Trinity Sailing Club's Round-Ireland Run in Aid of the RNLI & Jigsaw

18th May 2020

Afloat.ie Team

Trinity Sailing Club's Round-Ireland Run in Aid of the RNLI & Jigsaw

Trinity Sailing Club will be organising a charity run next Saturday 23rd May in aid of RNLI and Jigsaw, in conjunction with the sailing clubs of Universities around Ireland writes Hannah Collins

As all on-the-water activities are curtailed during lockdown, Trinity Sailing Club will be organising an IUSA (Irish University Sailing Association) Round-Ireland Run in aid of the RNLI and Jigsaw to fill the time for some great causes. Beginning on May 23, participants will attempt to run/walk/cycle a combined 704 nautical miles (1,300 km) around Ireland. The current record by sail is held by a Mod 70, completing the circumnavigation in 38 hours and 37 minutes. We will be attempting to beat this by combining participants’ distances covered individually on foot in accordance with government COVID-19 guidelines.

Each participant will run/walk/cycle individually within their own 5-kilometre radius and everyone’s combined distance will be virtually tracked by Trinity Sailing. The challenge hopes to see not only current students but also alumni and friends of all of the student sailing clubs in Ireland take part, with sailors from UCD, DCU, TUD, UCC, CIT, NUIG, QUB, UL and RCSI joining the effort.

Both the RNLI and Jigsaw rely heavily on fundraising efforts which have been de-railed by the pandemic. As sailors we all greatly appreciate the work of RNLI, providing safety and saving lives on the water year-round as we enjoy our sailing. Jigsaw also provides an essential service of support for young people struggling with their mental health and since 2008 they have reached 32,000 people and saved countless lives with their work. Organisations like Jigsaw have become particularly vital during this crisis and this run provides a perfect opportunity for sailors to give back to causes we appreciate so much. You can also follow along with us live on the Trinity Sailing Instagram, which will show updates on how our participants are comparing to the speed of the Mod 70’s passage. We would encourage anybody who can, sailor or non-sailor, to join us in putting our newfound free time to good use and donating through our go fund me page.

Sign up to run/walk:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcyG_SYb6nDGNzrQbmkS1-ES56scbcc1BblZhUJU0BwMAdqA/viewform

Donate to the RNLI and Jigsaw:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/iusa-round-ireland-run-for-rnli-amp-jigsaw

Follow the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/714895035994289/?active_tab=about

Follow updates on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/trinitysailing/

Published in Team Racing

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Trinity Sailing Club

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About Team Racing

Team racing in sailing is an exciting, strategy-focused format where two teams, usually with three boats each, compete to achieve the best combined score by the end of the race. Unlike fleet racing, where individual performance matters most, team racing emphasises teamwork, tactics, and boat positioning to outmanoeuvre the opposing team.

Each team typically has three boats, often two-person dinghies like the Firefly class. The boats from each team are distinguished by their unique sail colours or numbers.

Points are assigned to finishing positions, with 1 point for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd place, and so on. The team with the lowest combined score wins. The target is to achieve a "winning combination" of points. In a six-boat race (three per team), winning combinations include scores like 10 points or less for a 1-2-6 or a 2-3-5 finish.

Teams can slow down or block opposing boats, especially in an advantageous position. A boat ahead can "cover" an opponent, manoeuvring to block the wind and slow them down.

Teams often employ manoeuvres to help slower boats catch up or pass opponents, switching positions if needed. This keeps the team in a winning configuration.

At key turning points, boats can execute mark traps, where they intentionally slow down or position themselves to block opponents, forcing them into bad turns or causing them to lose speed.

Team racing follows standard sailing rules but with some additions tailored to team tactics. For example, a "fouling" boat (one that breaks a rule) must complete a penalty turn or even multiple turns, depending on the rule violation. Penalty management is crucial as it can make or break a team's success in the race.

Constant communication is key as team members coordinate strategies, adjust for wind shifts, and adapt to changes in the race. They signal intentions, warn of opponents' moves, and ensure every team member’s position is optimized.

In short, team racing combines fast-paced sailing with strategic teamwork. While speed is essential, winning often depends more on positioning, communication, and the ability to execute effective tactics as a team.