Foynes Yacht Club hosts Irish Sailing Champions Cup this weekend

FOYNES Yacht Club is hosting the Irish Sailing Champions Cup Competition this weekend, October 8 and 9.

This a prestigious national competition, in which 18 winning helmsmen, from a variety of sailing classes and clubs across the country, will be competing against each other to become the overall champion. Details of the event can be accessed on the Irish Sailing website.

This competition is normally competed for by 16 nominated sailors but has been extended to 18 to allow for the inclusion of a Female Helm and the President’s Choice. The event will be over seen by top Irish Sailing official (Scorie Walls) and on the water judges (Gordon Davies and David Barry).

Racing will be undertaken over two days, with participants competing to qualify to race in the final, which will be held on Sunday. The race area will be east of the clubhouse.

The Championship sets significant challenges to the nominated competitors as it requires the Helmsmen to helm a boat that they may not have sailed in the past, in waters that they may not be familiar with.

It puts their sailing skills to the ultimate test, as they are required to sail a boat, randomly selected by Irish Sailing.
Throughout the qualifying races, they will be required to change the boat up to three times. They are allowed to bring one crew member, but the second crew member is the boat owner or their representative.

So, in addition to changing the boat, they will also have to manage the challenge of a change in crew. The class of boat for this competition is the Dublin Bay Mermaid.

Details of the history of the boat, picture of boats on the water and how it is sailed can be accessed at DublinBayMermaids.com - About the Dublin Bay Mermaid Sailing Class.

Event organisers are delighted to have Reidys Centra & Circle K, Foynes, as their main sponsors of the Champions Cup this year. Reidys has been the heart of the Foynes community for 25 years.

Kevin and his family (Dylan, Killian, Leah, and Euan) who are long standing members of Foynes Yacht Club are no strangers to the sailing community as they regularly race their Dufour 34 Shelduck up and down the estuary and far beyond.

His sons Dylan and Killian are well known for their achievements sailing in national competitions in both Oppies and Laser classes.

Reidys Centra and Circle K are proud to support Foynes Yacht Club and Irish Sailing as they appreciate all the support they get from club members and the sailing community as a whole.

In addition to this, a large group of the club’s members will be involved in providing support on-the-water and ashore to ensure the competitors, race officials and visitors to the Foynes Yacht Club have a truly memorable experience.