DUSC Achieves Strong Results at J70 Keelboat League Events

24th September 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Dublin University Sailing Club (DUSC) competed in two J70 British Keelboat League events in Cowes over the past 3 weeks.

Dublin University Sailing Club (DUSC) have begun their season strongly, having competed in two J70 British Keelboat League events in Cowes over the past three weeks.

After a breezy week with kites tucked firmly in the pit, the team of Russell Bolger (H), Will Sunderland, Christian Ennis, Donal Walsh and Max Cantwell finished with a solid 7th out of 16 teams at the 4th Annual David Haw Memorial Trophy ran by the University of Bristol Sailing Club, the Royal Thames and Royal Southern Yacht clubs.

Short, close racing in the Solent, as is the format in the British Keelboat League, allowed DUSC to use their boat-on-boat strategy built by their intensive team racing program to navigate through the fleet and start the keelboat season on a high note.

D.U.S.C's other team comprising of Trevor Bolger (H), Russell Bolger, Ella Dempsey, Georgia Goodbody and Keelboat Captain Conor Lynch were also competing in the Solent at the prestigious British Keelboat League Finals with the college having qualified after winning the student yacht racing nationals last year. 3 days of tricky, tidal racing in a wide range of wind from 5-25 knots challenged the fleet, but DUSC. kept their cool and finished out the event in 5th, having snagged an impressive 5 bullets over the course of the event. "We had an amazing event at the BKL Finals, and a fantastic trip to Cowes. Although we were new to the J70 class, we had an experienced crew of keelboat racers who quickly took the boat.

The whole team is very satisfied with the result, and we'd like to give a huge thanks to Jack Fenwick, Peter Ward and all of the event organisers and volunteers for allowing to have this experience.

The photos and stories from the two trips have spread quickly throughout the club, and there's a huge appetite for more high-level keelboat racing events in the future," Said Conor Lynch, D.U.S.C.'s Keelboat Captain.

Published in Team Racing, 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.