Royal Cork Yacht Club finished fourth in the silver fleet at the Global Team Race Regatta in Newport, R.I., USA at the weekend.
With steady sailing across a full range of conditions and against a fleet of determined opponents, the Royal Thames Yacht Club (London, U.K.) claimed the championship at the inaugural Regatta, a two-on-two keelboat team race hosted by the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court from October 5 to 7. The octet of sailors from the historic London yacht club won 18 of 21 races over the course of three days. The team representing the host New York Yacht Club finished second with 16 wins and five losses. St Francis Yacht Club (San Francisco) was third at 15-6 and Reale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo (Rome, Italy) fourth with a 14-7 record.
A dozen teams from 10 countries, including Japan, Argentina and Australia, travelled to Newport for a frenetic weekend of sailing at the very end of the northeast sailing season. They were rewarded with wind from 5 to 20 knots, a matched fleet of 22 Sonar keelboats, an efficient race committee that cranked out 126 races and the unparalleled hospitality of the New York Yacht Club. Proponents of team racing, including New York Yacht Club Commodore Phil Lotz, who threw his full support behind the event, hope the Global Team Race Regatta will spur team racing's ascendancy to the pinnacle of competitive small-boat sailing, the Olympic Games. Of course, one successful team race isn't going to sufficiently charm the International Olympic Committee, but there was nonetheless a lot riding on this event.
Gold Fleet:
1. Royal Thames Yacht Club (England), 18-3
2. New York Yacht Club (New York), 16-5
3. St. Francis Yacht Club (St. Francisco), 15-6
4. Reale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo (Italy) 14-7
5. Dutch Match & Team Racing Association (The Netherlands) 9-12
6. Bayerischer Yacht Club (Germany), 6-15
Silver Fleet:
1. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (Italy), 11-10
2. Japan Sailing Federation (Japan), 10-11
3. Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club (Scotland), 10-11
4. Royal Cork Yacht Club (Ireland), 8-13
5. Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club (Australia); 7-14
6. Yacht Club Argentino (Argentina), 2-19