Schull Schools Dominate Munster Team Racing Championship

10th March 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Champions Crowned — The Schull Sharks team from Schull Community College celebrate winning the Munster Schools Team Racing Championship at the Fastnet Marine Outdoor Education Centre in Schull.

The Munster Schools Team Racing Championship produced a full day of close racing at the Fastnet Marine Outdoor Education Centre in Schull, West Cork.

Fifteen school teams, representing 90 sailors, competed in the event organised under the banner of Irish Schools Sailing.

Runner-Up Finish — The Schull Seals team from Schull Community College celebrate their second overall placing at the Munster Schools Team Racing Championship in Schull.

Conditions ranged from light airs to a fresh northerly breeze. Race officer John Corkery and his team completed an impressive schedule of 60 races, giving each team eight races on the water.

Consistency proved decisive across the fleet. Schull Community College dominated the event, taking both first and second overall positions.

The contest for third place was tightly fought. Christian Brothers College Cork, Crosshaven White, SCC Orcas and SCC Marines all finished level on race wins.

Third Place — Sailors from Christian Brothers College Cork celebrate securing third overall after a countback finish at the Munster Schools Team Racing Championship.

CBC A secured the final podium position on countback with the lowest average points score.

The championship also marked the first official competitive event organised under the new Irish Schools Sailing structure.

Two schools made their debut appearance. Mount Saint Michael in Rosscarbery and Newtown School in Waterford were presented with Irish Sailing beanie hats to mark the occasion.

Organisers also recognised sportsmanship across the fleet.

Fair Play — Daisy Walsh and Afric Barry of Scoil Mhuire receive Sportsmanship Awards at the Munster Schools Team Racing Championship in Schull.

Awards were presented to Daisy Walsh and Afric Barry of Scoil Mhuire, Camille Goggin and Antonia Twohig of St Angela’s College Cork, and Jamie Blennerhassett and Nancy Medcalf of Bandon Grammar School.

Strong participation and competitive racing highlighted the growing strength of schools sailing in Munster.

Participating Schools

The following schools contributed to a vibrant and competitive championship:

Mount Saint Michael, Rosscarbery
Bandon Grammar School
Christian Brothers College, Cork
Schull Community College
Coláiste Muire, Crosshaven
Newtown School, Waterford
Scoil Mhuire

Podium Results

Schull Sharks
Schull Seals
CBC A

Published in Team Racing, Youth Sailing, West Cork

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.