Elmo Trophy Returns With Wide-Open Youth Team Racing Battle

8th August 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Racing Ready: Twenty-eight youth teams will contest the 11th Elmo Trophy in Dún Laoghaire this weekend, with an open championship, up to 200 races and no clear favourite for the coveted title

Twenty-eight youth team racing squads will converge on Dún Laoghaire this weekend for the 11th edition of the Elmo Trophy, with organisers predicting one of the most open contests in the event's history. With no clear favourite, the championship is expected to produce a highly competitive battle for the title.

Each team will field six sailors racing in colour-matched Firefly dinghies in the internationally recognised three-boat versus three-boat team racing format, widely regarded as the pinnacle of tactical dinghy racing.

Principal Race Officer Toby Hudson Fowler is scheduled to start racing at 10.30 am on Saturday. Racing will take place on the traditional starboard S-shaped course inside Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

Five flights of boats will be used, allowing up to 10 teams to race simultaneously on a single course. Delivering the championship remains a major logistical exercise. More than 50 volunteers will help run up to 200 races before the Elmo Trophy winner is decided.

Race management will again use the RaceFlow scheduling and results system, developed by former Elmo competitor Russell Bolger, to keep racing moving efficiently and maintain close competition between teams.

Forecast gusty conditions on Saturday afternoon may require Firefly storm sails supplied by the National Yacht Club, Irish Sailing, and the host club, the Royal St George Yacht Club.

The umpiring team will be led by Ailbe Millerick, a veteran of all 11 Elmo Trophy events, who will oversee on-the-water officiating and ensure fair racing.

Off the water, the traditional Saturday evening dinner will bring more than 200 competitors and volunteers together at the Royal St George Yacht Club. The popular karaoke competition also returns, with defending champions Rathmullan aiming to retain their unofficial title.

Published in Team Racing, Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

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.