Schull One are Winners at Munster Provincial Schools Team Racing
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.
The wind came and went thorughout the day, so racing stopped and started but 40 races were completed by days end. 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.
The final results were:
- Schull 1
- Schull 2
- Skibbereen 2
- Colaiste Mhuire 1
- Bandon 2
- St. Francis (ROCO)
- Christian Brothers Cork
- Skibbereen 1 & Colaiste Mhuire 2
- Colaiste Phobail Bhaeanntrai, Scoile Muire Cork, Schull 3, and Bandon 1, all tied on the same % wins
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