St Andrew’s Win Leinster Schools Team Racing Title Again

10th March 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Colour Clash: Team racing action at the Leinster Schools Team Racing Championship in Dun Laoghaire as orange and blue Fireflies battle for position in cold but steady conditions. Photo: Charlotte O’Kelly Credit: Charlotte O'Kelly

St Andrew’s College of Booterstown in County Dublin successfully defended their crown at the Leinster Schools Team Racing Championship in Dun Laoghaire at the weekend (March 7/8th)

The 15th edition of the event attracted 19 teams from 13 leading sailing schools across Leinster, all competing for the 2026 provincial title.

Racing was held in cold conditions with intermittent sunshine, while steady winds provided ideal conditions for team racing.

The championship began with a round-robin series in which each team raced six opponents. The top eight teams progressed to the knockout stages.

After closely contested racing, the semi-finalists were St Andrew’s College (A), Gonzaga College (F), Mount Anville (R) and The Institute (N).

The semi-finals were sailed as best-of-three match-ups. After five tightly fought races, the final was set between St Andrew’s and The Institute.

The Institute opened the final strongly with a winning combination of 1,4,5 against St Andrew’s 2,3,6.

St Andrew’s responded immediately, taking the second race with a 1,2,6 finish to level the contest.

In the deciding race, St Andrew’s secured a decisive 1,2 combination on the downwind leg following effective team racing tactics to claim the championship.

Gonzaga College won the third-place final.

Prizes were presented by Royal St George Yacht Club Commodore Paul Molloy.

Champions Again: St Andrew’s College team of Caoilinn Geraghty-McDonnell, Angus Huang, Kate Flood, Emma Hanna, Matvey Sorgassi and Phoebe Peare with the Leinster Schools Team Racing trophy in Dun Laoghaire.

Organisers thanked MJ Geraghty of St Andrew’s for coordinating the event, race officers Ronan McDonell and Scorie Walls for running the racing, and umpires Emmet, Toby and Finn. Volunteers from Royal St George Yacht Club and other Dun Laoghaire clubs also supported the event.

Race reporting: Sam Walsh

Published in Team Racing, RStGYC

Published in Team Racing

Tagged under

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.