SCC Sharks Dominate Fastnet Trophy on Home Waters

25th April 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Start Line Tension – Boats line up tightly on the start line during team racing, with crews manoeuvring for position as seconds count in Fastnet Trophy competition

Schull Community College’s SCC Sharks delivered a commanding performance to win the Fastnet Trophy 2026 on home waters. The annual schools team racing event attracted a record 24 teams, including four from the UK, highlighting growing international interest.

Racing was delayed on Friday due to the weather. Action resumed over the weekend with 192 races completed across two days. Saturday saw 120 races sailed in busy conditions. A further 72 races followed on Sunday as the regatta reached its conclusion. The event used a single change Swiss League format, ensuring each team raced 16 times against varied opposition.

SCC Sharks set the pace throughout. They won all 16 races, securing overall victory with an unbeaten record. RHS Falcons finished second, with Ryde on Time taking third place after consistent performances. St Andrew’s College topped the Silver Fleet standings. Kilkenny College claimed honours in the Bronze Fleet.

Race operations were led by Dave Harte, supported by a large volunteer team. Organisers said their work ensured the smooth delivery of the event. The Fastnet Trophy continues to grow in scale and profile, combining competitive racing with strong international participation.

Published in Team Racing

Tagged under

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

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.