In a case of team racing history repeating, UK visitors the Rutland Raiders climbed through a packed Elmo Trophy leaderboard on Sunday morning at the Royal St. George Yacht Club to top the round-robin rankings and ultimately convincingly win the final just as they had done the year before.

Sunday brought challenging conditions for sailors and race management, with wind strengths going from zero knots to 6 knots throughout the day in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Aquaholics (H) Wait for wind on Sunday morning at the Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour 

It was a credit to PRO David Bolger and team, the changeover squad and, of course, the sailors that 42 races were completed Sunday morning to end the round robin in perhaps the only zephyrs that appeared in Dublin Bay.

After 180 races, a clear top 8 teams emerged for the quarterfinals. However, as time passed with zero wind, the quarterfinals were scrubbed, and fingers were crossed that wind would appear in time for a semifinal. At 1500, when hope was dwindling, 5 knots duly arrived, and racing could commence.

Prestige Worldwide (Q) take on Where's Peter (8) at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour 

The semi final matchups saw the Raiders against ‘Where’s Peter?’ and Schull Sharks against ‘Prestige Worldwide’. With Schull Sharks as the current Irish School champions and Rutland Raiders as UK school champions high octane team racing despite the weather was expected.

The view from the umpire's boat at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour 

Live commentary online was well received by sailors and supporters both ashore as well as the many spectator craft afloat.

Both semi-finals were won convincingly, with the school champions triumphant. Overnight leaders Prestige Worldwide won the petit final as they did last year. They must feel somewhat cursed for leading the event overnight the last two years only to finish third overall on both occasions.

The final was an exhibition in starting technique, with the Raiders dominating the Sharks and establishing 1,2,3 combinations by the top mark in both races. From this, they went on to win and defend the trophy for 2024. The Raiders no doubt benefited from the wisdom of their coach, Steve Tylecote, who was a multiple team medalist.

With so many teams, the Elmo has become an exercise in logistics: 36 teams, 36 supplied firefly dinghies, 216 sailors, over 300 dinners (2 courses) served on Saturday night, 55 volunteers every day, 12 umpires, 187 races, 200 Teddy's '99' Ice Creams on Sunday afternoon, and finally, over 3366 starting hoots on the committee boat.

With 10 teams on the waitlist this year, sailors will be sure to mark their calendars so they can enter for the 10th Elmo trophy, set for September 6/7 in 2025.

Winners of Elmo Trophy: Rutland Raiders
Second: Schull Sharks
Third: Prestige Worldwide
Elmo Plate Winners: Sea Squirts

Winners Rutland Raiders receive the Elmo trophy from Frank Elmes at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour 

Runners up 'Schull Sharks' at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour 

RSGYC 'Prestige Worldwide' finish third at the 2024 Elmo Trophy team racing event at the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Harbour 

Entry has opened for Ireland's biggest team racing event, the Elmo Trophy, celebrating its ninth edition this year. Teams of youth sailors from around the country and abroad are set to compete in 36 supplied firefly dinghies in Dun Laoghaire harbour on August 31st and September 1st. The Royal Saint George event will look to build on last year's event, which saw 32 teams of 6 crews compete for the title.

The Rutland Raiders, UK visitors, will be back to defend their title. They will be formidable defenders after a year, which saw them win the British Schools team racing title and finish as top youth team at the Wilson trophy. Undaunted, the Irish teams will be strong, and the home club teams, led by Russell Bolger, will expect to challenge others such as Irish Schools champions Schull Sharks and Glandore Sailing Club.

With a maximum of 32 teams and an oversubscription last year, teams are encouraged to enter early for the Elmo Trophy

Alongside the competition the social side is just as important with 220+ sailors dining at the event dinner on Saturday night. As usual club members will look to host visiting teams, a tradition which helps build fun and friendship.

Teams of youth sailors from around the country and abroad are set to compete in 36 supplied firefly dinghies in Dun Laoghaire harbour

Over 200 races will expect to be completed over the weekend, with quarter-finals taking place on Sunday afternoon. As well as on the water spectator craft, this year will also see live commentary on Instagram page for the event (@elmotrophy)

With a maximum of 32 teams and an oversubscription last year, teams are encouraged to enter early. Those entered by August 14th will automatically enter the Elmo early bird raffle.

Teams can view the NOR and Entry form at the event page. See the Link here and event poster attached below for download as a pdf

The Shanahan Cup is set to return in an enlarged format for the 2024/25 winter season. The event, organised by Gonzaga College and the INSS and sponsored by the Shanahan family, is a team racing series open to all schools in the Dublin area.

Last year, twelve schools participated in three one-day events. For the coming season, the series has been expanded to four one-day events, with an earlier start date soon after the commencement of the school year. This will hopefully ensure that the competitors sail in warmer weather and avoid, as far as possible, the frigid days of early spring.

“The Shanahan Cup is all about friendly inclusive competition” said Fiachra Etchingham of Gonzaga College. “Students of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. The winners will inevitably be great sailors who have developed their skills through training, but we encourage less skilled students not to be put off by the level of competition. We are very flexible on the makeup of teams, allowing schools to combine and change crews to maximise participation. Irrespective of the result, the aim is that all participants represent their schools to the best of their ability, have fun and make friends”.

The organisers try and work with the schools’ calendar to minimise conflict with other sports or academic events and so the precise dates will not be set until later in the year. However, it is intended to hold the first event in September and to complete much of the competition before Christmas.

“Gonzaga College is very grateful for the involvement of the INSS in this event” said Etchingham. “The highly professional staff ensure that each event runs smoothly and efficiently and so facilitates the growth of schools’ team racing”.

Elmside Neighbours lead the 'George Invitational' Team Racing Championship after a colourful ten rounds sailed at Dun Laoghaire Harbour this afternoon.

Set against the backdrop of the home of Team Racing in Dun Laoghaire, the Royal St George Yacht Club has organised two days of Swiss League team racing aboard Fireflies dinghies followed by knockout sailing on Sunday.

Both Elmside Neighbours and second placed team, Family Fireflies, won eight races in the blustery south-easterlies, with Curious George winning seven in third place from the 22-boat team turnout.

As Afloat reported previously, a resurgence in demand for top-grade team racing events has resulted in the revival of the renowned George Invitational. The event maintained over twenty years of continuity in the sport in Dun Laoghaire in the 1970s, 1980s, and 90s until the club ran the second World Team Racing Championships in 1999. It continued into the mid-2010s; now, it has made its triumphant return.

Interim results below

Saturday 4th of May 2024 saw 14 schools taking to the water to compete in the Irish Schools Team Racing National Championships 2024. For the first time since the inception of this event in 2004 and marking its 20th anniversary, there were teams from all four Provinces of Ireland.

Eight new schools that had not previously participated in the event competed this year, which is clear evidence that the appetite for School Team Racing is growing across Ireland.

"I.S.T.R.A. is delighted with this development, and hopefully, there will be more schools represented from Connacht and Ulster going forward", said I.S.T.R.A's Eunice Kennedy.

Bantry Bay Sailing Club hosted the Schools Team Racing Championships for the first time

On picturesque Bantry Bay, the Bantry Bay Sailing Club (B.B.S.C.) hosted this event for the first time.

Saturday heralded a dry, sunny morning, but unfortunately, with little wind, the A.P. was hoisted until 13.30 approx, when the wind filled in from the S.W. with a wind speed of 8 knots. Race Officer Ciaran McSweeney, with his crew of volunteers and with a sigh of relief, began to crank out the races. By the end of day 18.00, he had completed 36 races, which was an average of 10 races per hour, no mean feat. At the end of racing the competitors retired to their accommodation to get dolled up for a buffet organised by B.B.S.C. The event was hosted in the Marino Church and superb food was supplied by the Fish Kitchen.

Sunday morning dawned cloudy but with a nice brisk flickering N.E 10 knots of wind. Ciaran once again prevailed and sailing commenced at 10.20 approx. The competitors, full of eagerness and high spirits, once again took to the water. 30 races were required to complete the Round Robin in the shifting breeze, and this was achieved by 15.00.

Eight new schools participated in the Irish Schools Team Racing National Championships 2024

As the wind strength was beginning to show signs of dropping, it was decided that the semis and finals would comprise the best of 3 and the petite final would be 1 race. The top 4 in the semis were Schull Community School 1 V Andrews 1 and Schull Community School 2 V Skibbereen 1.

Schull 1 prevailed in their semis match 2 - 1 and went on to compete against Skibbereen Community School in the finals who took Schull 2 by 2-1. As the wind was now at 4 knots, a good start sequence was imperative. Schull Community School 1 rose to the occasion and beat Skibbereen 1 by winning the first two races out of three to make them the Irish Schools Team Racing Champions for 2024. Skibbereen Community School 1 placed second, and in the petite final Schull Community School 2 beat St. Andrews 2-1 placing 3rd and St. Andrews 1 in fourth.

The overall placings were as follows:

• 1st Schull Community School 1
• 2nd Skibbereen Community School
• 3rd Schull Community School 2
• 4th St. Andrews College
• 5th Bandon Grammar School
• 6th Clongowes/Colaise Iosa/St. David's Holy Faith/High School
• 7th Schoil Mhuire
• 8th Colaiste Phobhail Bheanntarai
• 9th St. Andrews 2
• 10th Colaiste Eide
• 11th St. Francis R.O.C.O
• 12th Loreto/Milford

"I.S.T.R.A. congratulates Bantry Bay Sailing Club on running an exemplary Team Racing event, particularly as they are newcomers to this format of racing," said Kennedy.

"The eagerness and happy faces of the volunteers who turned out to assist in running the event were heartwarming. Feedback from Parents, School Teachers, and competitors was that Bantry Bay was a superb venue for team racing", Kennedy added.

On Sunday 21st April, the Royal Saint George Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour hosted the Irish Schools Team Racing Association (ISTRA) Leinster Championships.

The event saw 16 teams from 12 schools around Leinster compete in a Team Racing event, which is quite different from a fleet racing event. Competitors do not need to bring their own boats, but instead swap out of different boats throughout the day. Each team consists of three boats with a helm and crew per boat, so 6 people on a team.

The race report of the event indicated that the weather conditions were perfect for team racing, with the teams able to demonstrate their sailing tactics, mark traps, boat handling, and working as a team. The format for the event was a Swiss League leading to knockout stages, with the top four teams consisting of Mount Anville, St Conleth’s, St Andrew’s 1, and Wild Card. 

After four rounds, the top four were consistent performers with Mount Anville and St Conleth’s on 4 wins from 4 races and St Andrew’s 1 and St Michael’s 1 on three wins from four races. Blackrock was unfortunate to be in 5th place with two wins from two, having been beaten in earlier rounds by Mount Anville and St Conleth’s. Holy Child Killiney had a strong showing early on but suffered defeats from St Andrew’s 1 and Blackrock.

In the first semi-final, St Conleth’s faced St Michael’s 1, and two thrilling races saw St Michael’s qualify for the final. St Andrew’s 1 squared up against Mount Anville for the second semi-final and went ahead 1-0 after the first race. The second race was as close as they come with the race been decided on the 5th and 6th place position. It was so close even the competitors weren’t sure of the result until the finish boat confirmed St Andrew’s 1 as the winner and the second qualifier for the final.

For the first race of the final, St Michael’s 1 took a close win to go ahead 1-0. St Andrew’s 1 dug deep from their experience and managed to win the second final race, leaving a do-or-die final race to decide the Leinster Champion. Both teams displayed fantastic tactics, sailing ability, and superb boat handling ability, with St Andrew’s 1 emerging as victors and being confirmed as Leinster Team Racing Champions 2024.

The National Schools Team Racing Championships will take place in Bantry Sailing Club over the weekend of 4th and 5th May, with a total of 20 teams qualifying from around the country.

Leinster has an allocation of 8 teams to qualify, and the Leinster Championship is the deciding ranking for teams. Therefore, the following teams have qualified to enter the Irish Schools Team Racing Championships:

Leinster Schools Team Racing Championships Results 2024:

1. St Andrew’s 1
2. St Michael’s 1
3. Mount Anville
4. St Conleth’s
5. Blackrock
6. St Andrew’s 4
7. Holy Child Killiney
8. Wild Card

The RStGYC is known as a premier club for hosting high-quality team racing events, and the next major team racing event to be hosted will be the George Invitational on the weekend of the 25th and 26th May.

Details of entry (including for youth teams) can be obtained by contacting the RSGYC. Further details can be seen here. Other team racing in May is the Cannonball trophy, a team racing event for Dragons held on the 18th and 19th May.

The largest youth sailing event and largest team racing event in Ireland is the Elmo trophy, which will take place in August.

On Sunday, March 23rd, Bantry Bay Sailing Club launched the Irish Sailing fleet of Fireflies at 9:10 a.m. They had collected the boats from Malahide and Cork for the Munster Provincial Schools Team Racing Event. It was a drizzly morning with a light southerly wind. The race officer, Tim McCarthy, managed to lay a course for racing to commence at 10:53 a.m. when the wind settled at five knots.

Only four races were completed before the wind died until 1:00 p.m. The sixth race started in a light northerly breeze.

Bantry Bay Sailing Club launches the Irish Sailing fleet of Fireflies for the Munster Provincial Schools Team Racing Championships 2024

After four more races, the wind died again, but it slowly filled in from the west. The 10th race started at 2:49 pm in a strengthening westerly and held until 5:00 pm. Over 40 races were completed throughout the day. The Umpires, Dave Sheahan, Chief Umpire and Eunice Kennedy, were kept busy throughout the day with plenty of whistle-blowing as the racing was very tight amongst the top six teams.

Light winds for the Munster Provincial Schools Team Racing Championships 2024 on Bantry Bay

By the end of the day, 80% of the Round Robin was completed to have a result. The teams were split into two groups to achieve an 80% score, resulting in a number of tie-breaks between the first six placed teams. These were decided by a do-or-die race to determine the first five placed teams. The first race was between Schull 1 and Schull 2, tied on 100% race wins. The second race was Skibbereen 2 and Colaiste Mhuire 1, tied on 75%. The third race was Bandon 2 and St. Francis (ROCO), tied on 67%.

The final results were:

1. Schull 1
2. Schull 2
3. Skibbereen 2
4. Colaiste Mhuire 1
5. Bandon 2
6. St. Francis (ROCO)
7. Christian Brothers Cork
8. Skibbereen 1 & Colaiste Mhuire 2
9. Colaiste Phobail Bhaeanntrai, Scoile Muire Cork, Schull 3, and Bandon 1, all tied on the same % wins.

Colaiste Phobail Bheanntrai, who, with one day's training, competed  Munster Schools Team Racing Event Trophy at Bantry Bay

The first five placed teams go forward to the Irish Schools Team Racing Association (I.S.T.R.A) National Championships in May.

This was the first occasion that Bantry Bay Sailing Club hosted a Team Racing Event. They put on a magnificent regatta. Although it was a drizzly day and there were some delays in racing, this did not temper the mood of the competitors. They were in high spirits and enjoyed the event. They were also very complimentary of Bantry Bay Sailing Club.

Kathryn Kingston had put together a fantastic group of volunteers, and nothing was an issue for them. It was a great location for the event, from their club to the sailing area. The club was supported by volunteers from Glandore Harbour Sailing Club and F.O.M.E.C. They are planning team racing clinics and other sailing events going forward. Although Bantry has not got a Team Racing programme yet, the local school, Colaiste Phobail Bhaeanntrai, put together a team for the event. They will be more involved in Schools Team Racing in the future.

A resurgence in demand for top-grade team racing events has resulted in the revival of the renowned George Invitational. The event maintained over twenty years of continuity in the sport in Dun Laoghaire in the
70's, 80's & 90's until the club ran the second World Team Racing Championships in 1999. It continued into the mid-2010's; now, it has made its triumphant return. In times past the Invitational welcomed the top team racers from the UK, Ireland & the US to Dun Laoghaire to compete for the George Invitational Trophy.

Set against the backdrop of the home of Team Racing in Dun Laoghaire, the George is organising two days of Swiss League team racing aboard Fireflies dinghies followed by knockout sailing on May the 25th and 26th. The event is a celebration of the clubs long & successful history as the cradle of Irish team racing and the birthplace of the sport almost eight decades ago. In addition to the thrilling racing, team racers, both past and present, will have the chance to connect and immerse themselves in the excitement of the event. Moreover, all sailors, race officials, and volunteers are invited to join in the Saturday night dinner at The George dining room.

Teams are encouraged to enter now to avail of the early bird offer that expires on the 31st of March. The event website can be found here

The Royal S George YC in Dun Laoghaire may have been founded in 1838, but its involvement in front-line Team Racing is right up to date in 2024

In response to a surge in the popularity of team racing in Ireland over recent years, the Irish Team Racing Association (ITRA) has announced a packed 2024 calendar aimed at further growing the sport across the country.

The announcement followed the election of a new ITRA committee at an AGM held in late 2023. 

The ITRA Committee intends to bring adults of all ages and abilities into team racing over the coming years through an array of events running between April and October. While team racing has been immensely popular amongst young adult sailors across the country for a long time, the association is hopeful that a full calendar will allow for continuity and growth in the community after university and beyond.

In addition to this, the ITRA is also aiming to grow women's participation in helming and in the sport in general. A "Take the Helm" event is set to take place this April 13th and 14th in Malahide, with a second event provisionally scheduled for September. Currently, training sessions are being organised in the south, east and west of the country to help get more women helming ahead of the event.

The packed calendar is also set to include a mixed pairs event, a 2K Keelboat event before concluding with the ITRA Nationals in Baltimore in October, which will be held over three days for the first time. 

Many in the sailing community are excited about the ITRA's plans for growth and development of team racing in Ireland. With the already established Irish University Sailing Association (IUSA) and Irish Schools Team Racing Association (ISTRA), the ITRA's efforts are expected to bring even more attention and growth to the sport in the country.

THE IRISH TEAM RACING ASSOCIATION CALENDAR 2024

• Take the Helm, Malahide Sailing Club, April 13th & 14th
• Royal St George Invitational, RStGYC, May 25th & 26th
• Mixed Pairs Team Racing Event, Galway, June 22nd & 23rd
• Take the Helm 2, Venue TBC, September 21st & 22nd (Provisional)
• 2K Keelboat Team Racing, Dun Laoighaire, September 28th & 29th
• ITRA National Championships, Baltimore, October 18th-20th

The Irish Team Racing Association’s 75th National Championships concluded Saturday in the Royal St George Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The round-robin event was truncated to a day’s racing as the forecast showed winds gusting to 30 knots Sunday morning.

Eighteen teams competed in the event, and after sixty races in two round-robin leagues, the top four teams progressed to a semifinal knockout.

Tight racing at the ITRA 75th Anniversary team racing at Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Baltimore, comprising UCC alumni, was the top team in League A, with Georges Street clear second. George Jesters, the UCD alumni team, topped League B but with Lunsters edging Bunkers on % wins.

The league toppers progressed from the semis to the final, although Lunsters took a race off Baltimore, having suffered a capsize in the first race.

The best of three finals started in the fading light of dusk with a brisk breeze with intermittent strong squalls.

Control off the startline was to be critical. Baltimore emerged into a winning combination to take the first race. Jesters struck back to even the score and forced a decider in failing light.

An ITRA Finals race at dusk in Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Jesters controlled well off the start line in the final race and sailed into a one-two combination which they didn’t yield, taking the 75th anniversary event and adding it to their BUSA crown.

ITRA Silver Medalists Baltimore Sailing Club= Johnny Durcan, Fionn Lyden & Mark Hassett. Crews: Trudy O'Hare, Rosa Lyden & Adam Hyland

The Petit Final was won by Georges Street, defeating Lunster's sudden death. Prestige Worldwide won the youth event, and Holy Child Killiney were awarded the all-girl team prize.

ITRA Bronze Medalists Georges Street, Peter Fagan, Toby Fowler & Noah McCarthy Crews - Emma Gallagher, Fiona Ferguson, & Rosemary Tyrrell

At the event dinner in George, John Sheehy presented ITRA outgoing Chairman Ailbe Millerick & outgoing ITRA Secretary Eunice Kennedy jacket awards for their long service to Team Racing in Ireland.

John Sheehy (centre) presents ITRA outgoing Chairman Ailbe Millerick & outgoing ITRA Secretary Eunice Kennedy with ITRA jacket awards

2023 ITRA Champions George Jesters

Jack Fahy, Liam Glynn, Tom Higgins
Crews: Kathy Kelly, Emilly Hill & Cian Lynch

Silver Medalists Baltimore Sailing Club
Johnny Durcan, Fionn Lyden & Mark Hassett.
Crews: Trudy O'Hare, Rosa Lyden & Adam Hyland.

Bronze Medalists Georges Street
Peter Fagan, Toby Fowler & Noah McCarthy
Crews - Emma Gallagher, Fiona Ferguson, & Rosemary Tyrrell.

First Youth - Prestige Worldwide
Russell Bolger, Max Cantwell, and Peter Williams
Crews - Lilley Dwyer, Patrick Foley and Ella Dempsey

All-girl team prize  

Olivia Ryan, Zita Tempany, Nora Jane Sexton, Orla Casey, Molly O'Flaherty, Ameline Hennessy, Lily Donagh, Lucia Cullen and H.C.K. Principal Caroline O'Brien

A team racing party piece at the Royal St. George Yacht Club ITRA dinner