It’s hard to imagine that racing in three knots of breeze could produce a thrilling finish, but this year's Elmo team racing Trophy final between ‘Nautibuoys’ and ‘Port Hub’ produced exactly that. After 148 races over the weekend, the final result was decided by inches at the Royal St. George Yacht Club.

The record 29 teams this year saw the very best of Dun Laoghaire harbour over the weekend, with spectacular conditions on Saturday allowing for 100 races across the 5 flights of firefly dinghies.

Race Officer David Bolger ably assisted by Team Racing Experts, Conal Casey and Liam Glynn fired off the races, maxing out at 20 races per hour. This led to the sailors quickly moving through the initial rounds and moving into seeded leagues for Round 2.

Team racing works best when teams of equal standards race and Round 2 saw some close, frantic races between the teams. The umpire team led by Ailbe Millerick and Eunice Kennedy had their hands full managing the on-the-water protests enabling racing to continue at pace.

A change over RIB for the quick change of teams at the Elmo Trophy

Elmo Trophy umpire Eunice Kennedy

By the close of racing on Saturday, the home team captained by Trevor Bolger were undefeated and looking good for success on Sunday. There were notable performances by the debutantes from Rathmullan Sailing club and the Topper class, showing that sometimes sailing fast is all that is needed.

Sunday morning dawned with lighter winds, and greyer skies as the race team looked to complete the 40 races needed to complete round 2 and move to the knockouts. The lighter airs saw a change in results, where at the top, the ‘Nauti Buoys’ and ‘Port Hub’ began to rise to the top.

At the end of round 2, the light winds vanished entirely as the sailors waited to start the knockouts and the organizers looked at their watches - time was running out.

Getting ready to race at the seventh Elmo Trophy - the biggest team racing event ever held in Ireland

Finally, 4 knots appeared, allowing for racing for the top 4 teams. The ‘knocked out sailors’ then took to the water to watch the action in spectator ribs. The ‘Nauti Buoys’ won their semi against ‘Boats and Hose’ leaving a team containing last year's runner-up and winner now fighting for third. ‘Port Hub’ won a closer semi-final as the clock moved on.

The final race saw the 6 boats racing hit the finish at the same time, where finish officer Frank Elmes and his team needed all their experience to call the result.

The Nautibouys took the title, a combined super team from Howth, Royal Cork and Royal Saint George. With youth on their side and another chance to compete again next year, they will be the team to beat!

The organisers aim for 36 teams next year at the 8th Elmo trophy on August 26th/27th.

Seventh Elmo Trophy winners

Winners: Nauti Buoys: Harry Twomey (captain) and Thea Daly; Archie Daly and Alana Twomey and Rocco Wright and Emily Conan.

Elmo Trophy second overall

Elmo Trophy third overall

Dun Laoghaire Harbour delivered excellent sailing conditions for the 29 teams on the first day of the Elmo team racing trophy at the Royal St. George Yacht Club. 

Racing is tight across the fleets, with early leaders coming from the home side at Dun Laoghaire.

As Afloat reported earlier, a record number of 174 sailors are involved in the two-day regatta.  

Another 100 races are expected on Sunday, with finals expected to be sailed inside the harbour walls at 3 pm.

An impressive 29 teams (which means 174 sailors) will battle for team racing's Elmo Trophy in Dun Laoghaire Harbour this weekend.

Five flights of firefly dinghies (which means 30 boats) will be launched from the Royal Saint George Yacht Club on Saturday morning.  This youth team racing event for sailors aged 19 and under launched in 2015 and has grown steadily ever since.

With 29 teams and five flights, it will be the biggest team racing event ever sailed in Ireland.

This year sees new entries from Donegal (Rathmullan Sailing Club) and Ballyholme (Topper veterans) along with many returning competitors.  The home team will be looking to defend the title with one of its many teams, but is expecting close competition from their neighbours in the National Yacht Club.

Over 200 races are hoped for over the weekend with finals around 3 O'Clock on Sunday.

While of course, the sailing is important, the uniquely social element of Team racing will lend itself well to the competitors' dinner on Saturday night, where the tables are set for 195!

Entries continue to build for the 7th Elmo trophy, a youth team racing event in Dun Laoghaire. It takes place on 27/28 August at the Royal Saint George yacht club.

This year sees the return of last year's debutants Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, as well as the first ever Donegal entry, Rathmullan Sailing Club.

The home club will look to defend the trophy after the success of ‘Sea Buoys’ last year as Afloat reported here.

The event will be sailed in three flights of Firefly dinghies, where teams of six crews will race each other in a round-robin format.

The very special Elmo Trophy that commemorates the late RStGYC team racer Graham Elmes

Teams must consist of six members from the same club, school or dinghy association. At least two members must be aged 16 and under on 31st December 2022.

All team members must be aged 19 or under on 31st December 2022 and still attending second-level education in 2022 (i.e. the event is not aimed at University Students).

Entries are still open and the entry form and NOR can be found here.

After a staggering 137 races sailed over the weekend and a stirring comeback on the Sunday morning, RStGYC Sea Buoys won the sixth Elmo team racing trophy with a convincing 2-0 victory in the final.

Gentle breezes were the order of the day on Sunday, with teams trying to put wins on the board to make the finals. Three rounds of racing saw each team complete 15 races before a final between the top two teams from the host club, Sea Buoys and 29ers.
The competition was close across the fleets, with The National Yacht Club first team winning the Silver league unbeaten. The 'Leftovers' made up of a mixed clubs team, proved they should not have been left behind by taking the Bronze Fleet.

The event in its sixth year continues to attract a mix of boy/girl teams across clubs and classes. The firefly dinghy allows crews to quickly get up to speed with roll tacks and gybes as they manoeuvre around the starboard S course. Races typically last 6-7 minutes, but this is more than enough time for plenty of tactics, fast sailing and teamwork.

For next years seventh edition, organisers RSGYC are aiming for 5 flights of firefly dinghies and 30 teams! 180 youth team racers would be epic!

Team Bullship at the Elmo Trophy dinner

Overall: 1st Sea Bouys, 2nd 29ers, 3rd Bullship.

Silver Fleet: NYC1

Bronze Fleet: 'LeftOvers'

The 108 team racers came ashore on Saturday after champagne sailing conditions saw the Royal Cork team emerge unbeaten after Day one of the Elmo Trophy at the Royal St. George Yacht Club.

Race officer Conal Casey and his team completed Round 1, and are now halfway through the Gold Silver Bronze round.

Teams enjoyed the event dinner where more sunshine ensured the outdoor seating wasn't a washout!

The home club, RSGYC features prominently with many teams in the Gold league and will be hoping to knock RCYC off their perch.

The Royal Saint George Yacht Club welcomes youth team racers from around the country for its Elmo Trophy competition on August 28th and 29th in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

The event will be sailed in three flights of Firefly dinghies, where teams of six crews will race each other in a round-robin format.

Download the Notice of Race below

Teams must consist of six members from the same club, school or dinghy association. At least two members must be aged 16 and under on 31st December 2021. All team members must be aged 19 or under on 31st December 2021 and still attending second level education in 2021 (i.e. the event is not aimed at University Students).

The home team will hope to defend the trophy won by 'Curious George' in 2019 when 130 races were sailed over the weekend.

This year will see some new entrants such as Glandore Harbour Yacht Club, who have been training in a fleet of Fireflies already this season.

The Royal St. George's Elmo Trophy

The unique format of the event looks to split teams into pools of equal standards to ensure close racing for all while allowing every pool to have a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals.

To be placed on the entry list, email John Sheehy – [email protected]

Download the Notice of Race below as PDF document

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Durcan brothers, Harry and Johnny, along with Atlee Kohl, James McCann and Emily Cullen and Ciara Little from the RStGYC emerged as winners of the third Elmo Team Racing Trophy youth team racing competition, sailed in the RSGYC over the weekend.

Download the overall results below as an Xcel file.

Their edge over the competition was evident, winning all 16 of their races, beating the visiting West Kirby Sailing Club team in the final on Sunday afternoon.

The RSGYC 1 team (Toby Hudson Fowler, Greg Arrowsmith and Henry Higgins) beat their clubmates RSGYC 3 (Helen O'Beirne, Niamh Henry and Morgan Lyttle) to take 3rd overall. A team comprised of Laser 4.7 sailors captained by Tom Higgins won the Silver fleet, with the National Yacht Club winning the Bronze fleet.

Saturday saw 81 races sailed inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Photo: Afloat.ie

18 teams took part in the event, with most of the top youth sailors in Ireland competing. Perfect conditions for team racing on Saturday saw 81 races sailed - a credit to the organisers of this growing event. Racing on Sunday morning had to be postponed until the wind died down a little, but race officer Ger Owens successfully managed to get over 30 races sailed in testing conditions. Given the level of interest in the event, and the high standard of racing, the future of team racing in Ireland is looking very bright!

Teams afloat and ready to race in Royal St. George's Firefly fleet

Elmo Trophy winners - 'The Skiff Squad' above, below West Kirby and bottom Team George 1

This weekend sees a high profile list of competitors taking part in team racing's Elmo Trophy, being held in the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. This is the third year of the junior team racing event, named after the late Graham Elmes, founder of the Irish Team Racing Association.

Reflecting the growth in team racing among our young sailors, there has been huge interest in the event this year.

18 teams from around Ireland and the UK will be competing over two days, with teams of 6 under 18–year–olds sailing in two man firefly dinghys. Indeed, five additional teams had to be turned away as demand was so great to secure places.

The line up includes Laser sailors Johnny Durcan, Ewan McMahon, Luke McGrath, Conor Quinn, Jack Fahy, Sally Bell, Tom Higgins, Henry Higgins, Claire Gorman, Michael O'Sullibhan, 420 sailors Geoff Power, Kate Lyttle and Grace O'Beirne, RS200 sailors Toby Hudson Fowler and Greg Arrowsmith, RS Feva champions Henry Start and Morgan Devine and, of course, 29er sailor Harry Durcan - to name but a few.