Olympian Owens takes the 75th Irish Sailing Champions' Cup
by Treasa Cox 9 Oct 2022 11:16 BST
8 October 2022
Defending title-holder Ger Owens won the 75th Irish Sailing Champions' Cup in Sutton, Co. Dublin on Saturday 8th October after a tense series in which 18 of Ireland's best sailors competed for the coveted silver salver.
Owens is a three-time Olympian and was nominated on the basis of his win last year. He won the event with Melanie Morris, his long-standing crewmate of 23 years.
Normally a two day event, the racing was compressed into one day due to the adverse weather conditions forecast for Sunday.
Two qualifying fleets raced from mid-morning to decide the eight finalists that then sailed a four race series. Current GP14 national champion Shane MacCarthy, also a former world champion appeared unstoppable by winning the first two races while Owens was second in both.
Then Dun Laoghaire sailor Owens (Royal St George YC) won the next race and the stage was set for a final race showdown.
This saw Owens duelling MacCarthy (Greystones SC) who was slightly ahead and a match-race loomed until MacCarthy was penalised for not giving way to another boat.
Owens slipped ahead into fourth place, enough to secure the championship while MacCarthy dropped back to seventh place in the race and third overall.
Jane Kearney with husband Ross Kearney of Royal North of Ireland YC took second overall in the finely balanced leaderboard.
The 2022 Champions' Cup was sailed in GP14 dinghies and hosted by Sutton Dinghy Club.
Full results at www.sailing.ie/Racing/Champions-Cup/Champions-Cup