Fennel Bay Finns Lead RSTGYC Elmo Trophy After 64-Race Opening Day

9th August 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Close-quarters team racing during the opening day of the Elmo Trophy at Dun Laoghaire

Close Quarters: Elmo Trophy teams battle through breezier conditions on the opening day at Dun Laoghaire, where 64 races were completed in winds ranging from zero to 25 knots.

Fennel Bay Finns emerged as the overnight leaders of the Elmo Trophy after a marathon opening day of 64 team races in highly changeable conditions.

Four of the 28 teams remained unbeaten at the end of Saturday's racing, with Fennel Bay Finns heading the standings ahead of Sunday's conclusion.

Like the ISORA fleet off Dun Laoghaire, conditions ranged from virtually no wind to 25 knots, producing a demanding day for competitors and race officials, with frequent course changes, capsizes and eventually the introduction of storm sails.

From Zero to 25 Knots

The first boats were launched by 10am in windless conditions, with competitors waiting for sufficient breeze to begin racing.

Racing got under way in earnest at 11am, but rapidly changing wind direction and strength presented an immediate challenge.

Courses had to be altered repeatedly as the breeze shifted, while the increasing wind strength later prompted organisers to introduce storm sails to allow racing to continue.

Despite the difficult conditions, the programme kept moving and 64 races were completed before the final boats were retrieved shortly after 6pm.

The long day left four teams with unbeaten records and plenty still to play for among the remainder of the 28-team fleet.

Top-Eight Battle on Sunday

Racing is scheduled to resume at 9am on Sunday, when a more favourable forecast is expected for the decisive second day.

The immediate target for teams is a place inside the top eight, with the leading eight progressing to the knockout stages scheduled to begin at approximately 2pm.

With the opening day's extensive round-robin programme completed but four teams still unbeaten, the battle for those eight places remains open.

Spectator Mark for Knockouts

Organisers will introduce a new feature for Sunday's knockout stages with the debut of a "Spectator Mark".

Mark 2 on the course, normally a buoy, will instead be an anchored launch. Teams eliminated from the competition will be able to watch and support the remaining sailors from close to the racing.

Live commentary from the knockout stages is also planned on the Royal St George Yacht Club's Instagram account and results here

The Elmo Trophy concludes on Sunday following the knockout rounds.

Published in Team Racing, RStGYC, Youth Sailing, Dublin Bay, 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.