Team Racing's Shanahan Cup Sets Sail with Strong Start to 2025/26 Series

3rd October 2025

Afloat.ie Team

The 2025/26 Shanahan Cup started strong with 96 students racing at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

The 2025/26 Shanahan Cup got off to an exciting start on Wednesday, 1st October, as 96 second-level students from 10 schools gathered at the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire for the first round of this year’s team racing series. Hosted by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School (INSS) in collaboration with Gonzaga College, the event marked a strong beginning to what promises to be a busy school sailing season.

Sixteen teams took to the water in light airs and shifting conditions that tested sailors and race officials alike. Racing commenced promptly, with 24 races completed before lunch. Crews returned to the water in the afternoon for another intense session, culminating in over 40 races by 3:30 pm.

The Shanahan Cup will continue over three more race days throughout the season. The scoring system rewards both overall team performance and the number of races won.

Following the opening round, Blackrock College Team 1, St. Andrew’s Team 1, and Gonzaga College Team 1 are currently tied at the top of the leaderboard.

Speaking after the event, Glyn Williams of the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School highlighted the inclusive nature of the Shanahan Cup: “We’re committed to ensuring that schools with less experience can compete alongside more seasoned teams. We hope this format can help build participation and long-term interest in team racing across more schools.”

The format was a hit with the schools and teachers, too! Loreto Dalkey’s Ms Coyne summed up the thoughts, “Thank you all so much for an amazing day for our girls on the water yesterday. Everyone absolutely loved the day, and it was honestly so much fun.”

Racing on the day was officiated by Irish Sailing race umpires Vincent Delany and Ailbe Millerick, whose expertise helped ensure fair and competitive racing. Special thanks also go to Eunice Kennedy for her assistance in event organisation.

The next round of the Shanahan Cup will take place on Wednesday, 5th November, with entries now open.

Download results and points in the pdf below.

Downloads

Results and Series Points - Wednesday 1st October 2025.pdf (126 Downloads)

Published in Team Racing, Youth Sailing, INSS

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.