Club News
ISAF NATIONS CUP IN KINSALE YC - FINAL RESULTS
Team Denmark helmed by Mads Elber has claimed their place at the Nations Cup Grand Final to be held in Porto Alegre Brazil, March 23-28th 2009. It was the weather that won out at the Nations Cup Regional Final in Kinsale, Co.Cork. International Race Officer Alan Crosbie held a skippers briefing at 09.30hrs this morning (Sat 25/10/2008) to inform the fleet that racing would be postponed until 12.00hrs when a further decision would be made. A low pressure system coming from the Atlantic brought gale force winds and heavy rains to the south coast of Ireland. As the morning progressed it was clear the there would be no break in the weather as winds increased to storm force at times. As no race could be sailed after 16.00hrs the event organisers ony decision was to cancel racing.
To calculate the final results, the series of races sailed to date would be taken into account. It was a clear winner in Mads Elber from Denmark taking the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open) II. Mads who has had an excellent season this year, displayed top class skill at the event dominating from the very beginning. However second place came down to the wire between Finland and Slovenia. It was Finland’s Jon Eriksson who took second as a count back was applied to the last race between the two teams in which Finland won. Slovenia’s Orel Jure was placed in third.
Ireland's John Sheehy, an unranked match sailor, displayed great potential in the match racing circuit with a fourth beating Holland’s Jelle Roos ranked 35th and Germany’s Max Gurgel ranked 55th in the world.
The Nations Cup Regional Final is a pre-qualifier to the Nations Cup Grand Final to be held in Porto Alegre Brazil, March 23-28th 2009. The ISAF Nations Cup is a global competition to find the world's top match racing nation and to develop match racing infrastructure around the world.
Kinsale Yacht Club hosted the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open) II, from the 22-25th October 2008. The Nations Cup Regions Final was kindly sponsored of Cork, Cork County Council, The Irish Sports Council, Failte Ireland & Irish Examiner.
Results
| Total Points 1st stage to date | Total Sailed 1st Stage to date | Event Result ISAF G2 | |
| DEN | 12 | 14 | 1 |
| SLO | 9 | 14 | 3 |
| POL | 7 | 14 | 5 |
| NED | 4 | 14 | 8 |
| FIN | 9 | 14 | 2 |
| GER | 5 | 14 | 7 |
| EST | 7 | 14 | 6 |
| GBR | 3 | 15 | 9 |
| IRL | 8 | 15 | 4 |
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Denmark is the latest nation to have earned their place in the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Grand Final in Brazil.
Kinsale Yacht Club, Ireland hosted the latest Regional Final from 22nd to 25th October, where nine nations competed for the Europe (Open) II title to qualify for next year’s Grand Final.
The Danish team, with Mads Ebler at the helm, were declared winners after the final day’s match racing of the Regional Final was lost due to gale force winds.
The competing nations represented Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia.
ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final – Qualified Nations
Open Women
Brazil Host Brazil Host
France Defending Champion France Defending Champ
Portugal Australia
New Zealand Great Britain
India Italy
Denmark India
Kinsale Yacht Club is very grateful to our generous sponsors, Port of Cork, Cork County Council, The Irish Sports Council, Failte Ireland and Irish Examiner.
The ISAF Nations Cup is a global competition to find the world’s top match racing nation and to develop match racing infrastructure around the world. The two remaining Regional Finals, which take place later in the year, are in Charleston, USA and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Penultimate day at the Nations Cup Regional Final.
Kinsale, Co.Cork, 24th October: Racing resumed at 1000hrs this morning for the penultimate day of the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final in Kinsale, Co.Cork. The teams took to the water in glorious sunshine with a cold westerly breeze. Tight racing was expected through out the day as Danish helm Mads Elber and his team try and maintain their lead.
Flight 4 Match 4 resail between Ireland & Slovenia got away first. Trying to put the memories of their OCS behind them John Sheehy and his team from the Royal St George set about to try and claim victory over the Slovaks. An excellent pre-start manoeuvre allowed Sheehy to shake off his competitors and place him in the controlling position. As the countdown when through it was Ireland who had the better boat speed off the line. However team Slovenia seemed to be able to point slightly higher and this allowed them to gain on the Irish. A very close tacking dual proceeded as they made their way up wind to the first mark. Those who could get the team work right here would take the advantage; the Irish did it with a very smooth and early set. This allowed them to gain valuable leverage. A slight delay with the Slovenians allowed the Irish to lengthen the gap. As the Irish sailed ahead they also had a dying breeze which allowed the Slovenians to catch up. As both boats parked on the downwind leg all they could do was cover and put the jury to work as the luffing match ensued. As they reached the bottom mark the wind had picked up and it was the Slovenians to take the lead and the win.
The wind was a steady 15 knots through-out the afternoon however a few squalls with gusts in excess of 20 knots did hit the racecourse. For the Dutch team a crew member had to be taken ashore and brought to hospital with a minor head injury that required stitches after being hit with the boom.
However by mid-afternoon everything was to play for. Denmark maintained their lead but the pack was closing in, by lunch time teams including Slovenia, Finland and Estonia all in joint second were vying for the hallowed spot in the Nations Cup Grand Final in Brazil. As dusk settled over the ruins of Charles Fort on the penultimate day of the Nations Cup Regional Final it is team Denmark led my Mads Elber leading the event. Great Britain (Guy Stephens) took the last win of the day as Solvenia who had incurred an early penalty did not release it in time to prevent the Britain’s crossing the line ahead. This left Slovenia helmed by Orel Jure in second and Finland’s Jon Eriksson in third. Ireland had an exciting afternoon claiming 4 wins and climbed up the ranks to 4th. The remaining races for Round Robin 2 will be sailed tomorrow weather permitting as local forecasts show a deepening low pressure moving in with gusts of 30knots expected. Organisers have confirmed that a result can still be calculated if racing is cancelled tomorrow based on the races that have been sailed to-date.
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24th Oct 08: Magnificient conditions now for matchers...
Results from the Racecourse: 24 October, 2008
We have magnificent conditions, a steady 15 knots of breeze from the west, sunshine and a flat sea in the middle harbour in Kinsale.
The final scoring from Round Robin 1:
Denmark 6 - 8
Slovenia 5 - 8
Finland 5 - 8
Estonia 5 - 8
Ireland 4 - 8
Netherlands 4 - 8
Poland 3 - 8
Germany 3 - 8
Great Britian 1 - 8
Therefore, it's extremely close, as they enter the second round robin. Following the completion of this stage, the event will move on to a knock out phase with semi-final and final.
Racing will continue until dusk at 18.30hrs, so long as the conditions hold out.
Gales from the south west are forecast for tonight and tomorrow, which may threaten racing on the final day tomorrow! A number of squalls have come through building the breeze up to 20 knots, but it has returned to a steady 15 knot baseline breeze.
ISAF Nations Cup 2009
Racing resumes at Kinsale Yacht Club on the penultimate day with winds forecast to ease from Thursday's storm when racing was abandoned due to gusts in excess of 50 knots.
Kinsale Yacht Club is currently hosting the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open), from the October 22-25th 2008.
This is the 5th addition of the ISAF Nations Cup with the Grand Final being held in Porto Alegre Brazil from March 23-28th 2009.
The ISAF Nations Cup is a global competition to find the world's top match racing nation and to develop match racing infrastructure around the world.
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Racing Abandoned at ISAF NATIONS CUP REGIONAL FINAL.
23 October, 2008
Kinsale, Co.Cork. The second day of the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final (Open) II was dominated by the weather. A low presseure sweeping in from the Altanitc kept the sailors on shore today. Storm Force gusts swept across the south west of Ireland this morning and this left race organisers with no choice but to postpone racing for 24 hours . Tomorrow promises more benign conditions however the pressure will be on all teams to fight out for a place in the Nations Cup Grand Final. Racing is scheduled to commence at 10.00am with the Flight 4 Match 4- a re-sail between Ireland and Solevenia. The remaining series is to recommence thereafter. Pressure will be on the overnights leaders Denmark to maintain their lead and secure their place in the 2009 ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final in Brazil. The remaing postions are very tight with Poland and Finland in joint second. A very tight competition with everything to play for in the remaining days of racing.
This evening the teams will be sampling the delights of Irelands gourmet capital and will be taken on an eery ghost tour of the town. Kinsale located in the south west of Ireland is home to fine cuisine and famous yacht designer Ron Holland.
Kinsale Yacht Clubis host to the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open) II, from the 22-25th October 2008. The Nations Cup Regions Final is kindly sponsored of Cork, Cork County Council, The Irish Sports Council, Failte Ireland & Irish Examiner, The ISAF Nations Cup is a global competition to find the world's top match racing nation and to develop match racing infrastructure around the world.
Further information:
Contact info@kyc.ie
Website www.kyc.ie
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ISAF Nations Cup 2009, Regional Final, Kinsale Yacht Club, Co.Cork, Ireland.
KINSALE OCT 22nd 2008: Kinsale Yacht Club is playing host to the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open), from the October 22-25th 2008. This is the 5th addition of the ISAF Nations Cup with the Grand Final being held in Porto Alegre Brazil from March 23-28th 2009.
The ISAF Nations Cup is a global competition to find the world's top match racing nation and to develop match racing infrastructure around the world. Nine teams are completing in this regional final including, Denmark, Slovenia, Poland, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Great Britain and Ireland. This International match race event will be competed in the Irish Sailing Association Sailfleet J80 sportsboats.
As the ancient ruins of Charles Fort overlooked the harbour, the fleet set out in glorious autumnal sunshine. Conditions were near perfect with a stiff westerly breeze of between 15-20knots allowed international race officer Alan Crosbie get the flights off and spinnakers were used for the all the races.
Leaders after day one of racing is Denmark (Ranked 11th), Mads Elber and his crew are competing in their first match race event under the Danish flag. Mads has competed in Grade 2 & 3 events, winning the 2008 Autumn Cup this year. It was noticeable that the Danes dominated through-out the day, of 6 races sailed, they only lost to Finland (ranked 47). Keeping tight to each of their competitors the Danes dominated the starting box and the teams found it very difficult to sail out from under the Danes control.
John Sheehy from the Royal St. George flying the flag for Ireland suffered an OCS in flight 4 match 4 against Solvenia. Ireland requested redress from the international jury being headed up by Sally Burnett and the result of the jury was that the race should be re-sailed tomorrow.
Results Day-1
(Country Wins-Losses)
Denmark 5-1
Poland 3-2
Finland 3-2
Estonia 4-3
Germany 3-3
Slovenia 2-3
Netherlands 2-3
Ireland 2-3 (one race to be re-sailed)
Great Britain 1-5
Match Racing Background: A match race consists of two identical boats racing against each other. With effective boat handling and prudent use of wind and currents, a trailing boat can escape the grasp of the leader and pass. The leader uses blocking techniques to hold the other boat back. This one-on-one duel is a game of strategy and tactics. There is only one winner.
ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open) hosted by Kinsale Yacht Club, sponsored by:
Port of Cork,
Cork County Council,
The Irish Sports Council,
Failte Ireland
The Examiner
Further information contact Kinsale Yacht Club, Kinsale Co.Cork.
Email: info@kyc.ie
Website: www.kyc.ie
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Monday October 20, 2008
For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
Kinsale Yacht Club, sponsored by Port of Cork, Cork County Council, The Irish Sports Council, Failte Ireland and The Examiner is host to the ISAF Nations Cup 2009 Regional Final Europe (Open), from the 22-25th October 2008. This is the 5th addition of the ISAF Nations Cup with the Grand Final being held in Porto Alegre Brazil from March 23-28th 2009.
The ISAF Nations Cup is a global competition to find the world's top match racing nation and to develop match racing infrastructure around the world.10 Nations will compete for a place in the Grand Final, in this Grade 2 event, on the waters of Kinsale’s picturesque inner harbour, with this natural amphitheatre lending itself as a spectacular grand stand! The action over the four days is scheduled to take place in the vicinity of the Charles Fort line thereby ensuring thrilling viewing for the spectator.
This International match race event will be competed in the ISA’s Sailfleet J80 sportsboats. A match race consists of two identical boats racing against each other. With effective boat handling and prudent use of wind and currents, a trailing boat can escape the grasp of the leader and pass. The leader uses blocking techniques to hold the other boat back. This one-on-one duel is a game of strategy and tactics. There is only one winner.
Ireland is represented by John Sheehy of the Royal St George Yacht Club, who will compete against teams from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia. However, with over half the fleet in the top fifty of the ISAF World Match Race rankings, qualification for the host nation in this Regional Final is not a guaranteed. Some ‘local knowledge’ from one of the sailors in this friendly Southcoast club should assist though. With the river in flood and strong winds forecast, conditions on the course should prove testing.
ENDS
Attached Photo Caption: Slovenian entrant Jure Orel in match race action.
For more information contact:
John Cooley,
Kinsale Yacht Club,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.
Mobile: 087 6299602
communications@kyc.ie
www.kyc.ie