The Leinster Schools Sailing Championship delivered a fantastic day of racing over the weekend, with an impressive record 19 teams (114 sailors) turning out for one of the key events in the Irish Schools Sailing calendar.
After an intense series of races, the final standings were decided, with St Andrews College ( SAC1) taking gold , followed by the Institute taking silver and Gonzaga College bronze.
Racing throughout the day was of an exceptionally high standard, with over 70 races completed. The championship ultimately came down to a tie-breaker and a sudden-death final race between St Andrews and The Institute. The decisive race produced an electric finish and a fitting climax to a closely fought championship.
A particularly warm welcome went to Campbell College, who travelled from Northern Ireland to compete. New to schools team racing, the young team delivered a superb performance, progressing all the way to the quarter-finals- an outstanding achievement and a promising sign for the future.
The event was made possible thanks to the dedication and support of a large group of volunteers and officials. Race Officers Ronan McDonell and Scorie Walls did an outstanding job managing the racing and ensuring a smooth schedule throughout the day.
It was also special to have Frank Elmes involved in the event, father of the late Graham Elmes, after whom the Elmo Cup is named, adding an extra sense of heritage and connection to the competition.
A big thank you also goes to Russell Bolger for his guidance and assistance with his new race scheduling app, which proved to be a real game-changer in managing the busy racing schedule.
The event was brilliantly captured by Andrew Conan, whose photography documented the action on the water, while Alexander Trickett provided drone coverage, with footage to be shared shortly.
Finally, a huge thank you must go to the incredible team of volunteers who helped create such a positive and welcoming atmosphere throughout the championship. Their efforts ensured the event ran smoothly and was an enjoyable experience for sailors, coaches, and supporters alike.
With the Leinster Championships successfully concluded, many of the same volunteers and sailors are already looking ahead to the next major event on the calendar- the Irish Schools Sailing National Championships, taking place at the Royal Irish Yacht Club on 25- 26 April. Should you require more information on the nationals, please visit the Irish Schools Sailing website on Irish Schools Sailing or please contact the Chairperson ISS iss.chairperson0@gmail.com
If the standard and excitement of the Munster & Leinster Championships is anything to go by, the Nationals promise another outstanding display of schools team racing.
Above: Winners in 1st Place was St. Andrew's College
Below: 2nd Place is the Institute of Education and 3rd Place is Gonzaga College