This weekend, the ninth Elmo Trophy will take place in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. This youth team racing competition, which started in 2015 with eight teams, has grown year after year to 36 teams sold out this year. Such has been the interest in the event that, unfortunately, five teams remain on the waiting list.
In what will be the biggest team racing event ever held on Irish waters (surpassing last year's event of 32 teams), 216 sailors aged 19 and under will race in 36 supplied firefly dinghies with the event looking to complete circa 200 races to determine the winner. Teams must consist of six sailors, all 19 or under, 2 under 16 and none attending university.
Elmo Trophy sailors will compete on a 'Starboard S' shaped course with a separate start and finish line to facilitate up to 3 races on the track
Last year's winners from the UK, Rutland, are back and have added the British school title to their CV this year. They will surely relish the chance to take on the Irish Schools champions from Schull Community College in what will be an exciting encounter. Teams from around the country will compete, representing clubs and classes. With 36 teams, predicting a winner is difficult, but teams from the home club, Schull and the UK Raiders, will be expected to make the quarter-finals. Glandore, with two teams and a growing team race community, could also be in the shake-up, having just missed the quarter-finals last year.
A special computer programme on loan from West Kirby Sailing Club will dynamically create team matchups; in each round, teams of equal wins will race off, leading to close and fun racing. Sailors will compete on a 'Starboard S' shaped course with a separate start and finish line to facilitate up to 3 races on the track and allow for quick changeovers after racing to enable new teams to race. 12 on the water Umpires, led by Chief Umpire Ailbe Millerick, will provide on the water judging, enabling quick protest decisions and results being determined on the water. This year, the Umpire panel is supported by many former Elmo sailors who will be adding their valued input to the rapid decision process.
Elmo Trophy teams must consist of six sailors, all 19 or under, 2 under 16 and none attending university.
The Elmo trophy continues to be quite a logistical exercise. 55 volunteers will support the sailing each day in different roles with boats expected to launch at 10:00. Racing starts at 10:30 on Saturday and races will take place every 3 minutes up until 18:00 on Saturday evening. This gives the teams a short break to 'glam' up for the Elmo Trophy Dinner in the Dining room and Balcony in the RSGYC. Spare a thought for the catering team who will be providing 252 meals for hungry sailors and team reps. The sailing will re-commence early on Sunday morning and move to quarter finals in the afternoon, with, in a new innovation this year, commentary supplied live over the instagram page @elmotrophy.
With a great forecast for sailing, excitement is building that the 9th Elmo Trophy will be the best ever.
