In a case of team racing history repeating, UK visitors the Rutland Raiders climbed through a packed Elmo Trophy leaderboard on Sunday morning at the Royal St. George Yacht Club to top the round-robin rankings and ultimately convincingly win the final just as they had done the year before.
Sunday brought challenging conditions for sailors and race management, with wind strengths going from zero knots to 6 knots throughout the day in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
Aquaholics (H) Wait for wind on Sunday morning at the Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
It was a credit to PRO David Bolger and team, the changeover squad and, of course, the sailors that 42 races were completed Sunday morning to end the round robin in perhaps the only zephyrs that appeared in Dublin Bay.
After 180 races, a clear top 8 teams emerged for the quarterfinals. However, as time passed with zero wind, the quarterfinals were scrubbed, and fingers were crossed that wind would appear in time for a semifinal. At 1500, when hope was dwindling, 5 knots duly arrived, and racing could commence.
Prestige Worldwide (Q) take on Where's Peter (8) at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
The semi final matchups saw the Raiders against ‘Where’s Peter?’ and Schull Sharks against ‘Prestige Worldwide’. With Schull Sharks as the current Irish School champions and Rutland Raiders as UK school champions high octane team racing despite the weather was expected.
The view from the umpire's boat at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Live commentary online was well received by sailors and supporters both ashore as well as the many spectator craft afloat.
Both semi-finals were won convincingly, with the school champions triumphant. Overnight leaders Prestige Worldwide won the petit final as they did last year. They must feel somewhat cursed for leading the event overnight the last two years only to finish third overall on both occasions.
The final was an exhibition in starting technique, with the Raiders dominating the Sharks and establishing 1,2,3 combinations by the top mark in both races. From this, they went on to win and defend the trophy for 2024. The Raiders no doubt benefited from the wisdom of their coach, Steve Tylecote, who was a multiple team medalist.
With so many teams, the Elmo has become an exercise in logistics: 36 teams, 36 supplied firefly dinghies, 216 sailors, over 300 dinners (2 courses) served on Saturday night, 55 volunteers every day, 12 umpires, 187 races, 200 Teddy's '99' Ice Creams on Sunday afternoon, and finally, over 3366 starting hoots on the committee boat.
With 10 teams on the waitlist this year, sailors will be sure to mark their calendars so they can enter for the 10th Elmo trophy, set for September 6/7 in 2025.
Winners of Elmo Trophy: Rutland Raiders
Second: Schull Sharks
Third: Prestige Worldwide
Elmo Plate Winners: Sea Squirts
Winners Rutland Raiders receive the Elmo trophy from Frank Elmes at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Runners up 'Schull Sharks' at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
RSGYC 'Prestige Worldwide' finish third at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour
