Eight teams with varied experience competed with Royal St. George organisers delighted to welcome new schools to the annual Leinster Schools Team Racing Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
Racing in Firefly dinghies, the inter-schools match again proved very competitive.
Teams entered from St. Gerards, Blackrock College, Gonzaga, St. Andrews, St. David's/Holy Faith and Colaiste Rathlin.
Going into the knockouts, Gonzaga College and St. Andrew's College 1 were tied on four points, Andrews 2 on 3 points and St. Davids/Holy Child on 2 points.
In the first of the semi-finals between Gonzaga v St. Davids/Holy Child, Gonzaga won by two clear points.
St. Andrews 1 v St. Andrews 2 proved to be a more highly contested semi. St. Andrews 2 took the first race. The second race was very close, and it was on the last leg that St. Andrews 1 managed to take control close to the finish line and earn a win.
The third race once again was very close. Unfortunately, St. Andrews 2 had a capsize, which enabled St. Andrews 1 to take their second win and a place in the finals.
In the final, Gonzaga took control of race one at the start line and with a display of some exceptional team racing tactics covering their opponents, they eased to a comfortable win.
Unfortunately, with wind strength suddenly increasing, race 2 had to be abandoned just after the start and competitors were safely escorted to shore.
Leinster Schools Team Racing Championships Round Robin scoresheet was split into Gold and Silver. This was done when the competition completed 50% of the Round Robin.
According to event director Eunice Kennedy, a decision was made to return the Silver fleet ashore. The fleets were experiencing intermittent gusts, and conditions were becoming too trying for the sailors as they had not done any training before the event.
Colaiste Raithlin entered the event with zero experience of team racing, thoroughly enjoyed it and said they want to continue it in the future, Kennedy told Afloat.
