Hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, the RS Feva Nationals took place over the weekend of the 27th to the 29th August. An unprecedented total of 58 boats, from both Ireland and the UK, competed at this three day event. Amongst the competitors were the reigning World Champions, Owen Bowerman and Charlie Darling.

Conditions were varied over the weekend. Friday was a mixture of moderate and light airs but Saturday brought fresh north-westerly winds which tested the fleet and organisers. Sunday's sailing had ultimately to be abandoned. However, by that time a championship series had been completed and competitors enjoyed a sun-drenched forecourt where dancing and swimming replaced racing for the day.

The winners of the National Championships and Open Competition were Brendan Lyden and Marc Cudmore from RCYC followed by Vikki Cudmore and Amy Harrington also from Cork. Two of the UK visitors , Robert and Emma Loveridge from Draycote Water SC and Morgan Peach and Herbie Harford from Royal Torbay YC took third and fourth respectively . Two more RCYC boats, Richard Roberts and Eoin Lyden , and Dermot Lyden and Peter Stokes finished fifth and sixth.

The reigning World Champions, Owen Bowerman and Charlie Darling finished tenth, while the top finishing host club boat, Amelia O'Keeffe and Annabel Elliott, from RSGYC, came twelfth.

Seventeen Irish boats, which all also competed in the 140-boat Feva Worlds in France in July, were present at the Nationals this weekend. They were joined by other fleets from around the country; the RCYC, Greystones, Cove, Howth, NYC, RIYC, Lough Ree and Rush.

Thank you to all volunteers and staff of the Royal St George Yacht Club who worked tirelessly over the three days, especially Jack Roy, the most experienced of the International Race Officers based in Dun Laoghaire, who ensured racing - when weather permitted - went without a hitch.

 

Three of Ireland's Feva crews are currently in the top ten at the RS Feva Worlds after six races in Carnac, France.

Dermot and Brendan Lyden have three wins between them in their 70-boat groups, ahead of the split into gold and silver fleets.

The results are HERE and the event is being live-blogged on the official website HERE.

Ireland's squad is as follows:

Vikki CUDMORE & Amy HARRINGTON Royal Cork Yacht Club -
Tadgh DONNELLY & Tom BYRNE National Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
James EGGERS & Max VAN DER LEE Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Louisa HAYES & Anna HAYES Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Sarah HYLAND & Enya O'CONNOR Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Alex ELLIOTT & Ivan O'KEEFFE Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Myles KELLY & Patrick CAHILL Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Katherine GEOGHEGAN & Chloe CROSBIE Royal Cork Yacht Club -
Richard GILMER & Daniel GILMER Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Brendan LYDEN & Marc CUDMORE Royal Cork YC / BSC -
Dermot LYDEN & Peter STOKES Royal Cork YC / BSC -
Alva MCDERMOTT & Alison KELLY Lough Ree YC / Royal St George YC - Co. Dublin
Josh MCGRATH & Naoise MULCRONE Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin
Alexandra MOREHEAD & Grattan ROBERTS Royal Cork Yacht Club -
Amelia O'KEEFFE & Annabel ELLIOTT Royal St George Yacht Club - Co. Dublin

34 Young Irish sailors are taking part at the 2010 RS Feva Worlds, in Carnac, France.

The 140-boat fleet was broken into four groups for the first day of racing yesterday in 9-12 knots, with Irish crews in the top five in three out of four groups.

Racing continues today, with three races scheduled per day every day between now and Friday.

The event is being updated live on the RS Feva Worlds website, rsfeva.org/worlds and we'll bring you updated results on the Irish teams as they progress from the group stages to silver and gold fleets.