Team Racing's Elmo Trophy Returns with Four Star Pizza as Title Sponsor for Tenth Edition

23rd June 2025

Afloat.ie Team

This year's Elmo trophy, held in the Royal Saint George on September 6th and 7th will see 'Four Star Pizza' coming on board as title sponsors.

36 youth teams are expected from around Ireland and overseas as Ireland's biggest team race regatta takes place in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for the tenth time this September.

Each team will have six sailors who will race in 6 flights of colour-matched Fireflys in the normal 3-boat vs 3-boat format - internationally recognised as the signature pinnacle format of tactical sailing.

Four Star Pizza sails will make their debut at the Elmo trophy event

Some new Four Star Pizza sails will make their debut at the event, helping to add to the colour and excitement of a team race regatta. Sean Scott, marketing director for Four Star, said, "Four Star Pizza are delighted to sponsor the Elmo trophy this coming September in Royal Saint George, and wish all participating teams the very best luck over what promises to be an entertaining and enjoyable few days for all."

Many of the 216 sailors will look forward to the event dinner on Saturday night just as much as the sailing, with the unique fun and craic that team racing brings, helping to make new friendships.

Last year's winners, the Rutland Raiders from the UK, will be back to defend their title and will expect strong competition from the Royal Saint George teams as well as the Schull Sharks, who lost out in the final last year.

As always, the event will continue to innovate with a few surprises planned for this year's 10th edition.

Entry will open for the event on June 30th at 18:00. Interested teams are encouraged to fill out the expression of interest form as soon as possible to obtain more information about the entry requirements. See here.

Published in Team Racing, RStGYC, Youth Sailing

Published in Team Racing

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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.