Elmo Trophy 2023 Team Racing at the Royal St George Yacht Club
by Steve Tylecote 30 Aug 2023 13:38 BST
26-27 August 2023
Elmo Trophy 2023 youth team racing at Dun Laoghaire, Ireland © Steve Tylecote
The Elmo Trophy youth team racing Irish championship is an amazing event. Since being initiated in 2015 it has now grown to be the biggest youth sailing event in Ireland with 32 teams racing in 6 flights of matched Fireflys in the normal 3 boat vs 3 boat format - the pinnacle of tactical sailing in my opinion.
They partied hard in the Royal St George Yacht Club and beyond and it was a fine example of the 'Elmo Ethos' - in memorial of Graham Elmes who was a superb ambassador for the sport and the event aspires to and succeeds to drive joy in the participation in sport generally and team racing with your mates in particular. He would be proud. Friendship across borders comes to mind.
The Rutland Raiders were in the mix after the 11 rounds of racing moved on into the knockout stages on Sunday afternoon. It culminated in a final with Raiders against Nautibuoys2 from Howth which they won in considerable style 2 to 0, the second of those races being particularly close and a worthy conclusion.
John Sheehy, event director, takes a big bow for a fabulous effort from a team of approx 50 volunteers all making things slick and fun. Commodore Mark and Frank Elmes gave well received context to the Helly Hanson sponsored prize-giving and Jamie - Raiders Captain - chuckled there was a 'revenge' aspect because a strong Irish student team recently won BUSA, the University championships, where again Anglo-Irish combined sailing fun is welcomed.
Good job Royal St George Yacht Club.
Raiders: Jamie Tylecote and Will Fearn, Harry Rowlands and Harry Burge, Dylan Beatty and Tom Coates.