireland has a certain something, which means that when its annual championship comes around, it often attracts stars from other classes for this peak of sportsboat sport. And though the 2023 1720 Nats at Dunmore East with Waterford Harbour SC in September may not have attracted the significantly large numbers seen at some other venues in recent years, there was some very hot talent battling it out on the Waterford Estuary and the nearby Atlantic.

This time round, David Kenefick of Royal Cork came through the lineup of multi-class superstars to take the title ahead of a Who’s Who of 1720 talent, and he gets a clear place in September’s Roll of Honour with it.

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Dave Kenefick has won the 2023 1720 sportsboat National Championships held at Waterford Harbour Sailing Club.

Finishing with a six-point margin after nine races sailed and with one discard, Kenefick's 'Full Irish crew' put in a consistent performance, only once finishing outside the top five.

Kenefick took an early lead off Dunmore East, opening his title tilt with two race wins and, on 28 points by Saturday evening, was clear ahead of defending champions Rope Dock Atara from Howth and Royal Cork on 34.

The Kenefick crew have been an increasing presence at the top of the sportsboat fleet dominating the southern championships at Monkstown Bay in May.

Another Royal Cork entry was third in the 25-boat fleet, as the Durcan/O'Shea partnership in T-Bone finished on 44 points.

As Afloat reported earlier, the 1720 class used live tracking for the first time at the Championships.

Results below

The 1720 Sportsboat class is embracing technological innovations in sailing to enhance its development and offer live tracking for the National Championships for the first time.

Spectators and supporters worldwide can view this live tracking in the Sailmon App.

MarineServices.ie, Sailmon, The 1720 Sportsboat Class, and Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, have collaborated to bring this remarkable improvement to the 1720 Sportsboat Nationals this month.

High-accurate tracking thanks to MAX Mini

The revolutionary Sailmon MAX Mini will facilitate the tracking. The MAX Mini comes with an integrated SIM card offering global IoT coverage with 2G fallback. It ensures high accuracy down to centimetres, thanks to industry-leading sensors. With support for five GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS & SBAS), it guarantees high-precision recording and replay of sailing data with 25Hz sensors (data is recorded in the cloud at 1Hz). The unit will automatically transmit all data to the Sailmon App.

1720 sportsboat racing

Kenny Rumball of MarineServices.ie, the distributor of Sailmon products in Ireland, commented, "We conducted a small trial of this system with the RS21 class earlier this year as part of the Dun Laoghaire regatta. It clearly demonstrated how sailing can now engage spectators on land and provide answers to questions that sailors constantly have, such as whether I was as fast today as usual or if that other boat was faster. We genuinely believe that the Sailmon MAX Mini represents the future, and we hope to offer this system to all racing classes throughout Ireland for the 2024 season."

Sailmon App delivers instant debriefing

Data from all competitors will be instantly available in the Sailmon App, offering unique opportunities for friends, spectators, family, and coaches to relive the races for both fun and analytical purposes. The primary goal of the class is to utilize this high-quality data to enhance competitiveness by comparing race data and facilitating group discussions after sailing. This enables the support team to quickly show the various data differences among different boats in the fleet. It is hoped that this will improve fleet performance and, with spot prizes available, reveal who truly excelled at the start or which boat was the fastest upwind. After all, numbers don't lie!

Julian Hughes of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club "WHSC are excited and grateful to have Sailmon and Marine Services support for the 1720 Nationals to help us make the post race discussion more engaging and fun, having real tangible data to offer prizes for the fastest upwind and downwind sailors along with other areas such as starting will add fun to the daily prize giving. With over 25 boats expected to take the line in Dunmore East, we are looking forward to welcoming the fleet to Dunmore"

Do you want to relive the races of Irish 1720 Sportboats Class

1. Open the Sailmon App:
- Computer: go to Sailmon.com/racing
- Phone and iPad: download via AppStore or GooglePlay
2. Tap on EVENTS (fourth emoticon at the bottom bar)
3. Search and tap on Irish 1720 Sportboats Class
4. Scroll down and tap on one of the races
5. Tap on 'Start Replay'
6. Scroll through time and data

1720 Class President David Love is thrilled, 'The Irish 1720 Sportsboat class is really looking forward to partnering up with Sailmon for our Nationals Championships. This technology will allow for greater interaction for both sailor and spectator in watching racing along with reviewing performance, which will be a great step in showing the quality of racing in the class for sailors'

Fionn Lyden's 'Spiced Beef' of the host club was the overall winner of the weekend's 1720 Baltimore Cup raced under the burgee of Baltimore Sailing Club in West Cork.

Lyden built on his overnight lead to be six points clear of clubmate Rob O'Leary's Dutch Gold crew after six races sailed and one discard on Sunday. 

Racing took place in a stiff northwesterly breeze, with the Lousy Rocks in Baltimore Sound playing a significant role in splitting the fleet in race three of the Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Nick Walsh's Breaking Bad was third on 25 points in the 16-boat fleet.

Next up in the West Cork sailing scene is Schull Harbour's four-day Calves Week Regatta which starts on Tuesday, August 8th, with a capped 70-boat cruiser-racer fleet.

A healthy tally of five race wins assured Howth Yacht Club that its defending champion Ross McDonald would be returning with the 1720 European Championship crown after nine races sailed at the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale today. 

After Friday's, somewhat controversial cancellation of all racing, the final races were completed today in tricky 'weight-in' conditions and a shifting breeze that challenged Race Officer Ciaran MacSweeney.

The ultra-consistent Atara crew drawn from Howth and Royal Cork in Crosshaven concluded the event with a margin of nine points over Wednesday's overnight leader Julian Hughes of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club. 

Just one point off second place, Baltimore Sailing Club's Fionn Lyden finished on 32 points.

Team Atara showed a return to their 2022 form as they notched up five bullets and all scores in the top ten ((9), 4, 1, 1, 5, 1, 8, 1, 1) to be comprehensive winners and retain the Cup won last July at Cork Week 2022.

Julian Hughes's Waterford Harbour team on Root 1, who were only a point behind Atara overall going into Saturday's races and sailed well to take two second places but ultimately faced an OCS from Race 6 (that they were able to discard) and a 14th in race eight (1,2,2,2, 6, (25.0 OCS) 2, 14, 2) which shut the door on title hopes for the Kilkenny sailor.

After the disappointment of having all racing on Day 3 of the Simply Blue Sovereign’s Cup cancelled yesterday, sailors were anxious to get back on the water today and an amendment to the sailing instructions brought the first gun of the day forward by 30 minutes with the Race Officer and his team set to run off three races to conclude the 1720 European Championships.

Ross, Robbie and Co on Rope Dock Atara retained their European 1720 crown with five bullets out of nine races sailed Photo: Bob Bateman

The sunshine of the first two days was nowhere to be seen, but the conditions had moderated significantly from those of Friday, and the fleet headed out to the race area with full jibs and masthead kites. The records will show that Ross, Robbie and Co on Rope Dock Atara retained their European 1720 crown with five bullets out of nine races sailed – and after a shaky start this morning, they capped off their championship with two wins in the last races.

Conditions had moderated significantly from those of Friday for the last races of the 1720 Euros on Saturday Photo: Bob Bateman

The Root 1 team from Dunmore East can only rue their missed opportunity – a 14th place in the second last race that they couldn’t discard effectively sinking their challenge, despite two fine second place finishes in today’s other two races. Rope Dock Atara won with a total score of 22 points to the 31 of Root 1; had Julian Hughes’ crew on Root 1 been able to score a second, third or fourth place in Race 8 they would be European 1720 champions, but it wasn’t to be… Tight margins at the top! As if to underline that point, Root 1 had only a single point to spare over Fionn Lyden on Spiced Beef.

Root 1 Skipper Julian Hughes is presented with his second overall trophy in the 1720 Europeans from sponsor Hugh Kelly of Simply Blue Photo: Bob Bateman

The Baltimore Sailing Club team had two third-place finishes today to lock in the overall third place they had claimed after the first two days of racing. Interestingly, the finishing order of the series' final race was Rope Dock Atara first, Root 1 second and Spiced Beef third – fittingly matching the overall outcome of the series.

A big shout out to Robert O’Leary and crew on Dutch Courage who came home a very creditable fourth overall with just a single top-three finish in Race 8, but a string of finishes comfortably in the top ten. Anthony and Nin on Antix got pinged for an OCS in Race 7 that dropped them out of the top five placings overall. The team who claimed the last top-five berth overall was Dave Kenefick’s Full Irish, who started the final day with a bullet and a third place but slipped to a tenth for the final race. Spare a thought for the After Headcase team of Dickson, Mulloy, Ryan, Glynn and O’Byrne. They finished even on points with Full Irish but lost out on the top-five slot on countback.

The 1720 silver fleet prize went to Davie Ryan's Big Bad Wolf from the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

The forecasted build in the wind in the afternoon never materialised, and the race management team had crews heading back to base with a very pleasant breeze not long after 13:30. Boats were being hauled out from both Kinsale boatyard and the main pier in the town not long after. 

Next for the 172 class is The Baltimore Cup on August Bank Holiday weekend and the Irish 1720 Nationals hosted by Waterford Harbour Sailing Club in Dunmore East on 21st-23rd September.

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

Results below

Defending Champion Ross McDonald of Howth Yacht Club is back on top at the 1720 European Championships being raced as part of the 2023 Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale.

After six races light air races sailed, the Atara crew drawn from Howth and Royal Cork in Crosshaven are on 12 points, one point ahead of Wednesday's overnight leader Julian Hughes of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club. 

Eight points further back, in third place, is Baltimore Sailing Club's Fionn Lyden on 21.

Team Atara showed a return to their 2022 form as they notched up two bullets and a fifth place to seize the overall lead. The Waterford Harbour team on Root 1 are now a point behind Atara overall, but with a solitary second, their best result today and an OCS in Race 6 (that they were able to discard), they will be hoping for a return to their day one form tomorrow.

The scoring spreads a little from then on, but Baltimore’s Fionn Lyden on Spiced Beef has now moved into third place overall with a steady string of top six finishes (excluding their discard!)  Slipping to fourth overall is After Headcase, who had a challenging day with a tenth, twelfth and an OCS that they fortunately were able to discard.  Father and Son Anthony and Robert O’Leary lie in fifth and sixth overall respectively with Antix representing Royal Cork Yacht Club delivering a solid third, second and a fifth today after their dramas yesterday.  Robert on Dutch Courage had an uncharacteristic 18^th in Race 5, which he’ll be happy to have discarded.

Anthony O'Leary's Antix from Royal Cork is lying fifth at the 1720 Europeans at Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

Racing today was delayed by almost an hour as the forecast southerly breeze hadn’t filled in. The Race Management team held off until a steady breeze from 180 degrees had filled in and then got Race 4 of the series underway.  The wind had veered to 210 degrees before the day's second race could get underway, necessitating a realignment of the start line and top marks.  By the time Race 6 got underway, the breeze was topping 15 knots, and this may have contributed to three boats being scored OCS in Race 6.  There was also some feisty jockeying for positions at the top mark on the first rounding, but thankfully no swimmers today.

Tomorrow, the forecast is for extensive cloud cover, some heavy showers and winds touching 20 knots, which may throw up some new results after what have been two light days of sun‑drenched racing so far.  OD Ciarán McSweeney and his team are scheduled to get racing underway at 10:55 for another three races.

Julian Hughes of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club has lost his early overall lead but only by a single point and stays second in the 24-boat fleet Photo Bob Bateman

This is the 15th edition of the biennial regatta, which has attracted 90 entries across all divisions and runs from 21st to 24th June and this year incorporates the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

1720 Euros - Day Two Photo Gallery from Kinsale by Bob Bateman

Results below

Waterford Harbour Sailing Club's Julian Hughes has leapt into the lead of the 1720 European Championships at the Sovereigns Cup in Kinsale.

The result, after three light air races sailed in ten knots or less, is quite an upset in the 24-boat fleet, given so many of the predicted top-ranked teams are not near the podium after day one. 

Hughes and his Root 1 crew scored an opening race win and followed it with two seconds to be on five points and four clear of the 'After Headcase' crew of Dickson, Mulloy, Ryan, Glynn and O’Byrne.

Tight racing in the 24-boat 1720 European Championships at the Sovereigns Cup off Kinsale Photo: Bob Bateman

Shane Hughes (no relation), Paris ILCA 7 Olympic trialist Ewan McMahon, Matthew Cotter and Flying Fifteener Charlie Boland are sailing with Hughes. 

In third place overall is defending European champion Ross & Robbie McBearla of Howth YC and Royal Cork YC on 14 points.

Anyone who might have thought that the Ross McDonald & Co on Atara would have an easy time of it defending their 1720 European Championship title will have to tear up that script based on the evidence of the first day’s racing off sun-soaked Kinsale. Julian Hughes and team on Root 1 may have set the pace with a bullet and two seconds, but seven different boats shared the nine available podium places today – such was the tight racing enjoyed by the fleet.

Rob O’Leary on Dutch Gold currently lies in sixth place by virtue of consistent performance, the only team in the top eight not to land a top-three finish in any race.

The forecast sea breeze filled in before the third race Photo: Bob Bateman

After a short postponement, racing got underway and out of the blocks, Root 1 took a commanding lead in Race 1. Waterford Harbour clubmate Rob McConnell came home second, and Donagh Good from RCYC claimed the final podium spot.

OD Ciarán McSweeney got Race 2 underway promptly, and the fleet headed up the beat to the windward mark off Black Head. This time out, After Headcase claimed the bullet and Fionn Lyden on Spiced Beef was snapping at the transom of Root 1, which came home in second place.

The forecast sea breeze filled in before the third race so the course was realigned allowing competitors time to admire the white sail fleet that was passing through on their way to the Sandy Cove mark.

Tight racing in the 24-boat 1720 Euro fleet Photo: Bob Bateman

A tightly-bunched fleet battled their way up to the first mark, where a mid-fleet schmozzle at the mark saw one of the veteran stalwarts of the class end up in the water. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries and up front the Atara team got their show on the road with a welcome bullet to wipe away the stress of finding themselves stranded on the side of the M8 motorway with Atara just north of Mitchelstown the evening before!

The Root 1 team were not letting them away - claiming their second consecutive second place. And the winner of the recent Southern Championships - Dave Kenefick on Full Irish – claimed the final podium spot.

The fleet returned en masse to Kinsale providing onlookers with the spectacular sight of 24 1720s flying their colourful spinnakers as they made their way up the harbour past the historic Charles Fort.

Racing continues tomorrow with a further three races scheduled and first gun at 10:55 with more sunshine and champagne sailing on the menu.

1720 Sportsboat 2023 Europeans Championships at Kinsale. Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

This is the 15th edition of the biennial regatta, which has attracted 90 entries across all divisions and runs from 21st to 24th June and this year incorporates the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Results below

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Dave Kenefick crew have won the 1720 Southern Championships at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club from start to finish after five races sailed in Cork Harbour.

What a difference a day makes! Saturday's Mediterranean conditions gave way to a dull cloudy Sunday for the 20-boat sportsboat fleet.

Race Officer Ciaran MacSweeney made an early start to make up for the last race missed on Saturday, but it was not to be with a light flukey northeast breeze in play.

Patience was the order of the day, and after a two-hour delay, the expected east wind settled, and the course was set.

Two general recalls followed for the over-eager fleet, eventually followed by a black flag start for the first of three races on Sunday.

Dave Kenefick's Royal Cork Yacht Club crew lead the 1720 Southern Championships at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Kenefick, who opened his account with a race win, finished on seven points with two more wins to his tally to be 13 points clear of clubmate Donagh Good on 20. 

Royal Irish visitor Kenneth Rumball of Dun Laoghaire, who won the second race on Saturday, was third overall on 22 points.

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Donogh Good finished second overall at the 1720 Southerns at MBSC Photo: Bob Bateman

Royal Irish Yacht Club's Kenneth Rumball took third overall at the 1720 Southerns at MBSC Photo: Bob Bateman

1720 Southerns at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Results below.

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Dave Kenefick crew lead the 1720 Southern Championships at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club after two races sailed in Cork Harbour.

It was T-shirts and shorts weather for the sportsboats crews in a strong fleet of 20 boats representing eight different yacht clubs; five from the south coast, one from Galway and two from Dublin.

Dave Kenefick's Royal Cork Yacht Club crew lead the 1720 Southern Championships at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Kenefick, who opened his account with a race win, sits on six points and is one point ahead of Royal Irish visitor Kenneth Rumball of Dun Laoghaire, who won the day's second race. 

Royal Irish Yacht Club's Kenneth Rumball is lying second overall at the 1720 Southerns at MBSC Photo: Bob Bateman

Waterford Harbour Sailing Club's Ben Scanlon lies third,

Racing continues on Sunday.

1720 Southerns at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Results below.

Rob O'Leary and his Baltimore Sailing Club crew from West Cork returned to their winning ways at Howth Yacht Club when the North Dublin Club hosted the resurgent 1720s for the class’ first regional event of the 2023 season on Saturday and Sunday (29-30 April).

Conditions were challenging for the two-day event, and, as the ISORA fleet also found out off Dun Laoghaire during its coastal race, the light easterly Dublin breeze moved around a lot.

Second overall was Dun Laoghaire's Kenny Rumball, just one point behind O'Leary on ten points after five races sailed. Third was a second Baltimore boat, Aidan and Rory Lynch on 11 points.

See full results below

The 1720 Easterns saw a relatively small field of 13 boats competing, but they included past champions that punched above their weight in terms of action on the water.

Valuable ranking points will be up for grabs towards the new Joe English Cup, donated by the English family, which will go to the top-performing boat at the end of the season.

Professional coach Mike Richards was on hand to provide coaching throughout the weekend — including nuggets of wisdom during racing itself. The debrief was streamed live on the 1720 Facebook page.