UCD Sailing team finished 3rd in the IUSA National Sailing Intervarsities in Kerry to conclude a successful year and an impressive ranking of 2nd in Ireland

The eagerly anticipated IUSA National Sailing Intervarsities, the highlight of the college sailing calendar, took place last week 24th-28th February for college students across Ireland. Four days of sailing, socialising and general merriment was had by 24 teams, hosted by UCC and Tralee Bay Sailing Club, in Fenit Co. Kerry. With international involvement this year, two teams from Scotland travelled over especially for the event, raising both the competition and their kilts!

UCDSC had a strong contingency down in Tralee, with 30 students representing the college to make up their five qualified teams, more teams then any other college, ranked on their performance from the year. The first day of sailing consisted of a four pool round robin stage, and despite UCD1 finding themselves drawn in the “Pool of Death” alongside strong teams Edinburgh, UL1 and DCU1, it was difficult not to have high spirits as the sun shone down on Thursday morning.

Favourable breeze allowed all 60 races to be completed back-to-back thanks to  the efficient organisation of the race management, and with that both students and boats were able to come off the water long before dark (providing plenty of time for UV paint to be applied ahead of that night’s social!). UCD teams did well in the pool stages, with their first three teams qualifying for the Gold fleet round robins to follow on the second day of racing. One of the most notable races of Thursday was UCD5’s victory over fellow club member’s UCD2 in the pool stages, one which UCD5 will gladly hold on to the bragging rights of for several weeks to come.

Racing on Friday was initially postponed due to strong wind conditions, yet by afternoon following a slight decrease in wind strength, it was decided that the 12 gold fleet teams would be sent out in the gusts to complete their round robins. This time UCD2 found themselves in the “Pool of Death” with teams DIT1, SUSA, and UL1. Despite any apprehensions, both UCD teams 1 and 2 had qualified for the quarter finals of the gold fleet by the time they came ashore. UCD1 gained a victory over Edinburgh in their round robin. (They turned out to be only team who managed to beat the Edinburgh side over the entire event!)

Saturday’s sailing started early with quarter finals for all three fleets – gold, silver and bronze to get through. UCD1 faced SUSA in their gold quarter finals where a 2-1 win in the best of three races gave them the place in the semi-finals over the Scottish team. UCD2 found they were paired against Edinburgh in their quarter finals, where two loses prevented them progressing to the next stage. The way the pairings worked out saw UCD1 facing Edinburgh next in their semi-final, although close at times, Edinburgh established their control of the race taking the victory and a place in the finals. UCD1 were left in contention for a 3rd/4th placing in the play-off.

UL1 and DIT1 making their way up through the pairings on the other side of the group, faced each other in the second semi final, which ending having almost more weighting than the final itself. With room for only one Irish team in the final against Edinburgh, the UL vs DIT semi-final would be the qualifier for the Irish team selected to represent Ireland in the Student Yachting World Cup. The close racing between the two teams ended finally with a 2-1 victory to UL1, even after an on water protest for a race redress in the last race was granted to DIT1. In the final Edinburgh comfortably took the event win and title with a 3-0 score against the Limerick side in the best of five final.

The wind had increased by the time the 3rd/4th play off took place. UCD1 claimed a 2-1 victory over the DIT1 team and came ashore with a 3rd place win at the event and 2nd placed Irish team. Elsewhere in the bronze fleet, UCD4 made it to the final where they faced DCU1, a gold fleet ranked team, and finished in 2nd place of the bronze fleet.

With UCD scheduled to host the intervarsities next year, much excitement has been created within the club following this year’s event in Fenit, and already members are talking about and looking forward to next year’s competition schedule. The club has had a very successful year, with a UCD team finishing within the top three of each IUSA event this season and finishing with an overall ranking of 2nd in Ireland. This could not have been achieved without the numerous hours of training, access to boats and training facilities and helpful coaching from past UCD Sailing Club alumni.

Gold Fleet:

3rd UCD1- Rory Murphy/ Danielle Vincent, Nick Harger/ Katie Curtin, Barry McCartin/Anne Collins

Bronze Fleet:

2nd UCD4- Robert O’Donoghue/ Fiona Gallagher, Aileen Boylan/ Chloe Halpenny, Ray Carley/ Aisling Carney