Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this latest sailing update. Ed
In this international offshore regatta for national teams, organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and staged at Cowes during July, the Irish team is set to make a comeback.
Heading Team Ireland as Captain of the three-boat squad is seasoned campaigner Anthony O’Leary from the Royal Cork Yacht Club. He led the 2010 team to their first major Irish victory on the Solent and will participate with his Ker 39, Antix.
Double trouble
Ireland’s second boat Catapult, the Ker 40 owned by American Mark Glimcher, is a previous US IRC National champion and completing the three-boat Irish team is the Grand Soleil 43, Quokka, a competitive IRC boat with a strong track record. This boat has been chartered by Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dublin.
Barry Rose, ICRA Co-ordinator for the team has said,
“Ireland has an impressive track record resulting in the 2010 team bringing home the Commodores’ Cup. We also achieved notable performances in 2006 and 2008, but have been working for some time to ensure a top level Irish Team for this year’s event having missed out in 2012.”
RYA Team Scotland
RYA Team Scotland was announced in February Jamie McGarry; Swan 45 – Eala of Rhu
Rod Stuart; Corby 37 – Eos and Steve Cowie; Beneteau First 40 – Zephyr.
Following the conclusion of its selection trials over the bank holiday weekend (24-26 May), the RYA have announced that four teams have been selected to represent RYA Team GBR at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup 2014, where Great Britain will aim to defend its 2012 title.
Selection of further teams
In addition to the Scottish team, selection trials have been taking place to select a further three teams. The RYA Selection Panel of Chris Mason, Chris Arscott and Jonathan Goring have been on the water observing the boats and their crew work over a series of inshore and offshore events.
These included organising a re-run version of the Vice Admiral’s Cup and a specific offshore race run for the RYA by RORC, which was squeezed into the bank holiday weekend.
Chris Mason commented:
“The RYA would very much like to thank Jo Chugg and her team at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes and Nick Elliott and his team at RORC for helping the RYA rearrange its trials at such short notice.”
English teams
Based on the results and performances across the trials, the following teams have been selected to represent RYA Team GBR. The three from England which join the Scottish team are:
- RYA Team GBR Red: Iain Kirkpatrick; X 37 – Fatjax ; Mike Blair; King 40 – Cobra and Robert Lutener; Ker 40 – Cutting Edge on Baraka
- RYA Team GBR White: James Gair; Mills 39 – Localletterbox Zero II; James Neville; Corby 36 – INO and Ed Broadway; Ker 40 – Hooligan VII
- RYA Team GBR Blue: David Aisher; J109 – Yeoman of Wight; Robert Stiles; J109 – Diamond Jem and Richard Patrick; Beneteau First 40 – Dusty P
Nigel King, RYA Racing Keelboat Manager and RYA Team GBR Team Manager, commented,
“It’s great news that the selectors were able to pick four teams for the 2014 event. There is no other event like the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup on the calendar and I am very excited to have the chance to work with the British teams again. Now everyone can really start planning the defence of our title and I am really looking forward to working with the sailors as we try to achieve this goal.”
Racing will consist of 6 Inshore Races, an Offshore Race and a Round the Isle of Wight Race.
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